Apple Muffins

Ingredients

 * 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)
 * 1 1/2 cups peeled, cored, finely diced Apples (any baking or all-purpose variety)
 * 1 large egg
 * 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar or sucanat
 * 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
 * 1 cup soy milk or low-fat milk
 * 1 3/4 cups whole-Wheat pastry flour
 * 1/4 cup wheat germ
 * 2 tsp. baking powder
 * 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Directions

 * 1) Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
 * 2) In medium bowl, whisk egg well, then whisk in brown sugar until dissolved. Whisk in oil, then milk, until smooth. Set aside.
 * 3) In large bowl, mix together flour, wheat germ, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice. Gradually add milk mixture to flour mixture and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a smooth, stiff batter forms. Stir in Apples and walnuts if desired.
 * 4) Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Bake until golden and toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes, then turn muffins out onto rack and cool completely.