Spoonbread

Ingredients

• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup white or yellow corn meal
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ⅛–1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1 cup minced scallions
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 eggs, separated
• ⅓ cup grated cheese, mild or sharp to taste (if used, reduce salt)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. Thickly coat 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) baking pan with cooking spray.
3. Beat egg whites until stiff, then set aside.
4. Heat milk in medium saucepan over medium heat until just barely bubbling at the edges.
5. Reduce heat and whisk while slowly adding cornmeal.
6. Whisk constantly over low heat for 5 minutes.
7. Take off heat and stir in black pepper, red pepper flakes, salt, and scallions.
8. Stir in egg yolks and cheese.
9. Fold in whipped egg whites.
10. Pour into pan.
11. Bake about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.