corncakes

Fried meal patties

Corncakes are small flat cakes made from cornmeal batter, cooked on a griddle or in a pan.

They resemble pancakes but with a coarser, grainier texture from the corn.

Regional variations go by different names—johnnycakes, hoecakes, corn pone—but all share the basic combination of cornmeal, liquid, and fat: We had corncakes with butter and honey for breakfast.

cornbased

masa

Nixtamalized corn dough

arepaLatin American cornmeal flatbread
tortillaThin unleavened Mexican bread
hushpuppiesFried cornmeal dough balls

grits · polenta · hominy · maize · batter · fritter · tamales · pupusas · gorditas · sopes

breakfast

brunch

Morning-afternoon meal hybrid

syrupThick sugar liquid
butterSolid fat from cream
jamCooked fruit spread

coffee · griddle · morning · maple · honey · molasses · bacon · sausage · eggs · skillet

comfort

nostalgia

Longing for the past

warmthHeat you feel
homelinessLack of physical attractiveness
cozinessComfortable warm intimacy

hearth · homemade · grandmother · tradition · farmhouse · country · rustic · simple · humble · wholesome

sweet

syrup

Thick sugar liquid

mapleSap-yielding hardwood tree
honeyBees' viscous nectar product
molassesSyrup from cane processing

sugar · butter · jam · jelly · berries · fruit · sorghum · cinnamon · blueberries · compote

texture

crispy

Brittle and snapping

crunchyBreaking with sound
goldenBright yellow, or precious
friedCooked in hot fat

griddled · browned · crust · crackle · edges · charred · toasted · blistered · caramelized · lacy

savory

bacon

Cured smoked pork

cheeseFermented milk solid
jalapeñoMild-to-medium Mexican pepper
onionPungent layered bulb

chives · scallions · salsa · chili · crumbled · cracklings · buttermilk · lard · drippings · collards

Opposites

grain base

corncakesrice cakes

Puffed or pounded grain

white bread · buckwheat pancakes · wheat bread

Family

corncake

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Profile: Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G