White Trash Cooking

A friend of mine gave me this cookbook for Christmas in 1986 because she knew I had a southern background, Tennessee to be exact. While there are many good southern recipes in the book, the only one I use is Uncle Charlie's Cornbread. I don't make it often because of the bacon grease that I use rather generously! The basic recipe goes like this!

2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons Bacon Grease, melted, add to batter but leave a little in skillet.

Heat skillet on stove, pour in batter and put in oven.

Directions:

1

Preheat oven to hot (375). Heat bacon grease in 10-inch black iron skillet.

2

Mix cornmeal with buttermilk, egg, salt and baking soda. Stir in melted bacon grease. Pour in prepared skillet. Bake in preheated hot oven (400) till golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Serves 6

To kick it up a bit add any of these.....

1 C grated cheese
1 C creamed or whole kernel corn
1/4 C chopped Calif. chilies
1/2 to 1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes.