Tag: Southern Living

Chicken · Daily Thoughts · Meats · Vegetables

Cornbread Stuffed Zucchini

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Anything that reminds me of cornbread stuffing gets my vote. This is taken from 2017 Southern Living and I cannot wait to make it. Choose squash that are uniform in size. The best kind for this recipe are long, straight but not too skinny. (as per SL)

Serves 4

3 cups coarsely crumbled cornbread
4 zucchini
3 tables canola oil, divided
1 teas kosher salt, divided
16 oz ground chicken (I will use ground Italian seasoned turkey)
1/2 cup chopped red onion
4 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tables)
1 teas paprika
1/2 teas black pepper
6 oz white Cheddar Cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup fresh corn (I’m not a huge corn person, other than just corn on the cob, so think I will substitute fresh spinach, sautéed and drained well, before adding to mixture)
3 tables chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 375. Spread cornbread in an even layer on one end of a baking sheet. Cut zucchini in hal lengthwise. Using a serrated tomato corer or melon baller, scoop out zucchini pulp to equal 3 cups pulp, leaving a 1/2″ shell intact.
Coarsely chop 1 1/2 cups of pulp; reserve remaining pulp for another use. Brush zucchini shells with 2 tables of the canola oil. Place zucchini shells on baking sheet with cornbread and sprinkle with 1/4 teas of the salt.
Bake zucchini and cornbread at 375 until cornbread is lightly browned; 8-10 minutes. Reduce oven to 350.
Heat remaining 1 tables oil in a large skillet; cook, stirring to crumble, until browned. (about 5-6 min)
Add onion, garlic, paprika, pepper, reserved 1 1/2 cups zucchini pulp and remaining 3/4 teas salt to skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally until onion is tender.
Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in cornbread, white Cheddar cheese, corn (or spinach) and parsley.
Divide chicken mixture evenly among zucchini shells. Place shells in a lightly greased baking dish. Bake at 350 until filling is lightly browned and zucchini is tender, about 25 minutes.

Casseroles · Uncategorized · Vegetables

Squash Casserole

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6 Tables unsalted butter, divided

3 lb yellow squash, sliced thick (about 5 medium squash)

1 medium size yellow onion, chopped

2 teas kosher salt, divided

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 (8 oz) sour cream

4 oz sharp cheddar cheese

2 oz Swiss cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup mayonaise

2 teas chopped fresh thyme

1/2 teas black pepper

2 sleeves round butter crackers (such as Ritz),coarsely crushed

1 oz parmesan cheese, shredded (about 1/4 cup)

Preheat oven to 350. Melt 3 tables butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add squash, onion and 1 teas salt; cook stirring often, until squash is just tender until liquid has evaporated, about 10 min.

Transfer mixture to a colander, set over bowl. Drain for 5 min; discard any liquid.

Stir eggs, sour cream ,cheddar, swiss, mayo, thyme, pepper and remaining 1 teas salt in a large bowl.  Gently fold in the squash mixture.  Spoon into lightly greased 11×7″ baking dish.

Microwave remaining 3 tables butter in microwave safe bowl until melted. About 15 seconds. Toss the crackers, parmesan cheese and melted butter until combined. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake in preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until crackers are golden brown.

*Taken from Southern Living Magazine

Daily Thoughts · Uncategorized

Squash Casserole Memories

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Most of you probably remember the squash casserole that showed up at every Pot Luck or Family Reunion. When I received my new Southern Living magazine, I sat down with a glass of tea (sweet of course) and and began to read the new recipes. The back page of each SL is the first place I look. It is always a great story by Rick Bragg, which always takes me back to my dream of living in the deep South and also bringing back so many memories of things we grew up with. This month, he talked about tomato sandwiches. Before you say, “yuck” remember that there was a day when the word”cholesterol”  was not ever mentioned or heard of a sandwich that didn’t include mayonnaise. His story brought back a memory of my Aunt Gladys!…

Years ago, my Aunt Gladys, who lived with us after her husband died, would make herself a mayonnaise spinach sandwich. She was a rather large lady who made all her clothes, because back then, we didn’t have all the stores which had clothes if you were her size.  She  would place one of those mayo spinach sandwiches in each of the two front pockets and head to her room, where she would watch TV and snack on those awful sandwiches.  But I have to hand it to her, she was always the relative who came to my rescue when my mom would get mad at me for something by telling my mom, “now Hope, she didn’t mean to do that and after all, Trudy is so sweet, you can’t get mad at her for dropping that antique dish”.  She would rescue me from any lizard that would get in the house. She was a lady who made everyone laugh. Her personality was as large as she was. If you are wondering how I got off on her, it is because she loved squash casserole and when I began to write the recipe, her face just came to mind as well as her contagious laugh. She has been gone since about 1980 and there are so many things which still bring her to my mind. She gave me my first cookbook, which she collected from her old grocery store in Ardmore, OK. Each week, when she would go buy groceries, they would give her a whole section of the cookbook, which after about 16 weeks, would be compiled to make one complete wonderful cookbook. I wish I still had it. It was one of those huge books that weighed probably 5-8 lbs and I finally gave it away. I still have several more cookbooks that she had given me. One of those is a cookbook that she received from a friend who was a cook at the local school cafeteria. It has recipes in it that are for large groups because it was the recipes that the school used to feed the kids. I love that book. It is wonderful when I am trying to feed a big group of folks. Would have been such a great thing if she could have lived to have seen Princess on The Porch. How fun to think that she would be so excited to know that I completed a cookbook of my own.  It would be so easy to imagine her walking to her room, with the book in hand, already laughing at some of the stories and yelling back at me, “will you make me a brown sugar pound cake to snack on and let’s have squash casserole for dinner.  How does that sound Trudy K?”

