‘here. “SENIORS ARE “out : exinicing muffins without compromising ree eo BUDGET BEATERS BREAKFAST JS one of the’ hardest meals to organize. - “Owls’? wake up (more or jess) and can’t face more -: than a cup of coffee. Cihers.. He , muffin stay up too late, disturbing their normal. eight hours with a clamoring clock. Shopping. for. adequate breakfast: supplies is often low priority, The box of corn flakes gets heaved into the cart and some frozen juice if someone thinks of Not too bad for a once-in-a- while morning tit easily skipped. I’ve been experimenting around Brien. is a notorious breakfast-skipper. Or worse, he'll ‘grab a couple of chocolate cookies with his coffee. What will appeal to both of us every morning, Monday. to Fri- day? First, we both like fresh grape- fruit or melon. The price of melon is gawdawful just now but I do buy a half a cantaloupe once a week. Grapefruit prices vary but i'm stil! using the five-pound sack I picked up on sale. The secret with any fruit for morning is to prepare it the night - before. It’s no chore to pare two grape- fruit halves or cut a melon but it seems too much bother in the morning. We botli are a bit more eager to get up when there’s a pot of coffee ready and some fruit set out in the fridge. I'd also recommend both tinned grapefruit and tinned apricots as an alternative. Consider stewed dried fruit if you like it — try ad- Si. Pat’s lunch invited to find for themselves that -tastey treasures and good times are not just for leprechauns. The North Shore Neighbour- hood House (NSNH) is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon and birthday party for seniors from 12 to 2 p.m. on Monday, March 15. Participants will enjoy a buffet . luncheon complete .with lots. of” holiday trimmings, Entertainment “mixture and beat ding fresh femon to pruries. First, grate the peel and then squeeze in the juice to stewing prunes. Juices are a speedy alternative but most of the fibre is removed from juice so you aren’t getting full value. However, glasses of juice, poured and covered with plastic wrap.are far more tempting than a warm tin and a can punch. We like eggs and 12-grain toast but | prefer to save that for weekends, Instead, | bake muffins. Uf you freeze them while still warm, they reheat perfectly in the microwave — ullow one minute, full power for each jumbo muffin. A note ahout jumoo muffins: Since | bought two 6-cup jumbo “tins, I've never again made the small ones. The jumbos take only “two minutes longer to bake and are far more moist. One recipe for a dozen regular muffins makes six jumbos, Here are some of my favorite recipes. I've been ex- perimenting every day, trying to get the maximum nutrients into ‘the muffins without compromising "flavor. Oatmeal Muffins, Some New Twists You'll recognize my favorite oatmeal muffins from the basic recipe. They're just fine as is, but my family has really taken (o the added ingredients. Basic recipe: 1 cup buttermilk (if you don't use much buttermilk, look for the 500 mL cartons — they measure ex- actly two cups) I cup raw oatmeal (I recommend the big-flake, old-fashioned slow- cook type — cheap, in bulk) 1 egg V3 cup soft margarine Ys cup packed brown supar i cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Ya teaspoon baking soda Ys teaspoon salt Combine the oatmeal and but- termilk in a mixing bowl. Let stand while you assemble the other ingredients. Add egg, mar- gare and sugar to the oatmeal with electric. mixer until well blended. . If you. are making one of the variations, stir the fruit, vegetables and/or nuts into the wet ingredients. Stir any spices in- to the dry. Measure the dry ingre- dients onto a piece of wax paper set for seniors and a chance to win some door prizes will also be included. A birthday cake and a_ sing-along will wrap up the event, which costs $4.50. People who are: interested in joining the fun, can pre-register at NSNH, 225 E. 2nd St. in North Vancouver. For more information call. 987-8138. TREATMENT OF VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS Why suffer in vein? © Professional medical service ® Sclerotherapy - nonsurgical procedure © Eliminate pain and discomfort * Remove unsightly veins © Used effectively in Europe © Large veins covered by BCMSP © No referrals necessary Spider veins before and after treatment LONSDALE VEIN CLINIC Dr. B Stasiak, M.D. #307-1200 Lousdale Ave., North Vancouver 985-3330 and stir them together. Turn into the first mixture and stir just until no flour shows. Spoon into six jumbo tins (or 12> regular) and bake at 400°F for 20 to 22 minutes, Variations Banana-Nut: 1 very ripe banana (or two small ones) % cup walnuts [ teaspoon vanills Ya teaspoon nutmeg Beat the banana oatmeal-egg mixture mixer. Proceed as.above. Carrot-Spice: M% cup finely grated‘carrat 1 cup raisins (soft, Suitanas) . 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon cinnamon Ys teaspoon cloves Y% teaspoon nuimeg Proceed as in original recipe. Note: The next time | make these, I'm going to add half a cup drained, crushed pineapple. (1 did -~ just today — try it!) Apple Crumble Muffins These are delicious — moist and tender. The apples don't the the into with golden disintegrate and they keep their Navor. 2 cups Nour V2 cup sugar i tablespoon buking powder 1 feaspoon cinnamon Vy teaspoon salt Va cup very soft margarine 1 medium Mac upple, pecied, cor. cd and diced Ms cup sultans raisins 1 egy ¥% cup milk Vz teaspoon cianamon 1 tablespoon brown sugar Measure dry ingredients into niixing bowl, Add margarine and, using electric beater on low, com. bine until it forms very small crumbs, Reserve “4 cup for topp- ing. Stir apple and raisins into re- mainder with a spoon. In a sepa- tate bowl, whip egg with milk un- til well blended. Stir into dry mix- ture. just until blended and no flour shows, Spoon into 6 jumbo cups, Combine reserved dry mix with cinnamon and brown sugar. Sprinkle on top of muffins. Bake at 400°F about 20 minutes. If you like with these, hot chocolue, try it It saves time ff you assemble everything you'll need, both in- gredients and utensils before you begin, Set the oven and then spray your baking Un with non-stick cooking spray, As you use each ingredient, put it away, Utensilssused for measur-: ing dry ingredients don't need washing -~ just wipe off with a piece of paper Cowel and put them away, Either drop the other used utensils into a sinkful of soapy water or stack them in the dish- washer. Wipe up spills as they happen, When you put your muf- fins in the oven, you can turn around to see a spotless kitchen. t often make two batches at the same ume, using the same bowls — they don't need washing in be- tween. Two pans can bake at the sane time, saving electricity. 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