Uncle Charlies Cornbread Food

UNCLE CHARLIE'S CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to hot (400). Grease generously 8-inch black iron skillet.
• Mix cornmeal with buttermilk, egg, salt and baking soda. Stir in melted shortening. Pour in prepared skillet. Bake in preheated hot oven (400) till golden brown, about 25 minutes.

INDIVIDUAL SKILLET CORNBREADS

Steps:

• Place four 3 1/2-inch cast-iron skillets in the oven. Preheat to 425˚ F.
• Make the cornbread: In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, corn and 1/4 cup oil.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Using oven mitts or pot holders, take the hot skillets out of the oven. Divide the remaining 1 tablespoon oil between the skillets, quickly tilting the pans so that the oil coats the bottom and sides. Pour the batter evenly into the skillets. The batter will begin sizzling right away.
• Put the skillets in the oven and bake until the cornbread is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 10 to 13 minutes. Remove the hot skillets from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool slightly.
• While the cornbread bakes, prepare the cinnamon butter: In a medium bowl, mix the butter, cinnamon, confectioners' sugar and almond or vanilla extract with a rubber spatula. Stir until everything is mixed well and is an even color (no streaks).
• Serve the cornbread hot or warm with a dollop of cinnamon butter.

CHEF JOHN'S BLUEBERRY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Generously butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Whisk eggs and white sugar together in a bowl vigorously for 1 minute; add milk, buttermilk, and melted butter and mix together.
• Mix flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in another bowl. Stir into the wet ingredients. Fold in blueberries.
• Transfer batter to the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool before cutting and serving.