Will post the recipe on a separate page so you don’t have to go through the story when you are trying to see the recipe. Got a little carried away today with memories! But isn’t it wonderful to have memories. How they bless our lives!

 

 

Daily Thoughts · Soups · Uncategorized

White Bean With Italian Sausage Soup

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Found this in an old Southern Living Magazine. Will be perfect for sitting outside on the porch (oops, excuse me, I forget out here they are called Arizona Rooms), watching the sun go down and having a bowl of soup with garlic french bread. The recipe originally called for Chorizo, but I don’t like it so I used Mild Italian Sausage

1 lb mild Italian Sausage (our preference, but they make it in hot if you like that option better, feel free to use (after all, the Sausage Police won’t come get you if you do), casing removed

2 tables olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 2 cups)

2 medium carrots, chopped (about 1 cup)

1/2 lb small red potatoes, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teas paprika

1 teas kosher salt

1 tables tomato paste

2 (15 oz) cans great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 container (32 oz) chicken broth

1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped

Cook sausage in a Dutch oven over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until browned and crumbled, about 8 minutes.

Drain all on paper towels. Wipe Dutch oven out with paper towel, to remove grease.

Heat the oil in the Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add onions and next 5 ingredients and sauce until tender. About 5 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute, stirring.

Add beans, chicken broth and sausage; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes. Stir in parsley, and serve!

Chicken · Soups

King Ranch Chicken Soup

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Windows are open, more apple cakes are in the oven and looking through the newly delivered Southern Living magazine, this soup caught my eye. Our adult kids love King Ranch Casserole, but never thought about transforming it into a soup. Thank you Southern Living, that’s why we love you!

2 tables butter

1 cup chopped yellow onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 garlic clove, minced

2 (10 3/4 oz) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles

1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup

1 (same size) can cream of chicken soup

5 cups chicken broth

1 (1 1/2 to 2 lb) whole deli-roasted chicken, skin removed and meat shredded

1 teas dried oregano

1 teas ground cumin

1 teas chile powder

8 ((6 inch) fajita size CORN tortillas, cut into 1/2 inch strips and then halved *(I like mine fried crisp in a little oil instead of leaving them soft, which if you do this, you can do this by frying the strips in hot oil and drain on paper towel while soup is cooking before adding at the end)

Garnish: salt, shredded cheese and cilantro

Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and peppers and sauté 6-7 minutes or until tender.

Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Stir in diced tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup; combine thoroughly. Stir in broth and next 4 ingredients.

Still on medium-high heat, cook until soup is begging to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, about  minutes. Stir in tortilla strips and simmer  2 more minutes. Add salt to taste and garnish as desired.

makes about 4 quarts

Salads

Three Sisters Salad

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During our vacation in California these past 4 weeks, I had time to go through a friends stack of cooking magazines (which is one of my favorite things to do) and ended up taking a armload of them to make copies! So I came home with lots of new recipes that are on my “to make” lists. Thanks Dee for all the new recipes! This one came in a book from Southern Living: New Fall Recipes

1 (2 lb) butternut squash (about 2 cups chopped, which I now see at Trader Joe’s and other grocery stores already cubed in a bag)

2 tables olive oil

1 (15.5 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

2 cups fresh corn kernels

1/3 small red onion, chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

3 cups loosely packed arugula

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Preheat oven to 400. Peel and seed butternut squash and cut into 3/4″ cubes. Toss squash with olive oil to coat. Place in a single layer in a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined jelly roll pan. Bake 20 minutes or until squash is just tender and begins to brown. Do not overcook, stirring once after 10 minutes. Cool completely after baking 20 minutes, total.

Toss together cannellini beans and next 3 ingredients with squash in a large bowl. Add the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing and cover and chill about 2-4 hours. Toss with arugula just before serving.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Whish together 2 tables balsamic vinegar, 1 large shallot, minced. Add 1 teas minced garlic, 1/2 Tables light brown sugar, 1/4 teas sea salt and 1/4 teas seasoned pepper. Gradually add 1/4 cup canola or olive oil in a slow steady stream. Whisking until well blended. This can be made a day ahead and allowed to stand, covered in fridge.

appetizers · Holiday Fare

Bite Size Chiles Rellenos

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As most of you know, Peter and I are Mexican food junkies. When I was reading this recipe to him last night, he informed me that I needed to make these for him ASAP! They do sound so good and can’t wait to try them. It is such fun to look through these old (SL 1987) magazines. He fusses at me all the time for not being able to throw these out, but as the seasons of our lives change, so do our tastes and what looks and taste good to us. I probably didn’t even give these a second look back in 87, but now, can’t wait to make them. Another great appetizer for the upcoming parties.

