Jambalaya Mini Muffins

Jambalaya Mini Muffins

3 T butter
1/2 c onion, very finely minced
1/2 c green pepper, very finely minced

1 c cornmeal
1 1/4 c flour
2 t baking soda
1 t salt

2 eggs
2 c buttermilk

1 c cooked ham, very finely minced
1 c cooked Italian sausage, very finely minced

Preheat oven to 400°.

Melt butter and saute onion and green pepper until softened, then let cool slightly. In a large bowl whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking soda and salt. In a large measuring cup beat eggs into buttermilk. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients all at once. Stir until just combined, taking care to break up any clumps. Gently fold in ham, sausage and vegetables.

Grease mini muffin pan (I use Pam!) Scoop a generous tablespoon of batter into each cup. Bake 15-16 minutes until tops starts to brown. 

Makes about 4 dozen mini muffins.

Notes: This comes, roughly, from the Junior League of New Orleans cookbook called Jambalaya. I had two Italian sausages in the freezer for some mysterious reason so I removed the casings and used them. Obviously andouille would be a nice sausage choice, as well, or chorizo. It is important to really mince the beejeezums out of the onion, pepper, sausage and ham. I used a chef's knife and the flat of my hand and whacked away. In the spirit of disclosure I had trouble getting the tops to brown properly and think in retrospect that I had the pans too far down in the oven... oh well. They tasted terrific anyway. Edward approved.  

Comments

[Susannah]

I think I'd like to come for supper at your house! The muffins look and sound marvelous. Again I ask - do you just luck into great photographs or have you taken a class or 9?

[Jennifer]

long time lurker! I'm amazed that you manage these wonderful meals for the kiddos. I have 18 mo old twins and a 6 year old and can't manage the time to actually cook something using the stove! or oven! So KUDOS to you!!

[Melissa]

I live in Gonzales, LA (about halfway btwn New Orleans and Baton Rouge) and I eat jambalaya with regularity - at least 2 times a month. (They even teach kids how to cook it in junior high!)

These muffins look delicious - and are a new twist that I have never heard of. I will try them soon!

[Martha]

I'm thinking my family would love these for Christmas breakfast!

[Eve]

Yeah, I'm in New Orleans, and jambalaya is my one staple recipe -- though I didn't learn how to make it until I went away to college and had to re-create New Orleans food in mid-Missouri. I usually serve jambalaya with corn muffins, but I might try it with these next time for a nice twist.