Cornbread is Good for the Soul

I grew up on cornbread.  I absolutely LOVE it!  My grandmother always made it in a cast iron skillet.  She never measured her flour or cornmeal with actual measuring cups.  She had a HUGE tin of flour in a cabinet below her oven.  Inside the tin, was a white coffee cup with a bright blue ring around the top.  Her "batch" of cornbread filled one large skillet and one very small skillet.  We also did not cut our cornbread in wedges like pie.  Instead, MaMa cut off the round edges, leaving a perfect square in the center.  The "EDGES" were the most coveted pieces of all, and she ALWAYS saved one just for ME!

MAMA'S CORNBREAD

1 c. all purpose flour

1 c. stone ground yellow cornmeal

4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 c. buttermilk (I buy lowfat buttermilk)

1/4 c. oil (vegetable or canola work fine)
oil for skillet


VERY IMPORTANT!  Preheat oven to 425. Add 1 to 2 T. of oil to the skillet and place in the oven as the oven preheats.  DON'T forget you've started heating the oil, and please note that in about 15 minutes, we you take the skillet out to add your cornbread batter, it will be HOT with seriously HOT oil inside.  PLEASE HANDLE WITH CAUTION.
(Now that I have added in my CAUTION note, I can continue)

Mix all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.  Add oil and beaten eggs.  Add buttermilk and mix well.

When the oven is preheated and skillet and oil are piping hot, gently pour batter into skillet.  It should sizzle when it makes contact with the oil.  Return it to the oven and bake for approximately 22-25 minutes, or until it is golden brown.

Invert hot skillet onto a large cutting board and slice.  Serve warm with butter.  I strongly urge you to try to cut it as pictured below. 

MaMa always cut the center portion into squares. 
EVERYONE wanted an edge.  They are the BEST!

If you have never had an "edge", you truly do not know what your missing.  And most importantly, I hope you remember that this is how my grandmother made cornbread.  It's not the only recipe out there, but it's the most magical one you'll ever try!  (Miss you, MaMa! xoxoxoxo)