Best Cornmeal Mush With Molasses And Ginger Recipes

CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• Mix together cornmeal, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• If using as cereal, spoon mush into bowls and serve with milk and sugar, if desired. If frying, pour mixture into a loaf pan and chill completely. Remove from pan, cut into slices, and fry in a small amount of oil over medium-high heat until browned on both sides. Serve with sauce of your choice.

GRANDMA STOVER'S OLD-FASHIONED CORNMEAL MUSH

Steps:

• 1. Bring 3 cups water to a boil slow boil. Add salt.
• 2. Stir cormeal into 1 c. cold water until well blended.
• 3. Slowly pour the cornmeal mixture into the boiling water.
• 4. Cook over med to low heat until mixture begins to thicken, stirring constantly.
• 5. Add butter and contine to cook and stir - stirring less often, until you see the mush going "plop" in the pan. It should be very thick.
• 6. This can be cooled a bit and poured into 2 buttered loaf pans - about 3 in. deep. Let set up. Put into the refrigerator to cool.
• 7. The next day, take out of pans and slice in 1 in. slices and roll in flour, dusting lightly. Fry in a non-stick pan, lightly greased. Cook until the slice is hot inside and, hopefully, lightly brown.
• 8. Serve warm with syrup or eggs. Some people like it hot in a bowl, sweetened.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
• For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.

CORNMEAL MUSH WITH MOLASSES AND GINGER

Steps:

• Mix 1 1/2 cups water, cornmeal and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until mixture thickens, stirring frequently, about 8 minutes. Mix in ginger. Gradually add milk and stir until mixture comes to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until cereal is thick and smooth, stirring frequently, about 8 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in molasses and brown sugar. Cover saucepan and let stand 15 minutes.
• Spoon cereal into bowls and serve