Southern-style Corn bread*


Southern-style Corn bread*

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil or bacon drippings
2 large eggs
3 cups buttermilk
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt, finely ground
4 oz. jalapeño peppers, chopped (optional)

Preparation

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

• Coat the bottom and sides of a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with the vegetable oil and place the skillet in the oven to heat.

• Whisk the eggs and buttermilk together in a large bowl.

• Add the cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder and salt (if using them, add the jalapeños at this time) while stirring briskly.

• Pour the batter into the hot skillet.

• Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

• Cool on a rack.

*For a sweeter variation, add 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar; for a softer exterior, bake in a greased 9-by-9-inch cake pan.