#3894 - Cinnamon Nutmeg Cornbread

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 medium sweet potato (washed, peeled and cubed)
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 TBSP baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 eggs
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
3/4 cup milk
2 TBSP canola oil + extra for oiling the skillet

Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a pot and cover them with water--bring them to a boil over medium heat, then cook until fork tender. Drain the cubed sweet potatoes but DO NOT RINSE. Use some canola oil to grease a 10" cast iron skillet. Place the oiled skillet in the oven and start heating the oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl add yellow cornmeal, flour, white sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg--whisk to mix. Mash the drained sweet potatoes and stir until almost smooth. Add 1 1/2 cups of the mashed sweet potatoes to a bowl, then add the sour cream, milk and 2 TBSP canola oil--stir well. Add the egss--mix well. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the cornmeal mixture--stir just until mixed. Take the hot skillet out of the oven and pour the batter evenly into the hot skillet. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the top. Return it to the oven and bake 25 minutes or until center is puffed up and the top is golden brown (you should also see cracks around the edges).

#3365 - Fried Onion Potato Cakes

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
5 cups fresh shredded potatoes (peel potatoes before shredding)
1/3 cup canola oil
2 beaten eggs
1 small onion (minced)
1/4 cup canola oil (for frying--more if necessary)

After shredding and measuring the potatoes, place the shredded potatoes in paper towels and ring out as much of the moisture as you can. In a bowl add flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder--stir to mix. Add 1/3 cup canola oil, beaten eggs and minced onions--stir to mix. Add shredded potatoes--stir to coat. In a cast iron skillet over medium heat add 1/4 cup canola oil (more if necessary)--heat until oil is very hot. Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls into the hot oil, then flatten each cake with the back of the spoon. Fry until bottoms are browned, then flip them and fry until the other side is browned. Drain them on paper towels before serving.

#3304 - Muffin Hushpuppies

(by Shirley McNevich)

2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1/3 cup flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
2 beaten eggs
2 TBSP butter (melted)
1/3 cup milk

Grease a mini muffin tin pan (it should have 24 mini muffin cups). In a bowl add yellow cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and pepper--stir to mix. In another bowl add chopped onions, milk, beaten eggs and melted butter--stir to mix. Pour egg mixture into flour mixture--stir just until mixed. Drop 1 TBSP of the batter into each of the greased mini muffin tin cups. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-11 minutes or until browned around the edges. Cool slightly before removing them from the mini muffin tin.

#2472 - Cheesy Cornbread

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups shredded colby cheese
1 cup milk
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup melted Parkay margarine

In a bowl add cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt--stir. Add 1 cup shredded colby cheese--stir. In a separate bowl add beaten egg, milk and melted Parkay--stir until mixed. Add egg mixture to cornmeal mixture--stir just until mixed. Pour batter into a greased 9" bread loaf pan. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup shredded colby cheese over the top of the batter. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Let stand for 15 minutes before removing cornbread from pan.

#2029 - Chicken Broth Polenta

(by Rachel Guarini - friend)

6 cups chicken broth
dry minced onions
1 3/4 cups yellow cornmeal
3 TBSP unsalted butter

In a saucepan over medium heat add chicken broth--bring to a boil. Add some dry minced onion (to your taste) to the broth--stir. Gradually whisk in the yellow cornmeal. Turn heat to low and cook until mixture thickens and cornmeal is tender (stirring often--takes about 15 minutes). Remove from heat. Add unsalted butter and stir until butter is melted. Pour the mixture into a glass bowl and let it cool/harden--it will take the shape of the bowl. Slice the polenta into pieces and add red pasta sauce--microwave until hot. Top with your favorite shredded cheese.

#678 - Deep Dish Pizza

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp. white sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
3 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes (if you can find crushed tomatoes that contains different varieties of tomatoes in the same can, it is much better)
fresh grated Parmesan cheese
sliced mozzarella cheese
sliced provolone cheese
pizza seasoning OR Italians seasoning OR oregano
Your choice of extra toppings (pepperoni, sausage, etc.)
Regular olive oil (NOT extra virgin)

In a mixer with the dough hook attachment add water, white sugar, yeast, flour, cornmeal and salt--mix on low for a few minutes, then slowly add the canola oil. Once all of the oil has been added, mix the dough for 7-8 minutes. Remove the dough from the mixer and form it into a smooth ball. Drop the dough ball into a bowl and place a dish towel over the top--place the covered bowl in the refrigerator overnight. The next day move your lowest oven rack to the bottom third of your oven and preheat the oven to 450 degrees for ONE HOUR. Do NOT skip this step! Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and set it on the counter for the entire hour while the oven is heating up. Use regular olive oil to grease a 15" wide/2" deep pizza pan. Place the dough in the center of the pizza pan and work it out to cover the entire bottom, then work it up the sides of the pan. Use the slices of mozzarella and provolone cheese to cover the entire bottom of the crust. Add your desired toppings next (such as pepperoni, sausage, etc.). Top with the 3 1/2 cups of crushed tomatoes. Sprinkle the pizza seasoning on top of the tomatoes (or Italian seasonings, oregano, etc.). Finally, sprinkle the entire top with the fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Place the pizza in the center of the bottom oven rack (making sure the rack is in the bottom third of the oven). You may want to place a cookie sheet under the pizza pan to catch any drips. Bake 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and let it set for 3-5 minutes before cutting.