[Lostgaeriel]

Johnny Cake

This is a very old family recipe. Origin is likely Rhode Island, where it was called Journey Cake. (I'm not kidding.) (RI source recipe could be more than 350 years old. This version is at least 65 years old.)

2 cups cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup shortening
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons baking powder

Mix baking powder with flour. Combine all ingredients, pour into 9" square pan and bake at 375 ºF for about 20 minutes. (To serve Depression/WW2 style, cut into squares while warm. Mix some more milk with nutmeg and sugar to taste and pour over cake.)

Perhaps the batter could be poured into muffin tins (only ~1" deep) or tart tins to make individual cakes. Reduce time in oven - watch carefully - not tested.


UPDATE: June 5, 2002
My mom tells me that the recipe above is indeed from my grandma - my dad's mom - but it is NOT the recipe that she used when I was growing up. This is hers:

1 cup cornmeal
¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 well-beaten egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted fat or cooking oil

Mix and sift dry ingredients. Add egg, milk and fat. Bake in shallow, greased pan or cake tin in hot oven (425ºF) for 20 minutes.
To serve cut into squares while warm. Mix some more milk with nutmeg and sugar to taste and pour over cake.

UPDATE: January 18, 2005
I have finally tested baking the above recipe in muffin tins (and remembered to update this post). Yield 12 'muffins' or little cakes. Grease the muffin tins and pour the batter ~3/4" to 1" deep. Bake at 425ºF for 12-14 minutes. Good with Chili.