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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Not My Grandmother's Collard Greens

My family loves collard greens, and so do I.  I have always cooked fresh bunch collards the old fashioned way, which can be a bit time consuming.  My hubby wanted them for dinner one night, and I was short on time, so I decided to saute bagged, pre-chopped greens in bacon grease.  Here are the simple directions.

Ingredients:
2# Bag Glory Chopped Collards
3 TBS. Bacon Grease
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 tsp. sugar
Vidalia onion,chopped
Pepper Sauce
Peeled and quartered turnips

Instructions:
Soak greens in 2 tsp. baking soda for about an hour.  Wash well, and remove large stems.  Melt bacon grease in large pan, then add greens and seasonings.  The sugar helps tone down the bitterness.  Cover, and simmer slowly for about 1 1/2 hours.  Keep an eye on the greens, and if the broth from the greens cooks away, add a little water.  We serve ours with fresh turnips cooked on top of greens, chopped onion, and pepper sauce...the real peppers distilled in vinegar.  Add turnips on top of greens during the last 20 minutes of cooking.

My husband loves greens cooked this way..I hope you will too.

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Posted by Patsy at 12:04 AM 5 comments
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Friday, March 15, 2013

Peyton's Easter Cake

Peyton is my 4 year-old great-grandson.  He is handsome, adorable, sweet, loving, funny, and very smart.  This is my totally unprejudiced great-grandmother's perspective and opinion. :) This little boy is a bright ray of sunshine in our lives, and his Boompa and Gram-Gram always look forward to visiting him in Arkansas, and his visits to our home in Texas.

 This week, we had an early Easter celebration with Peyton and the rest of the Arkansas family.  We made an Easter basket for him, and took along some Cascarones, which he thoroughly enjoyed! (Cascarones are a Mexican tradition for Easter as well as other holidays. A cascaron is an egg that is decorated much like an Easter egg and then filled with confetti. Cascarones are broken over the head for good luck.  They are used by many Texans on Holidays).  For dessert, I made this quick and easy Cream of Coconut Cake.  Here is a picture of Peyton's slice of cake.  He redesigned it, and even added some frosting to the chick's beak. I wanted to share this happy memory, and this easy, tasty cake with my blogging friends.  Happy Easter to all!

 Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix, prepared per package instructions.
(ingredients needed:egg, oil & water)
1 can Condensed milk1 can Cream of Coconut (I used Coco Lopez)
1 16 oz container Cool Whip, thawed
1 package frozen grated coconut, thawed

Instructions:
Prepare and bake white cake mix according to package directions for a 9x13 pan.
Remove cake from oven, and while still hot, poke holes all over the top of cake using the handle of a wooden spoon, or a large fork.
Mix condensed milk and Cream of Coconut well, and pour over warm cake. Coat top of cake evenly.  Be sure you coat the whole cake and spread it so it will soak in.

Let cake cool completely then frost with whipped topping, and, top with flaked coconut. Decorate as desired..as Peyton did.

Keep cake refrigerated.

 Notes: Be sure you use CONDENSED milk...not evaporated milk, and CREAM OF COCONUT, not coconut milk. Cream of Coconut is usually found in the section for alcoholic drink mixes..it does not contain alcohol, however.
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Posted by Patsy at 6:45 AM 5 comments
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Saturday, March 9, 2013

Emma Ruth's Family Recipes Restaurant



 My youngest son, David, had been asking me about family recipes for a few months.   He is the one who made the Red Beans and Rice in an earlier post.  There had been some casual talk about opening a restaurant, using family recipes to make from scratch dishes.  Everyone thought naming it for his, and wife Kim's grandmothers, the inspiration and origin of many of the recipes, was a good idea.  That, in a nutshell, mixed with his entrepreneurial spirit, is how Emma Ruth's Family Recipes restaurant was born. The doors opened at the end of February, and I am proud to report that the cooked from scratch, home cooking restaurant has been quite successful so far.  The food is very good.  If you are even in Bentonville Arkansas, stop in for a good meal, or just to say hey, y'all!

Many of the recipes for their dishes are on this blog.  I am proud of you, David and Kim!

