Pumpkin protein mini-muffins.. *pics*

Yes, I am going to turn into the low-carb baker this winter. It keeps me cozy! Plus kitchen puttering is just something I do.. 


I will post pics & tasting results later when these come out, but the stats are great for me.. this is going to be my after dinner snack.

These are currently baking.. so I'm jumping the gun by posting, but they are so cute rising in the oven right now on this rainy evening!

This is the original recipe, I only reduced the almond flour (I used NOW almond meal/flour.. there are likely finer ones out there, this was not blanched) to 1C and added 3 - 28g scoops plain NOW Whey Isolate powder.. and upped the spices after I tasted the batter.. that's all. I used coconut oil and Swerve. Makes 24 mini-muffins.. ea muffin according to MFP = 60cals/7carbs (1 fiber, the majority of the rest is from the erythritol) and 5 protein/4 fat.

edit:

I baked at 325 for 12-14mins (toothpick came out with just a few crumbs) not the 30-40 mins her recipe states, maybe the addition of protein powder shortens cooking time?

I did not do the frosting.. But could easily see that would make these super-yummy.

After I plugged the serving size into MFP I realized I could have 2, so just had one.. the other is for before bed. These are tasty, but needs more spice still. I may increase the sweetness just a little by using some Brown Sugar Ideal.. or just frost them, that would do it.. cream cheese makes everything better! Even sweetened spiced mascarpone cheese would be tasty I think..

http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/2010/09/pumpkin-mini-muffins.html

Pics! & bonus pic from a few weeks ago of me wearing (a dusty as hell) a very vintage wool & fur (animal not ID'd yet) coat found in the our house we are renovating.. it's in good shape, but needs a cleaning and minor repair. I was trying my best poses in front of the run down garage.. looking glamorous in no makeup and loafers! I have no idea on the age of the thing, but thinking middle-late 60's early 70's??

This and a fur lined leather bomber I got at thrift last winter are going to a furrier next week for a quote to be cleaned & glazed (the coat) and altered to fit (bomber.) The bomber was super-warm and I don't want to give it up but it's a sack. 

         

Sounds relish - I will have to try these.  We are going to have to have an OH Cooking show - Me, you, and Frisco!

Love the full body pic - you look wonderful!

 Wow! I'm going to have to try the muffins. I love anything pumpkin!

You look long and lean. Good for you!


Gail

Thanks!

One thing about the muffins- the protein powder gives them a spongy texture, not as much bready (no grains, so not really going to be "bready" anyway) but.. I may next time adjust the nut flours to see if I can reduce that effect while keeping protein high..

It's a really nice thing my DH likes my cooking experiments and happily eats these while running out the door! I did like my PB & jelly mini muffins better (tweaking that recipe before I post it- it's my "from scratch" creation!

I'm just thankful for an option that's not meat-based or egg-based and still has some decent protein, and of all the sugar alcohols- erythritol is one of the best ones to use (least absorbed, 0GI, no insulin/glucose response, and low low chance of GI upset).. and one of the nicest for baking to boot!

FYI if anyone's interested- there's a sale on Swerve- (6) 8 oz bottles for $30, plus you can get 15% off with code LOWCARB15 at Swerve's website, free shipping too for $30 & over.. very good price for this stuff..

 Love the pic of you.

How does the Swerve taste?  I have a bag of erythritol that I use occasionally.

Does it cause gas?  I know I can't et anything with malitol. Some of the sugar alcohols wreak havoc in my system.

Thanks!

Thanks about the pic! I was being frumpy that day, cleaning and stuff and decided I'd try on the coat as last time it was too snug. It's not anymore! I've since dropped another 6lbs.. Need to get these things cleaned as the weather is turning.

On the Swerve:

I like it- it's less sweet than sugar (good thing in my book, I don't usually go for over-sweet) and has a very slight cooling effect, but not noticeable in baking.. I even tried a tsp in my coffee today as I'm not going to use Splenda anymore- and it tasted fine to me, no aftertaste at all.. didn't notice the cooling taste either..

Malitol causes issues for me too, this seems not to at all.. I don't exactly go nuts with it- but from what I've read and experienced, it's the least likely to effect your guts negatively. I have this and Ideal (zylitol) and I prefer Swerve.. but both are nice.

I've not tried straight erythritol so I can't compare, but this blurb is from their website.. 

The Digestibility of erythritol and erythritol causing gas comes from the addition of inulin in the mixture. We have figured out a way to create our own version of an “erythritol" based sweetener that is rapidly absorbed by the small intestine due to the small molecular size and structure. Because more than 90% of ingested swerve is absorbed and excreted unchanged, allowing less than 5% to reach the large intestine, foods containing even a substantial amount of Swerve will not cause digestive discomfort, and are actually able to further promote digestive health by adding beneficial microflora to the diet.

 Thanks for the review!  Your coat looks like 40's or 50's.  I was born in 1950 and remember seeing those coats when I was young.

That would be very cool if it is that old. I love the thing, and it fits really well- just makes me sneeze terribly as it apparently lived in the house next door that we got for decades. There were several, many pretty ugly (donated) but this was the keeper.

Gooey icing idea.. worked. Needed some more sweetness and such, so this came together nice!

7g cream cheese
10g unflavored protein powder
tiny bit- really, of brown sugar cinnamon SF syrup..

As the protein dissolves it turns into the drizzly type icing.. spoon it on as you eat a muffin = wonderful. The stats for the icing (more than plenty for 2 muffins) 63cals, 10 prot.. making 2 mini muffins with this a meal: 183 cals, 13 carbs (mostly non-absorbed) and 20g protein.

Hey Jo thanks for mentioning the Swerve.  I've never heard of it but decided to order some.  I use so much splenda and it would be great to get away from it some.  I always tell my husband that when I die they're gonna find a splenda tumor in my brain.  Hopefully I will like it cause I can't really stand stevia's bitterness.

Thanks again!
Laura