Saturday, May 19, 2012

Cheddar 'n' Bacon Corn Muffins



A simple breakfast.
It's the May #baketogether from Abby Dodge! To show my appreciation for this monthly #baketogether that I enjoy so much, I'm giving away two of Abby's books. To make this giveaway a little sweeter - or savory,  depending on your taste! - Abby has graciously agreed to sign a copy of each book for the lucky winner!


The books are The Weekend Baker and Desserts 4 Today. Yes, BOTH books for one lucky winner signed by the lovely and talented Abby Dodge! To enter, you can leave a comment below telling me why you joined #baketogether or, ahem, what's stopping you from joining the party.  OR, just tell me your fav muffin in a comment below. The winner will be announced on the blog on Sunday, May 27th and he/she will have until Wednesday, May 30th to contact me at info@sweetandsimple.com. Easy peasy! Fine print: One entry per person, U.S. residents only.


It's been a long couple of weeks at my house. I've been looking for a small retail space for Sweet & Simple. I'm ready to take the next step and hang out my daisy shaped shingle. There was an adorable, small space just down the street from my house. 600 square feet of space. It would have been a super squeeze, but I was ready.  And then someone else put their offer in hours before me. I like to think it wasn't meant to be and the other gal (a florist) surely deserves her lucky break, but still... it wasn't my happiest day. The other spaces I've looked at have been too expensive, too big or too far away. I feel like Goldilocks, a forty-something Goldilocks, but you get the idea.


So, while I wait for a just-right-space at a just-right-price to turn up,  I keep workin',  I take care of my family and, of course,  once a month I do #baketogether.  What did I do this month? I doubled Abby's recipe,  6 muffins don't go far at my house, and went the savory route. Bacon always makes me feel better. These muffins, scrambled eggs and fruit salad? Perfect breakfast! 


Happy baking, friends! XOXO


Hi, Miss Lovely Muffin! 
Cheddar ‘n’ Bacon Corn Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
Have all ingredients at room temperature
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line 12 regular-sized muffin cups with paper or foil liners
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups/202 grams/7 ounces unbleached, all-purpose flour

2/3 cup/110 grams/4 ounces yellow cornmeal

2/3 cup/133 grams/4.75 ounces sugar

1 TBSP baking powder

Pinch sea salt


1 cup buttermilk 

2 large eggs

6 tablespoons canola oil


3 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (approx a cup)
3 ounces of your fav bacon, cooked crisp, cooled and chopped (approx  a cup)
Make the muffins:
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven.
In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add the cheese and bacon and toss lightly with your hands or 2 forks.

Using a 2 cup glass measure or a small bowl, measure the buttermilk and add the egg, oil and whisk to blend. Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold until just blended.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups (2 ounces or 1/4 cup of batter per cup will be about three-quarters of the way full). I use a 2 ounce ice cream scoop/disher for muffins, but you can eyeball the measurement as well.

Bake until the tops are pale golden brown and a pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.

Move to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the muffins from the pan and set them on a wire rack.

Serve immediately or cool completely and store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Best warm! If you are storing them, for best taste, plan to reheat before serving.



I tried one with a little cream cheese. Over the top. Delicious. Muffin gone wild!

24 comments:

  1. I would love to join baketogether - but so strapped for time - Andrew is having a difficult time - and with our planning to move - too many balls in the air. I love Abby Dodge and would love to add her cookbooks to my collection!

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  2. Hiya! I'm not in #baketogether because I am a loner. No, that's not true. I really am not so great at being coordinated w/other folks. One or two, sure, but a ton? Nope. But, my favorite muffin is a lemon-blueberry w/a bit of cornmeal subbed for some of the flour. I love the corn-lemon-blueberry flavor trifecta! :)

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  3. Will make these tomorrow morn for hubby and three of my grandchIldren. Sounds wonderful. Keep looking. The right space for you will come along.

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  4. I am a big fan of GOOD cornbread and adding bacon to it has to make it better~look forward to making these~thanks for posting this~

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  5. I'm a corn muffin lover... probably because I'm corny...or so I'm told. Corny with lots of glitter, rainbows, and unicorn tears. Yup, that's me.

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  6. I haven't joined #baketogether because I have follow-through issues. But my favorite muffin? Ugh, did I mention I have commitment issues??? banana-blueberry... or apple-bran... or lemon-poppyseed... those are my top three, please don't make me narrow it down any further?

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  7. This baketogether recipe is posted on my fridge and I promised myself I would get to it!!! But I haven't. But I will. Love your bacony route, they look awesome! And signed books by Abby, even better than bacon ! Okay. I might come home after work and bake some. Now...sweet or savory?

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  8. Corn muffins are great, but these cheddar and bacon corn muffins look even better!

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  9. My favorite muffin is quinoa muffins. I don't cook much with quinoa, but I love it in baked goods.

    Cassie
    Cass0289@yahoo.com

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    1. Sounds yummy and healthy. Winning combo. : )

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  10. Wow, you can't get much better than this! Delicious.

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  11. Hi! I joined #baketogether because I really love to bake, and it gives me something new to try every month. And hones my baking skills, which makes my co-workers very happy. I don't have a blog so Abby asked me to guest post this month. I was so honored! And I want to tell you that I love what you did with this muffin. Bacon and cheddar...wow.

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    1. Woo hoo! Guest posting.... Another reason to love #baketogether is that no one is left out. Makes me happy!

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  12. Love this take...but then I've loved all of them! I don't know if I really joined #baketogether; seems like Abby had an idea and I've been a part of it from day one. I love to bake and it's certainly more fun with friends!

    I do love Abby's books; I was baking her recipes and collecting her books before I ever really knew Abby so they're especially meaningful today.

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  13. You'll find your space and it will fit you perfectly, so much so that you'll never look back. :)

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  14. i love the recipe and will have to give a try. and looking forward to maybe being the winner of the cookbooks. love cookbooks.

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  15. I adore Abby and would love to have her books in my collection. I have been baking along with her for the past few months too :) Your recipes looks great by the way!

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  16. I #baketogether because it beats baking alone. Late at night after the rascals are asleep. Then eating the results before they wake up. Not that I have ever done this. . .
    My favorite muffin is Morning Glory. the version with EVERYTHING: pineapple, carrot, coconut, nuts, raisins. Like I used to get at Hay Day with my (ahem) medium soup container full of coffee. Wonder if that recipe was one of Abby's?!?!
    Now, did you say FLORIST?

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  17. Love your blog Michelle. Never heard how the Wal-Mart thing went.I am trying the Sour cream coffee cake recipe this weekend. It's a little twist on mine with the plums. Can't wait.

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    Replies
    1. I did not make it to the final round for Walmart... What can you do? I had fun making the video and it's back to baking! No complaints. And, thank you for loving my blog - what a generous thing to say. : )

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  18. "Lisa" is the winner of this giveaway and has been contacted by e-mail. Thank you all for commenting. Happy Memorial Day! XO

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