Skillet Cornbread Southern Style Food

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Make the batter: Whisk together all the dry ingredients (cornmeal, baking soda, salt, sugar if using) in a large bowl. In another bowl, beat the egg (if using) and buttermilk until combined, then mix that into the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir in the melted butter.
• Rest bread in skillet, then serve: Let the bread rest for 10 to 30 minutes in the skillet before cutting it into wedges and serving. To store, let the cornbread cool, then remove from pan and wrap in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temp for 2 to 3 days To avoid burning your hand because you've forgotten the pan is hot, I recommend placing a pot holder on the pan's handle while the cornbread is resting, or cooling the handle down a bit with an ice cube.

REAL SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the corn meal, flour, salt, and baking powder.
• In a separate bowl mix together the eggs, butter, and buttermilk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until well blended.
• Heat a dry 12 inch cast iron skillet over high heat for 2 minutes. Add corn oil to skillet, swirl oil around to coat bottom and sides. Leave remaining oil in pan. Return to high heat for 1 minute.
• Pour the cornbread batter into the skillet and cook on high heat until bubbles start to form in the center. Remove from stove.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree F (200 degree C) oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

SOUTHERN STYLE CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Set 8-inch cast-iron skillet with bacon fat (or vegetable oil) in heating oven.
• Measure 1/3 cup cornmeal into medium bowl. Mix remaining cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in small bowl; set aside.
• Pour boiling water all at once into the 1/3 cup cornmeal; stir to make a stiff mush. Whisk in buttermilk gradually, breaking up lumps until smooth, then whisk in egg. When oven is preheated and skillet very hot, stir dry ingredients into mush mixture until just moistened. Carefully remove skillet from oven. Pour hot bacon fat (or melted butter) from the skillet into the batter and stir to incorporate, then quickly pour batter into heated skillet. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and instantly turn cornbread onto wire rack; cool for 5 minutes, then serve immediately.
• Note: Though it is preferable to make cornbread in a preheated cast-iron skillet, a 9-inch round cake pan or 9-inch square baking pan, greased lightly with butter and not preheated, will also produce acceptable results if you double the recipe and bake the bread for 25 minutes.

SKILLET CORNBREAD SOUTHERN STYLE

Steps:

• Place shortening in a 10-inch skillet with ovenproof handle or 9-inch square baking pan.
• Place in oven.
• Heat to 425°.
• Skillet will be very hot and shortening will be melted.
• While skillet is heating, combine dry ingredients; add milk and egg, mixing well.
• Add melted shortening; mix well.
• Pour batter into HOT prepared skillet.
• BAKE 35 to 40 minutes OR until surface cracks and edges are deep golden brown and pull away from sides of pan.
• Serve warm.
• Traditionalists make this in a cast iron skillet with white corn meal.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Liberally grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet and let it preheat in the oven for about 10 minutes while preparing the cornbread batter.
• Mix soda, baking powder, salt and sugar with cornmeal.
• Add buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter and mix well.
• Pour into the hot skillet and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.