(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Hot water cornbread is an old-fashioned Southern recipe that's a staple at dinner. Rather than baking cornbread in a pan, the batter is shaped into cakes and fried in a skillet. The hot fat can be shortening or vegetable oil, but bacon drippings add a very nice flavor.

Hot water cornbread is also known as corn pone, hoecakes, or corn dodgers. Some people use a self-rising cornbread mix to make the corn cakes, and some add a small amount of flour or sugar. This version is very basic. No flour, no baking powder—just cornmeal, water, and salt. It cooks up in about half the time of regular cornbread, so it's a perfect last-minute addition to any meal. While the recipe makes just four cakes, it's easy to double or triple it if you need more.

Serve the cornbread cakes with maple syrup or cane syrup. They're great with sorghum molasses as well and work wonderfully as a side bread with chili or beans.