Sweet Southern Cornbread

Recently, Flo and I have been making  a ton of different things that complement cornbread, the 4th of July being a big hit, we decided that we were going to explore the world of the corny bread.

There's so many different things you can do with it, and we've only begun to test the waters! First, I'm going to share with you one of my favorite recipes for it, then tell you some of our favorite ways to serve it, then I'll leave you to discover your  own favorites :)


Sweet Southern Cornbread
(I make mine into mini loaves, makes about 9, or one 8x8 pan if you like those square-like pieces)

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup AP Flour
• 1/4 cup Sugar (I know a lot of people who don't like their cornbread to be sweet, but it really needs a hint of sweetness.)
• 1T Baking powder
• 1t salt
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup whole milk (I use Lactose due to Emma getting sick with regular milk)
• 1 egg

1. Mix all together well. The first time I made this recipe I didn't mix it as well as I should have in fear of over-mixing, and there was bubbles of baking powder on the top of a few loaves. Gross. Mix away! Also, letting it sit for a few minutes will make it kind of foamy because of the reaction of the baking powder, just fill as usual.
2. Place in a greased baking dish
3. Bake at 400 degrees until done (14 minutes for mini loaves, and 22 minutes for 8x8)

Flo really likes a couple pieces of cooked bacon chopped up added to his cornbread batter, along with some jalapeno slices on top of the batter for a more spicy route, while I like mine with some actual corn kernels mixed in and some cheese sprinkled on top before baking. Emma likes hers just cut in half with some cinnamon butter or sometimes some jam or jelly, but be careful because this cornbread is very crumbly!

We've also discovered that you can place the batter into a few different baking dishes for a few different dinners. Last night we had mini loaves cut in half and smothered in chili, cheese and fries (a lot of food!) even though we would have much rather put the cornbread batter into a waffle iron and made waffle cornbread chili plates, but sadly, we don't own a waffle iron...yet.

A while back, I also put the batter into mini muffin tins and stuck a few pieces of a cut up hotdog right in the middle of each one before baking for a new take on corndogs. It was a hit due to a few batches filled up a bunch of kids who were in awe that they were having corndog cupcakes :)


Enjoy!

Fourth Fun-ness

Fourth of July was fantastic!

My shirt was amazing, and Emma and I may have been the best dressed and most patriotic there.

 
 

Even though I wasn't able to live up to the saying on my shirt, I did do my part and had a beer and a jello shot when we first arrived. :p



















I seem to always make the mistake of over-cooking, so there was some left overs, but for the most part, it was a hit.

The cornbread was the biggest favorite of the crowd. Everyone really loved that I put just a bit of sugar in the batter, so its not just a heavy brick of bread. My cornbread seems to come out very moist and crumbly as well, also a plus in my book.

The butter went hand in hand with the cornbread, and the coleslaw was the iffy addition. I guess no one had ever had a vinegar-based coleslaw, so it was a new taste to the palate. It took some getting used to, but once everyone had a taste of all the sweet BBQ, sweet cornbread, sweet drinks, etc... the tangy coleslaw came in handy.

The jello shots were insanely loved by the adults, and  I can't quite tell you how long those lasted. once the kids had eaten and were chasing each other around the yard, the adults put the bucket of jello shots on the table and a game of dominoes begun. I don't think they lasted long, as it almost seemed that as a domino was picked up, a shot was thrown down.








Emma and her cousins in Uncle Mike's truck, ready for fireworks!

The fireworks too were lovely, although I see fireworks almost every day at Disney, there's just something about 4th of July fireworks that are so special. With every good experience, comes a bad though...with all the kids loaded up in the bed of the truck, we lit off our first firework, when it ignited and flipped itself over and began to shoot out towards everyone! it was so scary, Flo and I had immediately dove over Emma, and our friends also grabbed and dove over their kids. After the firework was over, we were in a symphony of crying kids who thought the night was ruined. It was all fixed with some juice and hugs, and the firework show commenced.

I was so dang tired from working that morning from 2am-10am, that by 11:00 pm, I was laying on the concrete listening to the fireworks with my eyes closed.

All in all, it was a great night, complete with good food, friends, fireworks, and festivities.

Emma and her cousins Laila and Elijah enjoying a hot dog

Emma and I in our 4th of July outfits

Happy Fourth of July!

HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY!

I finally got all the baking and food prepped done yesterday after I got off of work, and its all ready for today!
-63 mini cornbread loafs-
-cinnamon honey butter-
-50 red, white and blue jello shots-
-BTR slaw-

and I feel like a million bucks! Now all I have to do is take a nap and shower, get ready, gather the family, take pictures and head over.

I'll make sure to post later tonight with the pictures of all the festivities :)


In the mean time, I'm going to go take a power nap since I just got off of work and I'll be dead tonight if I don't get even a little rest.

Please everyone make sure to have fun tonight, but be safe! There are tons of families out celebrating today, and lives are way more important than fun!!!



Post coming soon!

XOXO
-C

Pre-Cooking Time!

Today is the day I typically start all my shopping and pre-cooking for the 4th, so my favorite store Winco welcomed us with open arms this morning!

Last year we didn't really do anything to celebrate, as a matter of fact, I don't even think Flo was with us. We had just finished our camping trip, and he had went back to Long Beach, and I went back to Menifee with Emma. I think I created my "American-Style 4th of July" playlist, blasted it while my Dad and I bbq'd, cooked and drank about 15 lime margaritas (each!) to ourselves.

