Johnny Cakes

Just a quick follow up to this recipe post. I made these a few weekends ago. They turned out pretty well. Here is a pic. My photo skills and presentation are a little lacking, so please forgive me.

A little story behind my first recipe post. As a big fan of The Sopranos and someone who likes to eat, I was curious as to what Johnny Cakes were. They must be a powerful aphrodisiac to drive a wise guy into the arms of another man.

During last season, they were described simply as pancakes made with corn meal.

I decided to make them for some friends that were in town, and after some Internet discovery, I found there were many different versions of Johnny Cakes, none of which seemed like "pancakes made with corn meal." Descriptions ranged from donut-like to just like corn bread. Preparation ranged from baking to deep frying. Origins ranged from Jamaica to Colonial times.

So, I took parts of a few recipes, added some things of my own, and came up with what I thought would taste like "pancakes made with corn meal." I must say, they turned out pretty well. Here you go.

Johnny Cakes:

• 2 Cups Ground Corn Meal


• 1 teaspoon of Salt


• 4 tablespoons of Unsalted Butter


• 1 C Milk


• 2 tablespoons of Boiling Water


• 1 Egg


• 2 tablespoons of Oil


• Other ingredients - Sugar, Vanilla Extract, and Pancake Mix (that you just add water to)

Directions:

1. Add corn meal, salt, and butter together and cream in large bowl.


2. Combine the milk, water, oil, and egg to corn meal mixture.


3. Add sugar and vanilla to your personal taste.


4. Use the pancake mix to firm mixture up to your preference. You could probably use additional corn meal, but I found the pancake mix helps to add some fluff to the finished product.


5. Cook on a hot non-stick skillet. You will have to cook a little longer than pancakes on the 1st side, before turning.

Finished Johnny Cakes should have a nice browned golden color. Serve with maple syrup or your favorite topping.

Johnny Cakes are more filling than pancakes, so plan accordingly. I'll post a pick this weekend after I make another batch. If you try them, let me know what you think.

Enjoy!!!

Baba Ganoush, OUT.