|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||
|
|
||
Gourmet Corn Bread with Walnuts
Cornbread can be thrown together in a flash, and leftovers make a good breakfast or snack the next day. When it’s cold and dark outside, cornbread with a bowl of bean soup makes a feast!
“But cornbread contains carbs!” you cry. Please don’t stop eating good carbs. (Okay, you can go the low/no carb route for a week or two if you need to drop those holiday pounds, but then remember that it’s balance that works….) We need a balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates. Protein and fat satisfy appetite, but “good,” carbohydrates like those in whole grains, boost mood by lifting serotonin levels. Complex carbohydrates not only make us feel happy, they keep us feeling that way. (In addition, seek out the Omega 3s -- there are some in walnuts -- to keep mood level.
Makes 12 servings
| 3 c organic yellow cornmeal | 4 free-range eggs |
| 1 ½ c organic whole wheat pastry flour or rice flour | 2 ¼ c buttermilk* |
| 1 tsp ground black pepper | 1 8-oz Sonoma brand jar sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, optional |
| 1 ½ tsp Spike | ½ c olive or walnut oil |
| 1 ½ tsp baking powder | 1 ½ c cheese or Follow Your Heart soy cheese |
| ¾ tsp baking soda | |
| 1 c walnuts, chopped |
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease two 9½” pie plates. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Grate cheese or soy cheese. In a second bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk*, Sonoma sun-dried tomatoes (chopped coarsely), olive or walnut oil, and cheese. Whisk to blend. Quickly stir wet ingredients into dry (don’t over-mix). Divide batter between prepared pie plates.
Pop in oven and bake corn bread until top begins to brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly, cut and serve. Can be prepared ahead. When ready to eat, cover with aluminum foil and reheat covered in 350 oven for 10 minutes. Best served warm.
*Note: you can substitute any “milk” which is sour or which you’ve soured. How to make sour milk? Add one tablespoon lemon juice to “milk” -- soy, rice, or real thing. Let sit for a few minutes. Voila!
