Here are two more recipes, both from Sunset Recipe Annual, 1991 Edition. A Southwest staple, blue cornmeal is no longer a rare sight in the rest of the West. The blue-gray meal is found in specialty and health-food stores, and also in well-stocked supermarkets. It can be used interchangeably with white or yellow cornmeal but has its own parched-corn flavor. Depending on the recipe, its natural blue-gray color changes dramatically. If the mixture is high in acid, the color change is toward purple-pink; if low in acid or slightly alkaline, the color shifts toward blue-green. These cornbread sticks have a pinkish cast; the spoonbread is bluer.
Southwest Blue Cornbread Sticks 2 Tbl butter or margarine 1 medium-size onion, chopped 1 small fresh jalapeno chili, stemmed, seeded, and minced 1 c all-purpose flour About 1 c blue cornmeal 1 Tbl baking powder 2 tsp sugar 1 large egg 1 1/4 c milk 1 c (about 4 oz.) shredded jack cheese Melt butter in a 10-to-12-inch frying pan on medium-high heat. Add onion and chili, stirring often until onion is lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes; set aside. Mix together flour, 1 cup cornmeal, baking powder, and sugar in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk egg and milk until blended. Stir onion, milk mixture and cheese into the cornmeal mixture. Butter cornstick pans (each about 5 1/2 in. diameter). Dust pans with cornmeal; shake out excess. Spoon batter into pans, filling to rims. Bake in a 375 degree oven until firm to touch and browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool about 5 minutes, then invert pans to remove cornbread; use a small knife to loosen if neccessary. (If you have only 1 pan, wash, dry, butter and dust with cornmeal again, then bake the next batch.) Serve bread hot or at room temperature. If made ahead, let cool, then wrap airtight and chill up to 24 hours, or freeze to store longer. To reheat, lay bread (thawed, if frozen) in a single layer on a 12-by 15-inch baking sheet; place in a 350 degree oven until warm in centers, about 10 minutes. Makes about 18 cornbread sticks.
Blue Corn Spoonbread with Roasted Garlic 1 head garlic 1 Tbl olive oil 2/3 c blue cornmeal 2 tsp sugar 1/4 tst cayenne 2 c milk 2 Tbl butter or margarine 4 large eggs, separated Salt and pepper Cut garlic in half through cloves. Pour oil into an 8- to 9-inch-wide baking pan. Place garlic, cut side down, in pan. Bake in a 375 degree oven until cloves are golden brown on bottom, about 30 minutes. Let cool, then squeeze garlic from peel into a bowl; mash with a fork and set aside. In a 3- to 4-quart pan, combine cornmeal, sugar, and cayenne. Slowly and smoothly stir or whisk in milk, then butter. Place over high heat and stir until boiling and thick. Let cool 5 minutes. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks with garlic; stir a little of the hot mixutre into bowl, then return mixture to pan. In a large bowl, beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until they hold moist but distinct peaks. Gently but thoroughly fold whites into cornmeal mixture. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2-quart souffle dish or deep baking dish. Bake in a 375 degree oven until well browned and mixture is firm when dish is shaken, 35 to 40 minutes. Scoop out portions with a spoon and serve at once. Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes 4 to 6 servings. |