Aggies Authentic Deep South Cornbread Food

AGGIE'S AUTHENTIC DEEP SOUTH CORNBREAD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 425-degrees and position a rack in the middle. Grease a 9-inch cast iron frying pan with bacon drippings and place in hot oven to heat while preparing batter. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and the eggs. Add the melted bacon drippings. Add the flour-cornmeal mixture and stir just until combined. Pour the batter into the heated cast iron skillet. Bake until the cornbread just begins to brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 23 minutes. Flip it onto a plate or cooling rack so the crust does not soften. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

DEEP SOUTH MEXICAN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in large bowl.
• Pour into ungreased 9x12 pyrex.
• Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes until lightly browned.

REAL SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Put the skillet in the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.
• Combine the dry ingredients except for the baking soda in a bowl.
• In another bowl, mix the buttermilk and the baking soda.
• Set aside.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg with the sugar until combined.
• Add the oil and mix until combined.
• Pour this mixture into the buttermilk/baking soda, and mix.
• When the oven is preheated, toss the butter into the skillet and let it melt.
• Meanwhile, pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix in as few strokes as it takes to just make the dough come together.
• Pull the skillet out of the oven, swirling to get the butter covering the bottom and up the sides of the skillet.
• Pour the batter immediately into the pan, smoothing the top, then back into the oven for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown and pulled away from the sides of the pan.
• Turn out onto a cutting board, cut into wedges and serve.
• NOTE: IMNSHO- cornbread isn't worth making if you don't make it in a cast-iron skillet.
• It may just be my upbringing, but it tastes better somehow.
• And please do not add the baking soda to the dry ingredients.
• I can't explain why, but adding it to the buttermilk makes a big difference in the texture.