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I didn’t know what cornbread was. It’s part of the American heritage, a kind of sweet bread made out of maize that’s hardly known in Europe, or Austria, where I am originally from.
A native American quick bread that, surprisingly enough, is enjoyed by many Americans to this day. I had heard of Polenta, had even tried some, but that’s not the same. Corn, as far as I was concerned, was used to feed farm animals, not humans…case closed!
As a newlywed and fairly new to this country, I was eager to learn and cook all the recipes my husband had grown up with, and of course, I wanted to share with him the Austrian/German dishes I loved. I decided right from the start to try it all, and he wanted to do the same. We were open-minded, blinded by love, eager to please each other—and our tummies.
When I saw the first cornbread at the store, I felt surprised. It looked unfinished. A yellow sheet cake, waiting for some excitement. It was cheap, and with a few decorations, it would be the perfect surprise. A ready-made cake, almost like a TV dinner, America was just full of surprises.
A can of chocolate icing was quickly found—another of these wonderful things that you could buy and use. Who in the right state of mind would make things from scratch? This was the land of the free and obviously the brave, because they ate things I had never heard of.
Back at home, I finished the sheet cake, and later that evening, I served the wonderful chocolate cake after dinner.
Oh, he looked surprised. I wasn’t the greatest baker back then, and cakes or desserts were something we normally couldn’t afford.
When he cut a piece and bit into it, it looked as if he was hesitating a bit, but he didn’t say a word. He took a bite, and his face showed now not just surprise but a kind of bewilderment. He looked puzzled, lost for words, which didn’t please me a bit, because I wanted to hear praise.
“Did you make this cake? Do you know what it is?” he managed to ask me. What a silly question. It was a yellow cake. Why was he so surprised?
“No, I found it in the grocery store; they sell baked cakes and cookies there.”
He finished the piece of cake and then burst with laughter.
That’s the evening I learned about cornbread
Cornbread always sounds a wholesome thing to eat, but I have no idea what it is like.
I love this story! Never thought about all the different foods you would have encountered coming to the US. Cornbread was even served in school lunches here… and always accompanied by a squeeze bottle of honey to put on it. Now a days I sometimes get the newer Pillsbury cornbread swirls to save a little time when I make homemade chili. Hum, stale rolls as “cereal” though, do you cut/tear/crush them up first? Probably not much different than the milk toast my mom would sometimes have.
It’s a special story. I just didn’t know cornbread at all and to my defense, it does look a lot like a pie, don’t you think?
Oh, I can easily see how it would be mistaken for a yellow cake that needs frosting! For someone out there that may be a new favorite taste combination!
Bridget…I’m still smiling. This line really got me:
“A ready-made cake, almost like a TV dinner, America was just full of surprises…”
I’m glad you were introduced to corn bread…and as a long-time fan, the addition of chocolate frosting sounds pretty yummy, even if unconventional. xo! 😊💕😊
I am glad I made you smile. It’s one of my husband’s most told stories of many.
💝🥰💝
I haven’t seen or tasted cornbread. It’s not something we typically eat in Australia. I did, though, love your story. What a great response from your husband – so sweet…
Thank you, Carolyn. My husband is a sweet man.
I still don’t know what it is, but your delightful post reminds me of the time I cooked stuffed hearts for my late friend Ann who asked me how much water I had put in the packet stuffing. “Water?”, I replied
LOL too funny.
This is too cute! I can just picture his shock, though; cornbread is a completely different texture!
I bet it was good though! 🙂
My Kentucky Grandmother, half American Indian and long gone from this world, made cornbread daily. She’d grab a bowl and throw cornmeal and everything else in it without measuring anything. My dad would make us cornmeal mush with syrup. 🙂
That’s a precious memory. My husband eats cornmeal mush but can’t stomach it when I use old stale rolls as ‘cereal’ in my milk (back then when I still ate gluten and dairy.) It’s funny how this works, the things we grow up with, stay with us.
Waste not, want not. 😁
Oh, the wisdom.
I love cornbread! I can’t imagine it with chocolate icing. This is a funny story.
I never developed a taste for it. My husband reminds me every Thanksgiving when I bake cornbread for his beloved dressing.
Your husband’s response was so sweet.
He is a keeper. 🙂
Obviously
Reminds me of the time my Mum served up pancakes My children thought she’d forgotten the Pizza topping.
Oh, that’s funny too. 🤣
In the UK most people have neither made nor tasted cornbread!
I tried it, but I can not develop a taste for it. It’s sweet bread, but can’t be sliced, but has to be eaten in blocks or cut like a pie. Some love it, others don’t. Honestly, I cannot recall seeing it in Europe anywhere.
As you say, animal fodder!
Americans usually don’t eat it on its own. It’s typically served with toppings like honey or butter or both, and it’s usually eaten as a side with things like chili or various bean dishes.
oIt was really funny but sweet. Even when I was in Florida last week, I tried some American sandwich panera bread I bought from their store and cooked in my own way. Really, it was bad but so cheesy.