Savory/ Snacks, Appetizers and Side Dishes/ Travel

Pumpkin Corn Cakes and Mission San Juan Bautista

Pumpkin Corn Cakes are a simple three ingredient recipe, that can be made for breakfast, as a side dish with dinner, or even a snack!  The inspiration for this recipe came after recently visiting one of the California Missions with James and Ethan, for Ethan’s 4th grade California Mission project.  This is an old recipe y’all.  A recipe the padres and Native Americans would have made to go with a typical meal back in the 1800’s.

Every 4th grader in California studies the California Missions and is required to do a Mission project.  Back in my old days of being a 4th grader, we had to make a Mission diorama.  Good ol’ shoebox with handmade props to go inside.  Now-a-days these lucky kids have a ton of different options for their Mission projects!  Ethan wasn’t required to go visit a Mission, but one of the projects he could choose from to complete, was to make a photo journal.  I am a former scrapbooker (no time to do it anymore!), so I totally chose—-I mean Ethan chose—to do the photo journal 😉  So a trip to visit one of the California Missions was totally necessary (it wasn’t, but it was).

So before we get to the recipe, I am going to share a few pictures from the fun trip we took to the Mission!  Ethan chose to visit the beautiful Mission San Juan Bautista….

It was such a beautiful day at the Mission too!  We enjoyed exploring the grounds and the gardens at the Mission.

I looked to see if they had a cookbook with recipes from back in the Mission days, but no luck!  I did get to check out the kitchen and see the tools the padres used to cook with.  I love that old school way of cooking!  La Pozolera means “padres kitchen” 🙂

Somewhere during my research in helping Ethan with his project, I stumbled upon an easy recipe for Pumpkin Corn Cakes.  I knew I totally wanted to try these…to get into the spirit of Ethan’s Mission project 😉

Pumpkin Corn Cakes

Print Recipe
Serves: 5 Cooking Time: 10-minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup canned pumpkin (pure pumpkin---not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1 cup corn meal
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

1

In a medium sized bowl add the canned pumpkin. Slowly stir the corn meal in to the pumpkin. Slowly stream in the melted butter to the pumpkin-corn meal mixture. Stir vigorously until a stiff dough forms.

2

Pre-heat a heavily greased skillet on the stovetop, over medium-high heat. While the skillet is heating up, take approximately three tablespoons of dough and flatten into a round pancake shape. Cook each cake on the hot skillet for 5-minutes or until golden brown. Flip each cake over and cook for another 5-minutes, or until golden brown.

3

Serve warm. Option to add butter or jam.

Notes

Store leftover cakes in an airtight container at room temperature.

I used my cast iron skillet to make my pumpkin corn cakes…that’s how I got that great crust!

So how do they taste??  Well….it was a fun cooking project.  And the Mission was a fun trip!  And after making these pumpkin corn cakes, I am even more thankful for sugar, chocolate, peanut butter and ingredients I use to make desserts yummy!  Hahaha….but it you like the flavor of pumpkin, you would like these.  They aren’t sweet, so top them with (gobs) of butter, maple syrup, jam, etc.  A few ended up being topped with cinnamon and sugar 😉

If you live in Northern California, it is definitely worth a trip to Mission San Juan Bautista!  Just maybe don’t go on a Sunday right when Mass is getting out like we mistakenly did.

Okay, I am off to go create some dessert than contains everything not available to the padres back in the day.  I need my SUGARY SWEETNESS!!

Anyone else been to Mission San Juan Bautista or any of the other 21 California Missions that line the Southern and Northern California coasts??  Have you been on any fun field trips with your kids, that have inspired a recipe??  Leave me a comment below and lets chat 🙂

XOXO,

Kelly

And proof that I still act sooooooo much like a child…we could’t leave without posing with Saint John the Baptist!

[optin-cat id=”528″]

PS-

You can find this recipe linked up at the following link parties: Meal Plan Monday, Pretty Pintastic Party, Sugar and Spice, Weekend Potluck.  Click the links to check out these fun parties!

