Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Corniest Corn Muffin

Corniest Corn Muffin. Dorie Greenspan sure picked a suitable name for this muffin. The best description of this muffin is from Dorie herself, "These muffins have an alluringly old-fashioned look.  They're flat, firm-topped and cheerfully yellow, with an equally old-fashioned texture - grainy with small holes running through the crumb - and a wholesome, straight-from-the-farm flavor.  They're tangy from the buttermilk and sweet from both the cornmeal (try to find some stone-ground) and the corn kernels.  You can make these muffins with canned or frozen corn kernels, but if you scrape fresh kernels off the cob, you'll have something even more delightful ; because the niblets will get only semisoft in the oven, every bite will offer just a little resistance, a little more "cornfulness" and a lot more pleasure".

Well, I couldn't agree with Dorie more!  Use the fresh corn kernels, just as she described it, you will bite into the crunchiness and then the soft sweetness of the kernels.  I ate two of these the minute they are out of the oven (well, about 5 minutes!).  Yum.... it is not overly sweet at all, it uses very little sugar, and  this is just right! The colour is a beautiful sunny yellow! It is very easy and quick to prepare, perfect as a weekend breakfast or as a tea-time snack in the late afternoon with a cup of tea. 









Corniest Corn Muffin
(adapted from "Baking From My Home To Yours" by Dorie Greeenspan)
Ingredients :
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
6 tablespoons sugar
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
1 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons corn oil
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 cup corn kernels (add up to 1/3 cup more if you'd like) - fresh, frozen or canned (in which case, they should be drained and dry)

Getting Ready :
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Butter or spray the 12 molds in a regular-size muffin pan or fit the molds with paper muffin cups.  Alternatively, use a silicone muffin pan, which needs neither greasing nor paper cups.  Place the muffin pan on a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg, if you're using it.  In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk the buttermilk, melted butter, oil, egg and yolk together until well blended.  Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and, with the whisk or a rubber spatula, gently but quickly stir to blend.  Don't worry about being thorough - the batter will be lumpy, and that's just the way it should be.  Stir in the corn kernels.  Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a thin knife inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean.  Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing each muffin from its mold.

Serving : The muffins are great warm or at room temperature and particularly great split, toasted and slathered with butter or jam or both.

Storing : Like all muffins, these are best eaten the day they are made.  If you want to keep them, wrap them airtight and pop them into the freezer, where they'll keep for about 2 months.  Rewarm in a 350 degree F oven, if you'd like, or split and toast them - do that, and they'll be that much more delicious with butter.

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Special announcement : Please join in, the more the merrier!
There is a  "Culinary Smackdown Battle Chile October 2010" at "At Home With Rebecka", with a beautiful hand painted tea pot and cup together with a tin of Apple Spice Tea as the winning prize! Go on, get some hot stuff smoking and head on down to Rebecka's.  Please do drop by her wonderful blog for more info.  Have fun!


26 comments:

  1. I just love the corn kernels in these muffins, and I always have buttermilk in the fridge and am always looking for ways to use it up. These muffins would be perfect. I don't blame you for eating them straight out of the oven. Mmmmmmmmm.....I can only imagine how delicious they are. Wonderful recipe!

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  2. I too made corn muffins yday..wat a gorgeous color,yummmmmmmm

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  3. Hi...when the 1st time i drop here...my mouth watering. Now also watering. It's look very delicious!!!
    Who is the lucky man married with you??? Hope i meet somebody like you...who can cook the delicious dishes for me..hope not in day dream lol ;-)
    I don't know to bake cake or muffin...only know to cook malay dishes. May be i can try your recipes here!!!

    Yummy...yummy...yummy
    Happy cooking!

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  4. Ces muffins doivent être délicieux.
    J'aime beaucoup.
    See soon

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  5. wow delicious muffins ..love the color n texture ..yummy

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  6. These are like sunshine! Love the sweet and crispy corn kernels in them too.

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  7. I love these muffins! This is my favorite corn muffin recipe- I love the little bits of fresh corn in them. Yours are beautiful!

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  8. The whole corn kernels make this special. Call me a corn muffin/bread snob if you must but I really miss them if they're not there.

