Cracked Black Pepper Cheddar Muffins

The combination of black pepper and sharp extra-old Cheddar cheese make these savory muffin-type dinner rolls a particularly flavorful addition to any winter meal. I made a batch to go along with Christmas dinner. The vegetarians at the table enjoyed these alongside sour chickpeas, brown rice and millet and some vegetables. Though not a traditional Christmas meal, it was a very satisfying and warming vegetarian alternative. I'm reposting this recipe with updated photos, and because I made it again and remembered how easy and good these muffins are for any occasion.

Cracked Black Pepper Cheddar Muffins

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on December 28, 2007 Easy, fluffy and delicious savory Cheddar cheese dinner muffins with fresh cracked black pepper seasoning Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking time: 25 to 30 minutes Print this recipe Ingredients: 2 cups unbleached white flour 1 tablespoon white sugar 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper 1 egg 1 1/4 cups whole milk 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup fresh grated sharp Cheddar cheese Instructions: Preheat an overn to 350°F and grease or butter 12 standard size muffin cups. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and black pepper. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and oil. Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in the cheese. Fill the muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes and then remove from the pan and serve warm. Makes 12 muffins

Other savory muffin recipes to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Savory Dill Ricotta Muffins
Rice Muffins
Cornmeal Honey Muffins
Beetroot Muffins

On the top of the reading stack: Yama: The Pit by Aleksandr Ivanovich Kuprin

Thanksgiving Day is almost upon us again. First set aside in North America to celebrate the harvest bounty of the New World, Thanksgiving is a useful reminder for those of us modern-day urban-dwellers accustomed to enormous supermarkets that shelves and shelves of inexpensive food couldn't always be so easily taken for granted … it may be especially appropriate for us to remember this year. It seems appropriate that as we give thanks for being able to spend a day with family and friends, we celebrate with food … and usually plenty of it!

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Check out these and other menu ideas on

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