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Two Peas and Their Pod: The Pioneer Woman Cooks and Skillet Cornbread

Friday, November 06, 2009

The Pioneer Woman Cooks and Skillet Cornbread



The world famous Pioneer Woman, Ree Drumond, was in Utah this week to promote her new cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Ree's blog is extremely popular, she has millions of fans. She is loved for her recipes, sense of humor, stellar photography, down to earth personality, beauty, and stories. (I could go on and on, but you all know she is amazing.)

I was fortunate enough to hear Ree speak at the Blogher Food Conference in San Francisco. She was one of the main presenters and I loved hearing about her life and blogging experiences. I even got to meet her after one of the sessions.
Gaby and I went up to say hi and she was so sweet to us. So when I heard she was coming to Utah, I knew I couldn't miss out.

Ree was busy while she was in Utah. Everyone wanted a piece of her:) I watched her
live cooking segment on Studio 5, the same show I made my banana cinnamon cake on a few months ago. She showcased her flat apple pie. Of course she was stunning and the pie looked amazing! Can't wait to make this one.

That night I attended the book signing with a few of my favorite Utah food blogging friends,
Food Finery, Barbara Bakes, The Table Runner, and Vintage Mixer. We knew it was going to be a zoo, so we got there super early. The Table Runner was the first one in line, yahoo!

We had 3 hours to kill until The Pioneer Woman was supposed to speak so we ordered some food from Mazza and had a little picnic. We split vegetarian grape leaves, hummus, baba ganooj, and pita bread. It was quite tasty! Thanks Barbara for providing the blanket:)




While we were waiting in line we met some new friends. One of the girls behind us even was a regular reader of my blog. How fun!



I couldn't believe the massive amount of people that showed up. The line was neverending! There were people everywhere with cookbooks in there hands. You could feel the energy. We were finally let inside and we got front row seats.


When The Pioneer Woman arrived with Missy and her mother-in-law the room exploded with applause and loud cheers. The room was packed to the max! Ree spoke to the group and answered questions from the audience. She talked for about 20 minutes. A few of the highlights: she did her Ethel Merman impression, talked about wearing "spanks," and of course told a few funny ranch stories.




We were the first ones to get our books signed. I am so glad we got the golden A tickets. Ree was so nice and posed for a few photos. We were also able to chat for a few minutes. She remembered me from Blogher Food and even talked about a few of my tweets:) She said she loves Utah and wants to come back. I really hope she does.



When we left the bookstore the crowds were even thicker. There were people everywhere. I am glad Utah showed Ree how much we love her!



Now onto the book. I love it! I got it last week and haven't had time to make very many recipes, but I have enjoyed reading the stories and looking at the amazing photography. You can tell each page was crafted with love. The book reads like a family journal. Ree includes photos and stories about her family, ranch animals, friends, and recipes. Even Josh picked it up and commented on the pictures and pointed out a few recipes he wants to try-the pulled pork is at the top of the list:)

I did make Ree's skillet cornbread and it is fabulous. It took me five minutes to whip up. I don't have a skillet, gasp!, so I made it in a round cake pan. This is the easiest cornbread I have ever made and everyone loved it.



Hop on over to
What's Gaby Cooking for another terrific recipe from The Pioneer Woman. Our goal is to go to the ranch someday:)



Skillet Cornbread

Recipe from
The Pioneer Woman Cooks

(Printable Recipe)

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. shortening

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt and baking powder & whisk together.
Measure buttermilk and milk in a measuring cup. Stir in the egg with a fork. Add baking soda and stir. Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir with a fork just until combined.

In a small bowl, melt 1/4 cup shortening in the microwave. Slowly add melted shortening to the batter, stirring just until combined. In an iron skillet over high heat, melt the remaining 2 Tbsp. shortening. Pour the batter into the hot skillet and spread to even out the surface. Cook on the stovetop for about a minute, then bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. The edges should be crispy.

*NOTE* I don't have a cast iron skillet, so I just sprayed a 9 inch round cake pan and baked the cornbread in the oven. I didn't melt the 2 T. of shortening or cook it on the stove. Those were my only changes. I baked it for 20 minutes.

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75 Comments:

Blogger RecipeGirl said...

Yippee! Sounds like it was a fun time :)

6:07 AM  
Blogger LizNoVeggieGirl said...