1 cup flour

1/2 teas salt

1/2 teas garlic powder

1 cup beer (for all you Baptist, if you wear your Halloween mask when grocery shopping, none of the deacons will recognize you buying a beer for this recipe, you are safe. Or if this still seems too scary, borrow a cup from your Methodist neighbor)

2 (4 oz) cans whole green chiles, drained and seeded

4 oz Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 1/2″ cubes

Vegetable oil

Picante Sauce

Combine first 3 ingredients; stir will. Gradually add 1 cup beer, stirring until smooth. Cover and let stand 1 hour.

Cut green chiles lengthwise into 3/4″ wide strips. Roll each strip around a cheese cube, securing with a wooden pick. Cover and chill 1 hour.

Dip chile-cheese rolls in batter; allow excess to drip slightly. Deep-fry in hot oikl about 15 seconds or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with picante sauce.

Yields: about 2 dozen

appetizers · Breads · Holiday Fare · Vegetables

Cheese & Spinach Puffs

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Taken from a Nov, 1987 SL magazine, this is a great appetizer to take to all those holiday parties. It is quick and easy. The flavor is really so good. Actually they are a great way to get little ones to eat “their spinach”. Popeye would love these.

1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup water

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup plus 2 tables commercial blue cheese dressing, or if you are like me and do not like blue cheese, use Ranch Dressing

1/4 teas garlic powder

1 (8 1/2 oz) package corn muffin mix (Jiffy is a good one)

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes. Drain very well, squeezing to remove excess liquid. Combine spinach mixture and remaining ingredients; stir well. Cover and chill 2 hours.

Shape mixture into 1″ balls and place 1 1/2″ apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Chill 30 minutes before baking.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes; serve warm.

Yields: 4 dozen

Casseroles · Holiday Fare · Starches · Vegetables

Caramelized Onion & Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes (or Cauliflower)

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As I was writing that title, I’m thinking to myself, if you are not eating potatoes, why not substitute cauliflower. Taken from a November 2001 Southern Living, this is a favorite side to all meats.

Since getting quite a few emails telling me that I needed to post something besides desserts 95% of the time. I listened. So for the remainder of this week, I will post great holiday sides, meats or salads. (I know I can’t stand to not post a few desserts, so might have to post a couple of times a day to get in my 95% desserts, plus the other foods I have promised. So here it is; the first of the commitments:

3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (or cauliflower)

1 3/4 teaspoons salt, divided

2 tables butter

1 tables olive oil

2 medium onions, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 teas chopped fresh or 1/2 teas dried rosemary

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup half & half

3/4 cup Gorgonzola or blue cheese

3/4 teas pepper

Garnish: fresh rosemary springs

Bring potato or cauliflower to a boil with 1 teas salt with enough water to cover in a Dutch oven; cook 20-25 minutes or until tender. Drain and keep warm.

Melt 2 tables butter with oil in a skillet over medium heat; add onion and cook, stirring often, 12-15 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and cook 3 minutes. Stir in rosemary, remove from heat.

Mash potato or cauliflower with a potato masher, stir in 1/2 cup butter, half & half and cheese until blended. Stir in onion mixture unto a lightly greased baking dish.

Broil 3″ from heat 5 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Garnish, if desired. You can just sprinkle paprika and dried parsley if you don’t have fresh rosemary sprigs.

Serves 6-8 people

Now can I post the new carrot pound cake recipe that I found?

Desserts · Fruit

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

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I am a cobbler junkie. When I saw this in the new Southern Living, I had to try it. Think about these bars with homemade peach ice cream this summer. Wow, what a combo….

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided

4 eggs

1 tables vanilla

1 teas baking powder

3/4 teas salt

3 1/4 cups flour

3 (6 oz) packages fresh blackberries (about 4 cups)

4 cups peeled and sliced fresh firm ripe peaches

3 tables bourbon (opt)

1 cup roasted glazed pecan pieces

Preheat oven to 350. Beat first 2 ingredients and 1 cup of the sugar at medium speed with mixer, until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Stir together baking powder, salt and 3 cups flour. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended. Spread three-fourths of batter in a greased and floured 13×9 pan; sprinkle with blackberries.

Stir together remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup flour in a medium bowl; add peaches and bourbon* (if you are omitting bourbon, use either whipping cream or orange juice), stirring to coat. Spoon mixture over blackberries.

Stir pecans into remaining batter; dollop over peach mixture.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until golden and bubbly. Cool completely on a wire each. Cut into bars.