Banana Bran Muffins

Overly ripe bananas are a dream ingredient to frugal bakers like me (especially before summer time rolls around).  You want fresh fruity flavor, but don't want to shell out $3.99 to buy a pint of blueberries from Chile?  Not a problem.  Just let some bananas get brown on your counter, mix with a few pantry staples and some buttermilk, and you've got yourself a delicious baked good.

 Banana Bran Muffins

2 eggs

2/3 cup light brown sugar

¼ cup canola oil

1 tsp vanilla

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup wheat bran

2 tbsp flax seed meal

1 cup wheat flour

¾ cup AP flour

1½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

1¼ cups buttermilk 

½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Whisk together eggs, brown sugar, canola oil, and vanilla until well combined.  Add the mashed bananas to the egg mixture.  In a separate bowl, combine wheat bran, flax seed meal, wheat flour, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.   Alternate adding the dry mixture and the buttermilk to the egg mixture until everything is incorporated (don't over mix).  Pour batter into muffin pan coated with non-stick spray or lined with muffin cups.  Top with walnuts if desired.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes (or until a tester comes about clean).