If you’re not from Syracuse, you’re wondering if I made you cornbread in the shape of a dinosaur. Like the dinosaur chicken nuggets from elementary school! Because everything tastes better when it’s in a bizarre shape, right?!

No. Just a copycat Dinosaur BBQ cornbread recipe that I was given by my home cook idol/second mother, Nicky.

This time of year always makes me crave Dinosaur. I think it’s because 9 years ago I ate it 47 times a week while bouncing around to various graduation parties where everyone had the same display of pulled pork, cornbread, and fruit salad.

That’s right, 9 years out of high school. 5 years out of college!

We had our 5 year Loyola reunion last weekend and it was basically the best thing ever. They let us stay in the dorms and frolic around the campus and essentially pretend we were 20 again.

Sheila and I have now decided that our 10 year high school reunion should involve gathering in the halls of the high school with alcohol. As the former class president, it’s my job to plan the event. As a former ass-kisser, I may have a decent shot at convincing the school to let me do it.

In my wave of nostalgia, I even made pulled pork! I could never hope to mimic Dinosaur in this regard, but it came out pretty good! Seared a Boston butt on all sides and threw it in the crockpot with a bunch of barbecue sauce and a beer. Cooked on low for about 8 hours. Forked it apart. Topped it with more barbecue and this broccoli slaw, just for kicks.

Copycat Dinosaur Cornbread Recipe

slightly adapted from The Post Standard

1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp Kosher salt

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 tbs melted butter, divided

3-4 tbs honey

Preheat oven to 35o degrees. Grease a small baking dish (I used 7×11) and place in the oven.

Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

Combine 4 tablespoons melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk. Pour into dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

Pull the heated dish out of the oven and pour in the batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Combine 2 tablespoons melted butter with 3-4 tablespoons of honey, and pour over the top of the bread.

Let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting into it.

I wonder if Dinosaur will cater our evening of running rampant around the cafeteria? I’ll get my VP on it.