“A book reads the better which is our own, and has been so long known to us, that we know the topography of its blots, and dog’s ears, and can trace the dirt in it to having read it at tea with buttered muffins.” ~ Charles Lamb, English poet, critic, and essayist (1775-1834)

Some of you have written that you enjoyed the post for Cornmeal Muggies on June 16th and two readers asked if I could come up with a similar chocolate muffin. The trick is to give the treat some redeeming nutritional value but keep it fast and tasty, and still deliver just a single serving.

Since it is easy to disguise whole grains in a muffin, this was the obvious way to go — and work out, it did! Whole grains are better for us because they contain the dietary fiber that helps with weight loss, fighting cancer, and lowering cholesterol.

For those of us who were raised on white bread with soft crusts, whole wheat can be an acquired taste. If you have the desire but can’t seem to get past the difference, muffins are a good place to start because they lend themselves well to including a variety of textures. However, if you’ve already given up on whole wheat, the good news is that Chocolate Oatmeal Muggies work equally well with refined white flour. Or, you could use half white, half wheat, and then say, “These aren’t half bad!”

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL MUGGIES

Serves 1
Time: 5 minutes

2 teaspoons canola oil
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 tablespoons flour (whole wheat is best)
4 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons chopped walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt

Measure ingredients in the order given into a microwave-safe mug that can hold 10 to 12 ounces of liquid. Stir with a fork to blend ingredient into a smooth batter, about 15 strokes, being sure to scrape the bottom edges. Immediately place into microwave oven and bake on high for 1 minute. Allow to rest for 3 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the Muggie and tipping it out onto a plate.

There are worse ways to start your day! If you are feeling adventuresome, try making your Chocolate Oatmeal Muggie with cold coffee in place of water, then let us know what you think.