Cornbread Southern Style Ala Nita Food

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.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and position a rack in the middle. Butter an 8-inch-square baking pan.
• Melt the butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish in three 15-second intervals on high or in a small pan on the stove. Set it aside to cool.
• In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and the eggs. Add the melted butter. Add the flour-cornmeal mixture and stir just until combined. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake until the cornbread just begins to brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 23 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

SWEET SOUTHERN CORNBREAD ALA NITA

Steps:

• Preheat a 8 or 10 inch heavy skillet (seasoned black iron is great!) in 375°F oven.
• Or, grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan.
• In a large bowl, combine boiling water with Cornmeal Mix. Stir in well.
• Allow to sit about 3 to 5 minutes to absorb the water and burst the corn meal.
• Combine this mixture well with the remaining ingredients except baking soda.
• Add buttermilk slowly.
• Batter should be smooth and wet, but don't over mix.
• When mixed, just before pouring batter up, mix in the pinch of baking soda.
• Immediately pour batter into preheated oven and hot skillet or pan.
• Bake for about 40 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove from pan and serve.

REAL SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the corn meal, flour, salt, and baking powder.
• In a separate bowl mix together the eggs, butter, and buttermilk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until well blended.
• Heat a dry 12 inch cast iron skillet over high heat for 2 minutes. Add corn oil to skillet, swirl oil around to coat bottom and sides. Leave remaining oil in pan. Return to high heat for 1 minute.
• Pour the cornbread batter into the skillet and cook on high heat until bubbles start to form in the center. Remove from stove.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree F (200 degree C) oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

DELICIOUS SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In an 8 inch cast iron skillet, heat vegetable oil over low heat.
• In a medium bowl, mix together cornmeal, buttermilk, egg and honey. Carefully stir in the hot oil. Sprinkle skillet with remaining 1 tablespoon corn meal. Spoon mixture into skillet.
• Bake in preheated oven for 22 minutes, or until firm. Serve hot.

OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Grease an 8-inch round or square baking pan (or, for more authenticity, a cast iron skillet). Preheat oven to 425. Place pan in oven to preheat.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, salt, and sugar in mixing bowl. Add corn oil and use a cutting motion with spoon so that oil will be well blended with other ingredients. Add the boiling water and mix well.
• Add cold milk and stir. Let stand for a few minutes until batter has cooled to room temperature.
• Mix in egg and then baking powder; beat briskly.
• Remove preheated pan from oven and pour in batter. Bake until lightly browned (approx. 20 minutes).

SOUTHERN STYLE CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Set 8-inch cast-iron skillet with bacon fat (or vegetable oil) in heating oven.
• Measure 1/3 cup cornmeal into medium bowl. Mix remaining cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in small bowl; set aside.
• Pour boiling water all at once into the 1/3 cup cornmeal; stir to make a stiff mush. Whisk in buttermilk gradually, breaking up lumps until smooth, then whisk in egg. When oven is preheated and skillet very hot, stir dry ingredients into mush mixture until just moistened. Carefully remove skillet from oven. Pour hot bacon fat (or melted butter) from the skillet into the batter and stir to incorporate, then quickly pour batter into heated skillet. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and instantly turn cornbread onto wire rack; cool for 5 minutes, then serve immediately.
• Note: Though it is preferable to make cornbread in a preheated cast-iron skillet, a 9-inch round cake pan or 9-inch square baking pan, greased lightly with butter and not preheated, will also produce acceptable results if you double the recipe and bake the bread for 25 minutes.