They say that the pictures on food blogs should tell a story.
I say, the pictures should make you want to eat the food!
However, in the spirit of the game, let's take a look at what my story would show...
Every recipe starts in one of my many notebooks.
While I'm normally a super-organized person, I have notebooks upon notebooks of scribbled writings and random recipe jots that are almost illegible to myself, much less anyone else.
Inspiration for something will literally hit me at the most inopportune times, and I'll grab whatever pen and paper are closest to get the idea down before it's lost forever.
Once I begin preparing the food for an OWAF photog sesh, I always acquire at least one furry kitchen companion...
Truth be told, whenever I even walk towards the kitchen, Gus is there waiting to 'help' with any crumb droppage.
I typically don't take many pictures of the actual ingredients, frankly because it doesn't interest me to do so.
While food can be beautiful, when I'm searching for a recipe, I want to see pictures of the end product more than anything else. Do the brownies look gooey? Does the bread look fluffy? The cocoa powder and flour that go into a recipe don't tend to curl my toes too much, so I guess that is reflected here. I can definitely appreciate a good-looking piece of produce though...
What you don't see (and probably don't want to) is the final, horrible clean-up...
Depending on how many tries a recipe goes through in a day, my kitchen can be a disaster area! I think my husband actually plans his naps around this time to avoid having to wash a dish. Booooo to you, R. 😉
The mess for these muffins, though, is totally worth it.
They're soft and moist and infused with flavors of upcoming Fall...
I made these with the intention that they'd be enjoyed as snacks or even treats, and they've definitely come in handy! So handy, in fact, I've made four batches (two double batches) in the last two weeks!
They are jam-packed with grated zucchini and apple cubes, making them particularly healthy, and they don't shy away from a handful of chopped walnuts either, if you're so inclined. 🙂
Autumn-Spiced Zucchini Apple Muffins (Vegan)
Ingredients
- ½ c. spelt flour
- 2 T. oat bran
- ¼ t. sea salt
- ¼ t. baking soda
- ½ t. baking powder
- ¾ t. cinnamon
- ½ c. applesauce
- 2 T. dairy-free milk
- 2 T. oil I've used olive, grapeseed, and coconut with great results
- 2 T. maple syrup
- ½ t. vanilla
- ½ c. grated zucchini
- ¼ c. apple chopped into small cubes
- 2 T. chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix the dry ingredients together (flour, bran, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon).
- Mix the wet ingredients together (applesauce, milk, oil, vanilla, zucchini, apple, and walnuts, if using).
- Mix everything together gently just until everything is moistened.
- Divide the mixture into seven paper muffin cups.
- Bake 23-25 minutes.
- Cool and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
You should really get a gander of me taking the pictures too.
I'm literally laying at an awkward angle on our kitchen counter with my face pressed against the only decently lit window we have, and it's not uncommon that I curse this fact.
Upon concluding a pain-inducing picture fest, I have to be watchful of kitchen gnomes...it seems there's always a big-eyed variety waiting to nab a sample of the food model...
What occurs in your kitchen when you're cooking/baking?
Jennifer Weigel
Hi, Lauren.
My muffins are too moist. Top gets done but bottom is soup. Any tips?
Thanks!!
Lauren
Hi Jennifer,
Sorry you had trouble! Can you first tell me if you altered any of the ingredients? That will help me troubleshoot.
Jennifer Weigel
You know what? I did. I couldn’t find spelt flour so used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour. I also substituted ground flax seed for the oat bran. I may go out tomorrow to Whole Foods and get those two items. I also think my baking soda may be old so I got a new box of that. Please let me know if you think my substitutions might be the issue. Thank you!
Lauren
I definitely think it played a part. Baking can be really tricky, so any type of substitution can affect the end result. I hope you get to try them as is, and let me know if you still have trouble. 🙂
Jill
Who hasn't been making apple muffins lately?! These look great and I think zucchini makes for such great healthy muffins 😀 YUM
Isadora
My kitchen is always such a mess after a cooking session too! It seems like it is time to do the dishes ever few hours around here and it is not my favorite thing at all! I agree, beautiful produce is one of my favorite things to photograph. These muffins really do look moist and delicious and I'm hoping that we get some fall weather here soon!
Claudia @Breakfast Drama Queen
These look amazing! I love how healthy they are too 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche
I have never used zucchini in baking before, definitely curious to know what these muffins taste like. Thanks for the great recipe Lauren!
Mike @TheIronYou
Hahahaha Lauren what a great post, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
"I’m literally laying at an awkward angle on our kitchen counter with my face pressed against the only decently lit window we have" -> best line ever!
BTW those muffins look stunning, and so is your little gnome. She's so precious!
Lauren
Lol, thanks Mike! Our gnome is a keeper. 🙂
Sharon
So cute! I love the little story. I would say it's pretty similar in my house, except my notebooks are scrap pieces of paper and, as luck would have it, my fella is all over the dishes. It's our agreement considering I do all of the cooking. Fair's fair, right? Have a great weekend, Lauren! 🙂
Nancy
Would gluten free flour work? If so, would xanthan gum be necessary?
Lauren
Hi Nancy,
You could probably use an all-purpose GF blend, but I haven't tried it. Usually, they have some type of gum or starch already incorporated into the mix. Bob's Red Mill is a popular one! 🙂
Hema
Wow, they look so yummy! Planning of making some today. Just wondering if I can use whole wheat flour instead of spelt flour. TIA
Lauren
Hi Hema,
Whole wheat should work great in here! 🙂
Hema
Thanks Lauren!