Southern Buttermilk Cornbread The Real Deal Food

REAL SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Put the skillet in the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.
• Combine the dry ingredients except for the baking soda in a bowl.
• In another bowl, mix the buttermilk and the baking soda.
• Set aside.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg with the sugar until combined.
• Add the oil and mix until combined.
• Pour this mixture into the buttermilk/baking soda, and mix.
• When the oven is preheated, toss the butter into the skillet and let it melt.
• Meanwhile, pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix in as few strokes as it takes to just make the dough come together.
• Pull the skillet out of the oven, swirling to get the butter covering the bottom and up the sides of the skillet.
• Pour the batter immediately into the pan, smoothing the top, then back into the oven for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown and pulled away from the sides of the pan.
• Turn out onto a cutting board, cut into wedges and serve.
• NOTE: IMNSHO- cornbread isn't worth making if you don't make it in a cast-iron skillet.
• It may just be my upbringing, but it tastes better somehow.
• And please do not add the baking soda to the dry ingredients.
• I can't explain why, but adding it to the buttermilk makes a big difference in the texture.

SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• In a mixing bowl, combine eggs and buttermilk, mixing with a wire whisk.
• Add cornmeal mix until the consistency is like pancake batter (approx. 1 3/4 cups).
• Mix in the flour.
• In the bottom of an 8x8-inch pan, casserole dish or muffin pan, pour enough oil to slightly coat the bottom. If you use a muffin pan, use about a teaspoons per cup.
• Put the oiled dish/pan into hot oven and let the oil get VERY hot, but NOT scorched. (You can test by placing a drop of batter into the dish. If the batter sizzles, it's ready!).
• Pour batter into the hot dish or fill muffin cups 2/3 full, and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Butter 'em up, and enjoy, ya'll!

BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Heat oil in an 8" cast iron skillet or muffin pans for 5 minutes.
• Combine cornmeal and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl; make a well in the center of the mixture.
• Stir together buttermilk and egg; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.
• Pour into the hot skillet.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

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.

SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD (THE REAL DEAL)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425.
• Prepare an 8x8 square baking dish (see note) by rubbing with shortening or lard -- it should be well coated.
• Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
• Pour into prepared dish.
• Bake at 425 until bottom crust is medium brown and a knife inserted near the center comes out very clean.
• Remove from oven and turn upside down onto a plate. Cut into 6 servings while hot.
• Enjoy.
• NOTE - If you have a seasoned cast iron skillet or baking pan, by all means, use it. Unfortunately, I don't, so I use an 8x8 clear glass baking dish.