Heart-Healthy Oat Bran Muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups oat bran
• ¼-cup brown sugar
• 2 t. baking powder
• 1 t. nutmeg
• ½-cup skim milk
• 2 egg whites, slightly beaten
• ¼-cup honey
• 2 T. canola oil
• 1/2 t. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Coat muffin pan with cooking spray or line with paper baking cups.
3. Combine oat bran, brown sugar, baking powder and nutmeg in a bowl.
4. Add milk, egg whites, honey, oil, and vanilla.
5. Divide evenly among muffin cups.
6. Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Variations:
Add ½-cup raisins, a mashed banana, ½-cup blueberries or raspberries, or a chopped apple tossed with 1 t cinnamon.

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Banana Cream Pie Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sliced ripe frozen banana (about 1 large)
• 1 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt
• 1/2-cup skim or 1% low-fat milk
• 2 T whole-wheat graham cracker crumbs
• 1 T nonfat dry milk
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 3 ice cubes (about ¼-cup)

Directions:

1. Arrange banana slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, and freeze until firm (about 1 hour).
2. Place frozen banana and remaining ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth.
3. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs. Serve immediately.

Serving size: 2 (1 cup each)
Calories: 216 (12% From Fat)
Grams of Fat: 2.8g (Sat: 1.5g, Mono: 0.8g, Poly: 0.3g)
Protein: 9.8g
Cholesterol: 9mg
Calcium: 315mg
Sodium: 145mg
Fiber: 1.9g
Iron: 0.4mg
Carbohydrate: 39.3g

Source: Cooking Light, August 2006