Cornbread is a common staple in American cuisine that is made from ground cornmeal. First documented as a food eaten by Native Americans, cornbread has become a popular food that is enjoyed by many. Mostly found
in the southeastern states, cornbread recipes do vary upon the region. Northern and southern recipes are actually quite different, in both preparation and in taste.
A cornbread recipe from the north is typically sweeter and prepared so that it has a cake like consistency. Baked in a pan, many in the north use this quick bread as a sweet compliment to dinner. In the south however, cornbread is generally made in a
cast iron skillet and has a saltier taste. Southerners treat cornbread most often as staple bread that is paired with pinto beans or barbecue. It is also eaten with milk for either breakfast or lunch. Both the north and the south also have different preferences
when it comes to what kind of cornmeal to use. Some argue that yellow is the only kind, whereas others like only the white cornmeal.
Recipes for cornbread, although usually baked, can be made other ways. Some prefer to take the batter and drop small amounts into oil and fry it. When frying, this produces a small cake which is referred to as a hoe cake or johnny cake. A thicker cornbread
batter can be fried into hush puppies that are commonly served with seafood. Regardless of the method of cooking, almost all cornbread recipes have some type of ingredient added. In the south, depending on the state, cornbread is made with various savory
additions such as onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, or jalapenos. Yet in the north, sugar is always added to the batter, and sometimes topped with fresh fruit or preserves.
Cornbread and other quick bread recipes that use cornmeal have a long, deep rooted American history. Dating back thousands of years, this simple recipe continues to feed people's souls. Cornbread is considered to be a southern comfort food that is strictly
made per the instructions of great great grandmothers who have long hung up their aprons. It seems that no matter the exceptions or additions made to cornbread, it will always be sitting on the dinner table.
|
