Kale Bacon Cornbread Food

GRANDMA'S BACON FAT CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Whisk the cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda together in a large bowl. Whisk the buttermilk and eggs together in a medium bowl. Fold the wet ingredients into the cornmeal mixture until just combined; set aside.
• Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat. When the skillet is smoking-hot, turn off the heat and add the fat, carefully stirring it around the pan as it melts. Pour the melted fat into the cornmeal batter and stir to combine. (Do not wipe out the skillet.) Pour the cornmeal mixture into the hot skillet (batter will sizzle) and bake until the edges are golden brown and the center bounces back when pressed with a finger, 18 to 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BASIC CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Butter a 9-inch cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. In a separate large bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, milk and melted butter until smooth. Whisk the buttermilk mixture into the cornmeal mixture and pour the batter into the prepared skillet; smooth the top. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.

BACON CORNBREAD WITH CHEDDAR AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire cooling rack on top of the baking sheet and arrange the bacon on the rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Set 5 bacon strips aside, then chop remaining bacon into small pieces.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add the chopped scallions, sprinkle with a small pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the scallions are browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Grease a round 8-inch springform pan or cake pan with butter. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Add the milk, egg, honey and 1/4 cup olive oil and whisk until smooth. Stir in the chopped bacon, scallions and cheddar cheese. Pour the batter into the prepared pan; use a spoon to spread the batter into an even layer.
• Arrange the remaining bacon strips on top of the batter, trimming them as necessary, then bake until the cornbread is browned and firm in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then run a kitchen knife around the edges of the pan to loosen. Cut into pieces and serve warm.

BACON-KALE CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch-square baking dish or a 9-inch cast-iron skillet with cooking spray. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, milk, sour cream and melted butter; whisk into the dry ingredients until combined. Fold in the onion, kale and bacon.
• Pour the batter into the prepared dish or skillet. Bake until the cornbread springs back when pressed in the center, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes in the dish, then loosen the edges and slice.

BACON CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put a cast iron cornbread pan with 7 corn shaped or 8 wedge shaped baking divots in the oven to heat.
• Slowly cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Set bacon aside on a paper towel lined dish and allow rendered bacon fat to cool slightly.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal and salt. In a larger bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy and add the creamed corn. Fold in the dry ingredients and combine until just mixed. Dice the cooked bacon and fold it into the batter.
• Pour the bacon fat into the hot iron pan and divide it evenly between the sections, discarding the excess. Divide the batter between the sections until full.
• Bake until golden in color, about 17 to 19 minutes. Allow the cornbread to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

BAKED EGGS WITH KALE, BACON AND CORNBREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the cornbread crumbs on a sheet pan and toss gently with the olive oil. Season lightly with salt, and bake in the prepared oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until toasted. Set aside to cool.
• Strip the kale leaves from the stems and roughly chop the leaves, discarding the stems. Place the leaves in a colander and rinse thoroughly (no need to dry).
• Heat a large 12-inch cast-iron or ovenproof stainless-steel skillet over medium. Add the bacon, if using, and cook, tossing occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes, until browned. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel and set aside. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan, add the onions and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned and tender. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, being careful not to let the garlic scorch.
• Add a large handful of kale to the pan, along with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. As the kale wilts, begin tossing it with tongs and adding more handfuls until all the kale is added. Add the water and vinegar, and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, tossing often, until the kale is tender. Return the bacon to the pan and toss.
• Use a spoon to create 6 small hollows in the cooked greens. Carefully crack an egg into each, sprinkle each one with salt and pepper and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the egg whites are just set. Sprinkle a handful of cornbread crumbs over the greens and eggs, and serve with additional cornbread crumbs on the side.

BREAKFAST CORNBREAD CASSEROLE WITH HAM AND KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart oval baking dish.
• For the creamed corn: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the corn and cream, and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reduces in volume and bubbles rapidly, about 15 minutes. Transfer 2 cups of the corn mixture to a food processor, puree until smooth, then stir it back into the skillet. Fold in the ham and kale. Transfer the creamed corn to the prepared baking dish; set aside. Clean the food processor bowl.
• For the cornbread topping: Pulse the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a food processor to combine. Add the butter, and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the cream and 1/2 cup of the Cheddar, and pulse until the batter just comes together.
• To assemble: Sprinkle the cornmeal batter over the creamed corn. (Don't worry if the corn isn't completely covered; the batter will puff and spread as it bakes.) Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place the casserole on a baking sheet, and bake until the corn is bubbling and the crust is puffed and golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Serve with hot sauce.

KALE WITH GARLIC AND BACON

Steps:

• Stack a few kale leaves and roll lengthwise into a cigar shape. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips with a sharp knife. Repeat with remaining leaves.
• Cook bacon in a wide 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Pour off and discard all but 3 tablespoons fat from pot, then cook garlic in remaining fat over moderately low heat, stirring, until pale golden, about 30 seconds. Add kale (pot will be full) and cook, turning with tongs, until wilted and bright green, about 1 minute. Add water and simmer, partially covered, until just tender, 6 to 10 minutes. Toss with bacon and salt and pepper to taste.