Basic White Buttermilk Bread for Zojirushi
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons yeast
Measure milk, butter, sugar, salt and flur into baking pan. Sprinkle yeast in center of flour. Insert pan securely into baking unit and close lid. Select BASIC WHITE BREAD setting. Select MEDIUM baking degree setting. Press START. The COMPLETE light will flash when bread is done. Using hotpads, remove pan from unit and pull out kneading paddle. Turn out onto cooling rack and cool before slicing.

Banana Pineapple Bread
1 (8oz) can crushed pineapple with juice
3 bananas, mashed
3 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
sprinkle of allspice
Using my KitchenAid mixer*:
Place oil and sugar in mixer bowl. Attach the flat beater. Turn to Speed 6 and beat about 1 minute. Stop and scrape bowl. Continue on speed 6 about 1 minute longer. Add eggs. Turn to Speed 4 and beat 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl, Add buttermilk and vanilla, turn to Speed 6 and beat 1 1/2 minutes more.
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine the bananas and pineapple in another bowl. To the large mixer bowl add 1/2 of the flour mixture and 1/2 of the banana/pineapple mixture. Using Stir speed, mix about 30 seconds. Add the remaining four and banana/pineapple mixture and beat for another 30 seconds.
Pour into loaf pans (greased on the bottom) and bake at 350° for about 1 1/2 hours. Cool 5 minutes then remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
*Instructions for hand mixing:
Blend ingredients in large bowl until completely moistened. Pour into pans and bake as directed above.

Buttermilk Cornbread
1/4 pound butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 375º. Grease an 8 inch cast iron skillet. Melt butter in skillet. Pour butter into mixing bowl. Return skillet to oven to keep hot. Add the sugar to the butter in the mixing bowl and mix well. Quickly add eggs to butter and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into bowl. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the hot skillet. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

Cast Iron Skillet Seasoning
1. TO PREPARE FOR SEASONING (and burning off old cure): First, scrub any loose rust off. I even took an SOS pad to it. Dry it off. Put in in your oven (do not put grease on it at this time) and run the self-clean cycle. You will probably have some smoke, so turn on the vents. Let it cool completely. When cool, brush off any remaining residue and scrub any left over stubborn spots with an SOS pad again.
2. TO SEASON: Preheat oven to 500º. Using your fingers or a kitchen towel, smear solid shortening over every surface and into every nook and cranny. (Important note here...do not use anything but solid shortening here, ie Crisco. The use of spray oils or vegetable oil at any point in the curing of the skillet is said to leave a sticky, brown, uneven cure.) You want this coating to be very thin. Put the skillet upside down on a rack in the middle of the oven. Put another rack directly under it with a piece of aluminum foil to catch the oil drippings. Let it bake for 2 hours. You may need the vent again. Now, let the skillet completely cool in the oven before moving it. The long cool down is essential. You should repeat these instructions in #2 one more time before actually using the skillet.
3. GENERAL CARE:
~Do not wash with soap after skillet is properly seasoned.
~Usually a rinse with hot water is all that is needed.
~For really caked on/burnt on food, put a little pure canola oil in the skillet. Pour Kosher salt into the pan to create a paste and use a clean sponge to scrub the burnt on food. The salt works as a scouring agent, and washes out easily. Wipe out the pan, apply a thin coating of shortening, and then wipe it off, and the piece is ready to be stored.
~Always dry the skillet well before storing.

Pecan Pralines
Makes About 4 Cups
2 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter
4 to 4 1/2 cups pecan halves
In large (at least 6-quart) heavy saucepan, cook sugar, buttermilk, and soda on medium-high heat to soft-ball candy stage. (Syrup has reached the soft-ball stage at 234 to 240 degrees. When a small quantity is dropped in ice water, it forms a ball that keeps its shape, but when removed from the water, it flattens out by itself). Stir frequently to prevent burning. As candy cooks, it will turn golden brown. Remove from heat, and stir butter in . Add pecans, and stir to coat all nuts. Cover counter with wax paper, and pour pecans onto it. Immediately separate pecans. Let cool. Note: Works best when made on a day with low humidity.