Julie's Cornbread

This is a family recipe, tweaked a bit because my husband doesn't like overly sweet cornbread.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 9
• Yields: 1 9x9 pan

Ingredients

• 1  teaspoon bacon grease, to grease the pan
• 3⁄4 cup cornmeal
• 1 1⁄8 cups flour
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (optional)
• 1⁄3 cup  vegetable oil or 1⁄3 cup shortening
• 1  egg, beaten
• 1  cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 8x8 or 9x9 pyrex pan with bacon grease.
2. Mix dry ingredients. Cut in shortening.
3. Stir milk and egg into mixture just enough so that the ingredients are barely incorporated. Don't overmix.
4. Pour into greased 8x8 or 9x9 pyrex pan and bake at 375 degrees for 17-20 minutes or until nicely browned.