I have a big family and our family is very busy, like many families. Some leave early for work and others are at home, but even those who leave early, don't leave at the same times. One son usually leaves before anyone else is even up and sometimes another one does also, but they leave at different times. Breakfasts have become a bit of a problem.
Cold cereal isn't ideal, by any means.... Eating together doesn't work. Sometimes I make a couple of big egg casserole dishes to last for two days, so each person can heat some for their breakfast. That works sometimes, but what about the other times? Sometimes, they don't eat any breakfast, but my guys work really hard and get hungry often.... so what to do?
I wanted something quick and easy.... and ready for them to eat. I wanted something they would like, but that would have a lot of nutrition in it. I checked to see what we had on hand... and brainstormed for a muffin that would be filling, tasty and somewhat healthy.
I used a basic muffin recipe and added a LOT of stuff to it. My kids were excited about muffins, but then VERY skeptical, after they heard of one of the ingredients I chose.
Okay, with a basic recipe, I added extra butter, carrots, roasted and salted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seed meal, ground chia seeds, raisins, cranberry sauce, sour cream, spices... and the ingredient that my kids didn't want? Feta cheese! Sounds strange doesn't it?
Aldi had the Feta Cheese on sale for $1.49 and I had bought extra, so I decided to use it, especially since we didn't have much other cheese on hand. I wanted a sweet and salty type of muffin that would be satisfying and stick with them until lunch.
After mixing the other ingredients all together, I diced up canned cranberry sauce and stirred that in too.
Like I've said before, I like to experiment... and it USUALLY turns out pretty well. (There have been a couple of recipes we didn't repeat!)
You can see the cranberry sauce on these muffins...
These show the oatmeal and cinnamon, but not the cranberry sauce. It is down inside most of the muffins.
You can see all of the wonderful goodness in these muffins... the carrots, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and more. Delicious.
These are so good to eat hot.. or cold. They can be eaten plain... or with butter.... or my favorite is with cream cheese. Yum.
I have enjoyed them with a hot cup of tea and it was a wonderful combination!
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Gentle Joy Homemaker Recipe
"Breakfast on the Go" Muffins
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt .......................................Mix together
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons butter, melted............................Mix all gently together
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup flax seed meal (grind flax seeds in coffee maker)
1 Tablespoon chia seeds (can be whole or ground in coffee maker)
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tablespoon Feta Cheese (could also use any kind shredded cheese)
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup sour cream......................................................................Mix gently into batter
1/2 cup canned cranberry sauce (cut into small cubes)..................Mix gently into batter
Fill greased muffin cups about 2/3 full. Can add some Old Fashioned Oats and sprinkled cinnamon to the top of each muffin.
Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen muffins.
These freeze well, so making extra and freezing some makes these last longer. The pictures above show what I made, which was actually 4 batches of this recipe (6 dozen muffins!).
Gentle Joy Homemaker www.http://gentlejoyhomemaker.blogspot.com
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We have really enjoyed these wonderful muffins that are more of a meal than a dessert. They are filling and satisfying... and are a fast breakfast. I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine does. Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you have a wonderful week!
A few other Breakfast Ideas:
Seed Cereal Breakfast
Apple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls!
Cherry Muffins Are So Tasty!
Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls-Wow!
A Quick Easy Breakfast!
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Wow, you are adventurous! I have to admit these sound very tasty! I really doubt that I would have tried such a combination on my own. I like seeds and raisins and and shredded carrots in muffins well enough. I will have to give the cheese and cranberry sauce in a muffin a try sometime. I am very impressed! Thanks for sharing your recipe and development. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you... I do tend to experiment to try to keep my guys filled up... and with better food, if possible. I have used the cranberry sauce in a Muffin Bar that I made up and we all love... yes, another experiment, so that made it natural to try it in the muffins. :) Thank you for visiting.... nice to have you.
DeleteJoy, those look so wholesome and tasty! Yum! Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you! We have enjoyed them so much,... but with us using over a dozen a day, I realize I need to make these again soon. :)
DeleteI do believe I have ALL these ingredients so will make them soon! thanks! I wonder if I should grind the pumpkins seeds in coffee grinder as well??
ReplyDeleteGreat! I did NOT grind the pumpkin seeds or the sunflower seeds... I like the crunchy seeds in there. :) I hope you enjoy them like we have. Thank you for visiting.
DeleteEverything sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/PLUCKYRECIPESCRAFTSTIPS/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you... they sure taste good. :)
DeleteOoh, those are tempting!
