Apple Pumpkin Maple Muffins

Muffins and quick breads are my comfort food.  Heated up and paired with a hot drink - just perfect.

I broke my mirror a couple says ago. A feat, I know, but in my defense, it was already in sad shape. It's one of those you can tack to the back of a door, but I never did, I just placed it wherever in my room for several years. Then, it fell over a couple days ago and shattered. If glass wasn't so dangerous, I would've left it on the floor because it looked so cool!

But anyways, I no longer had my mirror. No big deal, I thought. But I was surprised how accustomed I had become to using it.  I had gotten so used to checking my clothes or my hair or my appearance every time I walked into my room.  I also realized how often I got my self assurance from making sure I looked okay.  Suddenly, I wasn't sure if my clothes matched or not or if I had a bump in my hair.  At first, it was really annoying.  But it showed how reliant I had become on it ... and that's not something I want.  I realized how accustomed I was to letting the mirror define me. 

I've also become accustomed to using whatever apples are in the apple bowl.  That has changed:)  After using a (expensive) Honeycrisp apple in the caramel apple granola, Mom made sure to get cheaper apples for me to use in my baking. So for these, I used Granny Smiths. 

The first time I made these, they didn't receive many stars. My dad and brothers described them as "just there" and "bread with apples."  They also thought they were a little dry and not sweet enough. I appreciate that they'll tell me that.  It makes my job of posting god recipes easier!  Also, I have enough baking experience to (hopefully) fix whatever wasn't right the first time. I thought they tasted fine, but they weren't stunning. Back to the kitchen. 

I upped the pumpkin, spices, sugar, and apples, and decreased the baking time slightly. These got the double thumbs up. They're full of everything fall; pumpkin, apple, maple syrup. Plus, they have a tender texture and are chock full of finely chopped apples.  Totally my kind of comfort food. And they have 3 grams of fiber and less than 140 calories in each.  I couldn't have asked for more. 

Apple Pumpkin Maple Muffins
Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life.  Recipe adapted from A Kitchen Addiction
Yield: 14-16 muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup low fat milk
1 egg
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
2 cups apple, peeled, seeded and finely chopped (about 1-2 medium apples)

Preheat oven to 350.  Line 12 muffin tins and set aside. 
Whisk together the first 9 ingredients.  In another bowl, whisk milk, egg, pumpkin, maple syrup, and molasses together.  Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined.  Add apples and stir.  Divide between prepared muffin tin.  They will be very full, almost completely.  That's great!  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

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