Healthy Maple and Brown Sugar Magic Muffins

First off, I would like to thank Carla from Chocolate Moosey.
She helped me with my new blog design. What do you think?
Looks pretty nice if I do say so myself.
A big hug and many thanks to you Carla!
You rock!

And now, I'll tell ya about my Magic Muffins. My sister-in-law's son got married many years ago. For the reception, the bride wanted simple and elegant. They were married in a church and then the reception followed at one of our local parks. They had an assortment of different cheeses and crackers along with a beautiful spray of fresh fruit. The bride also requested Malt O Meal Muffins. I thought she was crazy. Malt O Meal? The recipe is on the side of the cereal box and when I tried them, I found out she wasn't crazy. They were delicious. I've made these many times over the years following that wedding. But I, of course, modified them. Applesauce for the oil and egg substitute instead of eggs were used. This time I used whole wheat flour and Splenda instead of sugar too.



These are not fufu muffins. These are hearty stick to your rib muffins. There is a mapley sweetness to them and their very chewy. You really feel like you ate something of substance with these. Grab one with a piece of fruit and your good to go! The recipe is at the bottom of this post. but now I want to show you some some pictures of our lake. Or...lack of it.


Due to Shasta lake being so low, old relics have resurfaced from the depth of the lake. This old train tunnel was from the original route of the railroad that once traveled through this valley before the building of Shasta lake. I beleve the last time this was visible was in the drought of 1977. I'll always remember because it was the year I graduated from high school. I was only 3 years older then what my daughter is now. O.K. that's a scary thought!

The lake had been reduced to a small river. The lake is only about 10 miles away from Redding but this arm of the lake is in Lakehead. About 22 miles north.

Where's the water? When the lake is full, it has 365 miles of shoreline.

The kids are trying to carve their name on the bridge pillars.

I knew I should have brought a Sharpie!

Wow! Pray for rain! Usually a beautiful, huge lake, this is a pretty sorry looking. And just think how bad the business will be this summer for the resorts.

It's going to be a dry hot summer.

Maple and Brown Sugar Magic Muffins
Adapted from Malt O Meal

1 1/4 whole wheat flour
1 cup Maple and Brown Sugar flavored Malt O Meal hot wheat cereal, dry
1/3 cup Splenda or sugar
3/4 cup low fat milk
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup egg substitute
1 TBSP baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients till just moistened. Pour into greased muffin pan

Bake at 400 18-20 minutes