Okay guys, I’m sowwie! I know it’s been a while since I last blogged! I shall now hang my head down in shame for the next…… minute……..
Alright, minute over! Anyway, I find it hard to believe that we’re already living in the month of June! How did half the year go by without me even realizing it? Yes people, before you know it, we’ll all be making Christmas cookies pretty soon!
So I guess this also means that I’ve been living in Asia for the past 6 months now! And you know what? I’m absolutely loving it! I’ve settled down with a job in a really REALLY awesome company that I enjoy. At the same time I’m getting reacquainted with my old friends as well as making new ones 🙂 Every day I slowly uncover the little bit of nostalgia that I thought I once lost. So yes, that’s currently what I’ve been so busy with! But I promise you that I will start to put aside more time for Sweet Samsations now that I’m a little more settled! 2 years blog-anniversary is coming up quite soon P.S.! 😉
Have you guys heard of the term “Third Culture Kid”? I think I fall into that category. According to Wikipedia, here’s what American sociologist David C. Pollock defines TCK as:
A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture may be assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.
“not having full ownership in any” ahhhhh… Yes, I identify mostly with my Singaporean side although, sometimes I feel a little out of place in this tiny island. Then again, about a third of the population here are foreigners! And yes, I believe 80% of my closest friends also fall into this TCK category..! As far as assimilation goes, I can tell you that my diet preference has indubitably been altered.
Now, to keep myself sane, I still do bake from time to time. Didn’t you know? Baking as a form of therapy is a much cheaper alternative to seeing a psychologist. LOL. Anyway, I’ve realized that jalapeno is a comparatively rare ingredient in this country. And maaaaaan, they’re ridiculously expensive. 8 tiny pieces of jalapenos cost me $5! In Vancouver, I was purchasing each piece for less than $0.20. However, the ridiculous price tag wasn’t enough to deter me from these awesome chili peppers.
I do recall a certain bakery, that I frequented in Vancouver, who made the BEST Jalapeno and Cheese Muffins.. So here is my attempt to recreate the distinctively North American flavoured muffin. I hope you guys enjoy! 🙂
See? So nice a fluffy too! What are you waiting for? Go buy some jalapenos and cheese now!
Jalapeño and Cheese Muffins
makes 24 mini muffins or 12 medium-sized muffins my own recipe through trial and error :)
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup softened butter
- 2 eggs
- 8 pieces of jalapeno: 7 finely chopped and 1 sliced (those with lower spice tolerance should go with 2 or 3. Also please bear in mind that jalapenos from different places can have different spice levels! The ones I bought from Malaysia were very weak in their level of spice)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time then stir in the milk.
- Stir in the flour mixture, then fold in the jalapenos and cheese. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups. Place a
- Bake at 360 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.
Till next time! ❤
Enjoy!!!
Sweet Samsations 
Baking to keep sane is so true!!!! Maybe I should take a whirl at these they look so delicious 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
lovely! 🙂
Spicy!
It’s great to have you back Sammie and to know that you are happily settled.
These muffins look so delicious, I would love to try one right now :))
These savory muffins look great…and yes jalapeño not only add color as well as flavor…yum!
Thanks for the recipe and hope you are having a great week Sammie 😀
You had me at cheese 🙂
Wow, love that savoury goodness in those muffin bites 🙂
hm, those look delish!
Interesting muffin flavour! Not sure I’ll dare to have a bite though! 😉
I’ve nominated you an award at http://foodismylife.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/thank-you-liebster-and-versatile-blogger-award/
Hope you will like it!
Looks amazing! I will have to try these sometime 🙂
I have a lot of TCK friends, so I’m familiar with that term, too. And these muffins look SO good – love that your varied homes + life experiences inspired you to make these!
I love the spicy cheesiness of these!
I’m sure we will all be baking Christmas goodies before we know it – this year is speeding by. I love the look of your jalepeno muffins. I bet these are really good straight from the oven xx
Love jalapeños, love cheese and love muffins. Tick, tick, tick on all accounts!
Welcome home! We are almost neighbours now! Beautiful little jalapeño muffins! I know your jalapeños were expensive, but I can’t ever find them here anywhere on the HK island, so I guess you were at least lucky to come across some. You are a 3rd culture kid. My kids feel the same way. They hardly remember things in the States after living their formative years in Asia. I know it is difficult but you really do have the best of both worlds. I promise it will start to get easier and if you get lonesome you can always come for a visit to HK… Take care, BAM
Would you believe I didn’t start eating and enjoying jalapenos and other hot peppers up until 5 years ago? These muffins are driving me crazy right now..all that cheese plus jalapenos in a nuffin, is steamy, gooey heaven!
OMG that’s brilliant-I’m a TCK! 😮 I tried to describe that to someone and wasn’t sure if there was a name for it! These muffins look so delicious!
oh wow, these are amazing! Would love this with like every meal!
Oh, yummy! I love these spicy, cheesy muffins! But yikes on the cost of jalapenos!
I usually don’t like jalapenos, but I absolutely love how you made these muffins. So much so that I can’t wait to make them for myself
Fantastic recipe! I need to try these soon!
Look really delicious! 🙂
What a thrill It would be to live at your house! xx mmmmmmmmmmm