For those who want Extra Fiber

Pumpkin Barley Oat Streusel Muffins

Barley flour can be purchased in some supermarkets, specialty and health food stores. Rather than trying the recipes developed by www.hamiltonsbarley.com, who provided the flour, I tested the recommended substitution - 1 cup (250 ml) barley flour for equal parts flour - on a favourite recipe. These muffins, originally from my book The Enlightened Eater's Whole Foods Guide, have the double whammy of fibre from both barley and oats.


Streusel:
1/4 cup oats (any variety, uncooked) 50 ml
1 tbsp firmly packed brown sugar 15 ml
1 tbsp soft margarine, melted 15 ml
Pinch pumpkin pie spice Pinch
Muffins:
1-1/2 cups barley flour 375 ml
1 cup oats (any variety, uncooked) 250 ml
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 175 ml
2 tbsp coarsely chopped nuts 25 ml
1 tbsp baking powder 15 ml
1-1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 7 ml
1/2 tsp baking soda 2 ml
1/4 tsp salt 1 ml
1 cup canned or cooked pumpkin 250 ml
3/4 cup skim or 1% milk 175 ml
1/3 cup vegetable oil 75 ml
1 egg, lightly beaten 1




Line 12 medium muffin cups with paper baking cups or lightly grease bottoms only.

Streusel: In small bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, margarine and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well and set aside.

Muffins: In large bowl, combine barley flour, oats, brown sugar, nuts, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt; mix well. In separate bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, oil and egg. Add to dry mixture and mix just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fill muffin cups almost full.

Sprinkle streusel evenly over batter, patting gently. Bake in 400 F (200 C) oven for 22 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let muffins stand a few minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm. Makes 12 muffins


Per muffin nutritional information: calories: 220; protein: 5 g; fat: 8 g; saturated fat: 1 g; carbohydrate: 34 g; dietary fibre: 4 g; sodium: 78 mg.


Rosie Schwartz is a Toronto-based consulting dietitian and is the author of The Enlightened Eater's Whole Foods Guide: Harvest the Power of Phyto Foods (Viking Canada).