[net.cooks] Corn Pone Disaster

krista@iham1.UUCP (K.J.Anderson) (02/05/86)

<Eat my dinner - please.>

   Now that I have a daughter, I want to cook real food.  To
complicate matters I've decided that as long as I have to learn and
practice, I might as well try vegetarian recipes.  Ok, so I tried
"Tennessee Corn Pone" out of _Laurel's Kitchen_.  Actually this is
the second time I tried it.  The first time it was a nice tender
corn bread on top but the kidney beans on the bottom were too bland.
The recipe calls for "very juicy and seasoned beans".  So this time
I used canned (sorry) chili beans, drained but not rinsed.  Then I
put the corn bread batter on top and baked it as instructed.  Well,
it was a disaster!  It was still liquid in the center after the
suggested 30 min. at 450 degrees.  So I continued baking, but after
20 more min. it was almost burnt on top and sides, the beans on the
bottom were dried out and the center was like an under done custard.
   This was a different oven from the first time; also the first time
I ever used a gas oven.  Was it too hot or too cool?  Did I over mix
or under mix the batter?  Were the beans too liquid at the start? 
Also, next time I try it, how should I season beans that I cook
myself?  Oh, also, the first time I used all degerminated corn meal,
whereas the second time I used half whole grain corn meal.  Also,
the first time I used a brown glass baking dish and the second time
I used a cheap tin 9" x 13" baking pan.
   The exact measurements are:
2 cups corn meal        2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tsp. baking soda      1/4 c. margarine melted
1 tsp. salt             4 c. cooked beans, heated very hot
1 quart buttermilk
You are supposed to grease the pan, put in the hot beans, mix the
batter, pour it over the beans and bake at 450 for 30 min.
   Thanks for any help!  Boy, you think you've got at least one
recipe mastered and... :-(
   ihnp4!iham1!krista

ed@mtxinu.UUCP (Ed Gould) (02/06/86)

>                                                   Ok, so I tried
>"Tennessee Corn Pone" out of _Laurel's Kitchen_.  Actually this is
>the second time I tried it.  The first time it was a nice tender
>corn bread on top but the kidney beans on the bottom were too bland.
> ...
>   The exact measurements are:
>2 cups corn meal        2 eggs, slightly beaten
>2 tsp. baking soda      1/4 c. margarine melted
>1 tsp. salt             4 c. cooked beans, heated very hot
>1 quart buttermilk

I don't know corn pone at all, but _Laurel's_Kitchen_ has a reputation
for being bland.  Good on nutrition, though.  I'd just add some herbs
and/or spices.  Find a southern book for traditional ones;  I'd add
garlic and red pepper, myself, for starters.

-- 
Ed Gould                    mt Xinu, 2910 Seventh St., Berkeley, CA  94710  USA
{ucbvax,decvax}!mtxinu!ed   +1 415 644 0146

"A man of quality is not threatened by a woman of equality."