Grandma's Heartland Cornbread

Some recipes just taste like home. This cornbread is one of them — golden edges, a tender middle, and just enough sweetness.

Ingredients: 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup milk 2 eggs 1/3 cup melted butter

Steps: 1. Heat the oven to 400°F and grease an 8-inch pan. 2. Whisk the dry ingredients together in one bowl. 3. In another, whisk the milk, eggs, and melted butter. 4. Combine gently — a few lumps are fine; don't overmix. 5. Pour in and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Here's our safety splash, and it's a good one: while you've got the oven going, make it your monthly reminder to test your smoke detectors. Push the button on each one — it takes thirty seconds, and working detectors are the single most important thing standing between a small kitchen mishap and a real fire. Warm cornbread and peace of mind: not a bad combination.