These Lemon Blueberry Muffins have a not so hidden ingredient, pureed spinach. Perfect for St Patrick's Day or Ninja Turtle fans.
Every month the Crazy Ingredient Challenge Bloggers choose two ingredients that may not normally be paired together and make a recipe from them. This month we chose Spinach and Blueberries. I could have gone with a salad or a smoothie, but I like to push the envelope a bit with the CIC. So, I came up with these TMNT Mutant Muffins (actually Lemon Blueberry Muffins with spinach puree).
Be sure to scroll past the recipe to see what the other bloggers created with our ingredients.
Yes, I hide vegetables in baked goods. Yes, I use marketing names for recipes to try to entice my son to eat them. If you don't approve, you don't have to do the same thing. As for me, I do whatever it takes to get this face when he eats spinach.
The recipe is adapted from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld (affiliate link, see disclaimer here). She uses yellow squash to give them a nice lemony yellow hue which would be nice, but I needed to use spinach. I also substituted real butter instead of the trans-fat free tub margarine. Oh wait, coconut oil is now the "in" fat to use. I am out of that at the moment.
Despite the green appearance, these taste like Lemon Blueberry Muffins. You don't taste the spinach at all. And if you are careful and puree it thoroughly plus puree it again with the yogurt you don't see any flecks of spinach either, just an even bright green hue.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- 1 cup lowfat lemon yogurt
- ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 4 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin tin or line with cupcake liners.
- In a microwave safe dish cover spinach leaves with water and microwave one minute (or use a small saucepan and simmer for about 2-3 minutes until spinach is starting to cook, don't over cook!).
- Put the spinach leaves and a tablespoon or two of water into a blender and puree until smooth. Add yogurt and puree another few seconds until blended.
- In a medium bowl, mash together butter and sugar with a wooden spoon until blended.
- Add egg, lemon extract and lemon zest and beat until combined. Add spinach yogurt mixture and hand mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine with liquid ingredients until just combined.
- Fold blueberries into the batter.
- Pour into prepared muffin tin and bake for about 13-15 minutes (until toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
Great idea making muffins. I totally agree with hiding veggies in kids (and adult's) foods.
Kelster
I love the name! Whatever you have to do to get kids to eat. I'll have to try these with the lemon - definitely a great addition to the muffins.
Audrey
that's my motto too!
Spatulas On Parade - Dawn
I love the photo! TMNT that is so cool. I love blueberries and lemon together so I'm sure I would eat these up.
Audrey
I thought they were fabulous. Hubby wouldn't touch them, ha ha!
Marilyn Lesniak
Thank you for sharing at #The RecipeShareParty Pinned yummed and tweeted.
jeremy@thirstydaddy
I'll confess to not being much of a baker, but calling a green veggie a TMNT food as a way of getting my daughter to try something may be worth a shot #fridayfrivolity
Audrey
A parent has to do what a parent has to do...
Sandy KS
What is this challenge you speak of? I never heard of it. It sounds like fun.
I wonder if I can pass this off to my family. It is a very creative idea.
I found your blog from a friend on Facebook sharing it.
Audrey
We are always looking for more members. Just send an e-mail to Lori to join us.
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi)
I love this idea! So far Marianna is really good with her fruit and veggies - it's her dad who needs to be tricked into eating them 😉 #FridayFrivoltiy
Audrey
I have been known to trick my husband too. shhh!
Sarah Eliza @devastateboredom
What a brilliant recipe! Love this. 🙂 So smart and yummy... pinning and tweeting #FridayFrivolity
Audrey
Technically the veggies weren't hidden in these since I did tell him before I made them.