At the start of the school year I was all gung-ho about creating fun and interesting meal ideas for the school lunch box but that enthusiasm quickly made way for standard fare that was easy to put together. I’m trying to break this habit and these Savory Cheese and Bacon Muffins are a good start.
I’m not very good in the kitchen. I can’t just toss this spice and that seasoning in with a chicken fillets or salmon steak and delivery a taste worthy meal. I’ve come to terms with my lack of creativity in the kitchen; that’s what cookbooks are for. The Mix and Match Meals cookbook from DK Canada breaks easy dishes down into Starters, Mains, and Desserts, giving you the ability to create a whole meal out of various suggestions and have all the recipes on one page.
Our meals are usually just mains, without starters or dessert, but I have discovered some great recipes in the book, such as their Savory Cheese and Bacon Muffins. These are listed as a starter but they are a perfect option for a school lunch or after school snack too. And for a non-cook like myself, they’re so easy to make.
INGREDIENTS
- 5 1/2 oz (150 g) Canadian bacon, sliced
- 7 oz (200 g) Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) fresh bread crumbs
- 1/2 bunch of scallions, finely chopped
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
- Handful of fresh chives, chopped
- Salt and ground pepper
- Butter, for greasing
METHOD
- Fry the bacon until cooked but not too crispy, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Mix together the cheese with the bread crumbs, scallions, eggs, and milk. Stir in the bacon and chives.
- Season generously with salt and pepper, then spoon into 4 buttered ramekins or metal pudding molds
- Bake in the oven at 375F (190C) for about 25 minutes until risen and golden. Serve hot or cold.
Instead of cooking in 4 ramekins, I used a regular muffin tin. They came out smaller but were perfect for including 2 or 3 in each child’s lunch. They are tasty right out of the oven but they just as nice when not warm, making them ideal for a school lunch.
I should point out that it’s best to remove the biscuits from the pan as soon as they’re out of the oven. If left to cool in the pan, the cheese hardens and makes removal a little tricky.
These Savory Cheese and Bacon Muffins are a huge hit with my kids and a nice alternative to a boring sandwich in their school lunch.
Recipe reprinted with permission from DK Canada.