FETA BASIL AND ROASTED PEPPER MUFFINS

Feta, Basil, & Roasted Red Pepper Muffins

From The Art & Soul of Baking

Yield: 12 muffins

• 2 cups (10 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) jarred roasted red bell pepper, patted dry and chopped into 1/4-inch dice
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
• 1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) olive oil
• 1 large egg

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and position an oven rack in the center.  Lightly coat the muffin tin with melted butter, oil, or high-heat canola-oil spray.  

2. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, stir together the feta cheese, roasted bell pepper, and chopped basil.  Set aside. Pour the buttermilk into the measuring cup.  Add the olive oil and the egg and whisk together until well blended.  

3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.  Pour the buttermilk mixture into the well and stir gently with a spatula.  Mix only until there are no more streaks of flour or pools of liquid and the batter looks fairly smooth.  A few small lumps scattered throughout are fine – they will disappear during baking.  Gently fold in the feta cheese mixture until evenly distributed in the batter.

4. Use the large ice cream scoop or 2 soup spoons to divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.  Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the tops feel firm and a skewer inserted into the centers comes out clean.  Transfer the muffin tin to a rack and let cool for 5 minutes. 

5. Gently run a thin knife or spatula around each muffin to free it from the pan, lift out the muffins, and transfer them to a rack to finish cooling (careful, these are tender while hot). Serve warm or store airtight at room temperature for up to 2 days or frozen for 1 month. Reheat room temperature muffins in oven at 375 for about 8 minutes or in microwave.