Savory Muffins with Goat Cheese and Tomato Jam

Muffins:

• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 cups half-and-half or whole milk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Tomato Jam:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary leaves, chopped fine
• 4 cups coarsely chopped plum tomatoes, seeded and peeled
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

• 2 tablespoons minced scallions
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour the muffin tins. Combine the melted butter, egg, and cream in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry until combined. Do not overmix. Fill the muffin cups about three-quarters full. Bake for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges with no crumbs sticking to it.

To make the tomato jam, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil and sauté the garlic, onion, red pepper, and rosemary in a heavy-bottomed sauté pan until soft but not brown. Add the tomatoes and cook down over medium-low heat until the tomatoes have given up most of their water and turned a deep orangey-red, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season to taste. This will make much more than you need for the muffins, but it’s so delicious, you’ll be happy to have the extra around.

Serve the muffins warm, garnished with tomato jam, minced scallions, and crumbled goat cheese.