ReplyDeleteIn Canada we call that style of cranberry a jelly (says cranberry jelly right on the can - too familiar with it as my Dad won't eat anything but with his turkey, not even homemade (!) which I found only SLIGHTLY insulting.... but, different folk.) By whatever name, I can see how nicely the cubes hold together and now I'm dying to add some to a zucchini loaf (so many zucs in the garden).
The cranberry sauce sounds great in zucchini loaf.... I sometimes use the whole berry sauce in my casseroles also.. adds color and flavor. You're right that it is a jelly... and in the muffin, it almost seems like a bit of jam in there. My kids love the cranberry sauce in pans and turned their noses up at the homemade stuff I made too... sad, but the rest of us enjoyed the homemade. :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteThey look so good!! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Deb
Thank you! They do taste great. :)
DeleteMy mouth is watering looking at these. It has been so long since I last made muffins that I think this is a recipe I need to try. They are packed full of so much goodness!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I liked about it... we can enjoy the taste while getting lots of nutrients and fiber also. :) I hope you like them as much as we do! Thank you for visiting.
DeleteOh, my! These look amazing!!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful concoction...it is so much fun to experiment and see how things turn out. Praying for you.
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful.... I just had one for breakfast again today... love having them in the freezer! :) Good to hear from you and praying for you also.
DeleteJoy, It`s nice to have a recipe which is versatile and can accommodate what we have one hand. Thanks for sharing the basic recipe. Have a great week. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I like also.... I am already brainstorming for my next breakfast muffin... this one has been so well liked in the family. :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteYour muffins look delicious!Loved the pretty mug too!Hugs.Maristella.
ReplyDeleteThank you... we have sure been enjoying those muffins! The mug is one of a pair given to me by a friend several years ago... it is special to me. :)
DeleteThese have so many great ingredients! Look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you... the ingredients mix well together and seem to satisfy the desire for crunchy, soft, salty, savory and sweet. They are quite a satisfying muffin. :)
DeleteAs someone who's always rushing to get out of the door in the morning, these tasty on-the-go muffins are just what I needed! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThey are PERFECT for that! We took some out of the freezer last night and put them in a container for breakfast this morning... along w/ a note that said "2 muffins per person". :) When each of the guys got up, they had their breakfast all ready... I love it.... and we all enjoy the mix of flavors in these!
DeleteI never would have thought to add feta. What an interesting idea.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have either if I hadn't just bought a couple of extras... I LOVE it in the muffins... it adds to the savory party and helps make them satisfying.. Yum. :)
DeleteFeta cheese, my favorite for muffins, breads, and salads. Eat it by itself also. So very yummy. Thanks for the idea, as soon as we emerge from the tropical weather, I'll make some. Many blessings ^__^
ReplyDeleteI have loved it in salads, but have never used it before in other ways... I will have to experiment more! We had these for breakfast again today...they are so good and nice and filling w/o leaving us feeling stuffed..... It was so very nice to hear from you again, my friend. :)
DeleteYum! These sound like a great everything muffin. I love that they are full of fruit and veggies. :-)
ReplyDeleteI do too... and after eating them for breakfast again today, I am determined to come up with a second flavor! We love these! I love having them made ahead and in the freezer. SO much better than cold cereal for the family. :)
DeleteMuffins look so good and would be great to serve to the kids for nutrition. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! These muffins have quite a satisfying taste too... and I love it that my family is getting nutrients for the start of their day.... and they actually like it. :)
DeleteOh what a great selection and tips too for these different muffins! They all look delicious and I am so glad you shared and linked them! Kids love them too which is great!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am so glad we have these... we have all been enjoying them again this morning for our breakfast.... one person at a time as they get ready to go. :)
DeleteI love that your muffins don't have a lot of sugar. They sound wholesome and delicious. Wish I had one right this minute to go with my cup of Darjeeling.
ReplyDeleteI do too... the breakfast food choices on the market tend to lean heavily on sugar and artificial flavors... yet God has given us such an assortment of foods to choose from and I love that these taste so good and are quite good for us too. :)
DeleteGreat innovation! Assume the kids approved. They look delicious and healthy. Breakfast is a challenge sometimes. Those would be perfect for tea indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Ruth
Thank you! Yes, my kids have certainly approved them wholeheartedly! :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteI love muffins and it's fabulous how you can make so many varieties out of one basic recipe. I must admit, I have to eat mine with butter. :) Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
I have had these with butter...and cream cheese... and today I had it plain... and they all tasted good. :) It helps that they are quite moist. Butter is my favorite for muffins too.... and toast... and pancakes..and...
DeleteThese muffins look so good and thanks for sharing the recipe at C&C with J&J.
ReplyDeleteThank you.. and thank you for the party. :)
DeleteThose look delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteLisa
You're welcome... we have been enjoying these and I hope others will also. :)
Delete