SAVORY BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD

 

Remember the old 

Southern saying, 

“If there’s sugar in the cornbread, 

there’s a Yankee  

in the kitchen!” 

My trusty iron skillet is older than dirt

If you’re looking for a sweet cornbread, you won’t find it here; in my way of thinking, real cornbread is not sweet.  This is southern-style corn bread, plenty of buttermilk and sour cream, and not a touch of sugar.  This is some tasty cornbread ~ just ask Bubba...

Crispy Sea Salt-crusted Parsley Jacket Potatoes

Dad had many gardens to tend, after he retired from banking ~ at home, at the large Community Garden he established, and at the Louisville Zoo, where he displayed a garden for zoo visitors. 

Bubba loved that!  He'd go to the zoo with Grandpa, and while Grandpa gardened, Bubba visited all the animals. 

I've watched him dig up many a potato, he was an expert at it ~ no digging fork holes in his potatoes!

So I’ve always been slightly obsessed with baked potatoes, my favorite potato!  Just a pat of butter, a little salt and lots of pepper does it for me most times…   

But when it’s finished with a crackling crust, with a dollop of sour cream, I’m in potato heaven…

The humble spud is the quintessential comfort food, and it wins the prize for the most versatile vegetable ~ there are only so many ways you can cook broccoli, and roasted broccoli could never compete with a baked potato.

First off, start wth the starchy russet potato, with a sort of thick skin.The pectin holding the russet’s cells together breaks down easily when cooked, resulting in a more granular, powdery texture.  Hands down, most chefs swear by this choice of potato for baking.

Scrub the potato well, dry it and puncture the potato in several spots with a fork.  You don’t want to take a slight chance of it exploding due to pent-up steam.  So, put some holes in it for safety’s sake!

Slather the potato with olive oil for added flavor and great texture, the skin becomes tough without it.

Combine a mixture of sea salt, seasoned pepper, garlic and parsley in a bowl.  Roll the potato in the coating and it’s ready to bake into a delicious potato.

Bake in a preheated 400° oven or do it my way ~ in an air fryer for that perfect crackling crust.

An Air fryer does a great job of baking potatoes.  The oil and seasonings on the skin results in a beautiful crisp baked potato.  

It’s crispy, crackling, crunchy on the outside and snow-white pillowy soft on the inside.

Want to enjoy perfect baked potatoes every time?  Try using an air fryer!


Air Fryer Sea Salt-crusted Parsley Jacket Potatoes 

Ingredients:

3  russet baking potatoes, medium-sized
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sea salt
2 teaspoons parsley, dried
1 tablespoon garlic powder, optional
Sour cream, or toppings of your choice

Method:

Wash potatoes and puncture with a fork several times
Coat potatoes with oil.
Combine salt, parsley and garlic powder in a bowl; roll potatoes in the mixture.
Place into the Air Fryer basket.
Cook potatoes at 390° for 35-40 minutes, until fork tender.
Slather with your favorite toppings, chives, cheese, bacon bits, etc!
Printable recipe



Happy Cooking!

My Wonderful Dad!

He was a farmer, a professional singer,  Vice-President of the Federal Land Bank, a Choir Director, and a great gardener, who started the first community garden in Louisville.  And, in his spare time, Dad proudly cared for his 200 rose bushes in the back yard, displaying cuttings at various events. 

He was funny, kind, good-looking, and a sympathetic listener; he loved people in general, and never met a stranger.   

Plus, he grilled a mighty tasty rare steak.  But, most of all, he was Bud French, my loving Dad, and a wonderful grandfather also!

Dad ~ March 20, 1911 to Feb. 15, 1994

MY DAD

Just one of his gardens, check out all those tomato stakes!

A few of his roses, what a heavenly aroma!

Mom and Dad on their 40th wedding anniversary, 1976

Our wedding day with Mom and Dad, April 15, 1967

Grandpa and Billy ~ early 1971

Grandpa and Matt ~ 1974

Happy Father’s Day Dad, you’re always in my heart.

Happy Father’s Day to my loving husband, Bill, you give our sons someone to honor, respect and admire.

Here’s to all you wonderful Dads out there who are guiding your kids on their way, and to those who are raising someone else’s children like their own, a…

HAPPY

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!