One of my favorite muffin recipes.

Last night Mom and I were talking that by the end of winter it seems like we eat the same thing over and over and over again. So we decided to try something new. Mom made a soup we hadn't had in a while and told me to find a new muffin recipe. (Muffins go really well with soup.) So I presented her with a couple and we decided on this one. It's called Trail Mix Muffins. I changed things around a little and used dried dates instead of apricots and walnuts (which go super great with dates) instead of peanuts. I also left out the raisins, used regular oatmeal instead of the cereal, and raspberry chocolate chips instead of normal ones.

Trail Mix Muffins (original recipe)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granola cereal without raisins
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
1/2 raisins
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cereal, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the chips, peanuts, raisins and apricots.
Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm. Yield: about 1-1/2 dozen.

These go great with soup, make a filling breakfast, and would be perfect on the go. All the nuts and dried fruits are wonderful energy boosters and the chocolate, well thats what makes them taste so good.