Sour Cream Cornbread

I am more than ready for the autumn. There is no time of the year quite like it. Football, crunchy leaves, carnivals, not to mention my favorite holidays...Halloween and Thanksgiving!!

There are so many recipes that just taste better with the flavor of harvest time veggies and gourds...I love pumpkin and butternut squash. I love beans flavored with ham, and chili and soup. One of my favorite sides is homemade cornbread. I especially love cornbread dressing. This recipe for sour cream cornbread is a great compliment to any of those hearty dishes on a cool crisp autumn day. These cornbread muffins can be frozen, too. They're great served warm with fresh butter.

1 1/2 cups cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
8 ounces sour cream, regular or light
1 can cream-style corn
3 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons melted butter

Heat oven to 375°. Grease your muffin tin (or spray paper liners)

In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and soda, salt, and sugar.

In another bowl, whisk together the sour cream, corn, eggs, milk, and melted butter. Combine the two mixtures and stir until just blended.

Fill muffin cups about 3/4-full and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the muffins are firm and lightly browned.

Makes 18 to 24 muffins.

Weekend Brunch: Alamo Breakfast Casserole

A chilly 45 degrees, sunny skies and everyone is toasty warm in bed. It's the perfect morning to make my egg casserole. Whether you're feeding out-of-towners or the family, this is a really easy and filling breakfast. It's easy to do this one ahead of time also, so you can just pop it in the oven when you're ready to get it started.

Alamo Breakfast Casserole

10 eggs
1 Tbl. flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 stick melted butter
1 pint (16 oz) cottage cheese
1 pound shredded monterey jack cheese
1 can (4 oz) diced green chilis

Heat oven to 350
whisk together eggs, flour, baking powder, and butter.
Stir in cheese and chilis.

Pour into lightly greased baking pan. (13x9 dish)

Cover and bake until set, cheese is melted & just beginning to brown. (About 35 minutes)
Serve warm with whole wheat toast and fruit.