Today's Tip: Make this in your Muffin Tin!

Muffin tins aren't just for muffins anymore!  Some tips:

 

• Turn any dish into perfectly sized appetizers for your next party.
• Use it to freeze extra portions of sauces, broths, tomato paste, canned pumpkin or wine for cooking.  After freezing, transfer the frozen portions to zip-top bags, then date and return to the freezer for 6-8 months.
• A muffin tin makes life easier if you have a picky eater. Leave onions out in one cup, or add peppers instead of mushrooms in another cup.  Use this idea to make custom omelet cups with your family.
• Flip your muffin tin upside down, spray with cooking spray and pour a thick cookie batter over each muffin bottom to make cookie bowls.

Or, try these ideas...

Meatloaf: Want to make meatloaf but don't have an hour for it to cook?  Spoon your meatloaf mixture into a muffin tin and cut your cooking time in half!  Better yet, you can easily freeze the "muffins" that aren't eaten for another meal.

Egg Dishes: Cook up your bacon or sausage and veggies first, then whisk your milk & eggs and/or egg whites & pour into muffin tin.  Add scoops of your meat/veggies, top with cheese and bake!  Or, crack an egg in the muffin tin, swirl with a fork to "scramble", add an already-cooked meat such as canadian bacon or ham, veggies of choice, a little cheese and bake.

Baked Ham & Cheese: Stuff a small slice of whole grain bread into an ungreased muffin cup & add a slice of ham and lowfat cheese then bake.

Jello: Some kids like additions to their jello (like mandarin oranges, pineapple or other fruits) and some like it plain.  It's easy to include additions for those who like them and keep it plain for others. 

Cookies: Use your mini-muffin tin to make cookie or brownie bites.