Recipe: Basil, Roasted Peppers and Monterey Jack Cornbread

Basil, Roasted Peppers and Monterey Jack Cornbread

8 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup chopped onion
1 3/4 cups yellow cornmeal
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups grated monterey jack cheese with jalapenos
1 1/3 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed and drained
1/2 cup drained, chopped roasted red peppers from a jar
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Butter a 9x9x2 inch baking pan.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in medium nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and saut until tender, about 10 minutes. Cool.

Mix cornmeal with the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda in large bowl. Add 7 tablespoons butter and rub with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Whisk buttermilk and eggs in medium bowl to blend. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and stir until blended. Mix in cheese, corn, red peppers, basil, and onion. Transfer to prepared pan.

Bake cornbread until golden and tester inserted comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool 20 minutes in pan. Cut cornbread into squares.

Makes 1 - 9 x 9 inch pan