(Fake) Chocolate Chip Muffins (with pumpkin)

Description: When we have a play group at our house, these are always the first muffins to be devoured. The kids have no idea that this muffin is so good for them :)

Ingredients:

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup goat's milk (or water or whatever kind of milk you use, unflavored)

1/4 cup canola oil

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed dissolved in 4 Tbsp. hot water

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 cup flour

2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. wheat germ

1/3 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips

Preparation: Preheat oven to 350. Combine pumpkin, milk (or water), oil, flaxseed dissolved in water, vanilla and sugar in mixing bowl and mix to combine. In sifter, put both flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and sift onto wax paper. Then slowly pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix until well combined. Finally, add wheat germ and chocolate chips and stir until well mixed. I like to bake these in a 24 - mini muffin tin. It is so much easier for the kids to eat and they don't make as much mess with the little muffins. Fill tins about 3/4 full and bake immediately. The mini muffins will bake in 12-15 minutes, the larger muffins cook for about 20-25 minutes. To make sure they are done, simply tap the top of a muffin in the middle of the tin and if it bounces back, they are done.

Alterations: Using fresh roasted and pureed pumpkin is so much better than the canned pureed pumpkin. I won't say this often, but with pumpkin you won't believe the difference in taste! You can also make this into a loaf instead of into muffins. If your family is not used to whole wheat flour just start small by using 1 1/3 cup white flour and 1/3 cup whole wheat flour. They won't be able to tell it is in there.

Rating: These muffins get 5 stars from my crew as well as all the kids that come to my house. (Sometimes they even ask to take some home with them.)