Hot Water Cornbread

What You'll Need:

1 tablespoon shortening
3/4 cup boiling water
1 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
Shortening or oil for frying (use bacon drippings if you have them)

How to Make It:

1.Melt shortening in a heavy iron skillet.

2.Place cornmeal and salt in a bowl.

3.Pour boiling water over meal and salt.

4.Add melted shortening; stir well.

5.When the mixture is cool enough to handle, divide it into four portions.

6.Shape each into a cornbread cake about 3/4 inch thick.

7.Heat about 1/4 inch of shortening or oil in the skillet over medium heat.

8.Place corn cakes in the hot oil and fry until browned, turning to brown both sides, about 4 to 6 minutes.

Makes 4 cakes, serves 4.

Tips and Variations:

1.Add a few tablespoons of chopped green chile peppers to the cornmeal mixture.

2.To lighten the texture slightly, replace 2 tablespoons of cornmeal with 2 tablespoons of flour.

3.Add a few tablespoons of crumbled cooked bacon to the cornmeal mixture.

NOTE-This basic hot water cornbread is shaped into cakes and fried in hot fat in a skillet. The hot fat can be shortening or vegetable oil, but bacon drippings would add flavor.

Hot water cornbread is also known as corn pone, hoe cakes, or corn dodgers. The corn cakes are an old-time Southern staple.

Serve the cornbread cakes with maple syrup or cane syrup. They would be great with sorghum molasses as well and would go well as a side bread with chili or beans.