Cornmeal Mush

One way our ancestors used cornmeal-was to make mush. Folks think of cornmeal mush as a breakfast food comparable to grits, however in Paps family it was often eaten for supper as well.

Cornmeal mush was an inexpensive food to make (actually it still is). We've already discussed what an important crop corn was-most folks had cornmeal on hand and they for sure had the other main ingredient-which is water.

The Deer Hunter's Aunt Wanda still cooks cornmeal mush. She said she's liked it since she was a little girl-cornmeal mush is a comfort food for her as it reminds her of her childhood. Last time I was at her house she made mush for breakfast, it was very good.

Cornmeal mush is easy to make-anyone who's made grits already has it down pat. Aunt Wanda said in the old days sometimes folks would sift the cornmeal to get the bigger pieces of meal out-of course this was during the time when everyone's cornmeal came from a gristmill and was a coarser texture-that isn't a problem with today's store bought cornmeal.

To make cornmeal mush:

• Bring 2 cups of water to a boil
• Add a pinch of salt
• Pour 1 cup of cornmeal into the boiling water while stirring the mixture
• Continue cooking until thick
• You can add butter, sugar, syrup or whatever pleases you to the mush

Pap's mother often cooked cornmeal mush and then poured it into a container to set up. She then sliced the firm mush to fry it for supper. Pap said it was sorta like pancakes as they would pour syrup over the fried mush. (in those days sugar cane syrup was what most folks had in this area of Appalachia)

Ever had cornmeal mush?

Tipper

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Comments

[Marie]

I never tried it, although I've done polenta and corn tortillas with Masa -- I really want to try this with butter. We are off corn right now, catching up on reading your blog is killing me.

[Carolyn A.]

I've never had cornmeal mush, but I've had cornmeal cakes. Grandmom used to make them for Grandpop, and when we visited we had them too. She put homemade jam on ours and he had maple syrup on his. I liked the crunchiness from them being fried and from the cornmeal itself. I'll have to try the mush sometime and see what I've missed. xxoo

[Matthew Burns]

I love cornmeal mush. Ain't nothing better than mush on a cold day. I make it quite often here in the winter months; often for breakfast or for a snack. we always had mush when I was a kid, I remember Grandmaw Mary would tell us kids to eat our mush, it'd make us grow. She'd then point out that we fatten our piglets on cornmeal, so it'd work for kids too. Grandmaw was one of the old folks who equated a fat kid with a healthy kid. she's always loved my size, because as she put it, "I was fatter than a little toad."

Yes, I ever had to wear Toughskin "Husky" pants, if that gives you any indication!!lol.

My mother-in-law does something with mush that I hadn't heard of until marrying Shirley. She takes leftover mush, once it gets cold and gets real thick. She then patties it out and fries it in a little bit of butter until it gets crispy edges. It's good that way, and yet another way to prevent throwing away food.

I guess I'll shut up now, and go make me some "mursh". I might even try to find some adult sized Toughskin blue jeans,lol.

[winnie]

Tipper the pic is the Miller home place@georgie branch candler,n.c.pictured left to right
Ruth Miller Stines(my mother)
Pa Miller(Ben)my grandfather
Ma Miller(Rosa Bell Smathers Miller(my grandmother)she is holding Lock Miller(my uncle)
Nettie Miller Stamey(my aunt)
Grace Miller Hall(my aunt)
Eugene Miller(my uncle)
they had 3 more children who wre not yet born. They also had 2 children that had died at age2&1

[Miss Cindy]

Tipper, I don't like cornmeal mush or grits for that matter. I didn't grow up eating them so I guess I never got used to them.
After I was grown I heard of cornmeal mush and decided to try it...that is when I learned that I don;t like it.
I also heard of Scrapple. It took me a while to find a recipe but I finally did. Scrapple is the corn meal mush cooked with pork scraps in it. Then let it set up and slice and fry it. I'm afraid I didn't like that either. It was used in place of a breakfast meat like bacon or sausage. Scrapple was a way to use the scrap meat from hog killing. Folks used everything from the pig.
As an aside, a few years ago I met a woman who made scrapple with oatmeal and pork. I found it to be wuite tasty.

[Dean]

We have a fall festival for it here in Richfield, NC. But is called cush-cush; which is a cajun description but there is nothing cajun about Richfield.
http://www.grouprecipes.com/10944/cush-cush.html
I guess it is tough for a town of less than 400 to come up with a theme for a fall festival when all the edible food products are already taken.

[Valerie Boivin]

O we love cornmeal mush. My husband isn't from this area and really loves the food I grew up on. I think I'll make some mush in the morning!

