Pour your corn bread batter onto the hot shortening and immediately bake as usual. The hot shortening will cause a thick, delicious bottom crust to form. Add about 8 ounces of shredded American cheddar cheese to your corn bread batter. When you like hot corn bread muffins, add a couple of finely chopped jalapeno peppers. Frozen whole kernel corn is also great to add into corn bread muffin batter.
Granulated sugar is best for making muffins.
All-purpose flour is good for making muffins. Bread flour is also good to use. Cake flour can be used, but is not recommended by itself. Use cold water in muffins unless the recipe reads otherwise. Salt is important to flavor enhancement, but is not necessary and should be used sparingly.