1 cup stone-ground white corn meal 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon sugar 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup minced onion, peppers, etc. (optional) Fat for deep frying SAFE METHOD: Preheat deep fat fryer to 375 degrees F. Combine dry ingredients. Beat together egg and milk, add to dry ingredients, stir until smooth. Blend in onion, etc. Drop by teaspoonfuls into deep fat, keeping batter stirred. Fry until golden brown, lift out with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
ADVENTUROUS METHOD: 1 1/2 cup white corn meal 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg, well-beaten 3/4 cup milk Small onion minced, peppers, etc. (optional) Fat for deep frying. Put generous amount of fat into skillet and bring to heat.
Mix (sift) corn meal, flour, baking powder and salt. Mix egg, milk and onion (generally used with fish), etc., in a bowl. Combine with dry ingredients and drop with a spoon into hot fat in a cast iron skillet. When hush puppies are crisp and golden (about one minute), lift from fat with slotted spoon and drain on paper toweling.
The clumsy or careless can start a fire in the pan easily; have a screen to put over the pan to douse the flames. Burning grease may catch the cabin on fire; this is why you see so many naked chimney stacks in the South.
All fats from cooking are poured into a can or small pail on the back of the range top, to be used in future cooking adventures. Bacon drippings are especially prized. The amount of fat wanted is scooped out and put in the skillet, etc. and heated. The pail may stay in use there for generations, or until the house burns down. Do not add grease in which fish have been fried unless you particularly like the smell and taste of rotted fish or wish to get room and board in the nearest hospital.