Light Muffins: Over 60 Recipes for Sweet and Savory Low-Fat Muffins and Spreads

Like the low-fat muffins starring in these sure-to-please 60-plus recipes, this collection packs a lot of flavor in a palm-sized package. Ojakangas (Quick Breads Light Desserts) begins with a short course in technique (mix batter ``just until the dry ingredients are moistened'') and an explanation of how she reduced fat content to 30% or less while maintaining the characteristic flavor and tenderness of muffins (e.g., increasing amount of liquid, shortening baking time, raising oven temperature). Included among such traditional offerings as Breakfast Apple Muffins (with oatmeal, diced Granny Smith apple, currants and spices) and Orange-Cranberry Muffins, are slightly more elegant variations: Hazelnut-Pear, with lemon zest and nut oil, and Hot Cross Muffins, calling for cake flour and nonfat yogurt. Savory muffins include those made with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach and Dilly Cheese Muffins, made moist with nonfat cottage cheese. The chapter Dessert Muffins includes Chocolate Spice-Zucchini, using cocoa powder, nonfat buttermilk and nut oil. Recipes for fat-free muffins, most made with fruit purees, and spreads are included in this reliable, tempting collection. (July)