FRESH CRANBERRY MUFFINS Feel free to use your imagination with this basic muffin recipe by substituting your other favorite fruits and flavors for the cranberries and orange rind. Some options we like: blueberries and lemon rind; chopped apple, pear, or pineapple and cinnamon; or mashed bananas and allspice. 2 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped fresh cranberries 2/3 cup 2% reduced-fat milk 1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, melted 1 teaspoon grated orange rind 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg, lightly beaten Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Stir in cranberries; make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk, butter, rind, vanilla, and egg; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400°F for 18 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove muffins from pan immediately; place on a wire rack.

Makes 12 muffins.

NOTE: These muffins freeze well. Bake them ahead, cool completely, and store in freezer bags. To serve, thaw at room temperature. Reheat in aluminum foil at 300°F for 10 to 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

1 Muffin: Calories: 174 (Cal. from fat: 26%), Fat: 5g (Saturated: 2.7g), Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 182mg, Carbohydrate: 29.2g, Protein: 3.2g.

[Cooking Light, December 2000]