Chocolately and savoury muffins

I really need to reorganise my kitchen. I've acquired so much stuff in four years that I don't even know what I have anymore. One day, I found a brand new muffin pan stashed away behind some cooking pots.

 

It was the discovery of the year! I gave one away because it was too big to fit into my oven. I must have bought this smaller one later but really, I don't remember these things. If only I knew I had a muffin tin, I wouldn't be using the loaf pan to bake everything!

 

This pan came in so handy one day when I decided to whip up a batch of muffins for a party. My friend said the chocolate muffins tasted just like the famous 'Death by Chocolate'. Well, it sounded really flattering but I'm quite embarrased to say they were so easy to make. I didn't even pull out any fancy equipment.

 

I love recipes that call for just a whisk, measuring cup and a large bowl just like this Chocolate muffins  recipe. I made some modifications to it.

INGREDIENTS:
2/3 cup cocoa (I used Van Houten)
1 3/4 cups plain Flour
1 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon instant coffee
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons vinegar
1/2 cup melted butter
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 180 degree celcius. Line a standard muffin pan with paper.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, coffee powder and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla and vinegar. Add melted butter.

Mix the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir to blend and add in chocolate chips.

Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin until it fills just over half the cup.

Bake the muffins for 20 to 25 minutes, or until skewer inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Since I was already baking, I also made some savoury muffins for the party. This was a first for me and I had no idea how they would turn out. Well, they were surprisingly good.

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups plain Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk ( I replaced with some plain yoghurt)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup melted butter
1 red capsicum (chopped)
1/2 cup cheese (I used old cheddar, crumbled into small pieces)
1/2 cup caramelised onions (onion cooked in olive oil)
handful of herbs (rosemary, oregano, thyme, chives etc)
pinch of salt
Optional - you can add chopped ham, olives, sundried tomato etc.

Method:
Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius. Line a standard muffin pan with paper.

In a large mixing bowl, pour in flour and make a well in the centre. Pour in milk, butter and egg. Stir batter until almost combined.

Stir in rest of ingredients. Spoon mixture into the muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean.
 
They can be eaten plain or served with salsa.