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Posted by Patsy at 4:15 PM 5 comments
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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Chinese Spareribs

I made these Chinese Spareribs for a Sunday golf watching snack.  The photo didn't turn out too well, but the ribs did!  They were very tasty, and every single one of them was eaten... quickly!

Ingredients:
2 racks pork spareribs (about 4 lbs)
Marinade:
1 C. ketchup
1 TBS. brown sugar
1/3 C chili or hoisin sauce
1/4 C lite soy sauce (I find regular too salty)
2 TBS dry sherry
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. 5 spice seasoning (optional)
1 Tsp. finely  grated ginger

If desired, have butcher cut rib slab in half, lengthwise.  I cook mine whole.  Trim ribs, and remove membrane from back of rack.  Make marinade by mixing all ingredients together.

Place ribs in baking dish, ( I line mine with aluminum foil for easier cleanup...trust me on this).  Pour marinade evenly over ribs to coat well.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  If possible, turn ribs at least once during this time.  When ready to cook, uncover baking dish and roast in 375* oven for about 11/2 hours.  Meat will separate from bone easily when done.  Remove to cutting board, and cut rack into individual ribs and serve.  Wrap any leftovers in foil, and reheat when needed.

These are easy to prepare, and are real man pleasers..ladies love them too!
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Posted by Patsy at 3:06 PM 8 comments
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Monday, January 28, 2013

David's New Orleans Red Beans and Rice



Another favorite from our years spent in New Orleans.  It has been a tradition there for many decades to serve this dish on Monday…wash day.  Housewives would put these on the stove in the morning, and let them simmer while they did the laundry…by hand.  At dinnertime, they had a delicious, low cost, and filling meal for the family.  My husband and sons always liked to see this dish on the table.

A while back, my youngest son called and asked for the recipe.  He cooked them, and shared the photo with me.  I have been away from my blog for a while, and I thought it would be fun to post David's dish.  We hope you like it.

Ingredients:
2# dried red beans, cleaned and soaked in water overnight.
2 C chopped onions
½ C chopped green bell pepper
2 tsp. finely minced garlic
1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
1 tsp. black pepper (or to taste)
Cayenne (to taste-don’t want these to be hot)
Red pepper flakes (to taste-don’t want these to be hot)
2 whole bay leaves
1/8 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. dried basil
2 ham hocks
1# salt pork, cut into large chunks
2 tsp. bacon grease
Smoked or Polish Sausage split and fried to serve with beans
Cooked white rice

Instructions:
Drain soaked beans and place them, along with all ingredients, (except sausage) in a large heavy pot.  Cover with cold water.  Bring to a boil over high heat, and then lower to a simmer.  Cover and simmer on low for 2-3 hours.  During cooking, stir frequently and scrape down sides and bottom to prevent scorching.  Cook until beans are tender and creamy “gravy” forms.  If mixture gets too dry and thick, add water.  If too thin at end of cooking, remove lid and cook down a bit.  They should have thin, creamy “gravy”, not a watery “pot-likker” like beans are usually cooked.  Serve over white rice, with fried sausage, and some good baguettes and butter.  Adjust seasonings to taste.  Serve Tabasco on the side.

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Posted by Patsy at 4:21 PM 19 comments
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Friday, August 17, 2012

West Nile Outbreak in Dallas





I'm sure most  you have heard of the West Nile epidemic in Texas, mostly in the DFW area.  300+ cases, 15 deaths so far. Dallas, and the suburbs south of us, have finally started aerial spraying. Our neighborhood is gated, so our HOA does it's own spraying. There are several lakes and creeks here, as well as a wetlands nature 
area. We try to eliminate standing water in our yards, and to balance what is good for the human residents, as well as the plentiful fauna in the area.  

 I must say, with all due modesty, that mosquitoes LOVE me!  I show up outside, and they all come running! This is my back-up protection..my screened porch!  A soul soothing place...and mosquito free.

 Hopefully, this epidemic will be resolved without further infections, or deaths.


