CORNMEAL TREAT is a term used to describe three different types of food. The first is HOECAKE, a flat cake made from cornmeal and cooked on a griddle or in an oven. The second is TAMALE, a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of cornmeal dough filled with meat, vegetables, or cheese and wrapped in a corn husk. The third is HUSHPUPPY, a deep-fried ball of cornmeal batter that is often served as a side dish. All three of these dishes are popular in the Southern United States.