Cornbread

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400F.

In a small bowl combine cornmeal and milk; allow to stand for 5 minutes. While waiting butter a 9" x 13" baking pan.

In a large bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Then mix in the cornmeal mixture, eggs and oil until smooth.

Pour into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven 30-40 minutes. When fully baked a cocktail stick/toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean

Spicy variation: roast 3 - 5 red/green chiles (jalapenos are good for this) at 350F for ~30 minutes. Deseed and chop finely; add to batter before pouring into baking pan.

Turkey Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 1 large finely chopped yellow onion
• 3 - 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped or grated
• 3/4 pound crimini mushrooms, finely chopped in food processor
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4 lbs ground turkey

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400F.

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil in a large frying pan until onion has softened up. Add mushrooms, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and cook until the liquid mushrooms give off has evaporated and they are very tender -- about 10 - 15 minutes. Add in Worcestershire sauce, parsley and 3 tablespoons ketchup. Transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool.

Stir together breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the eggs then add to the vegetable mix in the first bowl. Add turkey and remaining  1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Mix well with your hands (this will be kinda sloppy...)

Lightly oil a 9" x 5" meatloaf pan (bread pan, or similar) and tip in the meatloaf mixture. Brush meatloaf top with remaining 2 tbsp ketchup. Bake in middle of oven until thermometer inserted into center of meatloaf reads 170F -- about 50 - 55 minutes.

Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Good w/ mash potato and mixed veg.