Gourmet Jumbo Cornbread Muffins

Moist, tender and delicious, these jumbo muffins go perfectly with a bowl of hot chili, or by themselves with a slathering of honey butter.  They’re the perfect accompaniment for a fried chicken or country pot roast dinner as well.

Gourmet Jumbo Cornbread Muffins?

(adapted from Homemade Cornbread at Tastykitchen.com)

3 Cups yellow cornmeal

1 Cup flour

1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 Cup shortening

3 Cups buttermilk

4 eggs

1/4 C. cooked, crumbled bacon

1 Tbsp. bacon grease and “cracklins” from the frying pan (the rich, brown residual bits left after frying bacon)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees? In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well with an electric mixer, about 2 minutes.

Line jumbo muffin cups with liners, or grease/spray with nonstick cooking spray. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.? There will be enough batter for exactly 12 jumbo muffins.

Bake for 20 minutes, and check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If the toothpick comes out clean, the muffins are done.

This recipe can be baked in regular muffin pans or in a9 x 13 inch pan, adjust your baking times accordingly–regular muffins can be checked at 15 minutes, and 9 x 13 pans can be checked at 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

S.