Banana Berry Muffins

Makes 12 (1-muffin) servings

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c unprocessed wheat bran or oat bran

1 c white whole wheat flour

2 Tbsp ground flaxseed (see note)

1/4 c agave nectar or dark honey

2 ripe medium bananas, mashed with a fork

1 large egg

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 c fresh (or frozen) blueberries

1/2 c pitted chopped prunes (optional)

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp sea salt

3/4 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a nonstick 12-cup muffin pan with cooking oil spray. In a medium bowl, combine the bran, flour, flaxseed, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside. In another medium bowl or in a blender, combine the milk, agave nectar or honey, bananas, egg, oil, and vanilla until smooth. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in 1/3 of the liquid mixture. Using a spoon, stir until smooth. Add the remaining liquid mixture and stir just until combined. Add the blueberries and prunes, if desired; stir again, but do not over mix. Spoon 1/4 c batter into each prepared muffin cup. Bake for about 14 minutes, or until the tops spring back when pressed gently in the centers. Do not overbake. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan. Serve warm, or cool completely on the rack.

Note: If you can’t find ground flaxseed in your local health food store, you can grind whole flaxseeds in a clean spice grinder to the consistency of cornmeal.

Per serving: 140 calories, 4 g protein, 25 g carbohydrates (10 g sugars), 4 g fat (0 g saturated), 20 mg cholesterol, 6 g fiber, 170 mg sodium