Friday, September 9, 2011

Fried Cornmeal Mush

Fall has arrived here in our little corner of the world. The cool days and chilly mornings always make me feel like making more hearty breakfasts. One of our favorites is Fried Cornmeal Mush.

Fried Cornmeal Mush

1 cup cornmeal (don't try self-rising)
1 tsp salt
4 cups water

In a large saucepan bring three cups of water to a boil. Meanwhile in a small bowl combine cornmeal, salt, and remaining cup of water. Pour slowly and carefully into the boiling water stirring well constantly.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Rinse a 9"x13" pan with water and pour the cornmeal mush into it. Rinsing pan and leaving the few water droplets inside help keep the mush from sticking to the pan. Smooth mush with the back of a spatula. Refrigerate overnight.

Next morning cut into ¼" slices and fry in skillet where you have already melted several Tablespoons of margarine. Fry until beautiful golden and crispy. If most of margarine has been absorbed add more before flipping and frying other side.

Serve with eggs, or enjoy plain. Every once in a while I also make a tomato gravy to spoon over the top but I like it better without.

Enjoy!

20 comments:

  1. I've never tried this but anything with tomato gravy would be great. I love tomato gravy!! Have a wonderful weekend.
    Regina

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  2. I love fried corn meal mush. been years since I have made it. Reading this makes me a bit hungry for it. I just may have to go cook some up for tomorrows breakfast. Granddaughter will be here for the week end and I remember when she was small she loved it. Hope she still will like it.

    Karan

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  3. Oh, this looks yummy! I've never tried tomato gravy though...

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  4. P.S. Do you have a tomato gravy recipe you could post? :)

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  5. We eat cornmeal mush all the time, but I have never tried that! :) Thanks for sharing.

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  6. I do that with leftover grits too. Only difference is I season a little flour & roll the cold grit square in it before tossing it in the pan. Cheese grits work too.

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  7. Sounds yummy and cozy. I'm going to have to try it this fall.

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  8. I grew up on this at my grandparents' house. I love it! My brother and sister...not so much. I just may have to make some for tomorrow morning.

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  9. I love fried mush. My mother made it when we were children and my sister makes it. Its one of the few foods that I am an epic failure at making. Either the mush doesn't set up right in the pan or it sticks terrible when frying. Maybe I'll give it another go. I've not tried it for several years.

    I've never had tomato gravy. I wonder if I would like it.

    Have a great day!

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  10. Be still my heart! My father, who would have bee 100 this December, was of Pennsylvania German heritage. We grew up on fried cornmeal mush and tomato gravy, but the mush was usually served with syrup (and scrapple), and the tomato gravy was a separate meal -sometimes breakfast & sometimes supper - and was served over toast. As a child, I thought both were great treats. It never dawned on me until I was an adult that both were very filling yet frugal meals, and made the budget stretch when times were tough. Thank you bringing back those memories!

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  11. Never tried this,, but I'm going to snag the recipe and try it some time! :)

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  12. This sounds so good! I think I will try it with syrup as one commentator said. I used to eat corn muffins for breakfast with syrup, so this should be similar. (But better, because it's fried. Yum!)

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  13. Wow, if that didn't bring back memories of my childhood!
    My grandpa always served this to us for breakfast and then mom did as well....I always said my grandpa cooked up Amish meals and I still believe it to this day...I'm very familiar with Amish cooking being we travel to Lancaster, PA several times a year and many of those dishes we grew up with.

    I love your blog...thanks!

    Karen

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  14. I've read about cornmeal mush and heard about it from people we know, but I've never tried it. I'll have to do that now that I have an authentic recipe. Thank you!
    Have a great weekend.
    p.s. I'd, also, love to know how to make tomato gravy, too. It sounds wonderful.

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  15. During my Dad's last days on earth, this is what he wanted to eat. It was something that he ate in his childhood. I fried it in butter,and with a drizzle of syrup he ate piece after piece. I enjoyed it also. Thanks for the reminder, an easy breakfast to make.

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  16. Hi,
    Just wanted to stop by and say hi and invite you to stop by my new blog, Simple Pleasures.
    Thanks,
    Michelle

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  17. Hey this pic. made my hubbys mouth water, so now I cooked up a batch too.

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  18. I love fried cornmeal mush with maple syrup drizzled over it.

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  19. Thanks for the reminder. I made some for breakfast yesterday.

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  20. I am going to try this recipe this weekend. I think its very similar to what an elderly lady friend of mine used to refer to as Johnny Cakes. She put a bit of maple syrup on the top before serving it!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.