Well when we walked in I was beside myself when I saw on the menu that they had Hoecakes. Honey you do not get Hoecakes in Portland. I could not remember the last time that I had them. My mama used to make them when we were kids. Gail being from Chicago and still learning the meaning of southern cookin' from her man's family was like "What in the heck is a Hoecake?!?". I said, "It is a pancake made with corn meal instead of flour". I had a feeling that the hoecake was going to be an issue for her like grits. So I ordered them along with a crap load of other stuff. Hey...back off it was my birthday and I was eatin' what I wanted by cracky! They were good but it was just not the same as what Mama made. What was it that made Mama's so good?
So flash to this morning when I am trying to figure out what to have for breakfast. And there on my shelf smilin' at me was a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. I think that is what Mama used...little corn meal mix with a little sweet...yeah that might have been the ticket. Yes, I am aware that Jiffy is not organic, it is not local and yes most every recipe on that box calls for shortening but I don't care. If you are a southern lady that cooks at some point you have had a box of Jiffy on the shelf. But the new Portland side says can't you just use organic corn meal and the southern gal in me says hell no!
So I balance my Hoecakes...organic/local egg, organic/local milk, organic maple syrup, organic vanilla with a little bit of Crisco and a box of Jiffy. It is my yin and yang. We all have to find that balance somewhere!
Live life! Be well!
Sunya
You were close enough. I used Martha White cornmeal mix, butter milk and just a little sugar. What made the Jiffy Mix work was the sweetness. Some people like the ole timey hot water hoecakes. Cornmeal, hotwater stir and make a mush, and fry in bacon grease. LaMama used to make them all the time. I like your type best. You should have told me I would have come over. The Mama
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