Channeling Julia

White Stone Ground Cornmeal

Cornmeal is ground corn. Stone ground is considered better, as it produces a more textured meal. Masa Harina is also cornmeal (a different variety) but the seeds were soaked in slaked lime (ground limestone and water) to remove the husk before grinding.

Colors of corn are usually white, yellow and blue, though I've seen some with red, black and other colors. Colors of corn have historically been associated with social class structures, such as the belief in the South (Southern United States) that yellow corn was for poor people. (even white corn has a slightly yellowish cast)

Masa Harina is primarily used in the manufacture of tortillas and in Mexican cooking.

In the South, cornmeal is the primary ingredient in cornbread and hush puppies (deep fried balls).

Cornmeal is often used in the preparation of pizza to prevent sticking. If you feel grains on the underside of a slice of pizza it is probably cornmeal.