[.ca] The Smart Baking Cookbook: Muffins, Cookies, Biscuits ... (ISBN 1557045224)

The healthiest and best tasting:
I've never done this-write a review. But someone gave this book only 2 stars, and that really bothers me. The author's other baking books, now almost impossible to find, were very highly rated, and rightly, and this one is the best of them all-and comprehensive. Oh, yes, there are a few ingredients you'll need to buy at a health food store. BUT, well worth the trip. Bake up a batch of her wonderful muffins, and watch your kids devour them as mine did. I made a batch of the apple pecan, by choice, to start my family off on a cross-country trip-they are special. The cookies are unbelievable. The baked goods too. There are many ideas for substitutions, and many ideas for those special needs-like diabetes, coronary artery disease, allergies (the wheat-free, egg-free, sugar-free, low-fat, etc.) AND everything not only tastes good, but also is good for you, loaded with nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits, vegetables.... Easy to follow instructions, flawless recipes. Delicious results, for those of us who don't eat white bread. For those who do, expand your horizons. Really, this book is a stand out in health-oriented baking-I should know, I've bought them all. I can promise you two things: one, you will not like every recipe, some you won't even try; and two, you will love most of the recipes and find yourself making them again and again.

Healthy, but not easy:
Jane Kinderlehrer has a lot of creative ideas for muffin recipes, but many key ingredients are obscure (lecithin granules) or take extra time to prepare (a special concoction of seeds & granola). Many healthy items are used as additives, put into many of the recipes, rather than with an eye toward creating a uniquely delicious item. I guess if you're looking for how to sneak in lots of nutrients when you bake, this book might be helpful.