Thursday
Apr212011
3 ingredient corn cake
April 21, 2011
Before I get to my latest food creation, I thought I would show you a little house teaser. Any guesses on what’s in this box? There are 8 boxes total, if that helps at all. ;)
So last night, I was frustrated that I couldn’t throw a piece of bread in the toaster to eat with my dinner. I’ve been avoiding gluten for the past few weeks, but sometimes it’s hard not to crave bread!
I needed something bread-like and fast! My frustrations led me to the following recipe, which made my taste buds quite happy. It’s similar to the cornbread muffin-cake and banana cornbread cake, that I came up with the other week. However, I wanted this more as a side and not a full meal. So what did I do?
I eliminated all but 3 ingredients. And it worked!
I absolutely love the flavor of masa harina. If you’ve ever had tamales, masa harina is typically used to make the dough-like corn filling. I could eat tamale filling for days! Masa actually means “dough,” and it definitely creates a dough-like texture in this bake. Masa harina is corn that has been cooked, then soaked in limewater, then ground into flour. Since it is first soaked, before being ground into flour, it is more easily digested than plain corn flour. I know a lot of people have problems digesting corn, but so far it hasn’t bothered my stomach.
I decided to make it in a fancy pie dish, because it’s always fun to make food fancy. I mixed the ingredients, greased this dish and then put it in the microwave.
Here it is, all cooked up.
I mean, how cute is the scalloped edge?? :)
I’ve made this twice already, savoring every last bite. Both times, I’ve topped it with butter + raw honey. It’s like a blank palette though! You could…
I like to keep things simple. In this case, very simple. The honey + corn flour flavors meld so well together and the slightly salty butter, provided the perfect contrast.
And the texture? Well, it was slightly amazing. I promise you! Thick, but fluffy + cake-like. Slightly polenta-like. Moist and doughy. Delicious all around.
Want a bite? Trust me you do!
3 Ingredient Corn-cake [water doesn’t count, right?]
*Corn flour will also work, as would fine ground cornmeal. However the cornmeal will slightly change the texture. Also, using either of these, will slightly change the flavor.
*If you don’t have millet, feel free to sub in oat, quinoa, or buckwheat flour. If you don’t have any of those, you can use 1/4c masa harina.
*I’m not sure how a flax-egg would work with this recipe. It would definitely affect the flavor.
*The dish I used was about 5” in diameter. If you use a smaller bowl, or coffee mug, you will have to cook it slightly longer.
Newest obsession. I could eat this with every meal.
And now a house update! Since I said I was working on organizing the living spaces, a few people asked to see photos. You ask, I answer!
Check out these hoarders photos from a few days ago. They make my stomach churn!
This got old, real fast. I finally have 95% of kitchen things, moved to the kitchen! The drawers + cabinets aren’t fully organized yet, but everything is contained in them.
The table is cleared and functioning as a desk. We were both extremely sick of doing computer work on the couch-bed. The table space leads to more productivity! One project, I’ll be tackling at some point, is staining this wood table. While it’s not totally my style, it’s 100% real wood, and we bought it on Craigslist for all of FOURTEEN dollars last year!
These are the last kitchen items that need to be moved. I still can’t get over how much storage space we have in such a small kitchen. It looks much bigger than it is! The dimensions are about 9.5’x 12’.
Ahhh, clear floor space!
Organized boxes.
Clean table, vacuumed floor.
so.much.better.
Oh. And one more thing.
I couldn’t possibly leave you hanging with that first teaser photo.
Is this a better clue? :) A huge thank you, to the generous DesignForLess, for supplying us with this gorgeous tile!
Night!
Ashley
p.s. don’t forget to enter the chia seed giveaway!
So last night, I was frustrated that I couldn’t throw a piece of bread in the toaster to eat with my dinner. I’ve been avoiding gluten for the past few weeks, but sometimes it’s hard not to crave bread!
I needed something bread-like and fast! My frustrations led me to the following recipe, which made my taste buds quite happy. It’s similar to the cornbread muffin-cake and banana cornbread cake, that I came up with the other week. However, I wanted this more as a side and not a full meal. So what did I do?
I eliminated all but 3 ingredients. And it worked!
