Breads

Southern Cornbread, Mint Julep, and Middle of the Night

December 14, 2025
editor
Southern Cornbread pairs perfectly with "Middle of the Night" by Riley Sager, a mysterious and suspenseful novel. The comforting warmth of cornbread contrasts with the chilling narrative, offering a comforting foil to the book's eerie atmosphere. Accompanying the dish with a classic Mint Julep enhances the Southern theme, blending the bright flavors of bourbon and mint, a nod to traditional Southern hospitality. Together, the cornbread, book, and beverage create a cozy and engaging experience for an afternoon of reading and relaxation.
Southern Cornbread

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a cast iron skillet in the oven to heat while you prepare the batter.
  • Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  • Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter until smooth.
  • Combine the Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a dense cornbread.
  • Prepare the Skillet: Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and add the tablespoon of vegetable oil, swirling to coat the bottom and sides. This step helps create a crispy crust on the cornbread.
  • Bake the Cornbread: Pour the batter into the hot skillet, spreading it evenly. Return the skillet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Cool and Serve: Allow the cornbread to cool in the skillet for a few minutes before slicing and serving warm.

Middle of the Night

Middle of the Night

A suspenseful thriller that unfolds in a single night, weaving the lives of its characters into a web of intrigue and tension. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers.
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend—and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood. The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul-de-sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again. Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul-de-sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle? The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed ghosts roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate. The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.

Discussion Questions

  • What role does the setting play in shaping the atmosphere of the novel?
  • How does the author build suspense throughout the book?
  • Discuss the protagonist's character development over the course of the night.
  • Can you identify any major themes besides suspense within the novel?
  • How does the structure of the timeline impact your reading experience?
  • What are the pivotal moments that significantly changed the direction of the story?
  • How does the author use secondary characters to enhance the main story?
  • What emotions did the book evoke in you, and how did the writing achieve this?
  • Compare this book to other works by Riley Sager. What are the similarities and differences?
  • What is your interpretation of the ending, and what questions remain unanswered?
Authors: Riley Sager
ISBN: 9780123456789
Publisher: Penguin
Published Date: 2024-06-18

Mint Julep

Mint Julep
A refreshingly classic Southern cocktail with bourbon, fresh mint, and a hint of sweetness, perfect for sipping as you lose yourself in a good book.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • 8 fresh mint leaves
  • Mint spring, for garnish
  • Crushed ice

Instructions

  • In a julep cup or glass, muddle the mint leaves with simple syrup to release the mint's oils.
  • Add the bourbon and fill the cup with crushed ice.
  • Stir well until the glass is frosty.
  • Garnish with a mint sprig and enjoy.