Wild Hare Savory or Sweet Cornbread

Source: Sunset, May, 1999 - Recipe by Joey Altman, chef, Wild Hare Restaurant, Menlo Park, California

Yields 9 servings

NOTES: For bread that is sweeter and more tender, use the largest measure of sugar.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons or 1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
About 1/4 cup (1/8 pound) cooled, melted butter or margarine

In a bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs to blend with buttermilk and 1/4 cup butter. Pour liquids into flour mixture and stir just until evenly moistened.

Scrape batter into a buttered 8-inch square pan and spread smooth.

Bake in a 400 degree F oven until bread springs back when lightly pressed in the center and begins to pull from pan sides, about 25 minutes (20 minutes in a convection oven).

Cut bread into squares. Lift from pan with a slender spatula. Serve hot or cool.

Vary-the-Cornbread:
Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread, but instead of yellow cornmeal, use 1 cup polenta, dehydrated masa flour (corn tortilla flour), or stone-ground cornmeal.

Double Red Cornbread:
Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread adding 1 tablespoon hot or sweet Hungarian paprika or regular paprika to flour mixture. To egg mixture, add 3/4 cup chopped canned roasted red peppers. Increase baking time to 30 minutes (25 minutes in a convection oven).

Basil-Parmesan Cornbread:
Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread. To egg mixture, add 1 (8 1/2 ounce) can cream-style corn, 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese. Increase baking time to 30 minutes (25 minutes in a convection oven).

Curry Cornbread:
Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread adding 1 1/2 tablespoons curry powder to flour mixture.

Southwest Cornbread:
Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread. To egg mixture, add 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles and 3/4 cup (3 ounces) coarsely shredded jack cheese. Combine 1 tablespoon each sugar and chili powder; sprinkle over batter in pan.

Habanero Surprise Muffins:
Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread, completing step 1. Spoon half the batter equally into 12 buttered 2 1/2-inch muffin cups. Top each portion with 2 teaspoon habanero or jalapeno jelly (1/2 cup total). Fill cups equally with remaining batter. Bake in a 400 degree oven until muffins spring back when lightly pressed in center and are lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

Makes 12.