I absolutely love the flavor of masa harina. If you’ve ever had tamales, masa harina is typically used to make the dough-like corn filling. I could eat tamale filling for days! Masa actually means “dough,” and it definitely creates a dough-like texture in this bake. Masa harina is corn that has been cooked, then soaked in limewater, then ground into flour. Since it is first soaked, before being ground into flour, it is more easily digested than plain corn flour. I know a lot of people have problems digesting corn, but so far it hasn’t bothered my stomach.
I decided to make it in a fancy pie dish, because it’s always fun to make food fancy. I mixed the ingredients, greased this dish and then put it in the microwave.
Here it is, all cooked up.
I mean, how cute is the scalloped edge?? :)
I’ve made this twice already, savoring every last bite. Both times, I’ve topped it with butter + raw honey. It’s like a blank palette though! You could…
- put nut butter on top
- top with honey or maple syrup
- top with salsa
- top with black beans + salsa
- make 2 + sandwich together with nut butter
- top with ice cream
- top with butter/Earth Balance + salt
- mash up and pour milk over top
- make as a side with chili
I like to keep things simple. In this case, very simple. The honey + corn flour flavors meld so well together and the slightly salty butter, provided the perfect contrast.
And the texture? Well, it was slightly amazing. I promise you! Thick, but fluffy + cake-like. Slightly polenta-like. Moist and doughy. Delicious all around.
Want a bite? Trust me you do!
3 Ingredient Corn-cake [water doesn’t count, right?]
- 1T millet flour [grind raw millet in a blender, until powdery]
- 3T masa harina*
- 1 egg
- 1/4c water
- Whisk egg and then whisk in all other ingredients.
- Grease a microwavable bowl and pour in the batter. [should be muffin batter consistency]
- Microwave for about 55sec - 1.25min. I only had to microwave for 1 minute to get mine to the perfect texture. After one minute, check to see if it’s still wet. If so, cook for 10sec increments until slightly firm.
*Corn flour will also work, as would fine ground cornmeal. However the cornmeal will slightly change the texture. Also, using either of these, will slightly change the flavor.
*If you don’t have millet, feel free to sub in oat, quinoa, or buckwheat flour. If you don’t have any of those, you can use 1/4c masa harina.
*I’m not sure how a flax-egg would work with this recipe. It would definitely affect the flavor.
*The dish I used was about 5” in diameter. If you use a smaller bowl, or coffee mug, you will have to cook it slightly longer.
Newest obsession. I could eat this with every meal.
And now a house update! Since I said I was working on organizing the living spaces, a few people asked to see photos. You ask, I answer!
Check out these hoarders photos from a few days ago. They make my stomach churn!
This got old, real fast. I finally have 95% of kitchen things, moved to the kitchen! The drawers + cabinets aren’t fully organized yet, but everything is contained in them.
The table is cleared and functioning as a desk. We were both extremely sick of doing computer work on the couch-bed. The table space leads to more productivity! One project, I’ll be tackling at some point, is staining this wood table. While it’s not totally my style, it’s 100% real wood, and we bought it on Craigslist for all of FOURTEEN dollars last year!
These are the last kitchen items that need to be moved. I still can’t get over how much storage space we have in such a small kitchen. It looks much bigger than it is! The dimensions are about 9.5’x 12’.
Ahhh, clear floor space!
Organized boxes.
Clean table, vacuumed floor.
so.much.better.
Oh. And one more thing.
I couldn’t possibly leave you hanging with that first teaser photo.
Is this a better clue? :) A huge thank you, to the generous DesignForLess, for supplying us with this gorgeous tile!
Night!
Ashley
p.s. don’t forget to enter the chia seed giveaway!
Reader Comments (60)
Are tthey photos in the boxes maybe? Like prints or something?
That corn cake looks soo freakin' good! I love the flavour of that kinda thing :)
I have to say this is a really really smart recipe. Also, I love BRM products!
Too funny, I made a modified version of your cornbread thing just today :) (well, yesterday technically ;) )
this version looks good too! I may have to try it out one of these days :)
<3
n
These cornbread cakes look fantastic!
Are you doing a tile backsplash??? We want to do that so bad in our kitchen but are holding off until summer. I can't wait to see what it is!
I want this for breakfast!
I thought the first picture was chocolate. YUM! But these tiles are even more yummy.. in a different way =)
Backsplash?! Pretty neat. Everything is looking SO much better!
