Well actually I from what I know the name Hoe Cake came from the days of the plantation and the slaves or share croppers. They would clean their hoes after working with them and then would mix up about what was in your recipe into a batter then after placing the blade of the hoe over the fire outside would put spoonfulls of the cornmeal and water mix on the blade of the hoe to cook it like a griddle cake. Once done on the ones side they would flip it over to finish cooking the Hoe Cake.

Gwen, Here's something I found in my files on Hoe Cakes.

Hoecakes

In the old South one of the snacks often eaten mid-morning by slaves and whites alike were "hoe-cakes".

On some menus in southern eating places you will see them listed still. Today they are more like hot cakes or pancakes only with more cornmeal than flour.

Along about 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning the Overseer would call a halt to work being done in the cotton fields and everyone would take a "break". A small fire would be built and the corn batter would be brought forth and the workers would clean off their hoes and heat them in the fire. They would pull them away and pour a small amount of batter on the wide bladed hoe. Cook it on one side and then turn it over just like a pancake is done today.

They would roll it up sort of like a taquito and pour bee honey in it and have a "snack". Almost instant energy--and back to work they would go. (Taquito means "little taco" in Mexican Spanish. Someone from Spain would have no idea what you are talking about).

Hoes are not used anymore for cooking, but the name "hoe-cake" stuck.

Why did I do this word?

I was watching an old black and white movie the other night and Walter Brennen had some hoe-cakes. He was hiding out in a swamp in the Everglades. He thought he had killed someone, but really had not. He had hid out for 15 years in the Everglades.

Of course he did not use a hoe to cook the cakes either.


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