 |
| Cheesecake Muffin...Double Up! |
That was my initial reaction when I read this week's recipe for Muffin Monday. I love cheese! And just thinking that I will be making muffins with cheese brings me to the heavens.
But wait, what is "soft-fat cheese" mean? My default mode was to ask Mr. Google about it but I did not find any answer. I'm actually quite ashamed to ask Anuradha about it but since I really want to participate, I asked her and found out that 'soft-fat cheese' is cream cheese! Whew! "Yun lang pala yun!" (It's simply cream cheese!)
Okay, the idea of putting strawberries did not excite me much, I am not a fan. So in my variation of the original recipe, I opted not to put any fruit. I am still in the stage of learning this baking stuff and experimenting on this particular muffin by replacing strawberry is out of the question.
Since I am in 'nursery' in baking, it is a production number for me. YES! Messy, I'm all over the place but I am having fun, don't get me wrong.
Why Double Up? It's because I added grated cheddar cheese, about half a cup to the batter. That for me is already a bold move for I don't know what the outcome will be. But I like the idea of more cheese!
I had some difficulty with the measurements of the ingredients because they are in grams and ounces. Good thing I have a weighing scale but I DO NOT HAVE a measuring cup for liquids! So note to self, BUY ONE! Internet and conversion calculators saved my ass on this. You know what I used to measure the milk? It's the cup (I kept) from the hospital when I was confined a year ago. It has graduation in ounces. Oh yeah! It's sounds pathetic but at least I found a way *wink*
Another thing I don't have is a microplane for the orange rind so I used cheese grater. It was not easy and rinds are not finely grated. Microplane is now added in my shopping list. I trusted my instinct on this and used 1 orange only instead of 2. I can already smell the orange from the batter and I don't want the rind to overpower the cheese *wink*
Another 'technique' (I'm proud of myself that I thought of this) I did was instead of spooning the sweet cheese to the muffins, I used a pastry bag. Easier and less messy.
Batter in the muffin trays and in the oven. After 15 minutes, my house smells heaven!
I did some big ones too! They came out huge but lovely!
 |
| Mommy Muffin and her children! |
It tastes sooo good that I think I can finish them all, but I can't. Not in one sitting, that is *wink*
My instinct was right, 1 orange is enough for my taste. I'm also happy that I took that risk to add some cheddar cheese. It added texture to the muffin and tasting bits of cheese is simply lovely!
I'm definitely making this again!
Muffin Monday is an initiative by Baker Street. A culinary journey of sharing a wickedly delicious muffin recipe every week. Drop in a quick line to join her on her journey to make the world smile and beat glum Monday mornings week after week.
Ingredients
350g/12oz Plain Flour
11/2 tbsp Baking Powder
140g/5oz Caster Sugar
Finely grated rind of 2 medium oranges
1/2 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
250ml/9fl oz Milk
85g/3oz Butter, melted
For the Filling
175g/6oz half-fat soft cheese
3 tbsp Caster Sugar
6 small strawberries
1. Preheat the oven to 200oc/Gas 6/fan oven 180oc. Line a muffin tin with 12 paper cases. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, then stir in the sugar, orange rind and salt. Beat the eggs and milk together in a jug or bowl, then stir in the butter and gently mix into the dry ingredients to make a loose, slightly lumpy mixture. Do not over mix or the muffins will be tough.
2. Mix together the soft cheese and sugar for the filling. Half-fill the paper cases with the muffin mixture, then push half a strawberry into each. Top with a teaspoon of sweet cheese, then spoon over the remaining muffin mixture to cover and fill the muffin cases.
3. Bake for 15 minutes until well risen and golden on top. Remove from the tin and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
350g/12oz Plain Flour
11/2 tbsp Baking Powder
140g/5oz Caster Sugar
Finely grated rind of 2 medium oranges
1/2 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
250ml/9fl oz Milk
85g/3oz Butter, melted
For the Filling
175g/6oz half-fat soft cheese
3 tbsp Caster Sugar
6 small strawberries
1. Preheat the oven to 200oc/Gas 6/fan oven 180oc. Line a muffin tin with 12 paper cases. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, then stir in the sugar, orange rind and salt. Beat the eggs and milk together in a jug or bowl, then stir in the butter and gently mix into the dry ingredients to make a loose, slightly lumpy mixture. Do not over mix or the muffins will be tough.
2. Mix together the soft cheese and sugar for the filling. Half-fill the paper cases with the muffin mixture, then push half a strawberry into each. Top with a teaspoon of sweet cheese, then spoon over the remaining muffin mixture to cover and fill the muffin cases.
3. Bake for 15 minutes until well risen and golden on top. Remove from the tin and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
Makes 12 muffins
I was also glad when i got the recipe! Those muffin brought me to heaven!
ReplyDeleteInteresting with the addition of cheddar cheese. I wouldn't have thought of that myself but now that you mention it, I can see that working. Your muffins look great! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteYour muffins look great dudut.
ReplyDeleteYou should try using an ice cream scoop to get even sized muffins. Works like a charm.
thanks An! i'll do that next time!:)
ReplyDeleteI love your writing, you make me laugh:) I'm so glad there's someone else out there with my thinking process (love cheese!! how the heck do I measure stuff? can I add some more cheese please? I need a microplane!)
ReplyDeleteBtw, that mommy muffin looks very proud of the baby muffins:) well done:)
oohhh... They look so delicious! I definitely will try this one some time!!! :)
ReplyDeleteDudut your muffins look lovely! I had the exact same reaction when I got the recipe for this week: HOORAY! If I could choose a perfect muffin, it would be this.
ReplyDeleteI love your experimentation with cheeses. Like Elena, I can never get enough!
I've been stocking up on tools myself, and let me tell you, they make life so much easier! With the zester you have much less a risk of getting the bitter pith in your food, but sounds like you trusted your instincts well with one orange! Great idea!
PS - Awesome idea to use a pastry bag for the cream cheese! It *was* really messy. I'll try this next time!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Dudut, you look like a pro baking these muffins :) Great call on the cheddar cheese, the more the merrier, right?
ReplyDeleteI think you deserve a gift to yourself for a job well done, that microplane zester would make a great one, don't you think? ;)
@elena - i'm glad you enjoyed reading my posts! Thanks! Mommy muffin is indeed proud...LOL
ReplyDelete@aimee - i'm beginning to be obsessed with kitchen tools these days...I want to buy them all! Thanks!
@caroline - thanks dear! yeah, the more the merrier! that zester would really be a darling :)
"Mommy Muffin and her children" :):):)
ReplyDeleteI like that.
These look great and tasty.
The photo which shows the inside is sooooooo tempting, and it makes me hungry.
Lovely post
thanks winnie! :)
ReplyDelete