Pepper-cheese muffins

MAKES 12 SERVINGS

¼ cup butter or margarine, softened

2 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers

1 cup milk

In small bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add egg, beating just until mixture is mixed. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cheese; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, ending with flour mixture.

Spoon mixture into greased muffin pan or paper muffin liners, filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove muffins from pan as soon as possible; cool on wire racks.

Jeannine Konopacki

Nutrition facts per serving: 167 calories, 8 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 39 mg cholesterol, 19 g carbohydrates, 6 g protein, 520 mg sodium, 1 g fiber