Monday, March 26, 2007

PESTO MUFFINS

On the occasion of our inaugural "Swiss Soup Swap" organized by Rai at "Ugly Fruit", I made some apperitive muffins which were very appropriate for our event's little opening party during which all kinds of nibbles and wine were served...

As on that very day, I had to make six litres of my "Caribbean Banana Soup" for the swap that was going to take place that same evening and considering the fact that I wanted to prepare something to eat, my choice was easily made. I was going to bake a batch of muffins that would be fastly whipped together and which would be tasty enough in order to please our demanding foodie tastebuds!

It is to be said that those "Pesto Muffins" are very quickly baked, yet they are a successful last-minute ally thanks to their two much loved and popular winner ingredients that are pesto and ch
eese. This recipe gives delicious muffins that are perfumed with the exhilarating scent of Italy, that are light, fluffy textured and real scrummy...

Purrrfect!!!



~Pesto Muffins~

Adapted from www.astray.com

Y
ields 12 muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Plain white flour
1 Cup Wholemeal flour
3 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 Tsp Garlic powder (optional)
1/4 Tsp Onion powder (optional)
1/2 Tsp Salt (optional)
Ground black pepper, to taste (optional)
1/4 Cup Olive oil
2 Eggs (~50g)

1/3 Cup Pesto sauce
1 Cup Milk

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 200° C (400° F).
2. Mix together the dry ingredients (first 8) in big bowl.
3. In another bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients.
4. Combine the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients with the help of a fork.
5. Spoon the dough
into the greased muffin pan.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until
a skewer inserted in the middle of one muffin comes out clean.
7. Coll on a wire rack.


Remarks:
If you wish, you can also add 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil or 1/2 cup
toasted pine nuts, or replace the parmesan cheese by the same proportion of grated cheddar cheese.
Gently work the wet mixture into the dry ingredients in order to get a batter that remains lumpy.

The secret of light and tender muffins lies within the blending of the wet ingredients with the dry ones. It's not a problem if you've left some lumps that look as if they want more stirring. Don't continue stirring no matter how hard it is, resist the impulse!

Serving suggestions:
Serve those "Pesto Muffins" for the apperitive, as a starter and eat them with butter.
You can also eat those muffins while still warm, a few minutes after they have come out of the oven or reheat them just before serving.

(Pesto -Pic by www.italiantourism.com)

14 comments:

  1. Je tends la main... ça ne se fait pas, mais je tends la main quand m^me.

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  2. Bonne variante, à noter.

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  3. Ces foodies, quels gourmands exigeants!

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  4. Belles photos et beau chat !

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  5. J'imagine déjà le goût qu'ils peuvent avoir... Ca a vraiement l'air terrible, et quand on voit les gros plans, on veut vraiment croquer dedans!

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  6. Superbes! Avec tout, garlic, onion powder, et black pepper!

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  7. PERFETO !! ils sont sublime. Waou

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  8. Ils sont trop, trop beaux pour qu'il en reste encore, non???
    Grosses bises
    Hélène

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  9. j'ai déjà fait des muffins au pesto et c'est délicieux et ta recette me parait tres bien aussi et aux vues des photos miammm!! vous vous etes bien ragalés

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  10. wouuuaaw!! qu'ils ont l'air excellents tes muffins!! biiises micky

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  11. MAMINA: Et bien ici c'est accepté ;-P!...

    MINOUCHKA: Merci!

    GRACIANNE: Ils sont TRÈS gourmands et exigeants, he, he;-P!

    BERNIE: Merci pour ta visite et ton commentaire!...

    GRAND CHEF: Merci pour ta visite et ton gentil commentaire! Oui, ils était vraiment bons...

    CONFITUREMAISON: Tu as bien raison! C'est meilleur lorsque tous les ingrédients sont utilisés...

    POM D'API: Merci ;-P!!!

    HÉLÈNE (cannes): Merci, Hélène! Malheureusement, il n'en reste plus du tout ;-P. Bises...

    MOUNET: Merci! Ils étaient fameux et on s'est bien régalé...

    LEONINE19: Merci, Leonine!

    MICKYMATH: Merci beaucoup! Bises...

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  12. SHER: Thanks for the comment, Sher! Yes, pesto is delicious in/with anything...

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  13. Très jolies photos ! et recette originale ! Moi, j'adore !

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