Mini Corn Dog Muffins

Hi, it's me!  Bet you weren't expecting me after I told you I was leaving, huh?  Well it turns out that my scheduled guest poster for today, Erika of Teenage Taste, had a family emergency and ended up not being able to complete her post to share on my blog today.  I really LOVE her blog so still think you should check it out anyway.  She had me for Secret Recipe Club once and took some beautiful photos of my Cheddar Cauliflower Soup.  Plus, pretty much everything she posts just looks incredibly delicious.  The part I think is the coolest?  She's still in high school!  My what talent Erika has and I know she will go far in life :).

But that left me with a hole in my blog lineup at about 10PM on Sunday.  Thank goodness I have a stockpile of posts!  Today, I'm choosing to share a very simple recipe with you.  And one that's PERFECT for Monday night football in case you need something to nosh on during the big game (WHO DEY!).

It's also a great quick meal to bring to new parents.  They freeze well (zap them in the microwave to refresh!) and their bite-sized nature makes them easy to pop in your mouth with one hand (sans plate) as you try to maneuver a baby with the other.  Just ask my friends Sigmund and Kristen whom I brought these little muffins all way from Cincinnati to New York City to Boston when I visited them and their new baby earlier this Summer.

The first time I made them was to give away and Chris was so sad that they weren't for us.  Given I had leftover buttermilk and needed a quick dinner, they made the menu for just us to enjoy.  We love these muffins and found it hard to not eat the entire pan (I make half a recipe).  They taste just like corn dogs but are bite-sized and healthier because they're not fried.  The funniest part of all was when I plated mine with ketchup and mustard, Chris' arch enemy.  He was so grossed out that when we sat down for dinner together, he ate and talked to me with his eyes closed the whole time!  Silly hubby!

Looking for more game day foods?  Try...

• Football Snackadium - The ULTIMATE in football party foods made on a smaller scale
• Spicy Sausage Dip
• Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip
• Blooming Onion with Dipping Sauce - Just like Outback Steakhouse
• Pizza Bites
• Ham, Cheese, and Green Pepper Pretzel Bites
• Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Three Years Ago: Finn Nisu Bread

Okay, signing out for now.  Guest posters coming up next!

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

Yields: 48 mini muffins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup melted butter (or 1/4 cup butter + 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8-10 hot dogs, cut into 1" bites

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F.  Spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Combine the butter and sugar in a bowl and whisk to combine.  Add the eggs and whisk together.  Add the buttermilk and whisk again.
3. In a separate bowl, combine baking soda, cornmeal, flour, and salt.  Stir to combine.  Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry in two batches.
4. Spoon 1 Tablespoon of batter into each prepared mini muffin cup.  Place one hot dog bite into the middle of each cup.
5. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until cornbread is golden brown.  Cool in mini muffin tin for 5 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat for 20-30 seconds before serving.  Can also be frozen and reheated!

Source: Iowa Girl Eats