Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Mini Mexican Corn Muffins


Tonight is leftover night. Specifically, leftover vegetarian chili with brown rice. These mini jalapeno/cheddar muffins were easy to make and should go over well with my family. This recipe came from Cooks.com.

Mexican Cornbread

  • 2 boxes Jiffy cornbread muffin mix
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • 1 can creamed corn 
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped jalapeno pepper
Fix Jiffy mix according to package directions. Add remaining ingredients. Mix. Pour into greased and floured 13X9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees until center is firm. About 20 minutes.



I used a mini muffin pan because I like how cute they look when they are done! I also omitted the creamed corn...I do not like pieces of corn in a muffin, but go for it, if you do! I did not measure the onions/jalapenos.

These muffins are NOT gluten free since there is wheat flour in the Jiffy cornbread mixes. It would be pretty easy to make this recipe gf.

Friday, May 18, 2012

The Promise of Spring


male goldfinch

Spring arrived early in our area after a mild winter so the weeds and the insects have had a head start. The leaf lettuce my husband planted last fall is growing strong, and is enough to feed my daughter's guinea pigs daily!


A few weeks before planting our vegetable garden, I added most of the stuff from our compost bin into the soil. Not all of the eggshells or clementine peels had completely de-composed, but it is still valuable. We also put in shredded paper to aerate the soil.




We also have quite a few strawberries. They seem to get sweeter every year. I try and pick them before they are completely ripe, otherwise the birds nibble them.

Parsley, cilantro and basil

Tomato plants


I planted zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes. I also put some sugar snap pea seeds in. We have a lot of mysterious seedlings sprouting from all the compost leavings...not sure what they are, but I am yanking them out.


I have been birding with a bit more intensity this year. My brother-in-law and sister came for a visit, and they are both avid birders. I bought some good quality binoculars and am trying to encourage a variety of birds to our yard. Above is a bluebird house which is currently vacant. I bought live mealworms to try and entice a bluebird mama to set up housekeeping, but so far, no blues. I was thrilled to see that the tufted titmice and wrens have been gorging on the worms, so maybe the bluebirds will catch on?

fruit feeder


tufted titmouse eating mealworms


I bought this fruit feeder in the hopes of attracting orioles, bluebirds, tanagers, waxwings etc. So far, I have seen cardinals, titmice and wrens visiting the feeder. There is hummingbird food, a dollop of grape jelly and live mealworms. I read that for the fruit eating birds, grapes jelly is their favorite. You can also put orange slices on the feeder.

titmouse



Wren waiting his turn for the mealworms

new Droll Yankee seed feeder
                                                 

                                                Happy Gardening and Happy Birding!