This year will be different, though. Although I really love and adore my parents, Flo, Emma and I are going to go to a good friend of ours house so Emma has some kids to play with, and we have some friends to wind down and relax with. I don't think they were expecting us to text them this morning with the list of things we're going to bring, but nonetheless, I don't think they're complaining either.

Contribution this year:

• BTR Slaw (making dressing today, adding to the cabbage on Friday night)
• Mini Cornbread muffins (baking on Friday)
• Honey butter (making on Friday)
• Celebration Jello Shots, which I found here on pinterest (making today)
• and some dry rub for the meats that they have, that of course, we'll be barbequing :P (been made, dry rub lasts forever!)

I'm really excited for this year, it's really the first year Flo and I can contribute to whoevers house were celebrating at.

Emma's all set with her American flag dress that were going to puffy-paint some silver stars on, and I'm almost equipped with my "Time to get Star Spangled Hammered" shirt, which I saw online, but was unable to order it in time, so I too, am puffy painting it onto a shirt!

We're all patriotic this year, so much fun!


When I complete all the recipes, I'll be sure to make a completion post with pictures...or I may just edit this post if I feel lazy. :p

<3
-C

BBQ TIME...Slaw Style

Tomorrow is the first of July, which only means 3 things: Heat, sun and barbeque! With fourth of July being only 4 days away, what better way to start the party than with some BBQ recipes! Since I work at the best bbq restaurant in the Happiest Place On Earth, I often get asked for some tips and recipes from the Ranch, however, I would be reeeeeeally unprofessional and not very cast-memberly like if I gave those out, so I can't...however, I can give out what was already given out :D I had googled a picture of Big Thunder Ranch BBQ slaw to show Flo a picture of a slaw that wasn't mayonnaise-based, but rather vinegar based, and while I did find pictures (below) I also found the recipe (and yes, it is correct). The original post is from the Disney parks blog to which the Chef of our restaurant willingly gave out to desperate Guests. Crank up that smoker, get the ice chests ready, and break out the fireworks while you enjoy the wildest slaw in the wilderness! *Cue Big Thunder Mountain ride...no? Okay, enjoy!

Big Thunder Ranch BBQ Slaw
Serves 6 to 8

• 1/2 cup white-wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 pound shredded green cabbage (about 1/2 large cabbage)
• 1 pound shredded purple cabbage (about 1/2 large cabbage)
• 2 carrots, shredded

1. Combine vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, celery seed, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne in a large bowl, and using an immersion blender, blend together until emulsified. *Alternatively, combine in a blender, and slowly add oil while blending.
2. Combine shredded cabbage and shredded carrots in a separate large bowl. Add dressing, tossing to combine.
3. Refrigerate for a minimum of an hour in order for slaw to get "soggy" and absorb the dressing.

**Beware, very tangy!

BTR Slaw photo courtesy to Disney Parks Blog

Here's the exact link to the Disney Parks Blog with the BBQ Slaw recipe. Keep up with them for more Disney-related recipes as well! 8(:-D

-C

Mom's Poolside Chicken Salad Sandwiches

So, since moving out, I find myself missing my mom's cooking and a lot of childhood meals I loved. I constantly e-mail my mom and ask for the most random and simple recipes so I can go out and stock up on the small stuff for when I get the nostalgic urge to have one of my moms poolside chicken sandwiches that I cannot seem to match her recipe to save my life.

As pathetic as it seems, reverting back to my 9 year old self, swimming in the pool at my grandparents country club eating these sandwiches actually sounds like a pleasant idea. It being 2:00 in the afternoon, and about 80 degrees, I think I'm going to post the recipe for you all to enjoy, and then go make some myself!


Mom's Poolside Chicken Salad Sandwiches (yields about 4 sandwiches)

• 2 cans of white chicken in water. (Water drained)
• 1/2 cup of mayo (not light mayo) or more according to taste
• 1 T of mustard
• 2 stocks of celery chopped small
• 1 large dill pickle finely chopped or 2T of dill (NOT sweet) relish
• 1/2 t of black pepper
• 1/2 t of salt
• 1/2 t of garlic powder
• 1 whole apple (pink ladies are my favorite) chopped into a medium dice to get the most out of the flavor

 

Stir and chill for 1/2 hour.

Chilling the chicken salad is a really important step, so that the flavors have time to meld and thicken up a bit.

Take out, stir and add more seasoning if necessary.

 

 

I personally like my bread un-toasted, but Flo and Emma LOVE theirs toasted. Slap some (by some, I mean a lot) on some bread, open your favorite bag of chips and enjoy! ***Note, the messier, the better:)

 

-C

 

 

 

Hey Howdy Hey!

Hey howdy hey everyone! It's been OVER a year since I've been able to contribute to the blog, but at least it's for a good cause.

In October, I landed my first job, and I absolutely fell in love with my work at Disneyland, and although I wasn't baking, it is a start in the right direction!

 

 

Emma is also doing very well, she is almost 5 (going on 15, mind you) and is very outgoing and smart as always! Flo and I are in the process of trying to get the heck up out of Long beach, and possibly moving back to the Menifee area, thus creating a teeny issue of putting Emma into school, so continue to cross your fingers that something is God-willing placed right in front of us that screams, "PICK ME!"

Elsa, Emma and Anna at one of our regular visits to Disneyland

 

 

I'm currently working overnight shifts at The Ranch, so that leaves me with plenty of time (minus my sleep) to start regularly posting back here again :D


Keep looking out for more posts!


-C