Cornmeal Pancakes and other sundry items

My friend Sophia asked me what on earth she should do with the rest of a huge bag of cornmeal she bought to make the polenta featured in an earlier post. I suppose it's a good point, and while we don't seem to have much trouble going through a 5 pound bag, I figured I'd better inspire my buddy and maybe a few others to put theirs to good use too.

We can start with breakfast - we love our weekend breakfasts around here so I try and do something a little different from the big guy's usual weekday eggs and meat, or oatmeal. These Cornmeal Pancakes are really easy to put together and can be made in the time it takes the sausage or bacon to cook.

Adapted from my trusty old Canadian Purity Cookbook, they're light, fluffy, moist and fabulous with lots of butter and maple syrup. Course, name 3 things that aren't.They're also great with some wild blueberries folded in, or chopped bacon, or even both. As you can see, we just had them plain because the big guy's a bit of a purist, although I figure he'd a been all for it if I'd suggested jalapeno's, green chiles and cheese. Mmm - now see? That's inspired! Download Cornmeal Pancakes

How about making a Corny Cheddar Cornbread like the one we had last September. Not only is this great for dinner with a bowl of Chile, it's also super for breakfast. Try putting some chopped ham into it, or fry up some sausage links or chorizo and leave it in the bottom of the cast iron pan. With the cornbread baked on top, it is fabulous. How did you say you liked your eggs?

Cornmeal also makes the best coating I know and that's the truth. Check out the feed of Fried Catfish and Hushpuppies we had in February. Or how about October's Clam Strips, or the second version of Chicken Tenders for that matter. Cornmeal mixed along with panko crumbs, Italian breadcrumbs or flour or both makes for an incredible no-fail layer of crispy goodness when it's fried or even baked.

And for heaven's sake, don't forget to put some on your pizza peel before your crust goes down on it.  It'll keep the crust from sticking and cornmeal acts like a bunch of little roller beads, which makes for a very easy transfer from the peel into the oven. Speaking of Italian Food - what about the Fried Eggplant with Sausage Ragu I always use cornmeal in the eggplant coating!

So what about a few things we haven't done yet on this blog. How 'bout making some English muffins. You'll need lots of cornmeal to go on the outside of those. I used to make them all the time and the big guy just loves them, but keep it a secret OK or he'' want 'em again PDQ. I stopped making them when my hip size increased substantially - once you make them you'll never go back to store bought. I guarantee it!

What about your own peameal bacon - I've made that too but just haven't gotten around it posting it yet. It is superb! Don't forget corn dogs, or what about cornmeal shortbread. They are amazing and infinitely better than biscotti with a cup of coffee or tea. Oh, what about putting some cornmeal in your pie crust dough - I just saw a recipe on epicurious.com that did just that in a Blueberry Pie. I figure a pie crust like that would be great on a chicken pot pie too!

The possibilities for cornmeal are infinite! Are you convinced? Now what's my next challenge?

Comments

[Sophia]

Wow. I am officially in awe. Now I'm not sure I have enough cornmeal for all that type of goodness!! Thanks for the post. I'm planning pancakes for dinner as the honey is out of town and I'm a lazy bum.

Hope all is well. I was out on the farm today for a trail ride with a fresh horse and Cleo.

[June]

Farm...fresh horse and Cleo all sound wonderful. Hope you like the pancakes Sophia. Thanks for being such a great inspiration!

[Nanan]

What a cornalicious posting!!!!! --- lovely looking cakes up there!!! You know - that maple syrup bottle is the same size and color as a beer bottle - I thought that is what it was for a moment hehehehe
Please clarify for me: peameal bacon is Canadian bacon - correct? why is it called peameal or Canadian? do you know? - I love those trivial facts... I could look it up - but since you are from the great temp home of my ancestors hehehehe I thought I would ask....

[June]

Lea - the maple syrup is from Trader Joe's and is Canadian B Grade. Love, love, love the stuff, though at $17 a bottle, it's like gold! As for pea meal bacon - this is what we Eastern Canadians call back bacon, We (Canadians) don't call it Canadian bacon - just Americans do - go figure. It is cured rather than smoked and called "pea meal" because it is coated in coarse ground corn meal after the curing process.

[Nanan]

thanks for the info on the bacon! Camille Ana is in love with Grade B maple syrup - I get it from Whole Foods... I don't give her the fake stuff - any more... I only eat cane syrup - just call me kookie - I like the richness of it and that is maybe once a year... I like my yard eggs.