Corn Cakes

Ingredients

• 1 cup stone-ground yellow cornmeal (available at specialty foods shops and many supermarkets)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus additional melted butter for brushing the griddle
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup thawed frozen corn, chopped coarse
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped, rinsed, drained, and patted-dry bottled roasted red pepper
• 1 fresh jalapeno or serrano chili, or to taste, seeded and minced (wear rubber gloves)
• 1 cup coarsely grated Monterey Jack