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16 Comments

  • Reply
    Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
    June 14, 2017 at 8:24 AM

    This is such fun post! I love pumpkin so I might have to try these :). The mission is gorgeous!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      June 14, 2017 at 9:08 AM

      Thank you Kelsie! It was a fun little trip! Plus this is a super easy recipe 🙂 Have a great day my friend! XOXO

  • Reply
    Andy Gibbs
    June 14, 2017 at 12:02 PM

    Fun post, loved the pic mimicking the statue. I will try this recipe!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      June 14, 2017 at 1:13 PM

      Thank you Andy!! We had a fun little family trip 🙂 You will have to let me know what you think about this recipe if you try it! It is definitely different hehehe. Have a great day!

  • Reply
    heather (delicious not gorgeous)
    June 14, 2017 at 12:47 PM

    ahh, the 4th grade mission project. definitely went to san juan bautista for a field trip, though i remember exactly nothing about it. oops. i didn’t make a diorama either, and i think my friend made acorn mash. it was… an acquired taste. these corn cakes sound much tastier than that mash (;

    • Reply
      Kelly
      June 14, 2017 at 1:17 PM

      Hahaha I wouldn’t be so sure, but that makes me feel better. I am just glad that food has evolved since then hehehe. That is so cool that you went to that mission too! I don’t remember going on a mission field trip, but I’m old and probably just forgot. Have a great day Heather! XOXO 🙂

  • Reply
    Deepika Katyal
    June 14, 2017 at 6:46 PM

    This is such a fun trip! and some lovely family pictures :*. Although, I am a dessert person too, but such easy quick recipes are keepers for sure 🙂

    • Reply
      Kelly
      June 15, 2017 at 9:16 PM

      Thank you Deepika! I am so glad you liked the pictures and the quick, easy recipe! Thanks for reading! XOXO 🙂

  • Reply
    cakespy
    June 16, 2017 at 6:20 AM

    Awesome trip, and dang, these little cakes look amazing! I love pumpkin. Oddly I think they’d be safe for my pugs, too (without seasoning). What can I say, I love them. <3

    • Reply
      Kelly
      June 16, 2017 at 9:45 PM

      Thanks darling! I love pumpkin too 🙂 and they probably would be okay for your dogs to eat! Funny because I made homemade dog treats to post on the blog soon! XOXO

  • Reply
    Melissa
    June 22, 2017 at 6:39 PM

    Hi Kelly. I’ve never had anything like this. It looks so unique and really delicious. How do think it would work with some cream style corn added to it?

    • Reply
      Kelly
      June 23, 2017 at 7:50 AM

      Hi Melissa! Adding creamed corn sounds like a yummy addition! You might just have to add a bit more cornmeal until you get your desired consistency. Let me know if you try it and what you think! I am totally curious now! XOXO

  • Reply
    Jacquie
    August 9, 2017 at 6:16 AM

    I can’t wait to make this Pumpkin Corn Cake recipe! And I plan to sweeten them with liquid stevia (the drops). I sweeten anything and everything with my favorite stevia. And after i finish off the bottles i have already bought, i’ll make sure that all stevia I buy in the future is WITHOUT alcohol in the ingredients 🙂

    I learned of your blog thru GG Eats Celebrities Blog.

    PS – I love that you are a cop and 35. I’ll be 35 in September and will enter training at the NYPD in January. You inspire me with your creativity and passion for many things life!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      August 9, 2017 at 6:27 AM

      Yay! Thanks Jacquie! These Pumpkin Corn Cakes were a little different than my usual recipes….but if you like pumpkin, then you will definitely like these!

      And I am so happy you found my blog through GiGi! I totally love her blog 🙂

      And that is so awesome that you are entering training at NYPD! I love my job and I am glad I can inspire you. That makes me so happy. You will have to keep me posted about how your training is going! I am so excited for you!! Have a great week 🙂 XOXO

  • Reply
    Jacquie
    August 9, 2017 at 6:16 AM

    Please sign me up for emails when you post new things either here or on your blog!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      August 9, 2017 at 6:29 AM

      Yay! Thanks for wanting to sign up for emails! I think I signed you up. Just check your email and confirm you want to subscribe. You may have to check your spam folder if you don’t see anything. Let me know if it doesn’t come through!! XOXO

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