[Terry]

Yummmm, Laripin good I tell you! I enjoy anything corn. My son and I made mush awhile back while visiting on the phone. He called to get the recipe and it ended up in a contest to see who got the first bite, lol. He won but cheated and let his set up in the freezer. The first time I fried it, was almost the last time. It stuck to the pan so bad. Then I dredged it lightly in flour and it did'nt stick. Yea!
Thanks Tipper for the reminder.

[Farm Chick Paula]

Mmmm... sounds good Tipper! I haven't had it in years, but I remember my Grandmother used to make it.

[Gloria]

My mom fixed mush, we ate it hot, in a bowl with sugar and milk like cream of wheat. I loved it, but have not had it since. I have never had it fried, but that sounds good. We grew up poor but my mom always had good, healthy food on the table.

[wkf]

Hey Tipper!
I will be trying this! The setting up and frying it sounds awesome. But it got me thinking about something my mom talks about. Her grandmother had a maid who would make grits bread. Ever heard of it? Mom said it was kind of sweet. I have scanned old cook books for years looking for a recipe.

[Pappy]

Yes. My mother used to make corn meal pan cakes into which she mixed a can of sweet corn. We ate these fritters with syrup. I may have to make some soon. I've eaten left over mush fried too. Pappy

[Fishing Guy]

Tipper: This is not something which I enjoyed. I like corn a lot but this is one type I can pass on.

[warren]

My Dad used to make that when we were kids...I do not like it at all...which is why I think he made it lol!

[Annie]

I love everything to do with corn. We, too, mix the leftover mush with leftover fried bacon, sausage - whatever - and pour it into a loaf pan to fry next time round. By the way, stone ground cornmeal is available (at a cost) at health food stores. Now there's only the two of us, I sometimes grind a cup or so on an old hand grinder - love the gritty taste.

[Jenny-Jenny]

Sounds really good. My kids might be in for a new breakfast experience!

[Mary]

Tipper,

I've never tasted cornmeal mush, but just may give it a try. I enjoy the comfort foods of those days. I still eat oatmeal, cream of wheat and have had grits on occasion, though it wasn't something cooked by my mother or grandmother. I actually had never had grits until the late 70s when I visited the southern US. I do like them though.

Interesting post and I learned something from you today. Wishing you a great week.

Blessings,
Mary

[Cathy ~Tadpoles and Teacups]

I've never tried it but it sounds yummy.

[Julie at Elisharose]

No, I have never had cornmeal mush. I like grits though, so if they are kin, I'd probably like it. I wish it had a different name though. "Mush" isn't too appetizing.

[Granny Sue]

I used to make cornmeal mush all the time, Tipper. It was so good, fried in bacon grease and topped with syrup, or used to dip the yellow out of over-easy eggs. I would cook it as you say above, then turn it into a loaf pan to cool and gel. When it was good and stiff, I'd slice and fry it.

I was at a restaurant recentlt that offered it. I had to have it and it was so good. I will be making it again soon, although the bacon grease may have to go.

[GrannyPam]

We make mush, but with some sausage or leftover pork. Then put it into a bread pan and in the fridge. When ready to eat, slice it and fry it in till it is a little brown. My mouth is watering thinking about it.

[Patty Hall]

Oh. My. Goodness!! I grew up eating cornmeal mush. As you can probly tell, it is one of my favorite comfort foods. Love it with butter and sugar. lol! I have to giggle when I hear people talk about 'polenta'-like its some kinda gourmet food. I havent' had cornmeal mush in a long time, Tipper, now you got me wanting some.
Someone mentioned hominy-I love hominy also. Fry some bacon or fatback an then fry the hominy in it. Yum!! Yum!!

[Will Dixon]

Although I was raised in Oregon my folks grew up in Oklahoma farm country. Ma would mix together cornmeal mush and chopped up fried pork sausage, then pour into a greased bread pan. After chilling in refrigerator over night we would slice and fry for breakfast. Real maple syrup was my favorite topping. Mighty tasty with fresh eggs!

[petra michelle]

I've never had it, Tipper! The idea of making pancakes is brilliant because that pretty much is a pancake recipe!

And why eat it only during hard times? It's a perfectly healthy and simple (the operative word in this woman's life) food!

One day I'm going to try it, and let you know what I think, Tipper? A little butter and syrup, sounds great! :))

[Mary]

I love cornmeal mush. My husband likes it with syrup, I like it without. I have never had it homemade. It sounds terrific!

Have a beautiful Sunday!