Chilli, Cheese and Bacon Muffins

It's time for the Sweet Heat Bloggers Challenge at Vanilla Clouds and Lemon Drops.  Each month there is a different challenge involving the 'hot stuff'. Here is what Lyndsay says about this month's challenge:

"So since this month is the Super Bowl and the start of the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament (and of course the continuance of hockey and football (or soccer!) season!) I decided the theme for this month's Sweet Heat challenge is.....(cue cheer leading squad!)..... Game Food! That means anything you fancy eating whilst watching a big game will work as long as it is spicy!"

I really struggled with this one, as we are not a family who eat while watching TV, let alone while watching sport, we just don't watch sport!  However, I had half a pack of streaky bacon left over from a previous recipe, so came up with the idea of making some savoury muffins.  We ate them with soup, but they would be ideal for snacking on if you were inclined to watch 'a big game' on TV or even live as part of a picnic.

Chilli Cheese and Bacon Muffins

makes 12 muffins

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup veg oil

1 large egg

2 tbsp chilli sauce or relish (I used Maggi Chilli Sauce)

2 cups of plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

50g grated cheddar or other hard cheese

100g streaky bacon, cooked till crisp and crumbled or chopped into small pieces

1. Heat the oven to 200C.  Line the muffin tin with paper cases.

2. Measure the chilli sauce or relish, milk, oil and egg into a bowl and whisk until mixed, add the flour, baking powder, salt, cheese and bacon pieces and stir until the flour is just mixed, the mix shoudl still be lumpy.

3. Divide evenly between the cases.

4. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown. When baked remove to a wire tray to cool.

These muffins keep very well and can be revived by reheating for 20 seconds in the microwave.  The chilli heat was kind of sneaked up on you just when you thought it was a plain cheese and bacon muffin.  If you wanted more heat, just add more sauce and reduce the milk slightly.