Muffin Monday....Mexican Surprise

This one is a neighborhood favorite. We usually do sweet muffins. Today we did one that we have done before. I don't usually repeat recipes. This one can be dinner for the kids though. It is a simple spicy cornbread with a tiny hot dog in the middle. It has a taco dip on the side.

Will still doesn't want me to take his picture. He is standing on his chair from the kid table, but he is scooched down so I couldn't take it.

Livi, on the other hand, is all cheese....Can you see the two measuring cups in her hand? She was banging them together. Instead of ripping them from her two little hands, I asked her to stop. She explained to me that she was "making music for us to enjoy while we were making muffins!!" Where does she get this stuff...she is only two! We listen to music during dinner, so I think this is where she got it, but I don't ever recall telling her it was for our enjoyment.

He looks like "well, if you are going to take the picture, I am NOT going to smile. Will was mixing up all the stuff as Livi measured it. She is getting pretty good at the measuring spoons. She can level the salt like a pro. She can scrape the baking soda on the edge so it is level. The entire time Will was mixing he kept telling her her, "You cannot eat it, it has raw eggs!" I told him that last week when we made chocolate chip cookies instead of muffins. They both wanted to eat the dough. I am paranoid of some unknown food poisoning if they ate raw eggs, so I wouldn't let them have any! Mean momma....but the last thing I need is to be hauling two toddlers down to the ER alone. Yeah right, not happening in my little world, so NO BATTER!

Mexican Surprise

3/4 c. yellow cornmeal

1 c. all purpose flour

1/3 c. sugar

1t. chili powder

1 t. cumin

1 t. garlic powder

1 c. milk

1 egg, beaten

2 T. canola oil

1/3 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 hot dogs,cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Dipping Sauce:

1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 c. mayonnaise

1 1/2 T. taco seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

Stir together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and oil. Stir just until blended, then fold in the cheese.

Drop a spoonful of batter into the bottom of each muffin cup, Place a piece of hot dog on top. Fill cups with enough additional batter to cover the hot dog piece.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until muffins are lightly browned and spring back when pressed. Cool slightly when removing from muffin pan.

Serve warm with Fiesta dipping sauce.

Here is Livi saying, "These are delicious!" While they were baking Will asked if he could take some to school for his lunch tomorrow. So I got a few out and packed them. Then he tasted one and declared he didn't like them. Oh well....here is your dinner Livi!

happy muffin Monday!