Recipe of the Week - Better Blueberry Muffins

If you hadn't already known, muffins can be a huge calories suck.  They are generally way too big so they can tip the scales as over 500 calories and have ton of sugar and fat in them.  No one wants that!!  The recipe below is delicious and it won't give you a muffin top, which is even better!  I've made this recipe and people LOVE it and they don't have to know that one muffin has less than 200 calories!

Makes 12

Prep Time - 20 Minutes

Total Time - 50 Minutes

For the Muffins:

1 1/2 cup whole - wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 cup quick-cooking oats (NOT instant)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons lowfat buttermilk

1 large egg
2 Tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries, washed and dried

For the Topping (I didn't add this and it was still yummy!):

1/4 cup blueberry all-fruit spread
24  fresh  blueberries, washed and dried

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Combine flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, oats, baking power, backing soda and salt in a large bowl
2. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg, oil, and vanilla
3. Toss blueberries with flour mixture
4. Pour wet ingredients into flour mixture and stir gently
5. Line a 12 count muffin pan or a loaf pan with nonstick spray or lines, divide batter evenly, sprinkle with remaining sugar
6. Bake 12-15 minutes or until tops are just set
7. Remove pan from oven and top each muffin with 1 teaspoon fruit spread and 2 blueberries
8. Bake 3-5 more minutes or until golden
9. Let cool, serve and enjoy!!

Nutrition Info for 1 muffin
173 calories
4 g fat (less then 1 g saturated fat)
31 g carbs
4 g protein
3 g fiber

*found recipe in July Shape magazine