Dress Up Plain Cornbread

For the most part, my family enjoys cornbread.  There is something wonderful in it's simplicity and ability to put a smile on the children's face.  I can also snag cornbread mixes and cornmeal for a nice price when they are on sale. 

Money talks and when items are at bargain prices it whispers, "buy me" .

I have been known to pick up quite a few cornbread mixes and I have found ways to spice up a boring mix.  With family gatherings in the near future, you can use these ideas to make an easy addition to dress up the menu.  Here are just a few ideas:

• Sprinkle a tad of white sugar on the top-  this makes a sweet crust that the boys call "frost".

• Add a can of creamed corn to the mixed cornbread batter.  It may take longer to bake, but it's worth the extra time.  Refrigerate any leftovers.

• Add Tabasco sauce or a small can of chilies to the mix.  I prefer my bread sweet, but my neighbor introduced me to this kicked up version.

• Create peanut butter and jelly muffins.  The link and recipe can be found here.

• Sprinkle shredded cheese on the top.  Get creative and use pepper jack or cheddar.

• Use the batter as a topping to creamed veggies or chicken/turkey.  Bake in the oven until the bread is done. 

Do you have any other tips?