Granny Neels Company Cornbread Food

GINA'S CRUSTY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven and heat it for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the batter.
• Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and melted butter.
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet mixture into the well. Use a fork or spatula to stir the batter until evenly combined.
• Remove the hot skillet from the oven, add the fat and swirl to coat the bottom. Pour the batter into the skillet and, using a spatula, spread the batter evenly across the pan. Bake until lightly golden brown, firm and springy to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes (see Cook's Note). Remove from the oven and serve directly from the skillet, if desired.

HONEY CORNBREAD MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Into a large bowl, mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, butter, and honey. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and stir until just mixed.
• Place muffin paper liners in a 12-cup muffin tin. Evenly divide the cornbread mixture into the papers. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden.

GRANNY NEEL'S COMPANY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (for cast iron skillet) or 350 degrees F for baking pan. Rub the inside of a 10" cast iron skillet with shortening (not butter) and place in oven as it pre-heats. If using a 9x9 baking pan, grease well with shortening or spray with pan spray and set aside.
• Blend sour cream and eggs together with a fork until well mixed. Stir in oil and cream-style corn and gently combine. Add cornmeal and mix gently until there are no more lumps.
• Carefully remove hot skillet from oven and pour mix in skillet. If using 9x9 pan, gently pour batter into pan and smooth with a spatula.
• Place skillet or pan in oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until edges begin to brown and center develops small cracks. Remove from oven, cut into wedges or squares and serve hot with butter or apple butter.

INDIVIDUAL SKILLET CORNBREADS

Steps:

• Place four 3 1/2-inch cast-iron skillets in the oven. Preheat to 425˚ F.
• Make the cornbread: In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, corn and 1/4 cup oil.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Using oven mitts or pot holders, take the hot skillets out of the oven. Divide the remaining 1 tablespoon oil between the skillets, quickly tilting the pans so that the oil coats the bottom and sides. Pour the batter evenly into the skillets. The batter will begin sizzling right away.
• Put the skillets in the oven and bake until the cornbread is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 10 to 13 minutes. Remove the hot skillets from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool slightly.
• While the cornbread bakes, prepare the cinnamon butter: In a medium bowl, mix the butter, cinnamon, confectioners' sugar and almond or vanilla extract with a rubber spatula. Stir until everything is mixed well and is an even color (no streaks).
• Serve the cornbread hot or warm with a dollop of cinnamon butter.

GRANNY'S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees .
• Make cornbread by mixing cornmeal, flour, oil, eggs, buttermilk and milk.
• Stir until well blended. Stir in celery and onion.
• If the batter is too thick, add more milk. (should be pourable).
• Pour into greased hot iron skillet (if you have one, if not get one, they aren't expensive and you can get them at Wal Mart. I have one I use just for cornbread!).
• Bake for 30 minutes or until top is light brown.
• When done and cooled down a bit. Crumble into a large bowl.
• Add bread pieces, butter and seasonings. Mix well.
• Start adding chicken or turkey broth, stirring and adding more broth as needed. (important: add broth until you think it is just right, then add more. It will soak up and dry out in the oven).
• Adjust seasoning to taste. (appoint someone special).
• Pour into a grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish or pan.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with gravy.
• Note: Broth made from boiling a hen will be best but canned will work.

GRANNY'S CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Mix meal, salt and baking powder together. Add boiling water, stir well with a spoon, it will be very stiff (the boiling water will start the cooking process before you fry it). Add egg and milk stir until well mixed. Mix will be very sticky, so wet hands and shape into submarine shaped ovals and drop into hot oil (you must keep hands wet or batter will stick to hands). Brown on all sides and remove. Place on paper towels to drain off excess oil. Serve.

GRANNY'S FRIED CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Gently stir together all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Drop batter with a large spoon onto a hot, well greased griddle.
• Cook as you would for pancakes, turning to brown both sides.
• Serve with butter.

NANNY'S CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put lard or shortening in baking pan or skillet. Place oven-proof skillet (a well-seasoned iron skillet works best) on rack and let shortening melt while mixing batter.
• In large bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, eggs and buttermilk. When shortening is ready, pour into batter and blend well. Let batter rest for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle dry cornmeal over hot grease left in bottom of skillet. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes until top is nicely browned and bread tests done in center like a cake.
• Cut in wedges and serve hot with plenty of butter. This is great with chili or a thick stew.