It’s no secret that I was a foodie in my prior life. I love food and until about three years ago I could eat whatever I want and not gain one single pound. Boy those were the days:)
Today I eat almost anything I want in moderation, then I run to the gym and work it off.
Anyway, so knowing that I love food, I’m always taking pics of my food and posting it for my friends to see. I’ve notice that recently people will take pics of their food and tag me in it on Facebook or send it to my phone.
Today my cousin sent a pic of some food he cooked, collards, lemon pepper fish, brown rice and hoe cake.
Right, hoe cake, which is basically like a corn bread patty.
Since this is not the first time he’s sent a meal that included a hoe cake, I said to him, “You love cooking hoe cakes.”
Then my inquisitive mind began to wonder, “Why are these called hoe cakes?”
I told him I was going to Google it, which I did. The answer I found is below, but first let me tell you what my grandma Annie Hardrick said.
I called her and asked why were they called hoe cakes and she didn’t really have an answer, but she told me how to cook them.
“Hoe, cakes are like cornbread, cooked on top of the stove in a skillet.You cook one side, then once it’s brown you flip it and cook the other side,” my grandma said.She continued, “It’s made with meal and water, but you can also make flap jacks, with flour and water.”Grandma said flap jacks are thin and hoe cakes thick. I remember when I was little my other grandma made flap jacks all the time and served them with thick cane syrup. Shout out to Gram in Alabama.
Okay this is what my Goggle search said. “The term hoecake first occurred in 1745, The origin of the name is the method of preparation, field hands often cooked it on a shovel or hoe held to an open flame. Hoes designed for cotton fields were large and flat with a hole for the long handle to slide through; the blade would be removed and placed over a fire much like a griddle.”
Other names are johnny cake, shawnee cake and of course the ever so popular pancake! 🙂
For a variety of hoe cake recipes simply Google it or ask any elder in your family for their recipe. Enjoy