Okie Cornbread Food

OKIE CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Warm bacon grease in cast iron pan or skillet in oven at 400 degrees.
• While grease is warming, mix dry ingredients.
• Add egg and enough milk to make with consistency.
• Remove pan from oven and drain grease into mixture.
• Mix well and add back to pan.
• Cook for approx 30 min or until toothpick comes out of center clean.
• Bread will be nicely browned.

GRANDMA LIZZIE'S CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13- by 2-inch baking dish.
• Place the bread cubes on a large baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly brown, 30 minutes, turning once after 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Raise the oven temperature to 450 degrees F.
• In a medium skillet, saute the onions in the turkey fat until translucent and softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. In a very large bowl, crumble the Buttermilk Cornbread, toasted bread cubes and cracker crumbs. Add the onions and eggs and toss with a fork until mixed. Add 3 cups of the broth and mix it well, adding more as needed to make a very moist but not soupy dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Bake in the prepared pan until slightly browned, about 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Pour 2 tablespoons of the oil into a well-seasoned 9-inch cast-iron skillet and place over medium-high heat. Put the cornmeal in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the cornmeal and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. With a fork, stir in enough of the buttermilk to make a batter that is thick but can be easily poured into the hot skillet. You may not need all 3 cups.
• Carefully pour the batter into the skillet. The oil will come up around the edges. Use the back of a spoon to smooth this over the top of the batter. Continue to heat on the stovetop for 1 minute, and then transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the cornbread until browned on top, about 20 minutes. Immediately turn the cornbread out onto a cooling rack to keep the crust crisp.

CORNMEAL SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Whisk together flour, cornmeal, cornstarch, and salt.
• Blend butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, and zest in a food processor until creamy, about 30 seconds. Scrape down side of bowl, then add all of flour mixture and pulse until dough just begins to come together.
• Roll out dough on a well-floured surface with a well-floured rolling pin to 1/3 inch thick. Cut out as many rounds as possible with a 2-inch round cookie cutter or drinking glass and transfer to an ungreased large baking sheet. Reroll scraps and cut out more rounds. Sprinkle tops with granulated sugar.
• Bake until undersides are pale golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

OKIE BEANS

Steps:

• Put beans, onions, shank in a 3 quart dutch oven.
• Add water. More or less to taste.
• Add salt and hot sauce.
• Cover and place in a preheated 250 oven for 8 hours.
• Check after 4 hours and add water if needed.
• When ready to serve, take out ham shanks and remove bones.
• Shred meat with 2 forks and add back to beans.
• Serve with cornbread or homemade biscuits and fried taters.

ROAST TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with only one rack in the lowest position. Stir together melted butter and wine in a bowl. Fold a very large piece of cheesecloth into quarters so that it is large enough to cover breast and halfway down sides of turkey. Immerse cloth in butter mixture.
• Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Fold wing tips under. Season inside turkey with salt and pepper. Loosely fill body and neck cavities with stuffing. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Fold neck flap under; secure with toothpicks. Rub turkey all over with the 4 tablespoons softened butter; season with salt and pepper.
• Remove cheesecloth from butter mixture, squeezing gently into bowl; reserve butter mixture for brushing. Lay cheesecloth over turkey. Place turkey, legs first, into oven. Roast 30 minutes. Brush cheesecloth and exposed turkey with butter mixture. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees. Roast, brushing with butter mixture every 30 minutes and rotating once, 2 1/2 hours; tent with foil if browning too quickly. Pour 1/2 cup water into pan if juices are very dark brown.
• Discard cheesecloth; rotate pan. Baste turkey with pan juices. Roast, rotating pan halfway through, until skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh (and the stuffing) registers 165 degrees, 1 1/2 to 2 hours more, basting turkey every 30 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Let turkey stand at room temperature 30 minutes, tented with foil, before carving. Garnish with herbs if desired.