Mmmm Muffins - Cheese, Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

**Jubes**'s Note:

A delightful savoury muffin that makes a great snack for morning/afternoon tea or a take-and-go breakfast on the run. Please use a firm style feta cheese for this recipe. Serve warm. Recipe makes 10-12 muffins.This recipe was an entry in the RSC#11 comp. You can add more feta cheese if you wish

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper or 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 ounces firm feta cheese, chopped into smallish cubes (75 grams)
• 1/4 cup asiago cheese or 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup olive oil or 1/4 cup canola oil or 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 7 ounces fresh spinach leaves, can use baby spinach leaves (200 grams)
• 3/4 cup sun-dried tomato, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C) if using fan-forced oven or 420°F(215°C) if not using a fan-forced oven.
2. Spray a 12 muffin tray with cooking oil or grease with butter (ensure thoroughly coated). Can use paper cases to line instead of spray or butter if you wish.
3. Combine the flour, baking powder and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly with a balloon whisk.
4. In another mixing bowl or a large jug - whisk the eggs, milk and oil together. Stir through the chopped spinach and the sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Gentley stir in the crumbled fetta and the finely grated asiago (or parmesan) cheeses.
5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Fold together gently -until just mixed. Do not overbeat or you will end up with 'heavy' muffins.
6. Spoon into the greased or paper-lined muffin pans.
7. Bake approx 15 - 25 minutes, until well risen and golden. Allow the muffins to cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Serve warm or reheat later.

Reviews

[AlaskaStephanie]

I followed the recipe exactly. The muffins are good, but I felt that they were a little bland. I am going to try adding a scant 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt next time. It's definitely nice to have a savory muffin recipe as well as a way to keep on top of all the garden spinach!

[Lalaloula]

Jubes, these muffins are STELLAR!!! They have such a great taste with the spinach, feta and tomatoes working great together! Mmmm, indeed! :) I made half the recipe for my mum's bday breakkie and they received rave reviews. I luved the addition of the pepper (I used both actually) and the parmesan cheese as an unusual companion to feta. Really great! My muffins turned out rather soft and stayed smallish, which is due to operator error I think (used an American cup instead of an Australian one). Nonetheless they were super tasty and looked pretty. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this wonderful recipe with us, Jubes! It will be made again! Made and reviewed for Make My Recipe Tag Game Edn #11 May 2010.

[madriley61]

These muffins are wonderful! However, I think I would add some garlic as another review suggested. I made these tonight to see if I want to serve them at a luncheon I'm hosting next weekend. They passed with flying colors!