When times get hard, you try to save as much as you can to make sure no one will go hungry. My partner shared one of his family recipes with me, along with the importance of it to his family. It made me appreciate everything we have now and not take anything for granted.
Growing up on a Southern farm, life hasn’t always been easy for my partner. He started working on the family farm at the age of seven and took care of all the younger siblings and cousins. Corn was cheaper to grow than wheat, so his mother had to get creative with corn meals. Homemade cornbread was one of his favorite foods, because it kept him from feeling hungry when doing intensive labor work on the farm.
We decided to come up with our version of homemade cornbread. While keeping its Southern tradition in a cast iron skillet, we gave it a “healthy upgrade”. Our version included only natural ingredients, making it a healthy addition to any meal. In addition to its delicious taste, cornbread provides several nutritional benefits. The base ingredient, cornmeal, is rich in dietary fiber and essential vitamins like B-complex and iron. This recipe promotes good digestion and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels by using whole-grain cornmeal.
Our homemade cornbread came out beautifully with the perfect golden texture, moist on the inside with a crispy crust. I loved adding extra butter on the cake with an icing gun. It looked so much cuter with the decorative butter flowers and tasted so much creamier with the extra touch.
My partner and I couldn’t stop eating, so we decided to cut the cornbread into little pieces and pack them in Pyrex containers for the kids and surprise them when we go pick them up after school. The kids inhaled their treats in the car and the whole family ate more together at dinner. We shared stories on the farm with the kids and taught them to appreciate everything that they have. Be grateful to have a roof over their heads and food on the table. Things that they take for granted are precious to others.
The other night, I saw an old grandpa standing in a parking lot, his long hair and beard flapping in the cold wind. He was shivering in the cold. I decided to U-turn and give him some money for dinner and clothes. The kids kept asking me if we gave him enough for a good meal and clothes. I assured them that I did. I don’t own a house, I am still renting, but there are others who are homeless and in worse situations. I try to help whenever I can, and I feel blessed that the kids understand that success in life includes giving and helping others in need. Hope you will enjoy the delicious Southern homemade cornbread and appreciate everything that you have now. If you are reading this post, that means you are fortunate enough to have access to the internet. If you are eating, that means you are lucky enough to have food. Hope this recipe will inspire each one of us to try to help others in our own ways and make a difference in the world!