I am one of the lucky few who can boast not one, but two firefighters in my family. My father-in-law is a retired firefighter and my brother-in-law is a captain with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, Station 4.
I am proud of them for choosing a career that requires so much courage and sacrifice; they are true heroes. Beyond my appreciation for their heroism, I also love their cooking stories. My favorite are the ones about what they cook at the firehouse.
I'm intrigued by the novelty of feeding a group of hungry firefighters, but I also love the “anything goes” recipes they come up with to feed the insatiable crew. If it requires canned and boxed food, all the better.
I've heard about their big pots of chili and stews made with sliced hot dogs, cream of broccoli soup, shredded cheese and potato croquettes. During a recent conversation with my brother-in-law, I learned about the unique way his firehouse makes cornbread.you need a boxed corn muffin mix and a boxed cake mix. I knew I had to try it and I was not disappointed.
Simple recipes / Sara Haas
How to Make Firehouse Cornbread
To make Firehouse 4 Cornbread, you will need one 8.5-ounce box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix and one 13.25-ounce box of Yellow Cake Mix, along with the ingredients listed on the packages (eggs, milk, water, and oil).
Place a large cast-iron skillet (11 or 12 inches) on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. While the oven preheats, whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl and the wet ingredients in a separate, smaller bowl.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and add a tablespoon or two of butter. Melt it and swirl it around in the skillet to coat the bottom and sides, then add the batter. Bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
Simple recipes / Sara Haas
How to Serve Firehouse Cornbread
My brother-in-law told me that maple syrup, butter, and honey are the most common toppings at the firehouse. Cornbread is primarily a cake and therefore falls more into the “dessert” category, but it is often enjoyed as an accompaniment to chili and anything grilled.
The texture of this cornbread is softer and chewier than regular cornbread, and I love how tender and moist it is. It was sweet, sure, but paired with something spicy, I can see how delicious it would be. My family enjoyed it as well, especially when I served it with tangy barbecue pulled pork. This is a win for the firefighters and I highly recommend giving it a try.
