Side Breads

Very often when we serve a meal, we add a slice or two of bread just to finish things off or to sop up juices.  There are easy choices like a slice of whole wheat from the grocery store or adding some butter and garlic to a baguette.  Here are some other considerations.

Cheesy Chive Spoonbread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups milk, preferably whole
• ½ stick butter
• 5 large eggs, separated
• 1 2/3 cups finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ cup finely chopped chives, or to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 3 quart casserole dish or pan.
• Mix together cornmeal and salt.
• In a medium saucepan, bring milk to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer. Slowly stir in the cornmeal mixture with a whisk.  Continue whisking until it thickens and then continue to whisk and cook for 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Stir in butter.
• In a small bowl, beat egg yolks. In a separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Once the cornmeal mixture is cool enough, stir in the egg yolks. You may want to temper the eggs first so they do not cook prematurely.
• Gently fold in the egg whites, being careful that they do not deflate too much.
• Pour the entire mixture into your baking dish and bake for 40 minutes. The center will be soft but not loose.

Cornbread Pudding

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 can (15 ¼ ounce) whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can (14 ¾ ounce) cream-style corn
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 package (8 ½ ounce) cornbread or muffin mix
• ¼ teaspoon paprika

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Stir in cornbread mix until just blended.
• Pour into a 3 quart, greased baking dish. Sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake uncovered at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cheddar Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups biscuit baking mix
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2/3 cup milk
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it.
• Combine baking mix, cheese, and garlic powder. Stir in milk.
• Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the cooking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Brush tops with melted butter, sprinkle with parsley and garlic powder.
• Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until lightly brown on the bottom.

Fry Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm water
• vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add warm water a small amount at a time, stirring with a fork.  You may not need the whole cup.  Mix until the dough just comes together.
• Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to rest for one to two hours.
• Flour your hands and a work surface. Turn out the dough and pinch balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter.  Pat flat to about 1/8 to ¼ inch thick.
• In a heavy pan, heat 1 to 2 inches of oil to 375 degrees. Fry in small batches until the bread is golden brown and puffs up, flipping half way to brown the other side.  About 2 to 3 minutes all totaled.  If the oil is not hot enough, the dough will absorb the oil and taste unpleasant.  If the oil is too hot, the dough will be raw in the middle.
• Drain on paper towels.