Mema's Cornbread
My grandmother never really "measured" things, but I can give the approximations.
1 1/2 c. self-rising cornmeal
3/4 c (or more, test this one) self-rising flour
1/3 c of bacon grease (you can also use corn oil, but it doesn't taste nearly as good.)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 large eggs
1 c (more if needed to obtain a "cake-batter" texture) buttermilk
pinch salt
In large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Meanwhile, heat a cast iron skillet (10 in.) with the grease until the grease is hot. Add the eggs and buttermilk to the dry mixture, then pour the grease in over all. Mix well, (should have a thin, cake batter type consistency), then pour into the 10 in skillet.
Bake at 425 for thirty to forty five minutes, or until top is golden brown and knife comes out clean. Let cool for a few minutes, then, if the skillet was greased well enough, you can flip the skillet over onto a plate and the whole thing will fall out neatly. Cut into wedges and serve.
Willie's Pineapple Upside Down Cake
My great-grandmother's name was Willie West. Her upside down cake was very well know, and it's so easy. Love this stuff.
1 can of pineapple rings, unsweetened.
1 box of yellow cake mix
1/4 c. of tightly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Maraschino cherries
Pre-heat oven according to box directions. Prepare cake mix according to box directions, but add the 1 tsp vanilla.
Using a 10 in cast-iron skillet, carefully grease and then sprinkle part of the brown sugar over the bottom. Lay pineapple rings over this, then place cherries wherever you'd like a bit of colorful garnish. Sprinkle the remainder of the sugar, then pour the cake mix over all. add several more pineapple rings over this.
Bake as directed on box, then check to see that the cake is nicely done. Let cool, but serve warm by quickly flipping the skillet over onto a plate. Serve in wedges, preferably with a slightly-tart sherbet or ice. Makes 8-10 servings.
Mema's Thanksgiving Turkey
We're a little different in the South, and we all have a sweet tooth. Mema did for her turkey what she did for her ham.
10-15 lb turkey, cleaned, giblets removed
salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice to taste
Glaze:
1/2 c honey
1/2 c. REAL maple syrup (not pancake syrup! It burns! Get the real stuff!)
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon (though Chris seems to like more than this..strange, strage boy I married. LOL )
1 tsp allspice
Mix the glaze and set aside. Put the turkey on a broiler and thoroughly coat it with the glaze, reserving some of the glaze for later. Wrap the tips of the wings well in tin foil to prevent burning. Make a tin foil tent for the rest of the bird and bake at 350, adding more glaze each half-hour until the bird is done, about 30 minutes per pound.
(Holy shit!)
My grandmother never really "measured" things, but I can give the approximations.
1 1/2 c. self-rising cornmeal
3/4 c (or more, test this one) self-rising flour
1/3 c of bacon grease (you can also use corn oil, but it doesn't taste nearly as good.)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 large eggs
1 c (more if needed to obtain a "cake-batter" texture) buttermilk
pinch salt
In large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Meanwhile, heat a cast iron skillet (10 in.) with the grease until the grease is hot. Add the eggs and buttermilk to the dry mixture, then pour the grease in over all. Mix well, (should have a thin, cake batter type consistency), then pour into the 10 in skillet.
Bake at 425 for thirty to forty five minutes, or until top is golden brown and knife comes out clean. Let cool for a few minutes, then, if the skillet was greased well enough, you can flip the skillet over onto a plate and the whole thing will fall out neatly. Cut into wedges and serve.
Willie's Pineapple Upside Down Cake
My great-grandmother's name was Willie West. Her upside down cake was very well know, and it's so easy. Love this stuff.
1 can of pineapple rings, unsweetened.
1 box of yellow cake mix
1/4 c. of tightly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Maraschino cherries
Pre-heat oven according to box directions. Prepare cake mix according to box directions, but add the 1 tsp vanilla.
Using a 10 in cast-iron skillet, carefully grease and then sprinkle part of the brown sugar over the bottom. Lay pineapple rings over this, then place cherries wherever you'd like a bit of colorful garnish. Sprinkle the remainder of the sugar, then pour the cake mix over all. add several more pineapple rings over this.
Bake as directed on box, then check to see that the cake is nicely done. Let cool, but serve warm by quickly flipping the skillet over onto a plate. Serve in wedges, preferably with a slightly-tart sherbet or ice. Makes 8-10 servings.
Mema's Thanksgiving Turkey
We're a little different in the South, and we all have a sweet tooth. Mema did for her turkey what she did for her ham.
10-15 lb turkey, cleaned, giblets removed
salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice to taste
Glaze:
1/2 c honey
1/2 c. REAL maple syrup (not pancake syrup! It burns! Get the real stuff!)
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon (though Chris seems to like more than this..strange, strage boy I married. LOL )
1 tsp allspice
Mix the glaze and set aside. Put the turkey on a broiler and thoroughly coat it with the glaze, reserving some of the glaze for later. Wrap the tips of the wings well in tin foil to prevent burning. Make a tin foil tent for the rest of the bird and bake at 350, adding more glaze each half-hour until the bird is done, about 30 minutes per pound.
(Holy shit!)
Comment