Sweet Potato Roots Pt. 2

These recipes come from the southern most roots of all, and even more specially, from a collaboration between my colonial and Native American ancestors.

Spoon bread, a pudding-like corn bread tastes of my childhood, whipped up so often by my grandmother and served beside pork chops, lima beans, and a tangy tomato aspic. My husband describes the bread as a cross breed between corn muffins and corn casserole. But, for those most closely connected to the recipe know that it most resembles its original inspiration, Suppawn, an Indian porridge.

Spoon Bread (Courtesy of Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia)
makes ~10 servings

1 1/2 c. corn meal
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/3 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. boiling water
1/4 c. butter
5 eggs
2 c. milk
1 T baking powder

Preheat oven to 350. Mix corn meal, salt and sugar in large bowl. Scald with boiling water. Add melted butter. Beat eggs; add milk in med. bowl. Combine egg mixture to corn meal mix. Add baking powder. Pour into oiled 9x13 baking pan and bake 30-40 min.


Sally Lunn bread, another childhood comfort from my grandmother's kitchen, is golden, crumbly and crispy on top with a fluffy, soft, textured interior. It slices easily and is heavenly when smeared with a pat of butter alongside Brunswick stew, seafood chowder or anything else! The recipe traveled across the Atlantic, nestled in pockets of America's earliest British settlers. And, thank goodness it did!

Sally Lunn Bread (Courtesy of the Junior League of Hampton Roads, Virginia)

1 pkg. dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water
2 T soft butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
3 1/2 c. flour
1 c. warm milk

Soften yeast in warm water. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and salt, stir in 1 1/2 c. of flour and beat vigorously. Stir in milk and softened yeast; mix well. Add remaining flour and beat vigorously. Cover, let rise in warm place until doubled (1 hr.). Stir down batter and spoon evenly into Turk's head mold. Cover and let rise again until doubled (30-45 min.). Bake in preheated 325 oven for 10 mins., increase temperature to 375 and continue baking for 20 mins. more. Remove from pan. Serve and enjoy!