Bacon and Cheddar Corn Muffins
- 6 bacon slices
- 2 cups sprouted organic yellow corn flour
- 1 tablespoon organic sugar or sucanat
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (aluminum-free)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups whole organic buttermilk, plus 3 tablespoons
- 1 large egg, organic or pastured
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted (organic or raw)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat 12-14 minutes or until crisp; remove bacon to paper towel to drain. Crumble.
- Heat a 12-cup stoneware or stainless steel muffin pan in the preheated oven for 5 minutes.
- Combine corn flour, baking powder and soda, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
- Stir together 1 ½ cups buttermilk and egg; add to cornmeal mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.
- If dough is dry add additional buttermilk one tablespoon at a time just until dry ingredients are moistened.
- Stir in melted butter, cheese, and bacon. Remove pan from oven and brush with melted butter to coat.
- Spoon batter into hot muffin pan, filling almost completely full.
- Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden.
- Remove from pan to a wire rack, and let cool 10 minutes.
NOTE: Heating the muffin pan beforehand results in a nice crispy bottom. You may choose to skip this step.
VARIATIONS:
Scrambled Egg Muffin Sliders: Prepare recipe as directed. Whisk together 8 large eggs, 1 tablespoon heavy cream, and ½ teaspoon Creole seasoning in a medium bowl. Melt 3 tablespoons butter (or use bacon drippings) in a large skillet. Add egg mixture and cook as you would scrambled eggs. Cut muffins in half and spoon eggs over bottom halves. Cover with top halves of muffins.
Ham and Swiss Corn Muffins: Substitute Swiss cheese for Cheddar cheese and 1 cup diced cooked ham for bacon. Brown ham in small amount of melted butter for 5-6 minutes. Proceed as directed, whisking in 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard with buttermilk and egg.
Southwestern Chile-Cheese Corn Muffins: Omit bacon. Substitute pepper Jack cheese for Cheddar cheese. Proceed as directed, stirring in 1 (4.5 oz.) can, or fresh, chopped green chiles, drained, with cheese and butter.
Warm Lentil-and-Potato Salad
- 1/2 cup dried sprouted lentils
- 2 lbs small red potatoes, halved
- 6-8 bacon slices
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large shallots, finely chopped
- 1 celery rib, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2-3 tbsp whole grain Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 cups loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- basil leaves for garnish
- Bring lentils and 4 cups of salted water to a boil in a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20-25 minutes or just until tender.
- Cook potatoes in boiling salted water to cover, 15 minutes or just until tender.
- Drain the lentils and potatoes.
- Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp.
- Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons of drippings in skillet.
- Crumble bacon and set aside.
- Add olive oil to hot drippings in skillet, and heat over medium heat. Sauté shallots, celery and garlic in hot olive oil mixture 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in vinegar and mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Gently stir in lentils, potatoes, bacon, and parsley.
- Garnish with basil leaves, if desired.
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