Bran Muffins

Well, I had a bran muffin recipe from growing up that was made with cereal, but it was super sweet & Aaron asked me to look into healthier recipes.  So, here is the one I used as a base and here is my modification.  I did also double the recipe once and use 1/3 c. oil and 1/3 c. applesauce.

1 1/2 c. wheat bran (health food or baking aisle)

1 c. buttermilk

1/3 c. oil

1 egg

2/3 c. brown sugar

1/2 t. vanilla

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

Preheat oven to 375*F.  Grease muffin tin.  Mix together bran and buttermilk and let stand 10 minutes.  Beat together sugar, apple sauce, egg, and vanilla.  Add to bran mixture.  Whisk together remaining dry ingredients and add slowly to wet mixture.  Do not over-mix.  Bake 15 mins.  

Other reviewers of this recipe suggested pureed pumpkin instead of the applesauce and the addition of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.  Some have added raisins, shredded carots, or nuts.  

Knock-off Little Caesar's Crazy Sauce

1 can tomato puree
1/4 t each of basil, oregano, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder
1/2 t salt

Combine all ingredients in saucepan and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes. Cool some before trying to use for dipping breadsticks or "pizza bones" (Aaron's word for pizza crusts because they would feed them to the dog in his family).  

WARNING:  I thought this was way over salted and so did Aaron.  I think next time I will halve or quarter the salt (especially since most breadsticks and pizza are already very salty).  

*EDIT*  I made it again and halved the salt.  I thought it still could have less salt in it, but it was much better.