D'vorahDavida
Yetzirah

My Way
Fri Aug 28 2009

Okay, in answer to you inquiries...

Johnny Cakes My Way

Stir one cup of boiling water into one cup of yellow corn meal and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Immediately stir in one cup of cold milk with a wire whisk to get out the lumps.

Put over boiling water in a double boiler and stir and cook till thick. I won't take long.

Spoon into already heated skillet with vegetable oil to make them crispy.

The trick is hot cornmeal mush, medium hot skillet, enough oil to get crispy cakes....

 Remember my first rule of cooking:

You only turn the burner on high when you are boiling water.  ;-)

Keep an eye on them, you want them golden brown.  It takes a little while, but only a few minutes more than pancakes.

When I was growing up, my Aunt Trudy used to make a version of this where you would cook the mush, put it in a loaf pan and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Then she would slice it and fry it in the morning. That version took FOREVER to brown. And there was no milk.
It was good. I ate every bite. Heck, I helped her make it, but.....
I am lazy. And though I have excellent delayed gratification skills in many areas of my life, when it comes to Johnny Cakes, I have the patience of a two year old. So I do it the fast, lazy way. Besides, my cakes have more body to them. Different texture.

There you have it.

(I hope Julia Child wasn't listening from the Great Kitchens in the sky. Poor old girl wouldn't be able to take it. Hillbilly cookin'. Lowest common denominator food.)

You betcha!

Be a dear and pass that honey over here.....I have one more plate of them waiting for me this morning.

Oh happy day!

4 Comments
  • From:
    Welshamethyst (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Aug 28 2009
    I'm all for hillbilly cookin'. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking that some beans, greens, & fried potatoes don't sound like a bad idea for this rainy, chilly AUGUST evening......
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Aug 28 2009
    Aunt Trudy's way is what I recall from Texas cooking. I think I like your way better.

    Lesee now. Where did I store the box of cornmeal??


    Bless
  • From:
    Mamallama (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Aug 28 2009
    Your brudder has told me about them several times, but couldn't remember how to make them.
    I'll have him read this.
    Thanks!
  • From:
    Diane (Unauthenticated) (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Aug 30 2009
    Thanks for the recipe look forward to trying them sometime. MAkes me think of fried or grilled polenta, though a savory dish compared to Johnny cakes. As to Julia, I have a feeling she would have enjoyed them too. ;-) Glad you gave into your craving and enjoyed an all-time favorite of yours.