Southern Cornbread By Renae Recipes

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• If you are using cast iron, place the 1/4 cup oil in the bottom of a 9" skillet and place over high heat on your stovetop while you make the batter.
• Pour the cornmeal into a bowl and add the oil, egg, and buttermilk.
• Mix until combined and drop a small amount into your skillet.
• If it sizzles immediately, go ahead and pour in your batter to within 1 inch of the top. If you want a thinner cornbread, just don't pour in as much.
• Transfer the skillet from the stove top to the hot oven.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden and set.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD BY RENAE

Steps:

• 1. Mix the dry ingredients together with a whisk. In the mean time melt the margarine in a microwave but save til the end. Also heavily coat the cast iron skillet with the butter flavored spray and place in a cold oven. Set the oven for 400 degrees and start it heating.
• 2. Add eggs to the dry mixture and stir in buttermilk. Make sure the consistency is just a little thinner than pudding. May want less or more buttermilk than called for so stir in half or more of the buttermilk and work from there.
• 3. Once the batter is the right consistency, mix in the melted margarine continuing to use the whisk. Make sure well incorporated.
• 4. Remove the now hot skillet from the oven that should be at 400 degrees by now and pour the batter into the pan. Should hear a little sizzle. Place in oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes. Turn out onto a plate, slice and enjoy.
• 5. Note: The reason I use margarine instead of butter is because of the oil content. Margarine is just essentially butter flavored oil.

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.

REAL SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the corn meal, flour, salt, and baking powder.
• In a separate bowl mix together the eggs, butter, and buttermilk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until well blended.
• Heat a dry 12 inch cast iron skillet over high heat for 2 minutes. Add corn oil to skillet, swirl oil around to coat bottom and sides. Leave remaining oil in pan. Return to high heat for 1 minute.
• Pour the cornbread batter into the skillet and cook on high heat until bubbles start to form in the center. Remove from stove.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree F (200 degree C) oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm.