I never had a hoecake, but I do have an old cast iron skillet in my kitchen. I found it at an antique store off a country road, already seasoned and sturdy as ever. So when this historic recipe came my way, we were ready to brown some Hagood hoecakes.
Built in 1845, the Hagood Mill is a historic landmark out in Pickens, not far from Greenville. The mill now stands as part of Hagood Mill Historic Site and Folklife Center, which hosts festivals every third Saturday of the month. Festivities include music, classes, vendors, and demos as the mill grinds grits, cornmeal, and flour.
The hoecake recipe using cornmeal from Hagood Mill calls for four ingredients and is a breeze to prepare. After dropping the patties into my skillet, I patiently waited for them to brown. The cakes were surprisingly delicious, crisp, and tender—the Southern staple perfectly complemented homemade veggie soup.
Appalachian Hoecakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 2 cups Hagood Mill cornmeal
- 2 cups boiling water
Instructions
- Mix salt, egg, and cornmeal together. Add boiling water and stir. Let it cool slightly and form into patties.
- Heat 2 Tbsp of oil or bacon grease in a skillet at medium-high heat.
- Plop patties into pan.
- Brown on both sides, drain, and serve.
At Hagood Mill Historic Site and Folklife Center, visitors can take hearth cooking, blacksmithing, woodworking, gardening, canning, plant medicine, and leathercraft classes. The site is open daily and includes walking trails, a petroglyph site, disc golf, and camping. Other opportunities include Adult Camp Hagood, and Camp Hagood is available to rising 3rd–9th graders.
