Cornbread
Categories: Breads | American cuisine
Cornbread is a variety of quick bread (a bread leavened chemically, rather than by yeast) containing cornmeal.
Cornbread is a traditional staple of rural cuisine in the United States of America, especially in the Southern United States. A typical contemporary northern US cornbread (referred to in the South as "Yankee Cornbread") recipe contains half wheat flour, half cornmeal, milk, eggs, sugar, leavening agent and salt, resulting in a bread that is somewhat lighter and sweeter than its more traditional southern counterpart, which is normally made from a mixture of cornmeal, buttermilk, salt, eggs, lard or bacon fat, and leavening agent. This bread will tend to be denser, meant more as an accompaniment than as a bread meant to stand on its own. White cornmeal is preferred over yellow corn meal in the southern United States for use in making cornbread. Other ingredients can also be added for variety, such as shredded cheese, hot peppers, or fresh corn. Traditionally, a well seasoned (meaning the pan has been "seasoned", not sprinkled or coated with a seasoning agent such as herbs, or salt)cast iron skillet is used to make cornbread.
Cornbread is a popular item in soul food enjoyed by many people for its texture and scent.