Summer is such a wonderful time for so many different things, but one of my favorites is all of the summer harvesting of berries and other tasty fruits that only ripen in the summer heat. There is nothing better than when I can finally get my hands on some nectarines! I love them so much. There is one thing about them though... Once they ripen, you have a small window of sweet tangy deliciousness before they start to bruise and go bad. Don't stress out too much. I came up with a recipe to make use of those nectarines that have seen better days. If there is nothing better than a ripe nectarine then there is nothing worse than having to throw out several that went bad before I knew it!
Nutritional Highlight: Nectarines. Foods that are brightly colored in red, orange and yellow (plant foods...sorry, cheetos don't count!!! :D) have a wonderful nutrient called Beta-Carotene, which is very important in human health. Beta-Carotene helps the body to produce Vitamin A, which is crucial in maintaining function of the immune system as well as your sight. Another important nutrient found in nectarines is lutein, an antioxidant that helps protect the body from damage to the skin and eyes through fighting free radicals in the body.
Nectarine Muffins (makes 12 muffins)
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs
3 ripe nectarines, pitted and diced (cut out bruised spots, if needed)
Preheat the oven to 375°; grease your muffin pan.
In a mixer or large bowl, combine all ingredients except fruit. Mix well. Fold in diced fruit.
Fill muffin tins with 1/4 cup scoop of batter. Sprinkle tops with brown sugar.
Bake 18 - 20 minutes.
If you can, let them cool. Enjoy!
(These are best right after you bake them. If you need to store them overnight, the fruit may cause them to get soggy. They are still delicious but the texture is changed somewhat.)
Nutritional Analysis:
Per 1 muffin serving: 203 calories, 7.2g fat (.8 saturated, 2g polyunsaturated, 3.8g monounsaturated), 32.5g carbohydrates, 3.6g protein. High in Vitamin E, Calcium, Folate, Iron, Manganese, Niacin, Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Selenium, and Thiamin.
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