Don't be alarmed, but this cornbread recipe calls for sugar. We know, we know, but give it a try The recipe starts with self-rising cornmeal mix. Add scallions, thyme, sugar, salt, and soon you have a flavorful mix that's ready for some boiling water. Only stir until the ingredients are incorporated. Heat your cast-iron skillet, along with 1 1/2 cups canola oil, over medium high heat. You'll drop spoonfuls of the batter into the skillet and fry in batches. Let the cornbread develop a beautiful golden hue before flipping, which should be about 2 minutes per side. We love serving our hot water cornbread with savory turnip greens to sop up all that delicious broth in which the greens stew. Aside from greens, our hot water cornbread is the perfect side for savory soups and stews. We also love serving it with a classic main dish like ham. If youre serving a crowd, cook up an extra batch or twowe have a feeling our hot water cornbread will be a crowd pleaser no matter what you have on the menu.