Vanilla Cornmeal Griddle Cakes With Pears Recipes

CORNMEAL GRIDDLE CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt.
• In a second bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk the egg and 1 cup water until smooth. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, using as few strokes as possible. The batter should be soupy but not watery.
• Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Ladle 1/4 cup of batter into the heated skillet for each cake, being careful not to crowd the skillet. When the batter hits the hot oil, the edges will sizzle and become very crisp.
• Cook the cakes until the bottoms are a rich brown and bubbles form on the tops and along the edges, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and brown the other side, an additional 2 to 3 minutes. For best results, be sure to cook the cakes until the edges are deep, rich, golden brown.
• Serve immediately, flipping those little babies onto a plate and passing them along while you fry up the remaining cakes, adding oil to the skillet as needed.

VANILLA CORNMEAL GRIDDLE CAKES WITH PEARS

Steps:

• To make clarified butter, melt butter in heavy saucepan over low heat; cook 20 to 30 minutes until bubbling ceases and liquid turns clear.
• Strain, being sure to leave solids in the bottom of pan.
• Cool completely.
• Whish together flours and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Whisk together buttermilk and next 4 ingredients.
• Add to flour mixture, whisking until smooth.
• Stir in pears.
• Heat griddle or large skillet over medium heat; brush with 1 to 2 tablespoons cooled clarified butter.
• Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each cake onto griddle.
• Cook over medium low heat 3-4 minutes or until tops are covered with tiny bubbles and edges look dry and cooked.
• Turn cakes and cook other side.
• Remove from griddle to serving plate.
• Grease griddle with additional butter as needed and repeat procedure with remaining batter.
• Serve immediately with butter and maple syrup.

CORNMEAL POUND CAKE WITH ROSEMARY SYRUP, POACHED PEARS, AND CANDIED ROSEMARY

Steps:

• For pears:
• Combine first 6 ingredients in large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add pears and bring syrup to boil, turning pears occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until pears are tender, about 20 minutes. Chill pears uncovered in syrup until cold, at least 3 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.
• For pound cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour 9x5x3-inch metal loaf pan. Whisk flour and cornmeal in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar, then salt. Drizzle in beaten eggs by tablespoonfuls, beating constantly, then beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients in 3 additions, beating just to blend after each addition. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until brown on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool cake in pan 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack and cool completely. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil and store at room temperature.
• For syrup and candied rosemary:
• Bring 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to simmer in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add rosemary sprigs. Simmer until syrup reduces slightly, swirling pan occasionally, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer rosemary sprigs to rack and drain. Cover and reserve rosemary syrup.
• Pour baker's sugar into shallow bowl. Add drained rosemary sprigs to sugar, 1 at a time, turning to coat thickly. Place on paper towels. Dry at least 1 hour. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Let sprigs and syrup stand at room temperature.
• Cut dark ends off cake. Cut eight 1/2- to 3/4-inch-thick cake slices. Cut each slice diagonally in half. Arrange 2 halves on each plate. Drain pears. Stand 1 pear on each plate. Drizzle each dessert with reserved rosemary syrup and garnish with candied rosemary sprig. Serve, passing remaining syrup separately.

MEME'S CORNMEAL GRIDDLE CAKES

Steps:

• To prepare the batter, in a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. In a second bowl or large liquid measuring cup, combine the egg and the 1 cup water. Whisk until smooth. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, using as few strokes as possible.
• To fry the griddle cakes, heat the oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Ladle 1/4 cup of batter onto the heated skillet. Repeat with additional batter, without crowding.
• Cook the cakes until the bottoms are brown and bubbles form on the tops and edges, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and brown the other side, an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.
• storing dry ingredients
• To avoid insects in flour and cornmeal, transfer the product to a sealable airtight container immediately after purchase. To keep flour and cornmeal absolutely fresh, particularly if they are wholegrain (see page 202), store the sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer. Allow the flour or meal to come to room temperature before using.

CORNMEAL GRIDDLE CAKES

Steps:

• Pour cornmeal into a large bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, sugar, melted butter, baking powder, and salt. Mix in milk and egg until batter is smooth.
• Heat a lightly greased griddle over medium heat. Drop spoonfuls of batter onto the griddle and cook until edges are dry, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes more. Repeat with remaining batter.

CORNMEAL GRIDDLE CAKES (PRE-1940'S)

Steps:

• Mix and sift dry ingredients.
• Combine beaten egg and milk.
• Add to dry ingredients.
• Stir in shortening.
• Pour on a hot griddle.