Cornbread, Hoe Cakes and Hushpuppies
* Use salt. This bread is a little bland and needs about a teaspoon of salt. I think it could really be a great taster by adding some herbs, possibly a little rosemary if the cakes were going to be served alongside chicken or meat or a spoonful of sugar if served with butter and syrup or honey.
* The best thing about this bread is its texture and color. The little golden yellow-brown cakes are crunchy on the outside and smooth on the inside. They scream to be topped with a spoonful of beef stew or stewed tomatoes or beans, maybe turnips and greens, okra or even a little chicken potpie with gravy.
So, for those of you interested in a little old-fashioned side bread, particularly nice with savory vegetables you might try this humble little fried bread.
Ingredients:
2 cups yellow cornmeal
3 cups boiling water
1 egg, beaten
2 Tbsp shortening
½ cup milk
Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Slowly add cornmeal to boiling water. Reduce heat and cook, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add egg, blending in quickly. Add shortening and stir into mixture until melted. Add milk. Allow the batter to cool enough to handle and then form into balls-a little larger than golf balls. Flatten balls to about ½ inch patty and fry in a hot skillet, with about ¼ inch of oil, shortening or bacon grease.
Old Fashioned Southern Cornbread
Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups cornmeal
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp oil or bacon drippings
Beat eggs and buttermilk together. Add dry ingredients and stir in drippings. Pour into a hot, greased 9 or 10-inch iron skillet or 18 muffin cups or a 9-inch baking pan. Bake at 475° for 20 to 25 minutes.
Jalapeno Cornbread
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
1 ½ Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 ½ cups milk
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup finely chopped Jalapeno peppers
½ cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
¼ cup chopped onion
Combine cornmeal, sugar and salt in a bowl. Scald milk, pour over cornmeal and cool to lukewarm. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into 9 inch baking pan and bake at 425° for approximately 40 minutes.
Hush Puppies
Hush Puppies are de rigueur when serving fried fish. Remember to drain puppies well on paper toweling before serving.
Ingredients:
1 ¾ cup of yellow cornmeal
1 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp soda
1 egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup very
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