Grandma's 365-Day Buttermilk Cornbread

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3 tablespoons bacon drippings

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups corn meal

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1-1/4 cups buttermilk

This cornbread is best baked in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet but if you don't have one, a Pyrex dish will do just fine. If you halve this recipe, use an 8-inch square dish; if not, use a 9x13-inch dish or pan.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Put the bacon drippings in your baking dish or skillet and let them melt while the oven is preheating and youre mixing up the batter.

Beat the eggs in a medium bowl until frothy. Add the corn meal, salt and baking soda, and stir to thoroughly combine. Add the buttermilk and stir well. Remove the hot pan from the oven. Swirl the pan to make sure it is coated with melted bacon drippings, and pour the bacon drippings into the batter. Stir well to combine.

Pour the batter into the pan, and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Cornbread will begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Buttermilk Cornbread (without Flour)

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2 cups corn meal (white or yellow)

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 Egg, lightly beaten

1-1/2 cups buttermilk

2 tablespoons melted shortening or vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 450°F. Sift together the dry ingredients and set aside. Combine beaten egg, buttermilk and vegetable oil. Combine cornmeal mixture with buttermilk mixture, stirring just enough to moisten. Pour into hot, well-greased 9- or 10-inch skillet or pan, muffin tins or corn stick molds. Bake about 15 minutes for muffins or corn sticks, and 20-25 minutes for pan or skillet. Cornbread will begin to pull away from sides. Makes approximately 12 muffins, corn sticks or pieces.

Buttermilk Cornbread (with Flour)

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2 cups corn meal (white or yellow)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 cups buttermilk

2 tablespoon melted shortening or vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 450°F. Sift together the dry ingredients and set aside. Combine beaten egg, buttermilk and vegetable oil. Combine cornmeal mixture with buttermilk mixture, stirring just enough to moisten. Pour into hot, well-greased 9- or 10-inch skillet or pan, muffin tins or corn stick molds. Bake about 15 minutes for muffins or corn sticks, and 20-25 minutes for pan or skillet. Cornbread will begin to pull away from sides. Makes approximately 12 muffins, corn sticks or pieces.