Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 large egg
  • About 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 lb sliced cooked Virginia country ham*, cut into 1 1/2- by 1/3-inch strips
  • 1/2 cup melon apple chutney
  • Special equipment: a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter

Method

  • Put oven rack in middle position and preheat to 350F.
  • Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
  • Whisk together butter, milk, and egg in a small bowl, then add to cornmeal mixture and stir just until combined.
  • Spread (or pat out) batter in a very thin even layer in a well-greased 13- by 9- by 2-inch metal baking pan (preferably using an offset spatula).
  • Bake until firm and pale golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Cut out 24 rounds from hot corn bread with cookie cutter and transfer rounds to a rack to cool.
  • (Reserve remaining corn bread for another use.)
  • Spread each round with a thin layer of mustard and top with a few strips of ham and about 1 teaspoon chutney.