Apple 'n' Oats Muffins

Wow! It's been almost a month since my last post. I feel bad and now I'm back to stop this procrastination and laziness... hopefully it'll last. Anyhoo, I'm in Virginia now and I just went apple picking in Charlottesville! I'm so glad I came down to visit bubs when the weather was not too cold for my Californian blood. The leaves are all kinds of colors and it was so romantic :) We picked fuji and pink lady apples. They seriously taste crazy fresh and sweet. Very unlike the old apples you'll find in supermarkets. So here's a recipe putting apples into my favorite breakfast item...muffins!

Give The Bonding Hormone to cheating men!
I first learned of Oxytocin as the hormone that triggers uterine contractions during child labor. But after some classes at Georgetown and reading this article, oxytocin is also super important in pair-bonding in couples. The levels of the hormones increase in humans after they enter a romantic relationship and after good physical contact with that partner (as in petting and holding hands...or more...). This study gave intranasal delivery (shot up the nose) of oxytocin and showed that it could improve communication in couples, emotional reading from facial expressions and increase trust!

Even more impressive is that there is now evidence that oxytocin can help maintain monogamous relationships. Married men given the hormone stayed FURTHER AWAY from attractive women than men lower oxytocin. Wow... we need to jump on this band wagon ladies..

Apple 'n' Oats Muffins
Makes 11-12 muffins

Ingredients
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
1 1/2 tsps baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp nutmeg for warmth :)
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup plain yogurt, fat free
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup veggie oil (I used grape seed oil)
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cup apples, diced (Granny Smith's)

Streusel Topping
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp oats
3 tbsp flour
2 tbsp coarse sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a muffin pan with butter or line with paper cups.
2. In a large bowl, mix the oats, flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, sugar and salt.
3. In a smaller bowl, beat eggs lightly with yogurt, oil and vanilla extract. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
4. Stir in chopped apple and swirl honey into batter
5. Spoon batter 3/4 up pan, mix streusel topping ingredients and crumble on top 
6. Bake 16-20 mins or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean
7. Let them cool for about 5 minutes before devouring them out of the pan!