Miss Browns Hoecakes Food

MISS BROWN'S PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Arrange the chopped pecans on half of the prepared baking sheet and place the pecan halves on the other half. Bake the pecans until toasted, about 10 minutes. When done, set aside to cool, keeping the chopped pecans and pecan halves separate.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer. Add 1 egg at a time, beating to combine, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture in 2 batches, beating well to combine. Fold in the toasted chopped pecans.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. With an ice-cream scoop, scoop 1 1/2-tablespoon rounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheets (making sure you leave at least 1 inch of space between each). Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Chilling the dough helps prevent it from spreading during baking.
• After your dough chills for at least an hour, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, then bake the cookies until slightly golden brown around the edges, 11 to 12 minutes (12 to 13 minutes for crispier cookies). Add a pecan half to the middle of each cookie and cool to room temperature.
• For the praline sauce: While the cookies are cooling, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and milk to a medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, whisking continuously. Boil and whisk for 3 minutes more, or until the sauce is thickened slightly and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat. Let cool for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Drizzle the sauce over the cookies before serving. The cookies and any leftover praline sauce will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days stored separately. Spoon leftover sauce over ice cream or stir into hot coffee.

DUTCH OVEN HOECAKES

Steps:

• Place the cornmeal, baking powder, salt, egg and water into a bowl and stir to combine. Once mixed, stir in the corn. The mixture should be the consistency of pancake batter. Brush the lid or griddle with vegetable oil until shimmering. Pour enough batter onto the lid or griddle to form a 4 inch round, approximately 2 tablespoons. Depending on the size of your griddle or lid, you can cook more than 1 cake at a time. Cook until brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve immediately or transfer to a warm (200 degree F) oven until all of the cakes are done.
• Place a cast iron griddle over medium heat or prepare charcoal for cooking outdoors by heating coals in a chimney starter until hot and ashy.
• Cooktop: Place a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium heat. Brush with vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Pour enough batter onto the skillet or griddle to form a 4-inch round, approximately 2 tablespoons. Depending on the size of your griddle or skillet, you can cook more than 1 cake at a time. Cook until brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve immediately or transfer to a warm (200 degrees F) oven until all of the cakes are done.
• Outdoor coals: Using a Dutch oven with feet, turn the oven upside down. Place 22 hot, ashy coals on the bottom of the inverted oven. Lay the lid upside down on top of the Dutch oven feet and over the coals and allow to heat for 10 minutes.

SWEET 'N' CORNY HOECAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the thawed corn, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and combine. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• In a cast iron pan on medium-high heat, add enough vegetable oil to fill the pan about 1/2-inch deep. When the oil begins to swirl, add the batter in batches to the pan using a small ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup measure to make each hoecake. Gently spread into a circle, if needed. Flip the hoecakes when the air pockets begin to pop on the surface of the batter and a peek underneath the cake reveals a golden rim and surface, about 2 minutes.
• Once the second side is golden brown, transfer the hoecakes to a baking sheet in a warm oven and continue making the rest. Serve with maple syrup.