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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Seeking, Searching - Finding

Sorted & labeled

Well...
I've been searching for a good muffin recipe and google was not being very helpful.
I kept getting sweet muffin recipes, what I wanted was savory.
I guess it helps if you put savory in your search criteria.
 Cheese, bacon, corn, all very good
but not what I wanted either.
It finally hit me, try herb.
Better, but not great.
Then I found a plain muffin recipe at all recipes.com with suggestions on fillings.
They were mostly sweet suggestions but at least I had a place to start.
They're called Best Ever Muffins, and I have to agree.
They baked up more like a biscuit than a cupcake or muffin,
but were still moist and light.
I did five variations, two with herbs and three with sweets. All mini muffins.

1. dill & red pepper flakes
2. rosemary, onion flakes & parmesan cheese
3. poppy seeds & raspberry jalapeño jam
4. nutmeg, cinnamon & carrot cake jam
5. nutmeg, cinnamon & quartered, large gumdrops
Numbers 3,4,5 - I put a small amount of batter into the cups first,
then the jam/gumdrop, then filled with more batter. I only used a scant
 teaspoon of the jams, or at least tried to.

Here's the recipe if you're interested.

Best Ever Muffins
2 cups flour                                                                                                 1 egg
3 tsp. baking powder                                                                                1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt                                                                                                 1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar (I cut the sugar to 1/4 cup on all variations)

1. Preheat oven to 400° 
2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt & sugar in a large mixing bowl (add herbs if using).
Make a well in the center. Set aside.
3. In a glass measuring cup add the milk, oil & egg. Blend together.
(I added the milk first to the 1 cup measurement, then the oil till  the liquid was at 1 1/4 cups then the egg.
Saves washing so many utensils)!
4. Pour the wet into the dry & mix lightly, should be lumpy.
5. Spoon batter into oiled or paper lined muffin cups.
6. Bake for 25 minutes for regular size, 20 minutes for minis.
7. Remove pan from the oven onto a sturdy wire rack, let sit for 5 minutes, 
 then remove muffins from pan to a cooling rack.


In progress
The jams were made by my friend Loretta, (traded soap).

If you happen to be on my Christmas list....
 I guess you know what you're gettingJTJTJ

Till next time,

Make some expresso and taste test!
Bonjour

P.S. Was meeting someone at What-A-Burger
to deliver soap & saw this in the backseat of a guys car.
Giant piñata?
He was from Michigan.
WHAT???


4 comments:

Lynda said...

OMG! That is really a scary looking pinata! I'll try the muffin recipe later this week. I have grand kids that need to be entertained and some baking may just be the ticket.

Sue from Ky. said...

So glad you are finding time to cook for the Holidays,over and above your job. It's such a peaceful change from our normal daily routine. It seems we will be visiting the funeral home once more. So much to do at this time of year, but folks who have lost a lovesd one, need comforting,especially during the Christmas Season. That is usually the time when being with family and close friends means so much.Comforting the bereaved family is more important than shopping or cooking for our own family.I'm copying your recipe for later use. Thanks!

Inger said...

You really have been very, very busy. I know it must feel great to have all those goodies done.

Nancy said...

I think that pinata is asking for help -- perhaps it was abducted? :)