Shirleys Spoonbread Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED SOUTHERN SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 8-inch-square baking dish or 1 1/2-quart casserole.
• Combine the cornmeal and salt in a mixing bowl.
• Gradually add the boiling water while whisking out any lumps. Add the melted butter and stir to blend. Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the milk into the cornmeal mixture.
• In a small bowl, beat the eggs thoroughly.
• Whisk the beaten eggs into the cornmeal mixture along with the baking powder. Blend well with a whisk or electric mixer.
• Turn the batter into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake for about 35 minutes or until set and lightly browned.
• Serve the spoon bread hot with plenty of butter.

SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 1 1/2-quart souffle dish.
• Combine the cornmeal, salt, and sugar and stir slowly into scalded milk in saucepan. Over low heat, blend in butter. Remove saucepan from heat and beat in egg yolks and baking powder. Let cool.
• Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Gently fold into cornmeal mixture. Pour batter into prepared mold and bake until puffed and golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve immediately.

SOUTHERN SPOONBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 3-quart baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the butter.
• Combine the milk, water, salt and the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepot; bring to a boil. Add the cornmeal in a steady stream while whisking rapidly. Continue stirring until the mixture returns to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is very thick, 6 to 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, stir in the cheese and add hot sauce to taste.
• Crack the eggs into a small bowl and beat with a whisk. Add 1 cup of the hot cornmeal mixture to the eggs and whisk together to warm the eggs and prevent them from curdling when added to the pot. Continue adding spoonfuls of the hot cornmeal mixture to the bowl of eggs until it's warm to the touch; then whisk the egg mixture back into the pot. Stir in the chopped chives.
• Transfer the cornmeal mixture to the prepared baking dish. Place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes; or until puffed and lightly browned. Cool slightly before garnishing with chives and serving. This may also be baked in advance and reheated before serving.

SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Scald milk (do not boil); stir in the butter, cornmeal and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until cornmeal comes away from sides of pan and thickens. Set aside to cool until lukewarm. , Add beaten egg yolks; mix thoroughly. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites; mix gently but thoroughly. Pour into greased 2-qt. baking dish. Bake at 375° for 1 hour or until top is golden brown. Serve immediately.

TORTILLA CHIP SPOONBREAD WITH CHILES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter twelve 4-ounce ramekins, then coat with ground tortilla chips (about 1/4 cup total). Combine the half-and-half, corn, the remaining 1/2 cup ground tortilla chips and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thick like pudding, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in 1/2 cup cheese.
• Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until thick and fluffy, 5 minutes. Whisk in half of the corn mixture until combined. Fold in the remaining corn mixture with a rubber spatula, then fold in the jalapeno, scallions and tomatoes.
• Transfer the prepared ramekins to a baking sheet; divide the batter among the ramekins and sprinkle the tops with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake until the spoonbread is puffed and set, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. Top with pico de gallo.

SPOONBREAD WITH ROASTED GREEN CHILIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a medium-size baking dish. In a pot, combine 1 tablespoon butter with 1 1/4 cups water and bring to a boil. In a bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, salt and sugar and pour into the boiling water, stirring well. Stir in the chilies, and turn off heat.
• In a bowl or mixer, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. To the cornmeal mixture, add the yolks, buttermilk and baking soda, and mix well. Fold in the egg whites until well combined. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan.
• Bake 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the size of the dish), until puffed and golden on top but a little soft in the center. Scoop immediately into serving bowls with a large spoon.

SPOON BREAD

Steps:

• Pour the milk into the upper part of a double boiler and cook over hot water until the milk almost reaches a boil. Add the cornmeal slowly, stirring constantly. Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture is thick and smooth. This should take only about 1 minute. Do not let the mixture get too thick. Add the salt and butter and remove from the heat to cool slightly.
• Beat the egg yolks until light and yellow and add to the cornmeal. Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry and carefully fold into the cornmeal.
• Pour into a well-buttered casserole and bake in a 375°F. oven 35-40 minutes, or until well puffed and browned on top. Serve from the casserole and pass butter, salt and pepper.

SHIRLEY'S HOMEMADE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Mix together, and roll out into a floured surface, to about 1/2" thick.
• Use a round cutter or glass dipped in flour, to cut out biscuits.
• Place on greased pan, and bake at 450 oven,.
• about 12-15 minutes, or until brown on top.

SPOONBREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder and pepper.
• To another medium bowl, add the melted butter, corn kernels, creamed corn, sour cream, eggs and vanilla, and stir to combine.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just combined, making sure not to overmix.
• Fold in crawfish and chives, if using. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly to the edges of the pan.
• Bake until set and lightly browned, about 40 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the middle to test. If it comes out clean, pull it out of the oven. If not, bake the spoonbread for another 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with extra chives, if desired, and serve the spoonbread hot, with butter.