C.J.'s Muffins

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I started trying to name these muffins by what's in them. Didn't work, it became buckwheat, almond, zucchini, pumpkin, carrot muffins. That title's just too long.  So C.J's muffins they are. These muffins are healthy, yet delicious. Packed with fibre, low in fat and sugar, they're satisfying--you won't eat them all in one sitting--and they freeze well (or keep in a zip lock bag in your fridge). Perfect snack. I'd take one to work sometimes for a pre run/workout snack and went through a phase of baking a batch every week/every other week for C.J. to take to school. Hence "C.J.'s muffins."

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Ingredients
3/4 c buckwheat flour
1/4 c almond meal/flour
1/2 c oat flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp each of nutmeg, ground cloves and ginger
1 finely grated courgette (zucchini)
1 finely grated carrot
1 c pumpkin puree
1 tbsp coconut oil (gently heated so it's liquid)
1/4 c agave/maple syrup* 
1/2 c unsweetened almond milk (or other plant based milk)
1 egg*
1 tbsp flax meal + 3 tbsp water*

Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 350F and fill a standard muffin pan with liners. 
  2. Mix the flax seed meal with the water and let it stand for about 5 minutes, until gel like. 
  3. Whisk together the first six ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  In another mixing bowl, or measuring cup (like this), whisk together the pumpkin, coconut oil, agave, almond milk, egg and flax-gel until well combined. 
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well to combine.  Fold in the courgette and the carrot and then let the mixture rest for 3-5 minutes. 
  5. Use a 1/4 c scoop to divide the mixture into the lined muffin pan. Bake for 20 minutes (give or take) until a toothpick inserted into the muffins comes out clean. 
  6. Enjoy! Great with a slather of greek yogurt or almond butter, or both...

Notes
Agave/maple syrup can be subbed for 1/3 c honey depending on what you have in your cupboard. To make these vegan, substitute the egg for an extra 1 tbsp flax meal + 3 tbsp water. If you're not vegan and don't have flax meal, sub it for an extra egg and skip step 2.