1/4 cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tsps. baking powder
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 large egg
2/3 cup milk
2 Tbsps. minced fresh basil, or 2 tsps. dried basil
TO SERVE: Unsalted butter, softened

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small saucepan, melt butter over very low heat. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Sift flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and pepper into a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, beat egg lightly, add milk, basil, and cooled butter, and stir into the flour mixture. Turn batter into a greased 8 inch baking dish and smooth top with spatula. Bake in center of oven 15-18 minutes, or until light golden.