Old Virginia Batter Bread Recipes

VIRGINIA SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Place a medium baking dish (about 8 inches square) in a cold oven. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. The dish will warm up while the oven heats.
• Meanwhile, stir cornmeal into boiling water. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Add salt. Dissolve baking powder in 3 tablespoons of milk. Add the baking powder mixture to the remaining 1 cup of milk. Add milk and baking powder mixture to the cornmeal.
• Butter the hot baking dish. Transfer mixture to the buttered dish. Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes. Serve spoon bread warm from the oven!

BATTER WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Mix together shortening, sugar, salt, yeast, and 1 1/5 cups flour. Add warm water and beat by hand about 300 strokes, or 3 minutes, with an electric mixer. Add remaining flour, scraping bowl often, and mix all together until smooth.
• Cover with a clean cloth and let rise until doubled in volume.
• Stir dough down gently, and spoon into a lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pan (the batter should be sticky). Pat down with floured hands to help shape. Cover again, and let rise for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake for about 45 minutes. Place on a cooling rack, and brush top with melted butter.