Cracklin' Cornbread

Man O Man, talk about good eating, as a kid on hog killin day, mom rendered the fat and we had cracklin's galore.. Nothing better !!!

1/4 cup butter or Vegetable oil

2 cups self-rising cornmeal

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups buttermilk

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup cracklings*

Place butter in a 9-inch cast iron skillet, and heat in a 425 degree oven 4 minutes. Combine cornmeal and flour in a large bowl; make a well in the center of the mixture. Stir together eggs, buttermilk and cracklings; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Pour over melted butter in hot skillet. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes: 8 to 10 servings

Note: Cracklins are little pieces of pork fat, fatty meats, or ham skin which are left crisp and brown after the lard or fat has been rendered from them.

* 1 cup of cooked crumbled bacon ( 12 to 15 slices ) may be substituted for cracklings