We all have our insecurities. Since I pay money to rent this space on the internet, I’m going to tell you all about mine. Lucky you!
I become insecure when I learn about a classic Southern dish of which I've never heard. My blood rushes to my face, my palms clam up, and I try to shrug it off but can't.
I feel like my entire upbringing is called into question when I learn that fellow Southerners have been enjoying a certain dish without me. I doubt my worth as a Southern woman.
This is one of the many reasons I’m considering a ‘made in Texas’ tattoo in a prominent place on my body. (Don’t gasp, Dad, I’m 29 and can do these sorts of things now!)
When I found out about the Southern dessert Mud Hens from my Alabama friend Christy, I rushed home to make them. And now I talk about them at parties like I've always had them and anyone who's never had a mud hen is deranged. True story.
I’m going to chalk it up to the fact that the South has so many great recipes that a few slip through the cracks every now and then.
Sally Lunn bread is one of those recipes that fell through the cracks.
This bread is soft like a quick bread and has the yeasty flavors reminiscent of beer bread and brioche. Also: no kneading required. Consider me swooned.
Please, for the love of all the things, don't leave me comments telling me that you've always known about Sally Lunn bread, and I'm clearly deranged and raised by ill-fit parents since my upbringing did not include it. My self confidence just can't handle it right now. I think I'll drown my sorrows in some pumpkin spice oatmeal cookies.
I made Sally Lunn bread the same day I found out about it. And in my great big rush, I didn't scale it down for two. The original plan was to scale it down for two. Then, I tasted it. We discovered a full-size bundt pan does indeed serve two when it comes to this rich bread. This is almost how I felt when I made my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, but we quickly cut it in half before sharing--just for you.
I don't want to jump ahead of the game here, but I want to say that recipes like this are the reason that we are only considering cities south of the Mason-Dixon for our upcoming move. One bite of this bread and you'll understand why. If you love old fashioned recipes, you should try my apple fritters.
THANK YOU for all of your kind wishes on our news that we're moving. I couldn't do this without y'all. Seriously. XO
This bread is soft like a quick bread and has the yeasty flavors reminiscent of beer bread and brioche. Also: no kneading required. Recipe from Southern Living, October 2013 issue.Sally Dunn Bread
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 323Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 309mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 8g
Tieghan says
Whoa! I have never heard of this bread, but the look and sound of it our amazing! I love making homemade bread so this is going to happen!
Julie says
I've never had Sally Lunn bread, and I don't have a recipe from Ma-Ma for it either. I don't know if that makes you feel better or not. I also don't know about Mud Hens. I'm going to assume that this is all regional stuff. I would move south of the Mason-Dixon line, too. Just don't write about how warm it is in winter, ok?
Christina says
Yes, that definitely makes me feel better that your Mississippi Ma-Ma doesn't have a recipe for it. Phew. Southern card not revoked! ;)
Erin | The LawStudent'sWifen says
I have only heard of it vaguely, and if you told me that you were born with a slice of it in your hand, I'd totally believe you. So just go with that from now on ;-)
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Wow, I never knew Sally Lunn Bread was popular in the South! Growing up in Michigan, Sally Lunn Buns and Bread were baked and enjoyed. It is an English bread. Sally Lunn Bread must be like how Kolaches are known in the Northern parts of the U.S., but Texans sort of adopted them based on their incredible popularity with their festivals. So interesting! Thanks for sharing, Christina!
Christina says
I think you're exactly right, Stacy! This bread is as good as kolaches, so we claim it! :)
Erika says
Well I'd say you did well here my southern friend... Not everyone knows about Sally Lunn Bread.. My grandma swears it ain't southern but it's so good it has to be.. :)
Christina says
I like the way your grandma thinks! :)
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
I have never heard of Sally Lunn bread OR Mud Hens and I'm Southern. Going to have to call my mom right now! And then start baking. :)
Gayle says
If it eases your Southern mind at all, Sally Lunn bread is more of a colonial thing than a Southern thing you missed out on. They have a recipe in Olde English they supposedly bake it from in Colonial Williamsburg and some people say it was George Washington's favorite breakfast treat (though he was a Virginian, so I guess that's still Southern). There's a version called Sally Lunn Buns in UK, too, and a French version called solilemmes.
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says
OMG, I know that feeling SO well. And I just had it over mud hens, because I've never in my life heard of those. I have the post open in a second tab to read after I leave this comment.
Secondly, true story, the first time I had Sally Lunn bread was in Philadelphia, at the city's oldest restaurant - so I had NO idea that this is considered a Southern thing. Maybe some Southerners are claiming it, not realizing that it's actually a French/English creation? Origins actually seem to be from Bath, England. I remember looking that up after the first time I had it, because I too fell in love. And you're absolutely right - a whole bundt cake is definitely a 2 person quantity when it comes to this stuff.
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) says
I've never heard of this bread, but any Southern food we've tried, we've loved!! I call Christopher "my southern gentleman", because after visiting New Orleans, we realized we belong there, and he's convinced he should have been born there :-) We're excited to visit other parts of the southern US.
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
I dont know much about South but this bread sounds amazingly good. I am so happy you guys are narrowing down your choices for moving - cant wait for more <3