Apple, Carrot and Zucchini Muffins

How many of you are on the "my child won't eat his/her veggies train?" There have been many people comment to me about my last post saying "WOW, Bennett will eat spinach??? My child won't touch his/her veggies!" Let me tell you that the quest to get Bennett to eat his veggies has been a rollercoaster and has recently been on the downhill slope. When Bennett was an infant he LOVED sweet potato, carrots, turnips, zucchini, etc. But now, he won't have anything to do with the majority of vegtables offered at mealtime. His lack of interest in his veggies got me thinking..."how can I make sure Bennett gets his veggies and still offer veggies at the same time (though he won't eat them)? My solution: find as many recipes as I can that essentially "hide veggies" in them but are still yummy and appealing to a toddlers eye. I like recipes where veggies can be exchanged for one another, and better yet, recipes that contain two or more veggies and fruit as well. That's why I was super excited when I came across this recipe for Apple, Carrot, Zucchini Muffins! Not only does Bennett LOVE any kind of "bread" you put in front of him, but he is getting FOUR different food groups in just one muffin! (Grain, Protien, Fruit and Vegtables) Another great thing about these muffins is that they can be frozen as well! The recipe makes 22 regular sized muffins and would make twice that in mini muffins. I encourage you to give it a try! Making sure your little one gets all the nutrients he/she needs isnt easy, but with a little planning, preparing, and a little help from your spouse/significant other (yes, daddy has to watch the babies while mommy cooks :)) your little one will be getting his fruits AND veggies and begging for another muffin!

Here is the recipe:

Zucchini, Carrot and Apple Muffins
adapted slightly from Amy's Bread, NYC
print recipe

3 cups flour
1 1/8 cups sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sweetened coconut
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
4 large eggs

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 cups peeled grated carrots
2 cups zucchini, unpeeled
2 cups granny smith apples, grated
3/4 cup walnut pieces, or 3/4 cup golden raisins or both

Position rack in middle of oven. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin tins.
In large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, coconut, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and baking powder, whisk together.
In another medium size bowl, whisk eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add grated carrots, zucchini and apples. Stir together, until all fruit and vegetables are mixed well.
pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients all at once. Fold until all incorporated. Fold in nuts and raisins if using. The batter will be very thick.
Scoop the batter into greased muffin pan using a large cookie scoop. Or use a large spoon or measuring cup. Fill the muffin tins almost to the top to insure full, rounded muffin tops.
Bake at 400 for ten minutes, lower oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 6 minutes. Check the muffins by inserting a toothpick in center, if it comes out clean, muffin is done.
Leave the muffin in the tin for about ten minutes, then loosen edges with a butter knife and remove from pan to cool.

Tips:
-I used unpeeled, cored Macintosh apples.
-I did not add the nuts or golden raisins! Im still a bit freaked out about nut allergies..
-The original recipe calls for 12 large muffins. I thought the muffins would be too big as a large muffin, especially since these are dense, filling muffins. I baked the muffins in regular size muffin tins. The recipe yielded about 22 regular size muffins.
-Since I did not make the muffins into 12 large muffins, I cut the baking time. The original recipe calls for 400 degrees- ten minutes, rotate the pan, lower temperature to 350, then bake for an additional 22-25 minutes. Maybe this was a misprint? That would total at least 32 minutes. Way too long. My muffins were done baking in 16 minutes flat.
-Super moist. Great texture. These freeze well.