Bacon jalapeno herb cornbread

I have no idea what made me think of making cornbread on a 97 degree day. Cornbread is usually a winter comfort food for me but today when I saw the hot peppers in the grocery store my mind instantly went to cornbread.

And bacon.

I’m calling it destiny that there were exactly 3 strips of bacon left in the fridge on their last leg.

Tasty destiny.

Are these not the ugliest cutest peppers you’ve ever seen? I have no idea what kind they are, the Asian produce store simply labels them “hot peppers.” They’re not quite as hot as a jalapeno (which I found out after cutting a piece off, praying I wasn’t about to eat something equivalent to a scotch bonnet and popping it in my mouth) but, they definitely have a bit of kick in them. All minced up they make the cornbread pretty.

Minced peppers, crumbled bacon and chopped parsley make these hot, salty and fresh all at the same time.

Eat it with a big Greek salad and call it dinner. Have it for breakfast with some scrambled eggs. Or, enjoy it as a snack with a pat of butter. I promise it will be delicious either way.

Bacon jalapeno herb

cornbread

Makes 8-10 squares

• 1 cup yellow corn meal
• 1 cup AP unbleached flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp bacon grease
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 strips of bacon
• 1/4 cup minced hot peppers/jalapenos (I used half a jalapeno & 1.5 small hot peppers)
• handful of chopped parsley

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook bacon strips in skillet until crispy. Reserve bacon grease. Crumble/chop bacon into small pieces. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together. Add buttermilk, eggs, bacon grease, bacon, peppers & parsley and whisk to combine. Pour into 9 inch greased baking/casserole dish and bake for about 30 minutes until the top starts to lightly brown. Serve warm.

Tagged as: bacon, bread