Date Bran Muffins
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 1/3 cups whole bran cereal
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour or regular flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
12 pitted prunes, finely chopped
1 egg
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
24 pitted dates, chopped
2 apples, grated
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 18 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray
In a large bowl, combine buttermilk and cereal. Let stand 5 minutes. In a me-dium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add sugar, prunes, egg and oil to cereal mix; mix well with a wooden spoon. Stir in the dates, apples and flour mix until just combined (do not overmix).
Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool on rack 10 minutes; remove from cups and cool completely on the rack. These are delicious high fiber muffins and freeze well.
Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
2 medium spaghetti squash
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt and pepper
Stuffing
1 Tbsp. olive oil
16 oz. Spicy Italian Sausage
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
5 oz. Cherry tomatoes, cut in quarters
4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
10 oz. spinach, fresh or frozen
6 oz. Parmesan cheese, shredded
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut both squash into halves from stem end to bottom. Remove seeds and fiber from center. Drizzle olive oil over cut sides and cut portions of squash. Season with salt and pepper. Bake 30-40 minutes or until squash can be easily pierced with a knife. While squash is baking, prepare stuffing.
Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in large skillet. Add sausage and break up with a wooden spoon so it is crumbled. Add mushrooms cook until sau-sage is browned. Add minced garlic, seasonings, tomatoes and spinach. Cook another 5-6 minutes. Remove squash from oven and turn squash cut side up. Let cool slightly. Divide sau-sage mixture evenly among the 4 halves. Top with shredded Parmesan cheese. Return to 400 degrees oven for 10-15 minutes until cheese melts. Serves 4.