Basic Corn Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. yellow corn meal
1 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
2 Tbsp. butter or rendered bacon fat

Preparation

Heat oven to 350\u00b0.
Sift together corn meal, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and pepper.
Combine egg and buttermilk; add dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Heat butter in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over moderate heat until bubbly.
Tilt to coat the pan; pour in the batter.
Cook bread on stove for about 3 minutes to give it a good crust.
Put the skillet in the oven to bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
Turn the corn bread out on a rack so it doesn't get soggy as it cools.