Baking With Yogurt

 I got a good deal on a tub of plain yogurt last week and decided the other day that it was time to use it. I've been working hard at not wasting food. I had an old banana and a bag of apples that needed eating. I found a yummy banana peanut butter chocolate chip muffin recipe and started putting it together. I had it half way done and then went to grab the banana. I was surprised by a family of maggots. :(
 Undaunted, I pressed on! I used rolled oats in place of the banana. My mini muffins, more like cookies than muffins, were all gone within an hour! I highly recommend this recipe!!

Peanut Butter Chip Muffins

2/3 c granulated sugar

3 T oil

3 T crunchy peanut butter

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 c whole wheat flour

1/2 c all purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 c rolled oats

1/4 c low-fat plain yogurt

1/2 bag milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips

Heat oven 350

Spray mini muffin cups

Combine sugar, oil, peanut butter, egg and vanilla. Mix well.

Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda, rolled oats.

Add to batter and mix well.

Stir in yogurt and chocolate chips.

Fill cups 3/4 full. 

Bake 8 minutes.

Check with fork.

 After the muffin cookies, I started peeling apples. Lots of apples! My mom has apple trees and we've been gathering the fruit. We just haven't been eating it fast enough so I am working on ways to preserve it.

I found this recipe for Apple Crunch Bars. I tried it per the recipe directions and was really disappointed. 

 They refused to bake all the way through. The taste was good but the consistency was not. So I tried the recipe again, with several variations.

 I pressed the crust into the glass dish (instead of metal this time). I sprinkled it with chopped walnuts. (I will add more next time as they really add to the dish)

 I spread the apple mixture over the crust.

 Then I added my own crumble topping. It really seemed to need it and to make a lot more sense than the original recipe.

I baked it and was in love at first bite! I highly recommend this recipe as well and suggest topping it with a generous dollop of Cool Whip!

Julie's Apple Crunch Bars!

1/2 c whole wheat flour

1/2 c all purpose flour

1/4 c butter

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

8 oz plain low fat yogurt

2 egg whites

2 c apples, peeled and chopped

1/2 c chopped walnuts

Crumble:

1/4 c brown sugar

1/4 c rolled oats

3 T butter

Combine first 3 ingredients. Beat well.

Reserve 2 C. flour mix. Set aside.

Add baking soda and next 3 ingredients to flour mixture. Mix well. 

Add vanilla and next 2 ingredients. Beat well.

Stir in apple.

Press reserved 2 C. flour mixture into bottom of greased 9x13x2 glass baking dish.

Sprinkle with walnuts.

Spread apple mixture over crust. 

Mix the crumble ingredients together and use hands to combine.

Sprinkle crumbled over apples.

Bake at 350.

30-40 minutes.

Check at 30 minutes.

 I will be doing more baking and experimenting tomorrow. Feeling the passion again!