Rosie Makes A Cornbread Salad.

How about a nice, savory cornbread parfait?

You could make it in individual glasses.

Or a big trifle bowl.

Or you could make a plated salad.

Start out with cornbread,

add a bunch of salad bar items,

and top it off with a buttermilk and fresh herb dressing.

Start the salad off with your best cornbread.

I'm not giving you a recipe for cornbread.

It's sort of like cole slaw and potato salad.

Everybody's got their own recipe.

However, I will offer some suggestions.

I use a cast iron pan for my cornbread.

Pour the batter in and let it cook on the stove top

on medium heat for about 7 minutes to give it a nice crust.

Then put it in the oven to bake.

Also, for a bit of tang,

I like to use buttermilk instead of regular milk.

For more corn flavor,

 add in corn kernels, either from a can or off the cob.

And I like toppings.

Before baking, add on a few slices of tomato and onion, 

jalapeño, if you like,

sprinkle with some cumin,

then add grated cheddar cheese.

After baking the cornbread, let it rest a bit.

When you're ready to build your salad,

cut the bread into cubes and lightly toast.

For your salad layers, use your imagination.

Pick and choose.

Here are some suggestions:

diced tomatoes

chopped red onion or Vidalia onion

diced sweet bell peppers (assorted colors for the pretty)

corn kernels 

diced cucumber

kidney beans or black beans

crumbled bacon

grated cheddar cheese

chopped basil leaves

Rosie Note:  For the beans, I always use dried, not canned.
It is not necessary to soak dried beans overnight.
The reason for soaking overnight is simply to cut back on the cooking time.
Am I the only one who sees the irony in that?
When I want beans I want them now, not tomorrow.
So here's a tip: 
To hasten your cooking time for beans,
add a little baking soda to the cooking water -
maybe a  teaspoon per cup of beans.
The alkalinity breaks down the pectin,
causing the beans to soften and cook much quicker.
Simmer your beans until tender, then rinse.

Assemble your layered salad

and pour a fresh herb and buttermilk dressing over top.

Rosie's Herb and Buttermilk Dressing

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup sour cream

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 TB lemon juice

1 tsp cider vinegar

1 tsp Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce

kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 TB chopped fresh dill

1 TB chopped fresh parsley

1 TB chopped fresh chives

Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

'

Enjoy!