Edna Lewiss Corn Pudding Recipes

FRIED APPLE PIES

Steps:

• Make pastry:
• Blend together flour, butter, shortening, baking powder, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture just resembles coarse meal. Whisk egg with 1/4 cup ice water, then drizzle evenly over flour mixture and gently stir with a fork until incorporated.
• Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until incorporated.
• Gather dough and knead just until smooth, 3 or 4 times, on a lightly floured surface (do not overwork, or pastry will be tough). Form dough into 2 (5-inch) disks and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Make filling:
• Briskly simmer all filling ingredients and a pinch of salt in a heavy medium saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally and mashing apples with a potato masher as they soften, until a thick purée forms, about 20 minutes. Cool completely.
• Make pies:
• Divide 1 disk of dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 6-inch round, then put 2 heaping tablespoons of filling in center. Lightly moisten edge with water and fold dough over to form a half-circle, pressing out air around filling, then pressing edge to seal. Transfer to a large sheet of parchment paper and press floured tines of a fork around edge. Make more pies with remaining dough and filling (you may have some filling left over).
• Fry pies:
• Set a cooling rack on a large baking sheet or tray. Heat 2 inches of oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat until it registers 360 to 370°F on thermometer. Fry pies, 3 or 4 at a time, turning occasionally, until deep golden-brown, 7 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer to rack to drain. Return oil to 360 to 370°F between batches.
• Dust warm pies with confectioners sugar before serving.

EDNA LEWIS'S CORN MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Generously grease the wells of the muffin pan with 2 tablespoons of lard or butter, leaving the extra fat in the wells. In a mixing bowl, sift together the corn flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
• When the oven is hot, place the muffin tin inside to preheat. Meanwhile, stir the buttermilk into the dry ingredients and mix well, then stir in the egg and 2 tablespoons melted butter. When the muffin pan is very hot (if using butter to grease, the butter should have just stopped sizzling), carefully remove it, and quickly fill each well with about 3 ounces of batter. Bake for 17-20 minutes, rotating once, until a toothpick comes out clean and the edges of the muffins are golden brown.
• Let the pan cool for 2 minutes on a rack, then remove the muffins. (If necessary, use a paring knife to release them.) Serve muffins hot, with butter.

EDNA LEWIS'S CORN PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Cut the corn from the cob into a mixing bowl by slicing from the top of the ear downward. Don't go too close to the cob; cut only half the kernel, then scrape off the rest with the back of the knife.
• Stir sugar and salt into corn. Mix beaten eggs and milk together, then stir into corn mixture. Add melted butter and mix thoroughly.
• Spoon mixture into prepared dish and sprinkle with nutmeg. Place the dish in a larger baking dish or roasting pan. Transfer to oven and carefully pour hot water into the larger dish until it comes about halfway up the sides of the smaller baking dish.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the pudding comes out clean. The pudding will be set but still jiggle.

GRAMMA EDNA'S PERSIMMON PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sift together the sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Make sure the dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed and the spices are consistently blended throughout.
• Blend the egg, milk, vanilla extract, and butter together.
• Slowly add the persimmon pulp, a couple of spoonfuls at a time, until thoroughly combined.
• Carefully add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients one cup at a time, until a heavy batter is formed; if you are using an electric mixer blend these together on a low speed so that excess gluten is not formed in the flour.
• Place batter in a heavy covered baking dish (Dutch oven or Pyrex is best) and bake for 35-55 minutes until the edges are firm and the center is still soft.
• Let cool until the pudding is set up and easy enough to handle. If you are not going to eat the pudding immediately, wrap it well in aluminum foil. These puddings can be frozen for 3-4 months, and mailed via priority.