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Posted by Patsy at 9:11 PM 10 comments
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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Gazpacho With a Texas Accent

Stonegable is one of my favorite blogs!  Yvonne always has beautiful photographs, and delicious recipes.  Miss Yvonne has the prettiest blog in blog-land!  (Thanks, Pee-Wee)  She recently posted a recipe for Gazpacho using fresh garden ingredients.  My sweet hubby LOVES the stuff!  Our 52nd anniversary was Monday, so he took me out for a lovely meal at a local fresh seafood restaurant.  I thought I would surprise him by making Gazpacho today.  I adapted Yvonne's recipe to our Texas taste, and it turned out great!  Next time I make it, I will add some cold seasoned shrimp to it as well.  It was very, very good!

Ingredients:
2 1/2 C V8 juice
1 C fresh tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 C celery, finely chopped
1/2 C cucumber, finely chopped
3/4 C red, green and yellow peppers, finely chopped
1/2 C sweet onion, finely chopped
3 TBS white wine vinegar
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 TBS olive oil
3-4 drops of Tabasco sauce, or to taste
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
3-4 TBS fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Juice of 1 1/2 lime
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

Lime Wedges for garnish
1 avocado, diced for garnish
Sour cream for garnish

Instructions:
Prepare ingredients and place in bowl with V8 juice.  Put soup in refrigerator for an hour or so to chill and allow flavors to meld.  Place in bowls to serve, and top with sour cream and diced avocado.  If desired, add cold, seasoned boiled shrimp. Serve lime wedges on the side.

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Posted by Patsy at 8:09 PM 11 comments
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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Beer Brats with Onions and Peppers

My hubs loves brats on the grill, and asked me to make them for supper Saturday evening.  It was still very hot when we got ready to eat, so I decided to cook them in the house.  Here is a quick, easy way to do that while giving the brats a great flavor.  The brats were hot..I stayed cool!

Ingredients:
2 bottles of beer..el cheapo
Package of brats...I use Johnsonville
1 large Vidalia onion, cut in strips
1/2 of each: yellow, green, orange and yellow peppers, cut in strips
Buns for brats
1 TBS olive oil

Instructions:  Put brats in pot, cover with beer, and boil.  Pour olive oil in grill pan.  When pan is hot, add onions, peppers and brats and grill until done. Put into brat buns, top with vegetables and your favorite condiments!  Easy peasy...but good!

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Posted by Patsy at 2:08 PM 7 comments
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Honey & Butter Glazed Carrots Wrapped with Bacon

There is a reason that I have been MIA for a while....I have spent the bulk of the summer doing as little as possible...I have been really lazy!  As much as I enjoy cooking, my hubby and I have been grilling, grazing, and grabbing  bites at local restaurants.  I have to confess, I am totally into this! Even so, I decided to martyr myself last night, and cook a real dinner at home.  I met some friends for lunch Saturday, and they were raving about some carrots they had eaten.  I came home and Googled for recipes.  I found one on The Bacon Republic, and adapted it to my taste.  I served these yummy carrots with stuffed red, yellow, green and orange peppers with a tomato gravy, and mashed potatoes.  We loved the carrots..we ate all of them!  Bacon does make everything better!

 Ingredients:
12 whole carrots, peeled and tops removed
12 strips bacon
3 TBS honey
3 TBS butter, melted
Salt and pepper to taste

 Instructions:
Wash and peel carrots, remove tops.  Melt butter, mix with honey, and pour over carrots.  Cover carrots well with the mixture, and let sit for a few minutes.  When ready to cook carrots, wrap each one in bacon, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Place them on a cookie sheet lined with non-stick aluminum foil.  Place in 375F oven, and bake about 20-30 minutes until carrots are tender, and bacon browned; turn when cooking.

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Posted by Patsy at 9:16 PM 17 comments
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Friday, July 13, 2012

The Colonel's Chow-Chow


The handsome WWII officer on the left is my father-in-law, Colonel Edwin Nelson Dodd Sr. He was born in Georgia on July 14, 1912.  He passed away at age 91, but the 100th anniversary of his birth is tomorrow.  Dad was a mixture of many things, loving, strict, a raconteur of the highest order, singer, a light footed-dancer, and excellent cook.  A lot of my recipes and cooking skills I learned from him.  A yearly ritual was making chow-chow to serve with vegetables, on a hot dog,  or even on a tomato sandwich.  It was his own concoction, and is delicious.  I helped him make it many times, and have made it for the family since he stopped doing it.  When I do make it, all of the siblings are happy to find a box containing  several jars in their mailboxes.  I wanted to share this today in memory of the Colonel, and to thank him for all the culinary lessons.  I love you Dad.