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  9. they are sooooo cute! I;ll try it! :D

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  10. woww..this is awesome..i was peeping into your previous posts..you are so creative..i was surprised to see those eggs's snaps..den prawns dish, onnu eduthu kazhikkan thonni.. :)

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  11. Pass the plate please! They look delicious and corn muffins are my absolute favorite. Love this with the corn kernels!

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  12. So delicious, thanks for sharing these with everyone.

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  13. Those look great! I love how you can see the corn in there.

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  14. These look like great corn muffins! The corn makes them seem so authentic :)

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  15. Hi Brenda,
    Wonderful recipe, thanks to Dorie! Thanks for stopping by!

    Hi Vrinda,
    Yes, I really love the gorgeous yellow colour!

    Hi Orchid de dangau,
    Thank you for your lovely compliments! So you are still single? Cooking and baking will not be as important when you meet your Mrs. Right! Hope you can try out a few recipes from here and let me know how it turns out! Have a nice day!

    Hi Nadji,
    Thank you. Have a lovely day!

    Hi Satya,
    Thank you! Have a nice day!

    Hi Angie,
    Thank you! Have a nice day!

    Hi Priya,
    Thank you! Have a lovely day!

    Hi Reeni,
    They are, like sunshine on a plate! Have a good day!

    Hi scrambeldhenfruit,
    Thank you. This recipe is definitely a keeper! Have a nice day!

    Hi Matt Kay,
    I know what you mean. The kernels makes a whole lot of difference. Thank you for visiting. Have a lovely day!

    Hi eatgreek.net,
    Enjoy them! Have a great day!

    Hi Lena Rashmin Raj,
    Thank you for your lovely words. You have a great blog too. Will be visiting you often. Have a nice day!

    Hi Pam,
    I would if I could! Thanks for stopping by!

    Hi Melynda.
    Thank you. Have a lovely day!

    Hi Danielle,
    Thank you. Have a lovely day!

    Hi megan,
    Thank you for visiting! Nice to have you here.
    The corn kernels are really juicy and sweet, this is one delightful corn muffins I have tasted! Thanks to Dorie!

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  16. These muffins look GREAT! LOVE the name of them too! :-)

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  17. I love that there are whole corn kernels in these muffins. They look delicious!

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  18. Hi Avril,
    Hi Danelle,
    Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. Wow...these look wonderful! I love the texture with the whole kernels! These would make a great holiday dinner side dish!

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  20. Hi
    Many thanks for all your visits.
    These muffins look really amazing and beautiful.
    Great clicks too.
    Wishing you a great weekend ♥

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  21. I'm still single...and still searching for Mrs Right...i want somebody with good in cooking...I don't like to eat outside @ restaurant. I only know to cook dishes such curry, grilled chicken and many more, but i never try to bake cake or muffin. I think i don't have the art to do that.
    Some day i will try your recipe here.

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  22. Hi Karen,
    Hi Ana,
    Thank you for stopping by. Have a nice day!

    Hi Orchid de dangau,
    Yes, nothing beats home cooking! You are good at cooking! Why don't you share some recipes with us? It would be nice to see yours! Baking is not that difficult. Try it and see, and let me know! What I bake here are all quite simple actually, never went for baking class before, so have never tried anything 'elaborate'!
    They are all from recipe books. Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice day!

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  23. Hi,
    Cooking is one of the thing i like to do. I learn from my sister. Yes ...next time i will update my post some of the recipe. I will try do baking...and let you know what happen!
    You never go to the class? but your picture here..tell differently! Ahaaa may be your talent from God! You should try to open the Coffee house or restaurant with all these recipe.
    I pray for you to do that.
    Happy cooking...;-)

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  24. Goodness, these look wonderful - so sunny and cheerful. Fresh corn is in season here right now, and just getting to the plentiful stage, so I need to try these right away. I'm thinking I could make a few extra batches while the corn is plentiful and freeze them for quick snacks throughout the year - they would be perfect to brighten up a lunchtime bowl of soup when winter rolls around.

    Thanks so much for sharing these at Make it with ... Mondays, challenge cornmeal.

    Sue :-)

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