Cheddar Chive Muffins

I love finding new food blogs while poking around on Twitter and seeing who the current food bloggers I follow are following, or are friends with. I found one today called The Craving Chronicles and she seems fun and her food and photos look amazing. I got a few interesting recipes off her site today and I knew I was making Barbecued Chili for dinner so I was really excited when I found this recipe on her site for these savory muffins.


Cheddar Chive Muffins
(original by The Craving Chronicles found here.)
Makes 12 Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
1 egg1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
1 tablespoon dried chives

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease, or line a 12-cup muffin tin.

In a medium bowl combine together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in the shredded cheese.

In a small bowl combine milk, egg and melted butter. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in herbs.

Divide the batter among the 12 muffins cups. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

Cheddar Chive Muffin

I have to say these savory muffins are pretty darn good. Especially dipped in the yummy Bbq Chili...so yum! And! I am pretty sure if you were to brush these with some garlic butter they would come pretty darn close to tasting like Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits! I didn't get much of the chive flavor, but these muffins were dense and nice and cheesy. They were a little greasy, I thought, but that is probably because of the 3 cups of cheese.

Someone is trying to grab one before they cool...tsk tsk

These are great savory muffins and I hope you try them sometimes this fall or winter season as I think they are quite comforting and delicious!

Eat Drink and Be Merry!

-BellaRosa

Pepperoni Rolls - Reinventing the Pepperoni Bread

So I didn't know what to do with myself today so I decided what not bake something! I took the idea of cinnamon rolls and took pepperoni bread and cut up the dough into pepperoni rolls! They are really cute and delicious and I think would be really fun for parties!

I made my Go-To Pizza dough and after it rose I dumped it out on to a floured surface and stretch it out over the surface into a large rectangle. I cover the dough with mozzarella cheese and tons of pepperoni and a light dusting of garlic powder. I start at the long end and start rolling, rolling, rolling. Making sure that is it tight and everything is tucked in. I tuck in the ends so the pepperoni and cheese don't fall out and normally I would just bake this as the long log but I took the idea from cinnamon rolls and cut them into about 1 to 1.5 inch think piece and stood them on end on a baking sheet.

Before the bake

I put them in a preheated 400 degree oven for 13-15 minutes until golden brown and the bottoms were nice and brown. Next time I think I will brush them with some egg wash to make them browner and beautiful.

Hot out of the oven

They are so good!! And so cute, and I think you could even make them smaller some how and use at parties for a little munchie. I thought this was a great idea and I am glad I came up with it!!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry...and reinvent a recipe!

-BellaRosa

Sour Cream Banana Muffins

I felt like baking today! It's was so nice out today and it made me want to do something productive. I helped out a friend (Just a Girl Baking) with some cupcakes yesterday, but I am more of a muffin-bakin' girl. I am seem to do better off making breads, muffins or doughs than cakes, so I wanted to bake! I decided to make some Sour Cream Banana Muffins, which are nice and moist and have a lovely light banana flavor.

Sour Cream Banana Muffins
Makes 12 regular size muffins

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup mashed banana (about 2 bananas)
1/4 granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 sour cream

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tin or line with paper liners.
• Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• In another bowl beat the bananas, sugar, egg and vanilla until combined. Stir in sour cream
• Stir the banana mixture into the flour until smooth and combined. Scoop batter into prepared muffin pan.
• Bake for 10-15 mins or until toothpick inserted comes out clean and top are light-golden brown. Let cool before serving. For best lasting flavor keep stored in an air-tight container or bag overnight.

They are really easy to make, and come together in cinch. I think they could use a little bit of walnuts are pecans in them, but I have a picky hubby that doesn't like nuts in food, so I have to go without them...*sigh* I also think it would be nice to put a little texture and sweetness on the top and maybe add some crystal sugar on top, but I don't really have that, but it would be a lovely addition. I love these banana muffins and I hope you try them and I hope you love them too!

*Note: I have also made these as mini-muffins and they only bake for about 7-8 minutes and are great from breakfast with tea or your coffee! Plus everything is just so darn cuter when it's mini size!

Happy Baking & Eat, Drink and Be Merry!!

-Bellarosa