Lori Stephens of Hendersonville, Tenn., won $5,000 as the Grand Prize winner of the 2010 National Cornbread Cook-Off with her Bacon and Gorgonzola Cornbread Sliders with Chipotle Mayo recipe. The National Cornbread Cook-Off is held in conjunction with the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tenn., and is sponsored by Martha White and Lodge Cast Iron.
For the Sliders ...
Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
2 (6.5 oz.) packages Martha White® Yellow Cornbread Mix1/2 cup Martha White All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons chopped chives
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
For the Burgers ...
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium yellow onion, sliced into thin rings
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 large egg
1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
12 small slices cheddar cheese (1/2 ounce each)
For the Chipotle Mayo ...
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped with 1 teaspoon of adobo sauce
1. Heat oven to 400F. Spray 2 cast iron straight-sided muffin pans (6 cups each) with no-stick cooking spray. Stir together cornbread mix, flour, milk, sour cream and egg in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in chives, bacon and cheese. Fill prepared muffin pans 3/4 full. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. (Any remaining batter may be made into additional muffins.)
2. Melt butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions. Cook until onions are translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove onions and set aside.
3. Combine ground chuck, egg, bread crumbs, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl. Blend well. Divide into 12 equal portions. Pat out into thin burgers. Cook in skillet over medium to medium-high heat until done. Top each burger with slice of cheese.
4. Combine mayonnaise, chipotle pepper and adobo sauce. Slice cornbread to make buns. Spread thin layer of chipotle mayo on top and bottom. Place burger on bottom halves. Top with onions. Place top on burger. Makes 6 servings (2 sliders each)
~ Chef Wilkinson ~
