Classic Cornbread Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1-3 tablespoons sugar (adjust to your taste)
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
3 tablespoons shortening (2 tablespoons for the batter, 1 tablespoon for greasing)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs.
Add the milk to the beaten eggs.
Stir in the salt, sugar (adjust the amount to your desired sweetness), and baking powder.
Melt 2 tablespoons of shortening and add it to the mixture. Mix well.
Gradually add the cornmeal, ensuring it's well incorporated into the batter.
Finally, add the all-purpose flour and continue mixing until you have a smooth batter.
Place a skillet or pan in the preheated oven with the remaining 1 tablespoon of shortening to melt.
Once the shortening has melted and the pan is hot, carefully remove it from the oven.
Pour the cornbread batter into the hot skillet or pan.
Place the skillet or pan back in the oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the skillet or pan from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Before serving, top the cornbread with a generous pat of butter for added flavor and richness.