Hello, everybody! So, those two dishes don't exactly go together but I couldn't decide which to use for the post because they were both SO GOOD!
So, I'm not going to give a corn bread recipe because I think everyone has their favorite and we don't want any ugliness, lol.
Just use the one you love, and add 4 TBS of mild green chiles to it. You can even use medium chiles. Or the spicy ones. See how easy I am?
Clearly, I have ulterior motive for posting this recipe and it's not really the recipe.
(Obligatory dinner shot. This is roast beef, the last of our summer tomatoes, a little salad.)
Did you catch it yet? No? Well, the post is all about my cute little cast iron pan! Cast iron is hard to find here in the PNW. What we have, we keep. And anything corn bread related is extra hard to find because most people just don't eat cornbread. Not our thing. Never has been. Biscuits, maybe. Fresh baked bread, definitely. Cornbread? Not so often.
I'd just dropped my boys off with my sister for a fun fishing trip and decided to stop in a little thrift shop. I never go in this shop because... well... four boys under twelve around antique dishware didn't sound so fun for anybody. But I found this little piece and was so excited! I've never seen one "in the wild" and it was only $10! Total score.
Break for balloon picture. The stampede is still going on I'm telling you, that 4AM wake up is not my thing.
But I consoled myself with home made caramel sauce! I saw it on Pinterest and was a little skeptical, but it worked. I boiled a can of sweetened condensed milk on a pot of water for three hours. Delicious! Make sure the water covers the cans at all times. After three hours, remove the cans and place in cool water for about twenty minutes. Open and enjoy!
And a final picture of someone MUCH sweeter than caramel. My little goddaughter, Franny. She's our babysitter's baby. (I introduced
you all here during the artisan savory pumpkin rolls. ) Her daddy, a cellar master, is in the middle of "punch down" at the vineyard so we didn't get to see him, but we'll catch up with him next time. Anyway, every time I see her I want to squeeeeeze her! Those little chubby arms, that soft baby hair, that tiny voice and those sparkly red mary janes... I didn't get a picture of the mary janes. She was too busy playing with our old Fisher Price toys. I played with them, my kids played with them, and now the "next generation" is loving these great toys. And soon, Franny's new baby sister or brother will play with them!
Until next time! Feel free to drop by my facebook page at
Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits or my blog at The Things That Last!
Virginia,
ReplyDeleteI used to have a cornbread pan just like that. I loved it in theory but I never mastered getting the corn breads out without half of them sticking to the pan. SO disappointing. I don't remember what all I tried, but I know the pan was properly seasoned. Yours look beautiful.
I thought I'd have to season it, but I posted it in the cast iron group and everyone said it looked ready... so I just put a small pat of butter in each well, put it in the over for a few minutes, then poured in the batter. Came right out!
DeleteI was thinking the same thing as Mary -- how on earth do you get the cornbread out of a pan like that?!
ReplyDeleteAnd the caramel sauce -- who knew? I mean, seriously, who thought of sitting a can in boiling water to create caramel? My mind certainly doesn't work that way.
You realize that you have a small fortune in Fisher Price toys, don't you? Used to know a woman who bought them all up at garage sales and sold them on ebay. I don't see them much at garage sales any more so people must have caught on.
Ha! We have the farm, silo, school, school yard toys, bus, tractors, house, etc. Also, about 30 people and animals. I know they're worth a lot but I love them so much, and they have such great memories for me. I have all the antique toys from my parents' childhood and my own. Some we've put up because they're wind up toys and sort of fragile. The others are for playing. :)
DeleteHow funny because the first thing I was going to comment on was the pan. I love it and it is so clever. But I think Cate has a point. It could be tricky.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I'm with Kav. Who thought of such a thing with the caramel sauce. I bet they put it in a pan and forgot about it. lol It wasn't you was it?
I was very prepared for the cornbread NOT to come out. But I let it cool for ten minutes like someone in the group suggested, and it came right out!
DeleteHaha! I WISH I invented caramel sauce. That would be an awesome post script. "Mary Munoz, inventor of home made caramel sauce."
I'm drooling over that caramel! And how easy (as long as you don't let the water boil off). :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie goddaughter!
I was worried about the water level, but I had about four inches above the cans, and a lid. I checked several times during the three hours and it didn't get anywhere close to boiling off... so definitely give it a try! It says it will keep for a few weeks in the fridge-- or you could just have a fall apple party.
DeleteHow adorable is that kid?????? Where's the LOVE button???? Am I the only person who likes their cornbread sweet? I'm such a Yankee.
ReplyDeleteI like it sweet with medium sugar on top. Yes. I'm a total wuss.
But I'm in love with the pan and the kid! YAY!!!!!
Ruthy, I grew up in Kentucky putting bacon grease and/or butter in the pan and a little sugar in our cornbread batter. Then we'd scoop out the middle of the cornbread to eat with pinto beans and put butter and honey or molasses on the crusty outer part. Perfection! :)
DeleteMMMMM.... And don't tell anyone but... I'm not a cornbread fan. Not really. I'd rather eat tortillas (and believe me, I've had my fill of tortillas). But I do like a little sugar in mine, and then honey and butter on top.
DeleteMy husband doesn't like sweets in general and cornbread at dinner made him feel like he was eating cake with his roast beef, so I decided to try the chile version.
I made two batches. One sweet, one with chiles. Everyone was happy. :)