Morning Glory Muffins with a Zucchini Twist

Would you like to join me for some Morning Glory Muffins with a Zucchini Twist? 

I changed up my original Morning Glory Muffins found here, and I like these just as well.  I also set my first tea of Spring on my patio.  My waterfall is cleaned out, and even though my son and I cover it with a large screen during the Fall and Winter, to keep the needles from my Bald Cypress tree from going in, it still gets messy.  

Isn't this the sweetest tea set?  My friend Michele sent this to me several years ago, and it has two teacups along with the pretty teapot that says, "Delight yourself in the Lord".  The pansy pattern is perfect for Spring.

I used the other saucer to hold my delicious muffin.  The muffins were so delicious that my son, Mike, ate 9 of them!  How in the world does he stay so thin???

Yield: 18

Author: Kitty

Morning Glory Muffins with a Zucchini Twist

I changed up my Morning Glory Muffins by adding some zucchini and also using all whole wheat flour, cutting back on the sugar and adding some walnut oil, and walnuts.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup walnut oil + 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup grated carrots
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1/2 cup dates (or raisins)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1 apple, peeled, cored, and grated
• Sparkling sugar for garnishing the tops, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Into a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugars, soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in carrots, zucchini, dates or raisins, walnuts, coconut, and apples.
3. In a bowl, beat the eggs, and then add the oils and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture into just combined. Add the sparkling sugar for added crunch, if desired.
4. Spoon batter into well oiled muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes and then turn the oven down to 350 degrees. Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until muffin springs back when touched. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, and then turn out on rack to cool completely.

Notes

I used my food processor to grate the carrots, zucchini, and the apple.

Starting the muffins at a higher temperature and then turning down 50 degrees after five minutes, supposedly makes for higher muffins.

My little waterfall is so peaceful and I'm so thankful for the joy that it brings me. My patio is my favorite room and the little garden surrounding it is easy for me to maintain and plant.  So many of my plants did not come back this year, such as my holly ferns that I've had for years, and others.  

My birdhouse that has a "Wrent Free" sign on the front has two little wrens busy, busy building a nest inside.  I wanted to turn the house, but I'm going to wait until after the birdies have left their home.

Thank you for your visit!  xo

I'm sharing with these parties:

Talking About It Tuesdays

Love Your Creativity Link Party

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's Country Cottage