Basic Cornbread

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan with vegetable oil.

Combine cornmeal, all purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl, stirring together until evenly distributed.

Crack the egg into a separate bowl and whisk it together with milk and vegetable oil until well blended.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined—do not overmix, as lumps in the batter are acceptable.

Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula for even cooking.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and allow the cornbread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack or serving directly from the pan.