Corn Blini

Description
Yield: Makes 24 blini / 6 servings

Ingredients

 * 1 cup stone-ground yellow cornmeal
 * ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
 * 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
 * ¼ teaspoon baking soda
 * 1 teaspoon sugar
 * scant ½ teaspoon kosher salt
 * 1½ cups buttermilk, plus more if desired
 * 1 large egg
 * 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons melted unsalted butter or rendered bacon fat

Directions

 * 1) In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.
 * 2) In a small bowl, beat together the buttermilk, egg, and 2 teaspoons of the melted butter.
 * 3) Whisk into the cornmeal mixture until very smooth (for thinner blini, add a tablespoon or two more buttermilk to the batter).
 * 4) Heat a large heavy griddle or skillet over moderate heat until a drop of water bounces across the surface.
 * 5) Brush the surface lightly with melted butter.
 * 6) Drop the batter, 2 tablespoons at a time, onto the surface, leaving enough room for the pancakes to spread (the blini will be about 2 to 3 inches in diameter).
 * 7) Adjust the heat if necessary to keep butter from burning.
 * 8) Cook the blini until the surface is bubbled and set and the edges of the undersides are brown.
 * 9) Flip the blini and cook until the second side is browned.
 * 10) Serve the blini as they come off the griddle, or keep them warm, layered in (and covered with) clean tea towels in a low (200°F) oven; just before serving, brush them with a little melted butter.
 * 11) Repeat until all the batter is used, brushing the pan with butter before each batch.