Skip to main content

Starchy Side: Mini Corn Muffins with Chilies and Cheese

I’ve had this recipe on a handwritten card for so many years, that I don’t know where it originated from. These are good to serve with Chili, any Mexican or Tex-Mex style meal, or as appetizers. 
Mini muffin tins come in different sizes, some only hold 24, Walmart sells one that holds 48. If you only have 1 to use, and it’s not big enough, you will have to bake the muffins in batches-this recipe makes 3 dozen (36).
They are labor intensive, especially doing the filling part; this is where many hands make light work, so enlist helpers! If serving at a party, I highly recommend making the day before.

Mini Corn Muffins with Chilies and Cheese
1 egg
½ cup milk
½ cup neutral-flavor oil (grapeseed, canola, etc) or ½ cup (1 stick) butter
Dash (about 1/8 teaspoon) hot sauce OR pinch of ground cayenne pepper
8 ½ oz. can creamed corn
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal, yellow, finely ground
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F; grease mini muffin tin(s) with nonstick cooking spray; I also use the little paper liners for the mini cupcakes/muffins. If using butter instead of oil, melt the butter.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, oil or butter, hot sauce or cayenne pepper, and creamed corn. In a separate, large bowl, mix together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt; make a “well”, a bowl shaped hollow in center of flour mixture. 
Pour the egg mixture into the well of the flour mixture. Stir just until combined but still slightly lumpy.
Spoon muffin batter into prepared mini muffin tin(s), filling almost to the tops. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. While the muffins are cooling, prepare filling:

FILLING:
7 oz. can diced green chilies
2 oz. jar pimientos, chopped, drained
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup extra sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
½ cup Pepper jack cheese, grated
In a small bowl, mix together the chilies, pimentos, chili powder, and cheeses. 
When muffins have cooled enough to handle, cut center tops of muffins, leaving about ¼” rim on edges and bottom; remove centers-you can save these as crumbs to make bread crumbs or anywhere else you would use cornmeal crumbs. 
Spoon filling into hollowed-out centers of muffins. Filled muffins may be refrigerated overnight, or wrapped tightly and frozen. 
(If frozen: defrost at room temperature before putting into oven.)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. When 5 minutes away from serving, place muffins on baking sheets and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Makes 36 mini muffins

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Breakfast: Wild Rice, Sausage & Mushroom Omelet

Wild Rice, Sausage & Mushroom Omelet 1/2 pound bulk turkey sausage 1 medium onion, chopped 1 celery rib, finely chopped 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil 8 oz. fresh mushrooms, cleaned & sliced 1-1/2 cups cooked wild rice 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 14 eggs 1/2 cup water 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to “warm” setting (less than 200 degrees). Cook sausage in a large skillet, over medium heat, until no longer pink; drain. Remove and set aside. In the same skillet, saute the mushrooms, onion and celery until tender. Stir in the sausage, rice and parsley. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, water, salt and pepper. Heat an 8-in. nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup egg mixture. As eggs set, lift edges, letting uncooked portion flow underneath. When nearly set, spoon 1/2 cup of sausage-rice mixture over one side of eggs; fold in half and press down lightly for about 30 seconds. Remove and keep warm in the preheated warm o...

Dessert: Chocolate Cherry Pie

For the recipe card giveaway, you can email your "snail mail" address to me at (disguised to keep the robots from collecting, lol!): andreaharper79 AT yahoo DOT com The recipe for today is my son’s favorite pie. I’ve been making this pie for over 15 years, and it turns out wonderful every time. You can substitute a 21 oz. can of cherry pie filling, if you like-I think it’s too sweet like that, but it is a little easier. Don't be intimidated by the length of the recipe-it really is easy, just several steps, and the result is definitely worth it! Serve warm, chilled, plain, or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Chocolate Cherry Pie 4 tablespoons butter 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup baking cocoa 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/3 cup milk 2 eggs, lightly beaten 24-26 oz. jar Morello or regular cherries, in light syrup (Trader Joe’s sells them) 1 prepared pie crust (I buy mine) or unbaked pastry shell (9 inches) 2 tablespoons cornstarch ...

Salad: Tomato, Goat Cheese and Mint Salad, for 2

I know, this sounds like an odd combination, but the flavors really complement each other. Refreshing and perfect for summer. Chevre, or goat cheese, is available at nearly every grocer, usually with the deli/specialty cheese. Of course, you can double or triple the amounts, to make more servings. Tomato, Goat Cheese and Mint Salad 2 cups arugula and/or baby spinach 2 fresh tomatoes, chopped 2 oz. plain chevre, crumbled 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons freshly chopped mint Divide arugula or spinach onto 2 plates; then the tomatoes. Sprinkle the chevre over. Mix together olive oil and lemon juice with a fork; then drizzle on the salads. Top with the fresh mint. Serves 2.