The Perfect Cornbread Food

THE PERFECT CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Place the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spread in 9x9 metal baking pan; place in oven just until the spread melts, about 3 to 5 minutes; tilt the pan to coat.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
• In medium bowl, with fork, beat yogurt and eggs until blended.
• Add melted spread to the yogurt mixture, then add the yogurt mixture to the flour mixture; stir just until flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy).
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake until golden at edges and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 minutes; serve warm.

THE PERFECT CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Spray 8-inch-square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl until combined; set aside.
• In food processor or blender, process brown sugar, corn kernels, and buttermilk until combined, about 5 seconds.
• Add eggs and process until well combined (corn lumps will remain), about 5 seconds longer.
• Using rubber spatula, make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
• Pour wet ingredients into well.
• Begin folding dry ingredients into wet, giving mixture only a few turns to barely combine.
• Add melted butter and continue folding until dry ingredients are just moistened.
• Pour batter into prepared baking dish; smooth surface with rubber spatula.
• Bake until deep golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack rack 10 minutes.
• Best served warm; leftovers can be wrapped in foil and reheated in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

THE BEST CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• For the cornbread: preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish generously with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl until combined.
• Put the butter in a 4-cup liquid measuring cup or a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until completely melted, about 1 minute. Set aside to cool slightly, then whisk in the buttermilk, whole milk and eggs until smooth.
• Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until just combined with no lumps remaining. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish. Bake until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (The cornbread can be made one day in advance. After cooling completely, wrap the pan tightly with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.)
• Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Once the cornbread is completely cool, run a small offset spatula around the edges of the pan, then invert it onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch cubes. Transfer to 2 rimmed baking sheets and spread into an even layer. Bake, rotating the trays halfway through, until the cornbread cubes are crisp at the edges and almost completely dried out, about 40 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely. (This step can be done up to 24 hours in advance. Store the cooled cornbread cubes in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag until ready to use.)
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish generously with butter.
• For the dressing: melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, sage, thyme and poultry seasoning and cook until fragrant, 2 minutes more. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the cornbread cubes, chicken broth and eggs to the bowl and toss gently until the vegetables are evenly dispersed and the bread is very moist (do not overwork or the cornbread will fall apart). Transfer to the prepared baking dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake until warmed through, about 30 minutes. Uncover, then return to the oven and bake until lightly browned and crisp at the edges, about 20 minutes more. Let sit for 10 minutes, then top with chopped parsley and serve.

PERFECT CORNBREAD... EVERY TIME!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
• Add wet ingredients and mix well.
• Pour into a greased 9-10 inch dish about 2 inches deep, I use a 10 inch cast iron skillet.
• Bake for 18-23 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
• DO NOT OVER BAKE! This causes it to crumble. I bake mine just until it starts to crack, 20 minutes.
• ENJOY!
• You can also make these in corn stick pans, bake for 12 to 18 minutes.

PERFECT CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Saute' vegetables in butter.
• Crumble cooled cornbread and add broth and stir.
• Mix with broth until thin.
• Add sage, cooked celery, green pepper, and onions.
• Add cream of chicken soup.
• Stir and put in oven.
• Bake on 350 until slightly thick and brown.

PERFECT CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Butter two 9" x 5" x 3" loaf pans.
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt, and whisk in cornmeal and sugar until combined well.
• In a bowl whisk together milk and eggs until just combined.
• Add butter to flour mixture and with an electric mixer beat until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Beat in egg mixture until just combined (batter will be thin).
• Pour batter into pans and bake in the middle of the oven until golden and a tester comes out clean; about 50 minutes.
• Cool cornbread in pans on a rack for 10 minutes, and turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
• Cornbread may be wrapped in plastic in a cool, dry place for 2 days, or frozen for 2 weeks.
• Enjoy!