Cornmeal Crusted Seitan Food

NO CORNMEAL CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda together in a large bowl.
• Combine the sour cream, milk, butter, corn and eggs in a blender and blend until smooth. Add to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Butter a 9-by 13-inch baking dish and pour in the batter.
• Bake until the cornbread springs back when pressed and is golden around the edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes in the baking dish before slicing.

SOUTHERN FRIED FISH

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the rice flour, Creole seasoning, black pepper, garlic powder smoked paprika and yellow cornmeal, and whisk together until evenly mixed. Add the seasoned cornmeal to a large piece of wax paper.
• Heat the oil in a large, deep cast-iron skillet until at least 325 degrees F (or add a few drops of cornmeal and if it sizzles, it's ready to start frying).
• Rinse off the fish fillets and place in a large baking dish. Shake a few drops of hot sauce on both sides of 2 of the fish fillets, then coat both sides with the seasoned cornmeal. Fry the coated fillets in the hot oil, without turning, until the edges turn brown, about 4 minutes. Flip over and fry about another 4 minutes. Drain on a paper towel or wire rack. Repeat the coating and frying with the remaining 2 fillets.

CREAMY CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring the broth, 2 1/2 cups water, butter and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a heavy, large saucepan over high heat. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Continue to whisk until the polenta begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the polenta is very thick and tender, stirring often with a flat-bottom spoon or heatproof rubber spatula to prevent sticking or burning, about 20 minutes. Blend the corn in a mini processor until a coarse puree forms. Stir the corn puree into the polenta. Season with more salt if desired.

CLASSIC CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with vegetable oil.
• Whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg, vegetable oil and buttermilk, then fold into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 15 minutes before serving.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

BETTER THAN GRANNIE'S CREAMED CORN

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, sweat the onion in butter and salt until translucent.
• In a large mixing bowl, place a paper bowl in the middle of the bowl. Resting the cob on the bowl in a vertical position remove only the tops of the kernel with a knife, using long smooth downward strokes and rotating the cob as you go. After the cob has been stripped, use the dull backside of your knife to scrape any remaining pulp and milk off the cob.
• Add the corn and pulp mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium high until the juice from the corn has tightened. Add the rosemary. Sprinkle the corn with the sugar and turmeric. Stir constantly for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle the cornmeal onto the corn, using a whisk to combine well. Add the heavy cream and cook until the corn has softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the rosemary. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

CHEESE GRITS

Steps:

• Place the milk, water, and salt into a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once the milk mixture comes to a boil, gradually add the cornmeal while continually whisking. Once all of the cornmeal has been incorporated, decrease the heat to low and cover. Remove lid and whisk frequently, every 3 to 4 minutes, to prevent grits from sticking or forming lumps; make sure to get into corners of pot when whisking. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until mixture is creamy.
• Remove from the heat, add the pepper and butter, and whisk to combine. Once the butter is melted, gradually whisk in the cheese a little at a time. Serve immediately.

CORNMEAL PANCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and nutmeg in a large bowl. Whisk together the egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla in a medium bowl. Whisk the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture until just combined to make a thick batter.
• In another bowl, whip the egg whites until they hold soft peaks. Use a rubber spatula to fold the whites into the batter just until no white streaks remain.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and brush lightly with butter. Working in batches, drop about 1/4 cup batter per pancake into the skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the tops of the pancakes and the undersides are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until the pancakes are cooked through, about 1 minute more. Transfer the cooked pancakes to the oven to keep warm and continue to make more pancakes, brushing the skillet with butter as needed, until all the batter has been used. Serve the pancakes with blackberries and maple syrup.