Mexican Cornbread

Who does not love a meal of golden fried chicken or chili con carne with a side of cornbread? A cornbread or quick bread for some of us have been in our dinner tables since we can remember, this cornmeal based bread whether it be baked or fried in a skillet has been a somewhat staple dish in our dinner table as well as our hearts. Whether it may be sweet or salty a good cornbread never fails to make any dish a hearty home-cooked meal. With so many style of making cornbread available why not experiment a bit, rather than the sweet buttermilk flavor why not add a little kick to it,  like your favorite chili such as jalapeño and chipotle. Here are two spicy style of cornmeal that will leave you asking for more. This is not your typical corn bread, this has a bite to it, it's spicy and oh so delicious. For spicy food lovers here are two corn bread recipes that has a Mexican flavor. Corn breads are great side dish to chicken and pork meals.

Jalapeño Cornbread
For something that's just mildly hot, a jalapeño corn bread is just right. Great side-dish for grilled pork or chicken.

Ingredients
2 - 10 jalapeño chiles, finely chopped with seeds
¾ cups  poblano peppers, chopped (optional)
1 onion, finely chopped
1  can creamed corn
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup  oil
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups yellow corn meal

Direction

*With a cooking spay, grease baking pan

*Mix together corn, onions, poblano peppers and jalapeños in a bowl

*Mix in sugar, baking soda and salt

*Add eggs and mix them well

*Lastly, add cornmeal, buttermilk, oil and cheese

*Pour mixture in baking pan

*Bake it in 350°F oven for 45 minute or until slightly brown

Note:Do a toothpick test: insert toothpick and pull, if its clean then its cook.

*Slice corn bread and serve warm

Chipotle Cornbread

This corn bread has a more smoky flavor due to the chipotle. Chipotle are actually smoked-dried jalapeños that is usually used for adobo in Latin cooking. You can used canned chipotles for this recipe.

Ingredient

1 cup cornmeal

1 tablespoon cornmeal(for baking dish)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1  can creamed corn
1/2 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons bacon bits
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup monterey jack pepper cheese, shredded
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile in adobo

Direction

* In a food processor, mix together chipotles, broth a bit of water

*Puree until smooth

*Grease baking dish and sprinkle some cornmeal on the sides to keep the corn bread from sticking when its done baking.

* Mix together a cup of cornmeal, canned corn, onions, buttermilk, eggs, bacon bits, baking soda and cheese in a big bowl

*Add the pureed chipotle

* Mix them all together

*Pour in mixture in the baking dish

*Bake it in 375°F oven for 45 minute or until slightly brown

* Slice cornbread and serve.