====== Southern Cornbread ======
{{recipes:baking:southern_cornbread:southern-cornbread-vertical-a-1200.jpg?600|}}
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===== Ingredients =====
  * 1 Tbsp bacon drippings
  * 2 cups cornmeal OR 1 1/2 cups cornmeal and 1/2 cup flour
  * 2 teaspoons baking soda
  * 1 teaspoon salt
  * 1 Tbsp sugar (optional)
  * 1 egg (optional)
  * 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
  * 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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===== Info =====
  * **Prep:** 10
  * **Cook:** 20
  * **Serves:** 6-10
  * [[http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/southern_cornbread/|Source]]


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===== Directions =====
  - Preheat pan with bacon drippings: Put the bacon drippings in a 9 or 10-inch cast iron skillet and put the skillet into the oven. Then preheat the oven to 400°F with the skillet inside. (If you don't have an iron skillet, you can use an uncovered  Dutch oven or a metal cake pan.)
  - Make the batter: Whisk together all the dry ingredients (cornmeal, baking soda, salt, sugar if using) in a large bowl. In another bowl, beat the egg (if using) and buttermilk until combined, then mix that into the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir in the melted butter.
  - Pour batter into hot skillet and bake: When the oven is hot, take out the skillet (carefully, as the handle will be hot!). Add the cornbread batter and make sure it is evenly distributed in the skillet. 
  - Bake at 400°F for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are beginning to brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
  - Rest bread in skillet, then serve: Let the bread rest for 10-30 minutes in the skillet before cutting it into wedges and serving.

{{tag>southern cornmeal buttermilk}}
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