SO envious that you met Ree!! I love her site and recipes :)

6:10 AM  
Anonymous Jessica said...

How exciting!! I wish she was coming close to me! The cornbread looks great. I want to try the sheetcake first!

6:10 AM  
Blogger Meghan said...

I recently subscribed to the Pioneer Woman's blog because I keep hearing how great it (and she) is! That's so fun you got to meet her, twice! This cornbread looks delicious and I love that it's quick to make :)

6:16 AM  
Blogger Gaby said...

looks delicious!!!!! Wish you were coming with me this weekend! xox

6:31 AM  
Blogger Aimée said...

Such fun! Lucky you.

6:35 AM  
Blogger Michele said...

I wish Ree was coming to New Jersey! I love her blog and her cookbook is on my Christmas list! The cornbread looks delicious!

6:49 AM  
Blogger Barbara Bakes said...

Looks like perfect corn bread! It was such a fun evening! Thanks for including me!

7:02 AM  
Anonymous Michelle N said...

I have never made her cornbread but have tried many other recipes and they haven't failed me! They are all so great. Her book is amazing, I love it. I'm hoping to meet her when she comes to Houston in December! Sounds like you and your fellow Utah bloggers had a great time!

7:07 AM  
Blogger Ria Mathew said...

I am so envious! :)

7:13 AM  
Blogger Tracy said...

I'm so jealous!! ;-) Sounds like you had a great time!

7:17 AM  
Blogger What's for Supper? said...

I have to get this cookbook. How lucky that you got to have yours signed!!

7:18 AM  
Blogger Laura said...

I would have loved to go, but I ended up getting a migraine. My migraines are nasty! SO jealous, but at least I got to see here on Studio 5 and GTU.

7:20 AM  
Blogger Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

That is so great! Ree has wonderful recipes and blog!

That cornbread looks delicious!

Cheers,

Rosa

7:37 AM  
Blogger grace said...

hummus and cornbread, two of my favorite things. i'm glad you got the opportunity to meet ree and had a fun time doing so. :)

7:53 AM  
Blogger La Bella Cooks said...

Oh my goodness....look at all those people! Wow, it was less crowded when I saw Giada in San Francisco! Good for Ree. I am happy to hear (and see) you had a fantastic time and enjoyed the evening. Mind sending some cornbread my way? Excellent post and photos, Maria!

8:01 AM  
Blogger Kristen T said...

I didn't get a chance to go meet Ree but I love her cookbook! One of the first recipes I made was the pulled pork, it was DIVINE in a tortilla with some pico de gallo and guacamole. Absolute must try!

9:01 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

What a fun time! I can't wait to get her new cookbook. The cornbread looks fantastic.

9:16 AM  
Blogger Ingrid_3Bs said...

How lucky! I'm jealous! She's not coming to Florida. No one everyone comes ot FL except to vacation.

Thanks for sharing your experience.
~ingrid

9:22 AM  
Blogger Cristie said...

I knew you would do a great job writing the story up! We did have a great night, it was so fun to be with you and other gals. Ree was so personable! Love her book!

9:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so jealous!!! I sooo wanted to go up to the book signing but I was still recovering from strep throat. Such a bummer! Looks like you had lots of fun. :)

9:38 AM  
Anonymous Donalyn said...

Aw - great post! So glad you got to meet her again and had such a great time. :)

9:50 AM  
Blogger vanillasugarblog said...

Ohhhh lucky lucky you. What a great time. Did ya'll talk kitchen shop? I know I would be tapping her for secrets/ideas/ and the like.

9:54 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

WE saw you there, and asked how long you had been waiting. I am green with envy at your "A" ticket. We were "e" so it wasn't too bad. A wonderful night for sure!!

10:01 AM  
Blogger The Blonde Duck said...

How fun! You should pick up a copy of Southren Living--there's a great article about her.

10:50 AM  
Blogger LaDue & Crew said...

Awesome! Yup, could definitely feel the energy in the room, too. I am so envious of you guys, all getting to hang out... love the pics with Barbara! I really think PW links us all together like family. I have to get up to Utah to see you guys!

12:05 PM  
Blogger teresa said...

oh my goodness, how fun! i would love to meet more fellow bloggers! the pictures are great! the cornbread looks amazing too!

