A VERY Special Weather Statement...
...LOW PRESSURE CENTER MOVING TOWARD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST
THIS MORNING AND TIGHTENING ONSHORE GRADIENT...
SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY-
828 AM PDT MON MAY 10 2010
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON...
A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON.
* WINDS: SOUTHERLY WINDS 20 TO 28 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 TO 35
MPH.
* TIMING: GUSTY WINDS WILL INCREASE INTO THE SOUTHERN
SACRAMENTO VALLEY BY 1000 AM PDT THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE
INTO EARLY AFTERNOON.
* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: SACRAMENTO
* IMPACTS: THESE WINDS MAY MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. LOOSE
OUTDOOR ITEMS MAY BE TOSSED AROUND BY THESE WINDS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 MPH OR GUSTS OF
35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING
DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA
CAUTION.
Supper was breaded chicken fillets (we were out of plain chicken breasts) accompanied by Custard Johnny Cake, which is a variation on spoonbread, which is a fancier version of cornbread. It was very good - so much so that I ate a bit more than I should have and consequently suffered a little for it. One extra bite is all it takes!
Cornbread has differing degrees of cachet, depending on the ingredients. At the "bottom" of the scale are hoecakes, so called because back in the days of slavery, the slaves cooked them on hoes (or shovels) over an open fire. Hoecake ingredients can be as simple as cornmeal, salt and boiling water and fried in bacon grease. The next step up is corn pone. Corn Pone is usually cooked on a skillet and may or may not contain milk. Wheat flour is used, to a ration of half that of cornmeal. It is leavened, depending on the type of milk used (butter milk or "sweet" milk) with baking powder or baking soda and served in wedges, like pie. Cornbread, made with milk, eggs and flour, comes next. Spoonbread is moister than cornbread and served straight from the pan in which it was baked. It has a semi-liquid texture.
Hoecake
There are many, many versions of hoecake. This particular one comes from Cross Creek Cookery.
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
boiling water
bacon grease or other shortening
Mix salt and cornmeal. Pour in the boiling water,stirring constantly to avoid lumps, until the batter just holds together without spreading. Have your skillet or griddle hot but not smoking and greased. Pour on the batter as for pancakes (or, you can just make one large hoecake). Cook slowly until browned. Flip and brown on the other side.
Real cane syrup is a treat with these!
Corn Pone
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
About a cup of liquid - water, milk, buttermilk or a combination
If using water and/or milk, add 1 teaspoon baking powder.
If using buttermilk, add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoons melted shortening
Mix dry ingredients together until blended. Add liquid, stirring until just moistened and add melted shortening. Have a skillet or frying pan prepared, greased with shortening of your choice and cook over low-medium heat until browned on one side. Flip and brown the other side and serve sliced in wedges.
Cornbread
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup melted butter
Mix dry ingredients together. Stir in milk and beaten egg until dry ingredients are just moistened. Add melted shortening. Pour into a square pan (8" or 9") and bake at 400 until done.
Custard Johnny Cake
This is what we had last night.
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
Mix dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk first, then the beaten eggs. Add the milk last, blending quickly. Pour into a greased pan and bake at 425 for about 30-35 minutes. This comes out moist, tender and just a bit liquid at the centre.
Spoonbread
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup boiling water
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon melted butter
3 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Pour the cornmeal into the boiling water, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Let cool. Add milk slowly and mix in salt and baking powder. Next, add the eggs and finally, the melted butter. Pour into a well-greased baking pan and bake about 40 minutes at 375.
...and now I'm all hungry...
Neil is off to get our car window replaced. Just as well, for it has begun to rain! Other than this, we have no errands of especial urgency. Tomorrow I get to go to podiatry so a nurse can lok at my right foot (Dr. Noe is on vacation until next week.)
Take care, all.
Namarië