Healthy Orange Mambo Muffins

Since my family has been moving away from eating highly processed foods we’ve been making a lot more goodies at home. Here’s a tasty, easy, muffin recipe served warm from the oven at breakfast — or as perfect, healthy, after-school snack for the kids. The “mambo” is inspired by the Enjoy Life Mountain Mambo nut free trail mix which includes hulled pumpkin seeds, sunflower kernels, chocolate chips, dried apples, cranberries and raisins. Enjoy Life is a brand of products free of the 8 major food allergens and can be purchased at Whole Foods or your local grocery’s natural food section. Since the muffins are chock full of pumpkin and sunflower seeds (high in magnesium, which may help strengthen bones), ground flax seed (an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids), calcium fortified orange juice (loaded with vitamin C), agave nectar (an all natural, low-glycemic sweetener that’s similar to honey) and organic expeller-pressed canola oil (also containing omega-3 fatty acids that benefit the brain and heart) you can eat these muffins guilt-free! You may also like to top them with an orange glaze to add a little extra sweetness. I like my Orange Mambo Muffins warm and slathered with Earth Balance vegan buttery spread best.

PEANUT, TREE NUT, and DAIRY FREE

makes 12

Preheat oven to 400º
Line muffin tin with muffin cups and set aside*

Ingredients
when possible use organic ingredients
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
3/4 cup orange juice (may use fresh squeezed or calcium fortified)
1 egg (may use Ener-G egg replacer for a vegan version)
1/3 cup light agave nectar
5 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 teaspoon orange zest

1, 6 0z. packet of Enjoy Life Mountain Mambo Nut Free Trail Mix

ORANGE GLAZE
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons of orange juice (freshly squeezed is divine)
1/2 teaspoon of orange zest

Whisk together dry ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl. In another mid-sized bowl, combine wet ingredients and zest. Mix dry ingredients with the wet until combined (be careful not to over-mix). Fold in the entire package of Enjoy Life Mountain Mambo nut free trail mix (about 1 1/2 cups).** Using a 1/4 cup, spring handle, ice cream scoop (lightly coated with canola oil for easier removal) fill the muffin cups with the mixture. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown (watch carefully, they cook quickly).

Orange Glaze Mix ingredients in a medium size bowl with a whisk. Adjust powdered sugar and orange juice amounts to thicken or thin glaze according to your preference. Cool muffins before icing.

Notes

* I prefer using unbleached, biodegradable, chlorine-free, toxin-free, compostable, paper muffin cups made by If You Care products (found at Whole Foods).

** If you are unable to find Enjoy Life Mountain Mambo nut free trail mix, you may add 1 cup mixture of your choice (raisins, dried cranberries, chocolate chips, etc.).