Muffins!

Ok, I've been sadly neglecting my blog here. I've really got to get busy and keep up with things better. So for your reading enjoyment - another recipe! Chelsea got an interesting little book for Christmas from her grandmother - '1 Mix, 100 Muffins'. Every kind of muffins from sweet to savory. Yum! So we tried out a recipe, actually she made them, I just ate a bunch. They were pretty tasty. Here it is:

Mini Bleu Cheese and Pear Muffins

oil or melted butter for greasing (unless using liners)
14oz/400g canned pear halves in natural juice, drained
2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
freshly ground black pepper
heaping 3/4 cup finely crumbled bleu cheese such as Stilton or Gorgonzola
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
6 Tbsp. sunflower oil or melted, cooled butter
heaping 1/4 cup walnut pieces

~Preheat the oven to 400 degrees/200C. Grease two 24-cup mini muffin pans or line with paper liners. Chop the pears into small pieces. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper to taste into a large bowl. Stir in the bleu cheese and pears.
~Lightly beat the eggs in a large pitcher or bowl, then beat in the milk and oil. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the beaten liquid ingredients. Stir gently until just combined; do not overmix.
~Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan. Scatter the walnuts over the tops of the muffins. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until well risen, golden brown and firm to the touch.
~Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then serve warm.

These would be great served with a bowl of soup or stew...a wonderful cold winter meal!