12:22 PM  
Blogger Cookin' Canuck said...

Thanks for the fun recap of the evening. I'm looking forward to reading Ree's book.

12:44 PM  
Anonymous Joanna from Colorado said...

What a sweet write-up for The Pioneer Woman. I read her blog too, and I wish I could've seen her when she came to Denver.

I'm glad you had fun, and I'm glad you tried that cornbread in a cake pan, because I don't have a cast-iron skillet either! :)

12:56 PM  
Blogger NKP said...

What a great time you are having!
The book looks great - it is on my wishlist.

2:02 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great post! and lovely to see pics of you with Barbara and Tiffany too.

2:37 PM  
Blogger Mary Bergfeld said...

How thrilled she must have been to have such a huge and welcoming reception. It was fun to see you all together waiting for her talk. The cornbread looks marvelous.

3:06 PM  
Blogger Megan said...

Thanks for taking me with you via a post. I loved it and what a reception for the PW!

3:14 PM  
Anonymous alice said...

Yay to Golden A Tickets!!

4:20 PM  
Blogger Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Glad you had a great time and i love seeing your pictures! Nice to be able to meet up with other bloggers.

5:17 PM  
Blogger Erica said...

yum yum! cornbread is always delicious. So jealous of your cool blogger meet ups. Utah sure does have some TERRIFIC bloggers. Cool that you got to meet the Pioneer Woman herself!

5:19 PM  
Blogger Katrina said...

Awesome! I'll have to try her cornbread. (I think her book is one of my birthday presents next week!)
I need to go watch the Studio 5 video, too. I've made her apple pie, it's de-lish, but haven't seen her free form one.
What a great experience.

5:20 PM  
Blogger Erica said...

PS So glad to hear you are having fun with your dad!

5:20 PM  
Blogger Monica H said...

What fun! You guys are so lucky. I'm itching to get my hands on her cookbook!

And this cornbread looks great too!

6:16 PM  
Blogger Amanda said...

Wow what fun! I wish there were some food bloggers around here to hang out with :( Ree is going to be at a book signing about an hour and 15 minutes from here in a week or so. But it's on a week night and I won't get home till late. Not sure if I'm going or not. I'll admit, I hadn't even heard of Pioneer Woman until about 7 months ago, but think her blog is beautiful, and man, her life! She's living my dream :)

6:30 PM  
Blogger tspegar said...

I love this write up! We had so much fun together, didn't we? Thanks for a great night! I look forward to many more and... i LOVE the PW :)

6:55 PM  
Blogger Kerstin said...

How fun! That cornbread does look delicious!

7:20 PM  
Blogger Sook said...

I never knew what she looked like. It's nice to see what she looks like. That is so awesome that you got to meet her!

8:12 PM  
Anonymous Aggie said...

I'm so excited for you! Loved reading this...just ordered her book off Amazon, can't wait to get it!

3:47 AM  
Blogger Stacey Snacks said...

Ree sounds like a really nice person, and she is so pretty.
What a dream come true for a blogger to be so popular and loved and successful!!!
Nice that you got to meet her.
I like your new haircut!!
Stacey

5:25 AM  
Anonymous katrina said...

Sounds like a marvelous time! I must have been on Mars, as I've only lately become aware of Ree's blog and cookbook. I really can't wait to take a peek!

7:27 AM  
Anonymous Unplanned Cooking said...

I am so jealous! How wonderful! Her blog is fantastic, and I bet her book is, too.

1:35 PM  
Blogger PheMom said...

I am so glad you gals such a fantastic time, but I have to admit I'm so glad I didn't try to make it! My poor preggo self definitely wouldn't have been able to handle that (let alone corralled the kiddos!) LOL! Whew! You all look so cute! Seriously, what fun!

2:19 PM  
Blogger CookTeen said...

oh my goodness!! I love pioneer woman! I am so jealous you have met her I hope to be ale to go when she comes to new york. I think its on a saturday so i wont have school! YAY!!

check out my blog!!

cookteen.blogpspot.com

with love and cupcakes,
cookteen

2:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fantastic..Lucky you, I would have loved to have been able to meet her and buy the book.

5:15 PM  
Blogger Heather said...

oooohhh. i love cornbread. this looks good :) looks like oyu had a great time, too :)

8:15 PM  
Blogger Deborah said...

