Crescent Dragonwagon delves deep into combread, beyond the simple recipe of commeal, water, and salt. She discovers that cornbread is something that Americans hold dear - it meant survival to their colonial forebears and it is a point of cultural pride to many. She explains the rivalry between Southern and Northern cornbread - without picking sides! And she gives us invaluable tips, techniques, and sources on the stuff. The book is a celebration of this beloved comfort food, from the basic fluffy cornbread we all know and love to the more exotic - spoonbreads, fritters, flapjacks, and tortillas. Recipes included are - Truman Capote's Alabama Cornbread, Durgin Park Boston Cornbread, Chipotle Cornbread, Makki Ki Roti (or Indian Cornbread), Blueberry Corn Muffins with Lemon, Anadama Bread, Classic Souffleed Cornbread, Hush Puppies, Block Island Jonnycakes, Buttermilk Cornbread Pudding, and even a few Tortiallas ("the primal cornbread"). The book is an experience - it's a step into Crescent's world of friends and family, of reliable, tempting recipes, of lore, quotes, and everything you could possibly want to know about cornbread.