Procedure1 Preheat oven to 350F for 15 minutes. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners and use a non stick cooking spray to grease the liners. In a baking sheet toast the wheat germ while the oven is preheating. Have a close watch or else it might burn. Around 5 minutes should be enough.

2 In a large mixing bowl, beat the margarine and sugar until creamy using a hand held electric mixer. Stir in the buttermilk. The mixture appears to be curdled but don’t worry. Also add the prune puree. Add the 1 tablespoon water to the baby food jar and shake it well and then pour it to the rest of the ingredients. Stir in the applesauce and vanilla extract too.

3 Add the rest of the dry ingredients (flour to salt) except the wheat germ to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined; do not over-mix. Lumps in the batter is fine.

4 Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Sprinkle the tops with wheat germ (around 1 teaspoon for each muffin). I usually fill 3 tablespoons of batter for each muffin. Even though the measurement is for 12 muffins, I was able to fill only 11 cups. So fill the 12th cup with water (3/4th of the tin should be enough), to ensure even baking of the muffins.

5 Bake around 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I baked mine for 23 minutes.

6 Remove the muffin tin from the oven and cool it on a wire rack for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes take the muffins out of the pan and let it cool on a wire rack.

Taste If you think that healthy and tasty don’t go together, you have to taste these muffins to change your belief. It is unbelievably tasty for a muffin made with whole wheat pastry flour. No raw smell or bitter after taste, right amount of sugar and amazing texture! I don’t think I will like any other chocolate chip muffin more than this one or try any other recipe, because this is PERFECT. I did skimp on the wheat germ topping because I was not sure if I would like it, but what a surprise, it blended well with the muffin and did not affect the taste. My son loved these muffins.

Another interesting thing, these muffins tasted so good on the day I baked them itself. Usually whole wheat baked goods don’t taste good the same day, it gets better the next day. I know that I cannot resist my temptation to taste it immediately, so I baked these after dinner assuming that it can cool overnight and we can have it for breakfast the following day. But I was able to be patient only for 3 hours. I skeptically took piece of the muffin and was really blown away by the texture and taste and ended up eating the entire muffin. Initially you will be able to smell the baking powder (very mild) but not after the second day.

My Notes1 As per the original recipe you can use either prunes or dates. Blend 1/4 cup chopped prunes or dates with 1/4 cup hot water and puree until smooth. I had a jar of pureed prune, so I used it instead. The 2.5oz jar measures exactly 1/4 cup.

The muffins are brown in color because of the prune puree but that does not affect the taste at all. I think using dates will leave it’s taste in the muffins.

2 The original recipe required one egg white, which can be substituted with 2 tablespoons of any egg substitute. I think the egg white acts as a binder in this recipe. So I used a tablespoon of water (to wash the prune puree jar) and 1 tablespoon applesauce. If you have extra prune/date puree you can use 2 tablespoons of the same.

Cookies

Recipe	Details
	Meeta’s Coconut & Milk Cookies Very simple recipe for cookies made with non fat milk powder and powdered coconut. Prepare the dough while the oven is preheating and you can have freshly baked eggless coconut cookies in no time. Recipe: Ingredients: 1 CUP- ALL PURPOSE FLOUR ½ CUP- NONFAT MILK POWDER 3 tsp – UNSALTED BUTTER 1/3 CUP – SUGAR 2-3 tsp – WHOLE MILK PINCH – BAKING SODA 1CUP- COCONUT POWDER 3-4- CARDAMOM Procedure: 1) Mix all purpose flour and milk powder in a mixing bowl. See that they mix well and there are no lumps. Then add butter, sugar and baking soda. 2) Now add milk I tsp at a time and knead the mixture into a soft dough. 3) Preheat oven to 375 degree. Grease a cookie sheet now and then powder it with all purpose flour. Form small balls of dough and flatten them pressing coconut powder on top. 4) The mixture will form 30-35 cookies. But it depends on the size you choose. 5) Place the cookie sheet on middle rack. They will take 12-13 min to bake. 6) Take them out and let them cool for some time before taking them off the cookie sheet.
	Priya’s (France) Low Fat Oats & Dates Cookies Bake these healthy cookies in a jiffy and see them vanishing within few minutes as well.
	Priya’s (France) Low Fat Strawberry Shortcake In search of a low cal and quick fix dessert? Then look no further. Try this strawberry shortcake.
	Renu’s Low Fat Date Cookies (Mamoul) Enough of the same old chocolate chip cookies. Be daring and try these exotic date filled cookies full of Middle Eastern flavor.
	Sadhana’s & Muskaan’s Low Fat Oat and Almond Meal Cookies Gluten free and a healthy version of the classic thumbprint cookies.
	Sadhana’s & Muskaan’s Low Fat Oats and Peanut Butter Cookies These cookies are not only egg free but gluten free too. A combination of oat flour and quick cooking oats has been used to bake these healthy cookies.
	Sowmya’s Low Fat Butter Cookies Baking butter cookies cannot get any easier.
	Sowmya’s Low Fat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies The traditional oatmeal raisin cookies gets a healthy makeover by using whole wheat flour and very less fat.
	Sweatha’s Soy Date Cookies A small batch cookie recipe with whole wheat flour, soy flour and iron rich dates.

