Multigrain Carrot-Date Muffins

January has its charms. It's during this month that I get especially excited about cooking and baking again - not for a crowd and not to impress, but just for us at home. I am trying a boatload of new recipes and am already set to add a couple winners into the regular rotation. 

So while all I really want to do is post adorable photos of the cat right now, let me share my new favorite muffin: The Multigrain Carrot-Date Muffin, from the Sprouted Kitchen cookbook. I made these the first morning we were back in town after Christmas and they lasted for the better part of the week. I like them because they're hearty and not too sweet, but the dates provide gooey pockets of sweetness that made me feel indulgent. I ate them plain, but I was thinking a maple butter or plain cream cheese or yogurt would have been lovely as well. They continued to stay moist and yummy as the days went on, especially after a quick dip in the microwave which made the dates gooey again. There are a lot of textures from the almond meal, whole wheat flour, dates and carrots, but when they're fresh and warm, they kind of melt in your mouth.

Multigrain Carrot-Date Muffin from The Sprouted Kitchen

By the way, they are extremely good with coffee. Dream team.

Another dream team: suntime naps and kitties.