This white cornbread is baked in a hot loaf pan coated with hot oil. The result is a delicious crispy crust with a tender inside. This is terrific with berry butter.
Preheat oven to 350°; grease an 8"x4"x3" nonstick loaf pan with the shortening, leaving excess in the pan and place in oven.
Sift together sugar, flour, cornmeal and salt; mix buttermilk and baking soda; stir into cornmeal mixture and mix well; add melted shortening from loaf pan and mix well.
Pour the mixture into the hot loaf pan and bake 50-60 minutes until golden brown and toothpick tests clean; cool on wire rack.