Quick Breads

Recipe	Details
	Madhuram’s Low Fat Oat Flour Cranberry Muffins Oat flour, white whole wheat flour, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts. Perfect breakfast.
	Priya’s (France) Vegan Cornmeal Orange Scones Scones made with heart healthy oats, almonds and good portion of applesauce. Is it not the best way to start your day?
	Sadhana’s & Muskan’s Low Fat Banana Apricot Muffins Muffins baked with whole wheat/pastry flour, oat flour, cracked wheat, apricots and walnuts. What better way to start your day?
	Aarthi’s Banana Raspberry Quick Bread Check this recipe for moist and light egg free banana bread studded with fresh raspberries.
	DK’ Plum & Pecan Quick Bread We may not be lucky like this girl to have a plum tree (and what not) in her backyard, but that’s not going to stop us from baking this yummy and flavor packed quick bread, right?
	Jaya’s Banana Walnut Bread Bananas, coconut, chocolate chips and walnuts. Mmm… yes, another banana bread recipe it is.
	Madhuram’s Low Fat Blueberry Coffee Cake I can’t believe that these light and spongy cakes are egg free and low in fat too.
	Madhuram’s Fat Free Mango Strawberry Quick Bread This is a small batch recipe for a flavorful mango strawberry bread.
	Mukta’s Fat Free Vegan Banana Bread Mashed bananas serve two purposes in the recipe. One as an egg substitute and another as fat substitute and the result is a very moist fat free and vegan banana bread. Recipe: Mukta’s Comments: I followed the exact recipe as mentioned in above link. The only change I made was, I baked it in a 9 inch round cake pan and I decorated it with Banana Slices. We had a ‘Summer Dessert Bake Off’ at work. I was really scared by the look of it; Nonetheless it was a huge hit. I did not add any nuts to keep it fat free. But for next time my parents have already advised me to add nuts and substitute Honey/Maple Syrup for half of the sugar. I was left with extra batter. I added Light Vanilla Soy milk, water and made pancakes.
	Parita’s Fat Free Banana Bread Don’t throw away the over ripe bananas sitting on the kitchen counter. Save it to bake this moist and fat free banana bread.
	Pooja’s Low Fat Persimmon Nut Bread Whole wheat flour, sweet persimmons, ripe banana, chopped nuts, dates and honey to naturally sweeten the bread and tad olive oil. I can eat this all day.
	Priya’s (France) Low Fat Chocolate Banana Loaf The classic banana chocolate bread gets a healthy makeover.
	Vaishali’s Low Fat Vegan Zucchini Bread Whole Wheat flour, grated zucchini and toasted nuts come together and the result is this very moist and low in fat zucchini bread.

