Hoecakes, Johnnycakes, Call Them What You Want, Yakima Needs Them

I was in Nashville recently and ate at a restaurant where, instead of cornbread on my plate, I had these pancakes. They didn't quite look like typical pancakes or flapjacks. Taking a bite into them, they were awesome but quickly noticed that it was cornbread but in a pancake form. Why have I never thought of this until now?

Well, as it turns out, they've existed for years, just not in the Pacific Northwest.

Although this specific place simply called them 'cornbread' which you'll now understand why I was confused to get these pancakes instead of what I was expecting to either be a cornbread muffin or slice of cornbread if it was made in a cast iron skillet - I wouldn't have minded either way as I love any kind of cornbread, but this took it to a new level I never thought possible. In fact, I never thought of it in the first place.

I had to look them up and I've seen these refer to as Johnny cakes, journey cakes, Johnny bread, Shawnee cakes, spider cornbread and the hilarious hoecake (my personal favorite) it's the simple nature of making a cornbread-style batter and frying them on a griddle like you would any pancake. Super easy to make at home and goes great with everything. Especially all that amazing chili now that we're in fall season.

Next time you're looking for a new way to make something at home or impress the neighbors, ask them if they all want some hoecake. Just for the facial reaction alone at first but show up with a plate of these and impress everyone.