Learn in Grace: My Great Food's Kitchen Makeover Recipe: Ube Queso Muffin

A video posted by Mira Grace (@mirarempillo) on Feb 13, 2015 at 9:28am PST

My kids and I love to bake and cook. I gave them their own play kitchen when they were just a year old so they can pretend to be like a chef. They are 5 now, and they are budding little chefs who love to ~~make a mess~~ help out in the kitchen with me or their Auntie's. So, the mess is REAL every time we cook with the kids and I am totally ~~not~~ OK with it. You can always clean up a mess, but you can never bring back their childhood.

I do not have a full kitchen, I usually cook or bake at my parent's or in-law's kitchen as they have most of the tools I need. But, for the love of cooking, me and my kitchen have made a lot of dishes even without measuring cups/spoons, hand mixers, an oven, etc.

My dream kitchen is something smart and kid-friendly and the equipment and tools to be durable and would last for a very long time. The tools and equipment, the lighting of the kitchen area (Because I love to take food shots) are main things that matter to me when cooking with my kids.

That is why, I aimed to join My Great Food's Kitchen Makeover contest with my Moist Ube Queso Muffin. While doing the 15 second video, I had no one to ask help to but my 5 year old twins to do the mixing, the pouring, while I take shots. My sister would be the hand model and the one who used the hand mixer and the referee when the twins are bickering as to who pours who.

In between, my twins would spill flour, milk or sugar. They literally cracked the eggs with the shell mixed on the batter so we had to pause for 15 minutes to remove all the tiny shell and retake. It was both funny ~~stressful, killer-kind~~ and memorable. Even our pet, Taylor would watch by the oven and lick the pieces of falling batter or sugar on the floor. The prep time of 20 minutes became 2 hours! Then, after all that, finally... the muffin is done! It was sooooo good! I can still remember it as I write this blog. It was not too overpoweringly sweet, but the cheese balanced it out and gave a thrill on your taste buds like drinking wine after a steak. We we're laughing and indulging (while, I was almost out of my wits thinking on how to remove the stain on my little girl's new dress - because they did not bring the apron I made for them!).

I am no pro in the kitchen, I cook or bake for my family and friends. So, that dream kitchen is not just TO cook or TO bake on but as a family affair to remember with my kids till they're grown. Perhaps, with less mess next time. :)

This recipe is also on this blog post entry I posted or this below, and I have added pictures for the directions to help you check the process.

Ube Queso Muffin

1 3/4 cups sifted Magnolia all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup unsalted Magnolia Gold Butter
2 large eggs
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup Magnolia PureFresh Natural Cow's Milk
3/4 cup Ube Halaya
2 tsp. Ube Flavoring
Magnolia Queso de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt Cheese for sprinkling on top of the muffin.

Procedure:

1. Mix all dry ingredients except sugar. Set aside.
2. On a separate mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and ube halaya.
3. Add eggs one at a time.
4. Mix the dry ingredients alternately with the milk until fully incorporated.
5. Add the ube flavoring and mix well.
6. Preheat oven to 350F for 15minutes.
7. Fill each muffin liners at least 2/3 full with the batter.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until done.
9. Remove from oven and add grated Magnolia Queso de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt cheese on top.
10. Serve warm.

Makes 12 muffins #MerryMyGreatFoodin15seconds

Photos and details of procedure here...