Homemade Cornbread....

Now I hate to admit this as it is an embarrassment being as I am southern gal and all but I have not ever made cornbread from scratch until today. Yep that's right been tearing open a package all these years. But not any more! Made the best batch of cornbread I have ever tasted in my entire life today. Really...could have sat down with a stick of butter and a spoon and eaten the whole skillet. It was that good :) It doesn't take that much longer to make from scratch and it tastes ten times better, I promise! So here is my version since I can't seem to follow anyones directions exactly.

Preheat Oven to 425

1 cup corn meal

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Take a #5 iron skillet and pour about a teaspoon of vegetable oil in it. Take a paper towel and rub the oil all over the inside of the skillet so it is completely coated. Now put the oiled skillet in the oven and let it heat up while you are mixing the cornbread ingredients.

I just went down the list and added each ingredient in order. Once they are all in the bowl then mix them up with a spoon (not a blender) making sure you don't get carried away here as mixing too much does something no one has ever been able to explain to me but all the old timers say don't over mix so I figure they have a good reason. Just mix so everything is moist and some of the big lumps are out but it doesn't need to be completely lumpless as they disappear when cooking.

Now grab a hot pad (very important step here) and take the now hot skillet out of the oven. Pour your mix into the skillet and put back in the oven.. I can tell by looking when cornbread is done and you will too after a couple batches as the top will be a nice golden color and the edges just a bit brown. You can also stick a knife in the middle and if it comes out clean with no batter on it then it's done. 18-20 minutes will be just right. Take it out, cut it in like a pizza into triangles and serve with real butter...YUM!