8 C green cabbage, chopped
8 C green tomatoes, chopped
2 C green bell pepper, chopped
1 C banana peppers + hot peppers to desired heat level
3 C Vidalia onion, chopped
1 C salt
Cheese cloth
Wash vegetables well and chop.  Put chopped vegetables in a large pot, add salt and cover with water.  Mix well, and let stand 4 hours, then drain well in cheese cloth, squeezing to remove as much liquid as possible, then return them to drained pot.  All liquid should be removed at this point


3 tsp. pickling spices, tied in cheesecloth bag
3 C sugar
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 qt. white vinegar
Place bag of spices, sugar, mustard, pepper, garlic powder, turmeric and vinegar in a pot and boil for 15 minutes.  Pour over vegetables, and bring to a bubble...DO NOT BOIL veggies...simmer for a minute, then put in hot, clean jars immediately and seal tight.  I wash my jars in the dishwasher top rack, and let them go through drying cycle to sterilize them.  You can also boil the jars and lids to sterilize them as well.  I have never had any problem doing the jars like this, but use your own method if you prefer.  The main purpose being getting the jars clean and sterile.  The jars and chow-chow will be hot, so protect your hands from the heat.


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Posted by Patsy at 4:37 PM 12 comments
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Monday, July 9, 2012

Simple Southern Sunday Supper


Hubby and I have been away from home a lot since the end of April.  We just got home again...this time from a two week visit with our family members who live in Arkansas.  We had a great time visiting with the children, grandchildren, and the great-grandson!

I haven't had much time to post lately, but I wanted to get something up to share today.  I have missed doing my blog...and my blogging friends.

After we came home, I made a bee-line to our local farmer's market to buy fresh vegetables.  Our deed restrictions prohibit having a garden on our property,  fortunately, it is only a 10 minute drive to buy fresh produce from local Collin County, Texas blackdirt farmers.  This meal is the result of my shopping trip.  A Sunday night supper of Lady Peas, boiled  okra, fried squash; a tomato, cucumber, Vidalia onion, red and green pepper salad dressed with oil and vinegar, and sweet iced tea with mint...from my potted herb garden.

Years ago, when I moved to Minnesota, a new neighbor informed me that Southerners didn't know the difference between dinner and supper.  I explained to her that we considered the main meal of the day to be dinner..no matter what time of day it was served (after breakfast, of course), and that we referred to a lighter meal in the day as lunch, and one served at night, supper.  I hope that clarified it for her, bless her heart. :)  Anyhow, this was our supper last night..just fresh veggies cooked southern style.

Boiled okra was on the menu.  A lot of people say okra is gross and slimy, but that is only when it is overcooked.  I always add mine on top of fresh peas/beans during the last 8-10 minutes of cooking.  Just cook okra until it is  fork tender and the pods remain whole.  It is delicious!

It is good to be home to relax and unwind for a while.  I hope all of you are having a great summer.

Many thanks to those who have joined my blog while I was away.  Welcome!


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Posted by Patsy at 5:28 PM 10 comments
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Friday, June 15, 2012

Father's Day Steaks


Hubby and I are taking 2-3 weeks or so to travel a bit.  We are having a great time, and there isn't much time left to post blogs.  Sunday is Father's Day, so I wanted to share my sweetie's recipe for steaks on the grill.  I usually serve these with twice baked potatoes, asparagus, and a wedge salad with blue cheese dressing. They have a great flavor!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!

Ingredients:
Black Angus Rib Eye steaks (bone in if available)
Olive Oil
Garlic salt
Black pepper
Tony Chacheres Cajun seasoning
McCormick Spicy Montreal Steak Seasoning
Worcestershire Sauce
Lite soy sauce

Instructions:
Rub steaks with olive oil on both sides.  Sprinkle lightly with garlic salt, black pepper, Cajun seasoning.  Lightly coat with Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.  Then liberally sprinkle on the Montreal seasoning.  Put steaks on hot grill to sear about 3 minutes per side. Then lower heat a bit, and grill to desired doneness.
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Posted by Patsy at 4:57 PM 3 comments
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