Monday, February 21, 2011

Corn Bread, as promised

Chili cooking in the fireplace with the cornbread ready to cut.


Along with the chili we almost always have corn bread. To make this scrumptious corn bread we often use corn cut from the still-warm cooked cob during the season.

Preheat your oven to 350°. Put a #8 (10") iron frying pan in the oven while the oven is heating up. When it is up to temperature throw about 1 tablespoon of butter into the pan to melt.

While it is melting mix together the makings of the corn bread:

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl:
3/4 cup yellow corn meal
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
(make sure the baking powder is fresh - purchased within the year)
1 teaspoon salt

Mix the wet ingredients in another smaller bowl:
3/4 cup buttermilk
(this can be well beyond the "buy by" date - just make sure there is no mold)
1/4 cup corn or canola oil
1 egg
Beat it all together.
Add about 1 cup of corn either cut from the cob or dumped from the can after draining.

When the oven temperature has risen to 350° and the butter is melting in the pan
pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix only until blended.
Over-mixing will make the bread tough.

Remove the VERY HOT pan from the oven, swish the butter around the bottom and pour the mixture in.
Put it right back in the oven and set your timer for 25 - 30 minutes.
When it is just beginning to crack on the top, it is done.
Take it out of the oven and, when still warm,  turn it out onto a cutting board.If you leave it in the pan, it might get a little gooey on the bottom.
Some people have even been known to attack this with a spoon when it is still in the pan.

If you were to use a different pan, adjust the time for the size of the pan. A larger pan will make a thinner bread and require less cooking time. A smaller pan will make a thicker bread requiring more cooking time. Any way it is done this is good.

Serve it with butter and/or honey or eat it as-is.
Corn Bread in its Griswold iron pan.

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