Cornmeal Muffins With Bacon Bits And Pecans

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4-1/2 lb bacon, to your taste
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 cup fine-ground yellow cornmeal
• 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or unsalted butter, melted)
• 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

Recipe

• 1 grease a 12-cup muffin tin; preheat oven to 400°.
• 2 put the bacon in a hot large skillet and fry until it is crisp-cooked.
• 3 transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• 4 when cool enough to handle, chop and set aside.
• 5 sift the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
• 6 in another bowl, whisk the egg until frothy, then blend in the milk and oil.
• 7 make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add the liquid all at once.
• 8 stir briefly; add the pecans and continue to stir just until blended.
• 9 divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups.
• 10 bake on the center rack of the oven until the tops are lightly golden, about 20 minutes.
• 11 transfer the muffins to a wire rack or, if you're serving them immediately, put them in a cloth-lined basket and serve.
• 12 variation-add up to 1 cup grated smoked cheddar or gouda or 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese.