Corn Bread with Corn Relish

Back in June, I posted a recipe for a corn relish that is delicious on chicken, fish, grilled shrimp, you name it. We've been through a couple of batches this summer, but I had a bit the left last week that I wanted to go ahead and use up. This recipe rode to the rescue. The final product is a wonderfully moist bread studded with the relish vegetables and spiked with yummy herbs and spices.

Corn Bread with Corn Relish
From Food and Wine magazine.

1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup stone-ground yellow or white cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups well-drained corn relish

Preheat the oven to 425°. Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over low heat and add 2 tablespoons of the butter.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the cornmeal, baking powder, sugar and salt. In a large glass measuring cup, melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter in a microwave oven. Whisk in the eggs and milk until blended. Add the liquid ingredients and the corn relish to the cornmeal mixture and stir with a spatula just until the batter is evenly moistened.

Scrape the batter into the hot skillet and spread it evenly. Bake in the center of the oven for about 35 minutes, until the corn bread is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the skillet to a rack and let the corn bread cool for about 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.