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SALT LAKE CITY — Do you have too many pins on Pinterest and not enough time to try them all? Don't worry — the Page Two editors of ksl.com will try them out and give you the low-down. This week we're sampling things to make in a muffin tin that aren’t muffins or cupcakes.
This little pin for mini frittatas got me started on a muffin tin cooking trip. One look at the picture and I was practically drooling (don’t judge; I was really hungry). Not only did it look like an incredibly easy way to cook one of my favorite foods, it got my wheels turning for other uses for the muffin tin I have used only once in my married life. The recipe from familyfun.go.com has a step-by-step rundown, but you don’t really need it. Just mix together everything you’d put in an omelet, pour it into a coated muffin tin, and pop it in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes. I made two different kinds: one with tomatoes and spinach and the other with potatoes and sausage. They were both to die for, but one word of warning: Despite the healthy coating of cooking spray, these stuck to the muffin tin. I mean really stuck — like, I had to throw the pan away afterward. Granted, it was a cheap pan, but not even a thorough scrubbing got all the egg off. I recommend using either a silicone baking pan or aluminum muffin wrappers, which won’t stick. Final grade: B
Mini chicken pot piesMy next excursion into muffin tin cooking took me to another favorite food I’m normally too lazy to make: chicken pot pies. This shortcut got me inspired to make them mini. The pin links to bettycrocker.com for “Impossibly easy mini pies,” but it’s not a recipe. Instead, it’s more of a blog post for “Creating your own signature mini pie.” This is great if you’re a seasoned cook. For the Average Joe like myself, it left me hanging. The post says to use Bisquick baking mix, milk and eggs. Pour a little into a greased muffin tin, then add any combination of fillings you want. Top it off with more of the mix, then bake. Did you catch the problem? It doesn’t say how much mix, how much milk or how many eggs. Some of the commenters offered ideas, but they weren’t right for my chicken pot pies, which came out flat and a little rubbery. It was a definite disappointment, but I am not giving up. I’ll try again with a different egg-to-milk-to-mix ratio. Final grade: C
I made these corn dog muffin bites under the guise of cooking for my toddler, but let’s be honest: They were really for me. The original post from weelicious.com includes a made-from-scratch corn bread recipe, but I took the easy route and used a mix. You just pour a little corn bread batter into a muffin tin, add a slice of cooked hot dog, top it off with more batter and bake. These were not only incredibly easy, they were incredibly delicious — and with a big bonus: These are much healthier than the deep-fried variety, so don’t feel guilty for giving them to your kids and helping yourself, too. Final grade: A+
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This week on Pinterest: Do-it-yourself alternatives for household products from the kitchen to the bathroom.This idea can be found all over the web, and it required no cooking at all but it did require a bit of prep work. In another effort to entice my stubborn toddler to eat, I put together a muffin tin lunch (something that blogger Pam Baumeister cleverly refers to as “tapas for toddlers”). I chopped up little bites of cheese, sandwiches, veggies and fruit and threw in a few crackers and raisins, putting each food into its own little muffin cup. Then I handed my son the pan and a fork and let him go to town. While he didn’t touch the broccoli or kidney beans as usual, he gobbled everything else up. I've also done this with an egg carton and filled his Easter eggs with food, which he loves even more. I call it a “snack lunch,” and now he frequently requests it. Since it encourages him to eat a healthy variety in one sitting, I am more than happy to oblige. Final grade: A
Another no-cook muffin tin idea is for beverages. Emily at industriousjustice.com put lemon and lime slices into an empty muffin tin, then filled it with water and froze overnight. The result is a batch of fancy ice cubes perfect for your next soiree. The bonus is that you get the look that festive fruit slices add to a pitcher of water, but without the lingering taste that does not appeal to everyone. Emily also recommends that, for beverages other than water, you fill the tin with your drink of choice. I was a little concerned about being able to pop these out of a metal tin once frozen, but they came right out. Final grade: A
