Crackling bread: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Bread flavored with cracklings}}

==About Crackling Bread==

{{Infobox prepared food

Crackling Bread is a Southern Cuisine which mainly consists cracklings and a type of bread, usually containing cornmeal. [[Cracklings]] are extremely similar to [[pork rinds]] and [[chicharrones]], and dish made of fried pork rinds. Another name for Cracklings is gratons or grattons, dubbed by the Cajuns. During times of slavery, servants would be given pork skin, which they would then deep-fry and incorporate into cornbread batter. Since those times, this rich food has become international. Many countries, including Italy, has had an interesting history corresponding with cornbread as well. Substitutes for the pork skin include raisins and candied peel.

| name = Crackling bread

| image = Pompe aux grattons unbroken.jpg

| caption = Pompe aux grattons, a type of crackling bread from central France

| alternate_name =

| country = [[United States]], [[France]]

| region = [[Southern United States]], [[Bourbonnais]]

| creator =

| course =

| type = [[Bread]]

| served =

| main_ingredient = [[Cornmeal]] or [[flour]], [[cracklings]]

| variations =

| calories =

| other =

}}

Bread flavored with [[cracklings]] is found in several cuisines:

==History==

As mentioned previously, servants in times of slavery would make due with what was at hand, such as pork skin or lard for flavoring food. Slaves were given mainly leftover scrapes and undesired meat from their masters' table. By obtaining weekly cornmeal rations from their masters, and lard from a slaughtered pig, slaves were able to create a hearty dessert.

* '''Crackling bread''', in the [[cuisine of the Southern United States]] is a [[cornbread]] incorporating cracklings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes|title=Recipes|website=Food Network}}</ref>

==To Kill A Mockingbird Reference==

* '''''Pompe aux grattons''''' or '''''brioche aux griaudes''''', in the [[French cuisine|cuisine of central France]], is a bread, [[tart]], or [[brioche]] incorporating cracklings. It is a specialty of the [[Allier|Bourbonnais]].<ref>François-Régis Gaudry, ''Let's Eat France'', {{isbn|1579658768}}, p. 382</ref>

In the book, [[To Kill A Mockingbird]], Crackling Bread is referred to when Calpurnia, an African American servant of the Finch family, bakes Crackling Bread for Scout Finch as an apology. "'Shut your eyes and open your mouth and I'll give you a surprise,' she said. It was not often that she make crackling bread, she said she never had time, but with both of us at school today has been an easy one for her. She knew I loved crackling bread." This goes to show to cuisine in the Southern United States is quite unique.

* ''Pan de [[chicharrones]]'', in the [[cuisine of Argentina]] and the [[cuisine of Uruguay]], is a wheat flour bread incorporating beef cracklings and [[tallow]].

==Ingredients And Instructions For Preparation==

Ingredients (From [[Foodnetwork]])

2 tablespoons pork or bacon grease

1 1/2 cups stone-ground cornmeal (white or yellow)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh corn kernels, cut from the cob with milk from the cob

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup pork cracklings or 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Butter, for garnish

Directions

Place 2 tablespoons of pork fat or bacon grease in a 9-inch cast iron skillet, place in oven, and preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

==In American literature==

Meanwhile, combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add corn kernels and milk, eggs, buttermilk, and cracklings and stir until well blended. Pour in hot skillet (preheated for 12 to 15 minutes) and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve warm with fresh butter.

Crackling bread is mentioned in the novel ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]''. It is the narrator Scout's favorite snack. Calpurnia, the family's cook, prepared it for Scout after her first day at school. "It was not often that she made crackling bread, she said she never had time, but with both of us at school today had been an easy one for her. She knew I loved crackling bread." Calpurnia and Scout had had an argument during lunch and to try to repair the bond between them she made crackling bread.<ref>"To Kill a Mockingbird", Harper Lee, Chapter 3</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{portal|Food}}

{{French cuisine}}

[[Category:Cuisine of the Southern United States]]

[[Category:Soul food]]

[[Category:Argentine cuisine]]

[[Category:American pork dishes]]

[[Category:French breads]]

{{bread-stub}}