Spicy

Recipe	Details
	Aarthi’s Baked Masala Vadai Muffin tins are not for baking only muffins anymore. Use it to bake a low fat version of the deep fried South Indian traditional snack.
	Madrasi_in_MO’s Vegetable Upside Down Casserole Looking for a one pot meal to feed your entire family? Then check this hassle free, nutrients packed veggie casserole.
	Divya’s Low Fat Pretzels Who knew that baking pretzels at home can be so easy?
	Madhuram’s Baked Banana Flower and Lentil Patties Guilt free baked vadais.
	Madhuram’s Low Fat Savory Scones Bored of sweet scones? Then try these spicy ones for a change.
	Parita’s Fat Free Baked Methi Corn Cutlets Bored of the regular potato cutlets? Then why not include sweet corn and methi leaves, bake it instead of frying and give it a healthy makeover!
	Priya’s (France) Baked Lentil Patties (Masala Vadai) Want to eat vadais and still stay in shape? Then say no to the fryer and yes to the oven.
	Priya’s (France) Chickpeas & Bread Rolls Looking for a healthy and easy to make after school snack? Then these baked bread rolls is the answer.
	Priya’s (France) Potato and Soy Stuffed Baked Samosas Spring roll pastry sheets put to a brilliant use. Bake these low cal and low fat samosas and indulge without any guilt.
	Red Chillies’ Garlic Sesame Sticks Garlic Sesame sticks are my favorite and now I can make them at home too!
	Renu’s Low Fat Baked Muthias Want something crunchy and healthy to have with your afternoon tea? Then you are in the right place!
	Sadhana’s & Muskaan’s Black Bean Burger Stop spending money on frozen vegetarian burgers, because it is very easy to make it at home itself. Check it out, if you don’t believe me!
	Sadhana’s & Muskans’s Baked Pakodas Yes, you read it right! Baked pakodas it is! Another favorite of mine.
	Sandhya’ Low Fat Cream Crackers Can you believe that these cute little crackers can be made without any added fat?
	Shri’s Low Fat Vegan Eggplant Rolls I’m sure this simple fat free recipe will turn eggplant haters into eggplant lovers.
	Srilakshmi’s Baked & Low Cal Malai Kofta Malai Kofta (deep fried vegetable balls in cream sauce) is not sinful anymore because the koftas are baked and not deep fried and the fat ladden sauce is made with low cal fresh cream.
	Srilakshmi’s Baked Bean Balls and Spaghetti Protein packed and fat free baked black bean balls (that’s a lot of b’s) is on your way!

Yeast Breads

Recipe	Details
	Mukta’s Vegan Dinner Rolls Dinner rolls made with white whole wheat flour. Mukta also notes that she used soymilk and vinegar to replace the egg in the original recipe but feels flax meal replacement would be even better. She has also omitted the optional melted vegan margarine.
	Mukta’s Vegan Focaccia Get a taste of Italy at home, by baking this super easy Vegan Focaccia bread. Mukta’s Comments: The changes I made: 1. I used White Whole Wheat Flour. 2. I skipped the salt. (to limit sodium content) 3. My dough was bit dry and hence I added more water little by little. (approximately 2-4 tablespoon) 4. Before baking, I made many deep holes in the dough with fingers. 5. I baked it in a 9 inch round cake pan. 6. I did not add red chili flakes or any other seasoning. Thus we can not call it a Focaccia Bread but me and my roommates enjoyed it a lot with Indian Style Chick Pea Curry (Chole) and Black Eye Peas Curry. 7. I also like to eat it for my breakfast with homemade Hummus or Peanut Chutney. Hope you all enjoy this Bread!
	Pooja Sekar’s Low Fat Curry Leaf Buns Wish I had the patience to bake perfect buns like these! With curry leaf, parsley and sesame adding flavor, no doubt that it would taste great.
	Priya’s (France) Low Fat Moroccan Semolina Bread Morocco’s traditional semolina bread is on your way!
	Priya’s (France) Low Fat Sesame and Spinach Buns With generous quantity of whole wheat pastry flour, oats and spinach, these buns are in top of my favorites list.
	Priya’s (France) Moroccan Whole Wheat Bread Moroccan whole wheat bread flavored with anise and sesame seeds.
	Usha’s Low Fat Oat Pav Bread Pav Bhaji fans here comes the healthy version of the pav with oat flour and quick cooking oats.

Others

Recipe	Details
	Nithya’s Low Fat Banana Dessert Beat the heat with this low fat frozen banana bars.
	Nithya’s Low Fat Fruit Stacks Crispy phyllo sheets, colorful and fresh fruits, crunchy nuts and low in fat too. What more can I ask for?
	Priya’s (India) Low Fat Granola Why spend money on high fat, high sugar store bought granola when you have this simple and healthy recipe?
	Sadhana’s & Muskaan’s Low Fat Granola Skip the pricey and high in fat granolas while grocery shopping because you know that the recipe for heatlhy and low fat granola is just a mouse click away.