Caramelized onion muffins

Although caramelized onion muffins are rather savoury ones they taste sweet thanks to the onion. They are soft, dense a little bit moist and packed with  caramelized onion bits. The best when baked in small muffin cases just for two, three bites. The recipe comes form 'Easy muffins'

Caramelized onions:

• 3 medium size onions
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 2 tbsp sugar

Chop the onion finely. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften (about 3 minutes). Then stir in the sugar and the vinegar. Cook for further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Remove form the heat and set aside to cool.

Ingredients for 12 - 18 muffins:

• 5 tbsp oil
• 2 eggs
• 250 ml buttermilk
• 280g flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 200C. Line muffin tin with paper cases. 

 Whisk the eggs add the oil and buttermilk and mix them well. 

In separate bowl mix the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Pour in the wet ingredients mixture and add the onion mixture reserving 4 teaspoons for topping. Stir gently until combined, do not over - mix.

Spoon the batter into muffin cases about 3/4 full. Sprinkle with remaining onion mixture. Bake in preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes until well risen. 

Serve warm or cooled down.

Enjoy ! 

Recipe in Polish.

Potato nests

I have seen this recipe in ' The Little Paris Kitchen. Cooking with Rachel Kahoo'. I like the idea very much and decided to try it in my own kitchen. Because this dish is baked in muffin tin I have decided to publish it on my blog. The recipe is also available on line on this website. 

Ingredients for 6 large potato nests:

• 1tbsp butter
• 500g potatoes (used those which don't fall apart while being cooked)
• 1 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 200g smoked bacon
• 100 ml dry white wine
• 250g Reblochon cheese I used Camembert

Grease the muffin tin holes. Preheat the oven to 180C.

Peel of the potatoes, then cut them into matchsticks size pieces.Set aside.

Dice the bacon. Chop the onion. Finely chop the garlic. Dice the cheese.

before baking

Put the butter, bay leaf, garlic, bacon  and onion on frying pan and cook until bacon golden brown. Then add the wine and reduce it until only a few tablespoons of liquid remain. Remove bay leaf. Add the potatoes and stir them in. 

Remove pan from the heat and add the cheese. Stir well and transfer to prepared earlier muffin tin. 

Bake for 15 -20 minutes until golden warm. Serve hot.

 Enjoy !

Mexican muffins

I was looking for something on-line and came across interesting Mexican muffin recipe. When I read list of ingredients I was sure they going to be very tasty. I wasn't wrong. These muffins taste lake omelets for me and what is more important portable omelets. You don't need a plate and cutlery to eat one. I think they are great finger food.

Ingredients for 12 muffins:

• 1 red pepper
• 1/2 onion
• 390g (1 can) red beans
• 125 ml salsa
• 3 large eggs
• 250 ml egg whites
• 60g grated cheese ( i had mozzarella and cheddar)
• salt and pepper

Chop the onion into small chunks. Heat up the frying pan, add small amount of  oil and fry the onion. 

In a meantime dice the red pepper. When the onion is getting soft add the pepper and fry for a little bit longer. Remove from heat and set aside.

Drain the beans, rinse with water.

Put the beans into a big bowl, add salsa and fried vegetables.

Combine them together.

Preheat the oven to 180C. Prepare muffin tin. In case of those muffins I would recommend to use silicone moulds as it is easier to take the muffins out when they are ready. it would be good to slightly grease muffin moulds.

Into a big bowl or measuring jug put the eggs and egg whites, add some salt and pepper. Whisk the eggs. 

With a spoon divide the vegetables  evenly among all muffin moulds. Pour egg mixture to cover the vegetables. Sprinkle each top with grated cheese. 

Put the muffins into oven for 25-30 minutes. Before remove check with toothpick if baked in the middle. Take them out of muffin cases and let them cool down on a wire rack.

Enjoy !