Friday, January 22, 2016

Ricardo's Bran Muffins and My New Little 'Muffin'

 

How would you like to have warm, fresh muffins any day for a month with no further effort than scooping the dough into muffin cups and baking them?

This healthy and delicious muffin recipe was shared my friend, Monique, at her blog La Table de Nana recently.  She has shared them and other wonderful recipes of Ricardo's before but sometimes I need a reminder :) Ricardo Larrivée (known simply as Ricardo) is a food celebrity in Quebec and throughout Canada. 


The muffin 'batter' recipe makes a generous amount which can be stored in the refrigerator for up to month!  Simply scoop out as many portions as you want, and bake.  I added chopped dates (Monique's suggestion) and also chopped, dried cranberries.  I like adding a pecan streusel to the some of some of them.  Wonderful!  The possibilities are endless.  You could add any dried fruit or nuts you like.  You could even add a few fresh blueberries to the muffin cups as you scoop in the batter.


They are moist, delicious and a wonderful way to start the day!

I would like to introduce to you our 4-day-old, 3rd grandson, Bo.  He was born on Monday, January 18.  Our daughter and Baby Bo are both doing well!  Our hearts are full of love and happiness! Our other two grandsons are pretty excited to have a baby brother too :)


Ricardo's Bran Muffins

Adapted from Ricardo Cuisine

Note: You will need a very large bowl and storage container to accommodate this recipe.

Makes about 4 dozen, depending on size

5 cups (1.25 litres) whole-wheat flour or unbleached all-purpose flour  (I used 1 cup WW flour and 4 cups AP flour)
3 cups (750 ml) bran cereal (l used original All-Bran)
3 cups (750 ml) wheat bran (or wheat germ)
1 cup (250 ml) oat bran
2 cups (500 ml) brown sugar
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) raisins or other dried fruit (dates, cranberries, apricots...)
2 tablespoons (30 ml) baking soda
2 teaspoons (10 ml) salt
1 teaspoon (5 ml) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground nutmeg
4 cups (1 litre) buttermilk
1 1/2 cups (310 ml) canola oil
1 1/4 cups (310 ml) water
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup (75 ml) molasses (I used honey)

Topping of your choice (walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, chocolate Chips
I mixed 1/3 cup of chopped pecans with 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 tablespoon brown sugar and made a streusel topping (makes enough for 6 muffins)

In a very large bowl, combine the flour, cereal, wheat and oat bran, brown sugar, dried fruit, baking soda, salt and spices.

In another bowl, blend the remaining ingredients. Add to the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until the mixture is barely moist. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake the muffins (see note).

With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or butter the cavities.

Cook the muffin batter as-is or add the toppings of your choice. Fill the cups with batter up to the edge because it barely rises. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Cool. Unmould and cool completely on a rack.

The unbaked muffin batter will keep for up to 30 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can bake muffins fresh daily or at any time by baking the desired quantity at the last moment. You can also bake and freeze them. Just thaw in the microwave for mornings in a hurry or bake at 180 °C (350 °F) for about 15 minutes to get a crunchy muffin top.  

61 comments:

  1. OMG which muffin is cuter? I think it's Bo, for sure! Congratulations to all <3

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  2. Monique has turned us into Ricardo :-) I love these muffins. Your newest muffin is sooo precious. He will soon know what a wonderful Nana he has.

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    1. They are my new favorite muffin - after Bo, of course :) Thank you, Debbie!

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  3. Congratulations! It is wonderful to have a new grandson...I love his name! Your muffin(s) are beautiful!

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  4. Ohmy God I have tears in my eyes again♥
    I think it was seeing Mack and dane..brought back so many memories of Lucas and Max looking at Oli!
    Wait and see how good they are with that baby..

    The boys were nothing short of adoring to their baby brother..and yours will be too..
    such pretty grandparents:)

    I am so happy you love the muffins and boy did you make them proud..as soon as we run out..Jacques says..time to make more..I pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve in June..he does the stirring..I assemble the ings and put them in my hugest bowl:)
    They are great and the possibilities are endless..
    Love all your muffins Susan♥

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    1. Aw, thank you, Monique! We're pretty head-over-heals :) Thank you also for sharing so many wonderful recipes, including this keeper!

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  5. Congratulations on little Bo joining your family. Look at all that dark hair! He is beautiful, Susan.

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    1. Thank you, Marigene! Yes, he was born with a head full :)

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  6. Aw, look at the baby's smile! Congrats on another wonderful grandson Susan-enjoy:@)

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    1. Thank you, Lynn! It sure looks like a smile, doesn't it? I swear when I first held him he tried to smile at me.