Oh I love the tiles! That is going to look so good! I get the same way with toast, that's why I do savory waffles all the time! I love toast, so it works out perfectly!
I already know I'm going to love whatever you are doing with those tiles. And that cornbread cake looks fantastic!
That corn cake looks delicious!
At first I was going to guess picture frames, but is that your kitchen backsplash? Very pretty!
that's got to be the backsplash...it's so beautiful!
this looks delish! Im going to try this! Im a celiac, I have been since I was little, so i can completely relate to the just wanting to be able to throw a piece of bread in the toaster thing. It was so hard growing up making sure that my pb and j sammies never touched my best friends!
You had my heart when I saw... "3 Ingredient.." 3 ingredient anything is my kind of meal!
I love the backsplash idea! And corn cakes are my favorite side dish with any Mexican meal, making them simpler is so helpful!
I love the THREE ingredients! SO simple, but so genius! :D
good muffins, corn cakes, bread, etc. with butter and honey is SO comforting.
I foresee a little kitchen tile action going on....:)
BACKSPLASH for the kitchen?!
ohh those tiles look like a beautiful kitchen backsplash! :) they're gorgeous!
the corncake looks dough and delish and no water never counts neither does salt and pepper :)
I knew it was the backsplash! funnn!
This. Looks. Amazing. I was about to make your other microwave cornbread creation but THIS? With Masa Harina?! OMG amazing! I LOVE the filling of tamales, I'd rather have that than the actual other stuff IN the tamale (lol I wonder how I would order that...Just the corn mush, please!)
I love the versatility of this dish. Sweet or savory although I always wake up with a sweet tooth :D
haha I thought the first photo was twix bars!
I giggled at your hoarders comment. those shows scare me!
That corn cake looks so warm and comforting! Yum!
That backsplash is gonna look AMAZING!
Backsplash! I have got to try making that corn cake :)
I will have to give this 3 ingredient corn cake a try! I dont have a microwave though so it will have to go in the oven.
I knew it was your backsplash although at first it looked like those 100-calorie chocolate bars from TJs. That corn cake will be delicious topped with a black bean burger, nacho cheez and salsa, coincidentally my lunch today. I'm drooling at the thought even though I just finished eating!! Is it wrong to lick your plate? even at work? :)
Yum! I used your first cornbread bake as a side with chili beans, avocado, and pepitas! It was so, SO good and i will definitely be trying out this easier version. Try it with chili and avocado- you won't be sorry :)
I'm avoiding gluten, too, so another reason I love your blog *that* much more :)
Yay! Your backsplash is there. It's a very pretty blue :)
The cornbread/cake looks delicious. I love cornbread with butter and honey. It's the only way to eat it.
Can't wait to see your kitchen. It's been so fun to watch it progress
Love the tiles! Do you think I could make the cornbread cake with something other than millet flour? Maybe just whole wheat flour?
That tile is gorgeous I cant wait to see the finished product!
Three ingredients? Michael Pollan would approve. :) I have never bought masa, but I've always wanted to! I bet it would be great in that millet pudding.
Ooh is that for your backsplash? It looks gorgey =) For the record, I assumed that's what it was before I saw the last picture. Both of my parents are in the home building business, so I've been around that stuff a lot in my life.
You're good!! Most people thought the first photo was chocolate!
HAhaa...love that you're on a Pollan kick. :) You would love it and it would be FAB in that pudding!!!
I'm sure it would work. I listed a few other subs in the directions. You could also just use all masa harina.
Seriously...love love honey + butter!
You would love this!!!!
hahahaa...haven't bought 100 cal packs in years!
I lick my plate regularly!
I feel the same..soooo good!
Let me know if you try it out!
Hope you enjoy this!!!
hehe...yes, backsplash!
You are correct!
hehe..the last photo should give it away...glass tile backsplash!
You are such a genius!!! I totally just added masa harina to my shopping list. These little cakes look perfect!
Yuuuum. I'm making that corn cake for sure. I love masa harina. Being up here in Canada(or maybe just this tiny little town). I couldn't find it. And then just recently I found it. I opened the bag and just inhaled. Mmmmm. Then I mixed it with water to make tortillas and inhaled some more, haha. So good! Love the tile :)
Agghh!! I LOVE love love subway tiles. My absolute favorite and totally timeless (I think). Great choice! Love the color too :)