Frugal Friday: Smoothies & Muffins

As part of my frugal mindset, when I am shopping, I look at an item and say, "Could I make that myself?"  If the answer is "yes," then I rarely buy it.  This includes food.  Buying food in a restaurant usually costs much more than it costs to make it at home.  You can make a whole pan of delicious bran muffins to share, instead of paying $3 at the coffee shop for just one muffin!  I have a couple breakfast/snack recipes that I have adapted over the years, and enjoy often:  Fruit & Yogurt Smoothies and Bran Muffins.  Smoothies are especially satisfying if you have grown and/or picked the fruit yourself!  

Berry Smoothie- serves 2

1/2 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries

1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries 

(OR, substitute the equivalent of 1 cup of berries of your choice)

3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple or orange juice

1 cup of vanilla yogurt (or plain yogurt with a dash of vanilla and honey)

In a blender, combine the berries and juice.  Add the yogurt.  Blend until smooth.  

Bran Muffins- makes 12 muffins

1 cup bran

1/4 cup wheat germ

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 beaten egg

3/4 cup applesauce

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup molasses

dash of vanilla

1 Tbl. oil

1/2 cup dates, raisins, or diced dried apricots

Prepare muffin tin, and set aside.  In a med. bowl, combine dry ingredients and make a well in the center.  Add egg, applesauce, milk, molasses, oil, and vanilla.  Stir just until moistened; batter should be lumpy.  Fold in dried fruit.  Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups.  Bake in preheated 400* oven for 16-18 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.  Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 min. Remove from muffin cups; serve warm.  

Edited to Add:  Keeper of the Home has broken down the cost per serving- check it out! 

For more Frugal Friday ideas, visit Biblical Womanhood!  

If you are reading my Simple Living series, go here for Part 1.  Join me next week for Part 2!