Johnnys Corn Bread For Two Recipes

GREAT-GRANDMOTHER STEINBECK'S JOHNNYCAKE (CORNBREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch glass baking dish.
• Sift the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, corn oil and egg. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix just until blended. Pour into the prepared pan, and shake gently to level it out.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown. Serve hot. Just with butter will do, it is plenty sweet enough!

JOHNNY'S CORN BREAD FOR TWO

Steps:

• Mix the corn meal, milk, salt and pepper together. It should be a little runny. Also if you want to put a little flour in it do so but my husband never does. In a small iron skillet have some bacon grease in it. Roll the skillet around until the sides are coated with the grease or oil. Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Pour batter into skillet. Spoon some of the grease across the top of the batter. Place in the oven. Brown and serve. It may not take 25 minutes it will depend on your oven. To be honest I had no idea that he baked his corn bread at 450 degrees. It always turns out perfect though and it's just enough for the two of us. I usually eat one piece and save the other one for the next day.

PA'S OLD-FASHIONED JOHNNY CAKE / CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425; grease a 13x9 pan.
• Add dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl, stir through, make a well in the center.
• In another bowl, add eggs, milk, and oil all at once; blend well.
• Add wet to dry ingredients, stir until moistened (don't over-mix or you'll be sorry!).
• Fold in optional ingredients. Sausage should be in crumbles or bite-size pieces.
• Pour into prepared pan; rap pan on counter-top several times to bounce out the air-bubbles.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes--top will be golden-brown.
• Serve with butter and maple syrup.
• OPTION #1: Add 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese.
• OPTION #2: Add 1/2 - 1 cup of sweet corn (plain kernels); adds a neat "chewy" texture to the 'cake.'
• OPTION #3: Add 6 hard-boiled, chopped eggs.
• OPTION #4: Add 1 pound fried & drained pork sausage (crumbled) or links (bite-size).
• TIME-SAVING HINT: Gather a handful of 1-quart zipper bags, fill with DRY ingredients, and store in your cupboard. At meal-time, add wet ingredients as described.