[Screaming Eagle]

Hot water cornbread

Ingredients
1 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 tablespoon shortening
3/4 cup boiling water
Directions
1.In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, salt, and sugar. Add boiling water and shortening; stir until shortening melts.
2.Pour oil or bacon fat to a depth of 1/2 inch in a large skillet and heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3.Shape cornmeal mixture into flattened balls using a heaping tablespoon as a measuring guide. Fry each in hot oil, turning once, until crisp and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Serve at once with maple syrup or honey. I personally prefer molasses or ribbon cane syrup. You can also add some minced onion to mix in the batter. The hot water almost cooks the cornmeal so it only takes a few minutes for it to get light brown.