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  7. Beautiful! Congratulations!!!

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  8. What a handsome baby Bo is...all that gorgeous dark hair and the big cutie pie grin he's wearing as you hold him. Oh I know, babies don't smile, but he sure looks as if. It's a foretaste of all the good times to come. Fun to see his big brothers so in awe.

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    1. Thank you, Vee! When my daughter first saw the photo she thought I had Photoshopped a smile on his face. Nope!

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  9. What a little sweetie! He is precious, and just look at that head of hair! Those muffins are sooooo good...I tried them a while ago, and ended up making them all before even one week had passed. :)

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  10. What beautiful baby!! Look like he was smiling!!!
    Lovely!!
    And love yours muffins dear Susan look stunning!!!
    hugs and congrats!!

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    1. Thank you, Gloria! I like to think it's a smile too and that he's happy to be here :)

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  11. Congratulations!!!! He is a beautiful baby. How fun and such a blessing. The muffins look great too but I love that baby! Enjoy :)

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  12. Congratulations, Susan! He is so cute...gosh, I love his sweet smile.
    Those bran muffins look glorious...just what I need after an hour workout!

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  13. Gorgeous muffins, Susan, but not nearly as adorable as Bo! Congratulations to everyone! More fun in store for you!

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  14. What a beautiful baby!! What delightful big brothers! Congratulations to all of you!! I have a six-week bran muffin recipe that is great to have on hand. However, your recipe has more goodness in it and may just replace mine.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  15. I loved the muffins but then saw that darling baby and forgot all about the muffins. He is precious! Congratulations!

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  16. I loved seeing your pictures, Susan! Your new little muffin is as adorable as his brothers! Congratulations!!

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  17. Your new Bo shares my birthday...how nice! Congratulations!!! He has no idea the treats in store for him from his sweet Grandma Susan. Loved the shot of the big brothers with him.
    Great photos of some yummy sounding muffins, too.

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    1. Happy Birthday to you, Rett! He has another sweet person born on his day :) Thanks so much!

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  18. I remember making this recipe in the 80's - always a big covered bowl of batter in the fridge. They are really good, even without the addition of fruit etc. Thanks for reminding me of this recipe!

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  19. OMG! He is already smiling! And your daughter looks just like you! I am so happy for you! I am also happy for me, because these muffins look fantastic! Can't wait to see more pics. Congrats to all of you!

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  20. congratulatons Susan, Bo is a little angel , so cute , I'm so happy for you!Muffins look gorgeous indeed, warm hugs !

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    1. Thank you very much, Chiara. It's wonderful to have a baby to cuddle again :)

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  21. Such a happy time! Congratulations to the entire family! These bran muffins looks so inviting I am wanting now to jump out of bed and make them, with dates, cranberries, raisins, you name it! :)

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  22. Hi Susan, another grandbaby, what a beautiful family you have. Everyone looks so happy and healthy. Delicious looking muffins too!

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    1. Thanks so much, Cheri! We feel so fortunate that everyone is well :)

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  23. Congrats on the new addition to the family!! great pic of you both.

    I am loving this idea of stuff you can make and bake as you need. I just read I could do that for a week with pita dough or even freeze it in rounds to bake when you need it-- a few at a time. The muffins look grand

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    1. Your so kind, thank you, Deana! The pita dough recipe sounds great!

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  24. Congratulations of the birth of your grandson Bo! I love his name. He has the fullest head of hair of any baby I've sen a long time--what a handsome charmer--you must be so thrilled, Susan. Best wishes to all!

    The muffins look scrumptious! I love your muffin pan that made them so tall

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    1. Thank you, Pat! You should have seen our first grandson - he had even more hair :) We are thrilled - thanks so much!

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  25. Little Bo is a darling! Congratulations!!!
    Amalia
    xo

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  26. Congratulations to your family! Baby Bo is adorable, and look he is smiling!
    The muffins looks delicious!

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  27. I am so happy for you and your family with this precious new member. How sweet is he and big brothers!
    I just love muffins and this recipe is so great to last for a month in the fridge! They look delicious!

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    1. Thank you very much, Lorraine! We are so happy and blessed that everyone is happy and healthy :)

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  28. Congratulations on the new family member! You like a very happy grandma! These long lasting muffins are perfect for me and my crazy schedule!

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  29. What a beautiful baby boy. Congratulations Susan. You are such a young looking Grandmother too! Ricardo's muffins look great. If the recipe came by way of Monique, I know they must be great.

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  30. Congratulations to you both! Another grandchild, what a blessing! And your bran muffins look divine!

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