Cornmeal Waffles With Bacon Eggs And Creamy Ricotta Food

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CATFISH

Steps:

• Stir together the milk and 1 heaping tablespoon of the House Seasoning. Pour the milk mixture into a shallow baking dish large enough to hold the filets. Spread the filets in an even layer in the dish, turning to coat each side. Let marinate for about 1 hour in a cool place or the refrigerator.
• Pour enough oil into a large Dutch oven to come 2 inches up the side. Clip a deep-fry thermometer to the pot and heat over medium-high heat until the thermometer reaches 370 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, stir together the cornmeal, flour and remaining 1 heaping tablespoon House Seasoning in a paper bag. Working with a few filets at a time, remove them from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off. Place them in the paper bag and gently turn the bag over several times until the filets are evenly coated with the cornmeal mixture. Remove the filets and place them on a baking sheet while you repeat the process with the remaining filets.
• Working in batches, fry the filets until golden brown and crisp on the outside and moist and flaky inside, adjusting the heat to maintain temperature, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a clean wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet to drain. Serve the filets with lemon wedges.
• Stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

CORNMEAL BISCUITS

Steps:

• Whisk 1 1/3 cups flour, 1/3 cup cornmeal, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a pinch of cayenne. Work in 6 tablespoons diced cold butter with your fingers until crumbly. Stir in 2/3 cup half-and-half and 1 tablespoon honey; let sit 5 minutes. Pat into a 1/2-inch-thick square on a floured surface and cut into 8 pieces; shape into rounds and brush with half-and-half. Bake at 425 degrees F on a parchment-lined baking sheet until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

CORNMEAL PANCAKES WITH BLUEBERRY SYRUP

Steps:

• For the blueberry syrup: In a saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 5 minutes on low. Stir in the cornstarch, then continue to cook, using a whisk or spoon to mash the larger pieces of blueberries. Remove from the heat when the syrup is nice and thick.
• For the cornmeal pancakes: Mix together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, vinegar, vanilla and eggs. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring gently. Stir in the melted butter. If the batter is overly thick, splash in a small amount of milk.
• Heat 1 tablespoon melted butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. When hot, drop in 1/4 cup batter per pancake and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and keep warm. Continue with the remaining batter, using more melted butter as needed
• Stack some pancakes for each serving, placing a pat of butter on top. Drizzle with warm maple syrup if desired, then spoon blueberry syrup over the top. Dig in!

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.

NEVER LUMPY CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add cornmeal and saute, stirring constantly, for about a minute so that the grains are coated with oil. Add the broth and bring the liquid to a boil over medium heat, whisking all the while. When cornmeal comes to a simmer, it will bubble up vigorously. Quickly put a lid on saucepan, turn heat down to very low and cook the cornmeal until it no longer tastes raw, about 20 minutes.

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.