Girl - you need to get a cast iron skillet! It will make such a difference with cornbread! I wish I could have gone, but life with a 9-month old made it a bit too difficult...

8:17 PM  
Blogger Katerina said...

I am jealous! I am actually making one of her recipes for dinner tonight.

8:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great night!

5:46 AM  
Blogger Robin said...

Good for you Maria, this sounded like a great time out! Wow what a success Ree is, it is very inspiring indeed! Can't wait to see what other recipes you cook from the book.

7:28 AM  
Blogger RobynBeazley said...

Thank You!! I LOVED reading this post and living the experience through your pictures. I look forward to following your blog Maria! Hope you're having an amazing day.

12:51 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

That is so cool! I was in Utah this week, but only for about three hours and stuck in the Airport. =)

3:18 PM  
Blogger Emily said...

I am so glad you had front-row seats--that is so awesome! Sure wish we would've connected while amidst those mobs of people. And how fun to see Food Finery there. I met her while doing the Moms Who Make It conference. She's great! I've included your post in mine from that evening. Hope to see you IRL soon! Oh, and the cornbread? Can't wait to make it!

4:30 PM  
Blogger Jamie said...

That is so awesome you got to go to PW book signing. I read her blog everyday. And I loved seeing the pictures of the other bloggers, like Barbara from Barbara Bakes (I follow her blog also)

Wil be ordering her cookbook soon. The skillet cornbread looks great. I make mine in a cast iron skillet so I can't wait to try this recipe too.

5:34 PM  
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11:20 PM  
Blogger Magen said...

It was fun meeting you in line! What a great night. PW is fabulous. And I am so glad there is someone else out there without a cast iron skillet. :-)

6:28 AM  
Anonymous LoveFeast Table said...

How fun!! I am looking forward to the Minneapolis stop in a couple of weeks!! I'm glad you had a good time and the skilled cornbread looks yum! -Chris Ann

7:28 AM  
Blogger Live.Love.Eat said...

How exciting that you saw PW again and with blogger friends to boot!!!!! Awesome.

9:26 AM  
Anonymous megan said...

I'm definitely jealous! Wish I could go to a book signing, but I just got my book as well, and I already made the bbq meatballs - great recipe!

12:39 PM  
Blogger Diane W. said...

Had so much fun meeting you in line and (woo hoo), my photo of you and your cute friends even made your blog. Maybe there is hope for my own blogging future! Thanks again for the fun afternoon spent in line...the conversation made it go by much faster. Oh, and great blog, btw!

Diane :)

3:05 PM  
Blogger Mini Baker said...

I always make my cornbread in a skillet!! Makes it SO much better :)
-Mini Baker

4:31 PM  
Blogger Julie said...

How fun! She was here a few nights ago but I missed it.
Make that pork ASAP...I make it on a regular basis and we love it big time.

10:42 AM  
Blogger sugarlens said...

I agree with you, PW is fun and her photography is awesome.

12:12 PM  
Anonymous Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction said...

So exciting that you got to meet her... I can't wait to get a copy of the cookbook.

7:25 PM  
Blogger Muneeba said...

WOW ... can imagine the excitement in that room when Ree came in to speak! Good fun ... my hubbs can't believe that a blogger like Ree can have millions of fans .. but he just doesn't understand how awesome that girl is! Thks for sharing your experience :)

8:59 AM  
Blogger LetMeEatCake Eat With Me! said...

wow sounds like fun, i'm so jealous you got to meet her! cornbread looks so yummy i'm going to make it tomorrow with dinner and then order my copy of the book from amazon as i'm eating it =)!

11:37 PM  
Blogger Sherry G said...

I love the way your cornbread looks. I just tried a recipe and it didn't turn out so good.. I'll definitely have to try this one then!

1:26 PM  
Anonymous Muneeba said...

Can I ask a huge favor?? Would it be ok with you, if I posted some of your pics with Ree, The Pioneer Woman, over at our new fan site, called "Foodie Fans of The Pioneer Woman"? Of course, we'll link all the photos back to your blog, and mention your name & blog url, so that you get the credit! I just think it would be a fun addition to our site. Pls let me know!

8:42 AM  
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4:38 PM  
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1:50 AM  

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