Cream cheese apple muffins

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 tablespoon lemon juice + lemon zest from 1/2 lemon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup peeled, diced tart apples (2-4 small Granny Smiths)

1/2 cup bran flakes cereal or oatmeal (crunchy/ chewy stuff that doesn't soften too easily)

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about five minutes. 

Add the cream cheese and blend in well.
Add each egg, one at a time, mixing well until the egg is completely blended in. 

Add the milk, vanilla and lemon juice + zest. Mix well.

Mix the dry ingredients together (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt & cinnamon).
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until just combined. You can do this part by hand if it will help you keep from overmixing the batter.
Fold in apples and bran flakes.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. 

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.