In the Antebellum period, church picnics and all-day preaching and dinner on the grounds became a tradition in south. Candidates running for elected office leveraged them to deliver stump speeches and attract voters. Denominations held multiethnic community-wide events featuring singing, preaching and thereafter a spread of food. One 1850 description included fried ham and eggs, red-eye gravy, grits, and buttermilk biscuits and corn bread.
Sweet Onion Cornbread Recipe
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped Vidalia onions
1 cup unbleached spelt (or white) flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 cup low fat soy (or low-fat regular) milk
1 egg substitute or (1 egg white or a reconstituted powder egg white)
Method
Grease muffin tins (or a large cast iron skillet) with a butter substitute or use cooking spray. Sauté onions until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes. In a large bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and pepper. In a smaller bowl, briskly mix the milk, egg white and cooked onions together. Combine the dry ingredients, mixing just until blended. Spread batter in the skillet and or pan. Bake until the cornbread's sides begin to pull away from the pan, approximately 20 minutes. Let cook and then remove from the pan, serves 6.
