Happy Early Valentine’s Day!
I am sure you were expecting me to share some delicious dessert or a fancy dinner for two. This year I decided you really wanted bacon and Sriracha this Valentine’s Day. Did you not?!?! This cornbread might be the way to get at your true love’s heart. I mean, it worked for me. Also, food served in a skillet automatically says “I love you enough to serve you food out of a skillet”. I just made that last thing up.
Recently, I complained to a friend that Valentine’s Day has become kind of lame as an adult. Don’t get me wrong, it is nice to have a reason for roses and chocolates or a fancy dinner and gifts but I miss those grade school celebrations when you received a bag full of treats and cards with cute sayings and puns. I remember reading the card from my crush and analyzing the phrase to see if they were secretly confessing that they felt the same about me. I realize this sounds highly sophisticated for a 4th grader but clearly you didn’t know me in the 4th grade. I would try to play coy and pretend that I had not caught on to their feelings of affection but deep down I knew how much they wanted to hold my hand on the playground or sit next to me during the school assembly. That is about as exciting as it gets in elementary school. Those were the days… why do we have to grow up?!
If I were single then this Valentine’s weekend I would be thinking about going out with my girl friends and making the most of it. We’d probably plan some sort of party where we could celebrate/or lament our singledom and it would be hilarious/or sad. I am not saying it isn’t fun being an adult and having my forever Valentine; I just want to tell everyone that they can be my Valentine too <3!! I think the hubby just raised an eyebrow in suspicion. What can I say, I am a fan of love and sharing (maybe sharing is not the right word…) my love with the world.
Perhaps in the spirit of this cornbread dish I should be giving my loves bacon and Sriracha. The hubby seemed pleased. I have a feeling that if I gifted bacon, my friends would give me all of the Valentine’s Day cards and candy. I would come home with bags full and heart overflowing. True, the love was bought with the power of bacon but who am I to make a fuss of such things?!
May your Valentine’s Day come with lots of mushy kisses, terrible puns, lots of quality hand holding on the playground, and flirtatious exchanges between classes. You can translate that to adult speak if so inclined. This cornbread is my Valentine gift to you. You make my heart sizzle (teehee)!
Honey, Bacon, Sriracha Cornbread
Notes
Adapted from Sean Brock, Husk Cornbread
If your bacon does not generate enough grease after cooking you may augment with lard.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Coarse Yellow Cornmeal
- 1 Tsp. Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda
- 1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
- 6 Strips Bacon Diced and Cooked - Reserve bacon grease
- 5 Tbsp. Bacon Grease
- 1 Egg Lightly Beaten
- 1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. Sriracha
- 2 Tbsp. Honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven 450.
- Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven.
- In a medium bowl combine the cornmeal, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
- In a small bowl combine 4 Tbsp. of bacon grease (slightly cooled), egg, buttermilk, Sriracha and honey. Whisk to combine.
- Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients, mix until smooth. Fold in cooked bacon pieces.
- Remove skillet from oven and place on stove over high heat.
- Add remaining Tbsp. of bacon grease and swirl to coat pan.
- Gently pour in cornbread batter and shake skillet to level out and distribute evenly.
- Place skillet back in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Serve with an extra drizzle of honey.
Thank you for this recipe. I ate a piece of cornbread at a restaurant in Orange Beach, AL that was so good. The waitress said they used bacon grease. There was a bit of heat to hit, but only a tiny bit, and I think it was a honey glaze on top. Your recipe sounds very similar. Can’t wait to try it.
It does sound pretty familiar, I hope this lives up to it!