004: CORNBREAD + MAPLE CHILI GLAZE

🌽 Cornbread with Maple Chili Glaze — The Fire of Generosity

Series: The $25 Thanksgiving Feast • Archetype: The Warm Giver — sweetness shared through spice and shine.

💡 Why This Works

Classic cornbread made richer with maple and a whisper of chili. The glaze adds gentle heat and caramel sheen — festive flavor from pantry staples.

⚡ Energy & Time

• Total: 30–35 min • Active: 10 min
• Effort: Low (RPE 3/10)
• Cost: ≈ $3.50 for 6–8 slices (~$0.45 per serving)*
• Gear: Bowl, whisk, baking pan or skillet

🥣 What It Is

Golden, lightly sweet cornbread baked crisp at the edges and brushed with a glossy maple–chili glaze while warm — sweet, smoky, and joyfully simple.

🧾 Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal • 3/4 cup flour
• 2 tbsp sugar • 2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk (or oat milk) • 1 egg (or flax egg)
• 3 tbsp melted butter or oil
• Glaze: 2 tbsp maple syrup • 1/4 tsp chili powder or flakes • pinch salt

✍️ Method

1. Preheat: 400°F / 200°C. Grease an 8-inch pan or small skillet.
2. Mix dry: Cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
3. Mix wet: Milk, egg, melted butter. Stir into dry just until combined.
4. Bake: Pour into pan, bake 20–25 min until golden top and firm center.
5. Glaze: Warm maple syrup with chili and salt; brush over cornbread while hot.

🌿 Maker’s Notes

• Extra heat: Add pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika to glaze.
• Vegan: Use flax egg (1 tbsp flax + 3 tbsp water) and oil instead of butter.
• Serving: Perfect with lentil soup or roasted veggies.

📦 Storage

• Keeps 3 days at room temp; toast leftovers to revive crisp edges.

📜 Lore

Born from the golden fields, cornbread was always the bread of sharing. The glaze is its festival attire — the sweetness of giving seasoned with warmth.

🧭 Self-Score to 100

• Flavor: 20/20
• Ease: 20/20
• Cost Efficiency: 20/20
• Comfort Factor: 20/20
• Mythic Resonance: 20/20

Total: 100/100 — Sweet fire, shared freely.

*Cost based on average US grocery pricing; adjust by region.