Tuesday, January 13, 2009

TWD: Savory Corn and Pepper Muffins

This was some good timing. Right now in Chicago it's very snowy and cold. Mind you, I'm not complaining. I need to have a change of seasons. Check back with me in two months when I just DO NOT WANT TO SHOVEL ANY MORE. But for now, I'm enjoying it. I was so glad to have the chance to make something savory. We enjoy cornbread a lot at our house. The girl and boy like anything bread-like. But the girl really likes mini corn muffins.



Good thing I have a mini muffin pan!

These were not standard corn muffins. They called for sweet red pepper, cilantro, chili powder, and jalapeno (Which I skipped. Too spicy for the kids. My kids, anyway.) It added a really nice touch of color. I also used a more coarsely ground cornmeal. It gave the muffins and extra bit of crunch to the texture. I did use the full three tablespoons of sugar. I like the crust on the muffin when sugar is added. They were incredibly easy to make. Two bowls, one muffin tin, and one rubber spatula brought it all together.



The red of the pepper and the green of the cilantro added to the appearance of the muffins. You can even see the specks of chili powder.



These ended up being nicely corn flavored but pretty mild in terms of the other flavors. Maybe I should have added the hot peppers.

We enjoyed this recipe. I would certainly make it again. I will admit to having a favorite recipe that goes into my cast iron skillet. But, if I wanted to make a muffin version, I would certainly try this again.

Thanks Rebecca from Ezra Pound Cake for choosing this recipe. You can find how to make these on her web site. I'm pretty sure I'm skipping next week's recipe. It's fairly labor intensive. Mostly, I need to have fewer sweets in my house so I'll eat less. That's the theory, anyway. We'll see what I end up doing.

32 comments:

Sabrina said...

Those look so good! I didn't make mine, but I hope to in the future! Yum!

Unknown said...

Your muffins look great!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love your little minis! I usually love to go the mini-route, too, with things, but the guys were very enthusiastic about this recipe and THEY are NOT into minis...LOL. Yours look just beautiful! Oh, and by the way, it is snowing here...you can just keep that right up there with you, okay???? No need to send any more of it down here in Indiana. I am so over winter...looking longingly at that pool and counting the days....

Cathy said...

I love how colorful these muffins are. I think they add a bit of extra fun to a southwestern meal. I am glad that your family liked them, and that you have a new addition to your cornbread arsenal! Oh, and I am jealous of your snow - I miss having seasons.

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

Glad everyone liked the muffins! Have fun shoveling snow! :)

Megan said...

It seems like everyone has a favorite skillet recipe - but so far, I haven't seen it! I do love cornbread, but I made a chocolate tart instead.

I think I made the right choice!

BAKE-EN said...

Your muffins look great. I'm with you on needing less goodies in the house. I think my subconcsious new years resolution was to eat any and everything in front of me.

Anonymous said...

The crust looks great! I liked the crunchy corn meal too.

Anonymous said...

Love the mini's. I only made six big muffins, but they were really good. Yours look very tasty!

chocolatechic said...

We thought that they were fabulous.


I love mini muffins.

Shelby said...

muffins look great!

Tammy said...

hmm maybe I should try making them again with a coarser cornmeal. Myabe that is why mine were a bit boring - not enough texture?

Unknown said...

Great job, Jules! I can smell them from here!

Marthe said...

Love the mini's!!

Kristin said...

Nice job! We enjoyed them too!

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I enjoyed your post, Jules. The minis are so cute, and I'm glad everyone liked them. I put in a hot (hot) pepper but the muffins weren't really that spicy, just full of flavor.

And I'll tell you: that recipe for next week is QUITE labor intensive. I don't do complicated very often, and mine turned out interesting, shall we say? One thing you could do is take Dorie's suggestion and just make the topping to serve with fruit.
Nancy

Anonymous said...

Wow, these look great! So golden. I was ready for a savory recipe, too. About to OD on sugar around here.

Leslie said...

Yours look beautiful! I also left out the jalapenos but would add them next time.

Jacque said...

I liked how easy they were to make, and not having a pile of dirty dishes to clean up.

Yours look perfect!

Cooking for Comfort by Jennifer said...

You did a beautiful job!!!!

Anonymous said...

It's always so nice to bake vicariously through you. Yum!

The Food Librarian said...

Yummy!! These look so cute - I think food is tastier when they are minis.

steph- whisk/spoon said...

looks good--i'm sure the girl loved them!

Anonymous said...

Oh man I'm so jealous of you and snow! Right now I live in Washington, DC (for a few more months until I move back to NYC! Whew) and we STILL haven't gotten any snow! I'm so jealous (but I agree... I'll change my mind the third time it snows and I'm sick of going out in it! Your muffins look fantastic!

Linda said...

I hope you're hanging in there with the cold---saw news footage about weather in Chicago...OMG, unimaginable cold!

Great looking muffins! I also love the added color of the fresh ingredients.

Nancy said...

Hmmm, your muffins looked great! I guess we were all thinking about the same thing...nice time of the year for a big, warm bowl of something and some corn muffins! Too cold for much of anything else!

Carol Peterman/TableFare said...

It's hard to beat a good cast iron skillet cornbread, but I’m with you for muffins I will make these again.

Shari said...

Yours look beautiful and colorful! Hot out of the oven -- what could be better?

Amanda said...

I'm glad you liked these, I didn't LOL! How cool you are in Northbrook, I worked there for years. I'm in twin Lakes, WI now!

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