b'Marianist TableA HANKERINGfor CORNBREADMarianist sister helps brother relive memorable dish from NovitiateBy Kathleen NelsonR ise and shine, novices! We were talking about corn-For Marianist Brother Jack Somerville and bread, and she said, I haveevery other bleary-eyed young man at the a recipe thats different.Novitiate in Marcy, New York, in the late 1960s, Her secret ingredient?crawling out of bed was easier on Thursdays. Sister Audrey replaced someWarm cornbread awaited. of the flour with Bisquick,They made it in huge baking pans, and every table a popular brand of bakinggot a slab with applesauce, butter, and clear Karo syrup, mix. The mixs leaveningSister Audrey Buttner, FMI said Brother Somerville, who professed vows in 1969. and shortening enhance Brother Jack Somerville, SMSome guys took more than their share, so you had to the softness and lift, andget there early to fight them off. eliminate most of the crumbliness common to cornbread.The warm memory remained through the decades Brother Somerville also followed her advice to mix as did the hankering. When Brother Somerville by hand with a large spoon. Im not a great cook, butserved in Dayton, Ohio, in the 1980s, he sought the I can follow a recipe, and she was clear about it, heculinary wisdom of Marianist Sister Audrey Buttner.said. When combining ingredients, dont get aggres-Sister Audrey was a woman of service: a devoted sive. As soon as its all mixed, quit.housekeeper, beekeeper, and quite the cook, he said. He added his own twist by coating the pan with agenerous slathering of shortening, instead of butterPHOTOS BY KATHLEEN NELSONor cooking spray. The crust gets browner and is del-icately crispy and crystallized, he said. Our suggestions: First, use big bowls. Second, therecipe bakes up so lofty that it serves about a dozenhungry souls. For a smaller crowd, cut the ingredientsby half, bake them in a 9-inch round or 8-inch squarepan, and reduce baking time in a conventional ovento 24-30 minutes.In his most recent role as director of the Marianistcommunity in Cupertino, California, Brother Somervillehad little time to cook. However, he noted that brothersstill use Sister Audreys recipe to complement mealsthroughout the day.Guys will make it to serve with chili or stew, hesaid. But its a traditional breakfast food, and its hardto beat when its served with applesauce, butter, honey,or yogurt.Kathleen Nelson is a writer/photographer from St. Louis.18 Call 1.800.348.4732'