8-Week Cholesterol Cure: Oat Bran Muffins

Had my cholesterol tested this week. The ratio was barely okay but the total numbers were high. Have been reading The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure for ideas and today had my first serving of hot oat bran for breakfast. Following the package the servings were way too large, I think I only had half. (served with blueberries and NF milk). Was very good and didn't take that long to make. I like oatmeal so can easily make this switch to help lower my numbers.

The author of the book though doesn't like hot cereal so instead he makes muffins. In reading it sounded like his basic recipe was too dry so I made some changes. I didn't have (1/4 c) dates or raisins so I added three bananas, I added a little vanilla and almond extract, a put in 3 egg whites instead of 2. But other than that was the http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=637203 same recipe.

2.25 c oat bran
.25 c nuts
.25 c dates (I used 3-bananas)
1 T baking powder
.25 c brown sugar
1.25 c NF milk
2 egg whites (I used 3-egg whites)
2 T oil
(added a little vanilla and almond extract)

I mixed in a food processor.

Baked around 15 minutes at 425 degrees

Was supposed to make 12 muffins, but with my additions somehow it came to 24 muffins!  I'd expect a few more as the volume of the bananas was more than the dates but it's really a mystery to me what happened.  Since I ended up with so many, to add variety after the batter was in the cupcake tin: to six muffins I added 5-blueberries, to six muffins I added 3-chocolate chips, to twelve I added a few pecans.

Mr Kowalski says to have three of his muffins everyday (along with other things), since I have 24 muffins though I guess I'm supposed to have 6 of them to get the recommended amount of oat bran!  The first one I had was delicious, I can vary the taste with different fruit so will be doable.  If I can get some dates or raisin, I'll wait until it's a little cooler this evening to make an batch that follows the basic recipe exactly so I can see how many muffins I end up with.

It was easy to have my cholesterol tested without going to the doctor's lab.  Our local store has a man come by every other month from http://fingerstick.com  It's less expensive than Minute Clinic thru CVS.  This is one thing that is not available in MA.

In a few weeks I'll go to regular doctor for my check-up... hopefully the numbers will be lower then!