Applesauce Muffins with Crunchy Streusel Topping

Don't you hate it when your cleaning out the refrigerator and realize that some of your veggies needed to be eaten today! Well that what happened to me this morning. I hate throwing away good food we paid good money for. This morning I had a whole bag of unopened carrots that were practically on there last leg. So I cut the carrots up, streamed, and toss in the food processor with a little water. Then I made these delicious applesauce muffins with crunchy streusel topping. The recipe I use is from the cookbook Deceptively Delicious . What I love about this book is you give your monkeys the food they want, but you trick them into what their bodies need. Also this recipe definitely leaves your kitchen smell like a Gold Canyon Candle which is an added plus.

Batter ingredients:

1 1/2 c all purpose flour

1 c old fashioned oats

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 c. cinnamon (I like using Pampered Chef)

1 c. unsweetened applesauce

1/2 c. nonfat milk

1/2 c. butternut squash or carrot puree

1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 c. canola oil

1 egg

.

Topping ingredients

2/3 c. old fashioned oats

1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tbsp soft butter

Preheat to 400 degrees. In bowl mix all dry ingredients for batter then add wet ingredients. Mix with spoon. Don't overmix. In another bowl mix all topping ingredients until will blended.Place paper baking cups inside cupcake pan. Pour batter into individual cupcake holders. I like to fill almost to the top. This creates nice fluffy cupcakes. Then with your hand place topping mixture over all the cupcakes. Bake at 400 for 18-20 minutes. Remove and place on cooling rack. I usually give these to my monkeys without letting them know what's inside is good for them. They can find that out at a later day.

Here's what I do with the remaining puree.

I measure out puree and place in individual plastic bags. I usually write what's it for, and how much. Now just throw in the freeze, and pull out as needed. I feel so much better. No guilt over wasting good vegetables.