Southern Corn Bread

This past weekend I was honored to be part of a food demonstration at our local Farmers Market. The topic of the day - Traditional Southern New Years Food. My friend, Chef Charles Shepperd shared fabulous collard greens with smoked turkey and I dished up black eyed peas and corn bread. I loved making the corn bread especially since I get to use REAL stone ground cornmeal from a local mill. The Old Mill of Guilford is right down the road from me but you can buy their wonderful products at several speciality shops and on line. So, here's my recipe for Southern Cornbread. A word of caution...this is not from a box and is NOT sweet. Just slather on some butter or dip in the yummy goodness of your collards.

It's whats on the table for New Year's 2013!

Southern Cornbread

1 cup yellow cornmeal (fresh, and preferably stone-ground)1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour1 tablespoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon baking soda1 1/4 cups buttermilk1 large egg1 tablespoon sugar1/3 cup corn oil or vegetable oil1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a bowl, blend together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.

In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda and buttermilk.

Add butter and 1 teaspoon oil into cast iron skillet and place in oven to heat for 5 to 7 minutes.

Beat egg and oil together. Pour into cornmeal mixture.

Add buttermilk mixture and blend until batter comes together. Don't over mix.

Remove the skillet from the oven and swirl butter to make sure it covers the pan.

Pour batter into skillet and bake in oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Slice into wedges.

Friends, here's a link to a post I wrote on Collard Greens. They are so stinking good it's crazy. Big Sweetie is not a fan but loves this recipe!

Have a great 2013 New Year's Day!