Cheesy Chili Stuffed Jalapeno Mini Muffins

Chili Filling

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion, small dice
• 1/2 green pepper, finely diced
• 1/2 red or yellow pepper, finely diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced 
• 1 stalk celery, finely diced
• 1 package ground turkey or beef (app one pound)
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup niblets corn
• 1 small tin diced tomatoes
• 1 large tin mixed beans
• 1 regular tin pork and beans
• 1 tbsp chipotle chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp creole spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 11/2 Tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/8 cup ketchup
• A few shakes of hot sauce
• 1 bay leaf

Directions

1.  Saute peppers, onion, and and celery in olive oil using a large dutch oven or cast iron pot just until the onions begin to turn translucent. 
2. Add the ground turkey, cumin, garlic powder and salt. Continue to sautee at medium heat until the turkey is cooked.
3. Add frozen corn and stir to incorporate
4. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer on medium low heat for at least an hour.
5. Remove bay leaves.
6. Cool completely 

Ingredients Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Mini Muffins
Ingredients

• 2  c. all-purpose flour 
• 1 1/2 c. cornmeal 
• 1/2 c. sugar 
• 4 tsp. baking powder 
• 1 tsp. salt 
• 2 c. 1 % milk 
• 1/2 c. vegetable oil 
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tbsp diced jalapeno pepper
• 2 cups grated old cheddar cheese

Combine dry ingredients. Stir in milk, oil, egg and cheese until moistened.

To assemble the dish

1. Grease a mini muffin tin and fill each cup about 1/3 full (about a teaspoon per cup) with the muffin mix
2. Using your fingers, flatten the mixture along the bottom and work it up and around the sides of the cup. The idea is to make your cornbread batter into a little bowl your chili will go in.
3. Fill each cup with chili (about a tsp or two) and top with another tsp batter.
4. Smooth batter over the top of the chili with a butter knife so that it forms a muffin cap.
5. Bake in a 375 oven about 17 minutes; until a toothpick inserted into the dough comes out clean.
6. Serve warm from the oven.
7. These freeze beautifully. Cool completely and freeze on baking sheets. Once frozen, store in heavy duty freezer bags.
8. Garnish with fresh sour cream if desired.
9. Makes 60
10. Any leftover filling can be frozen and used for another time