Fried Okra Salad

I don't really like okra but when I tried this I ate two big bowls!!!

6 slices bacon
2 packages (10 oz each) frozen sliced okra (unbreaded), thawed
cornmeal for coating (season cornmeal for added flavor)
1 large tomato
1 small to medium onion
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
3 tbsp. oil

• Fry bacon until crisp, set aside.
• Add enough oil to the bacon drippings to fry okra.
• Lightly coat thawed okra in cornmeal.
• Fry okra in oil until cooked through, set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Just before serving, crumble bacon into okra.
• Chop tomato and onion and stir into okra.
• Mix sugar, vinegar, and oil, make sure sugar is dissolved
• Toss salad with dressing before serving.

Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescents

1 pound sausage

1 pkg cream cheese

2 cans crescent rolls

• Fry sausage (crumbled) until just done and drain
• Thoroughly mix sausage with cream cheese
• Spoon mixture into crescent roll triangle and roll up according to directions on can
• Bake at 350 degrees until crescent rolls are done.
• Serve with scrambled eggs for breakfast or serve as an appetizer.

If you like this you might also like Best Ever Breakfast Casserole.

Best Ever Breakfast Casserole

I modified a recipe from a dish I saw on a cooking show several years ago.  It was way too complicated and had Feta cheese.  This is my version because I'm lazy and I'm not a fan of Feta cheese.  Enjoy!

1 can crescent rolls
1 lb sausage
6 eggs
1 pkg cream cheese

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese

• Layout 1 can of crescent roll dough flat in a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until just done (not brown but not gooey)
• Brown sausage and drain.
• Mix sausage with cream cheese.
• Soft scramble  the eggs, you want them still a little wet
• Mix with sausage/cream cheese mixture
• Spoon on top of crescent rolls
• Top with cheddar*
• Bake at 350 degrees until cheddar is melted

* you may also top it with crumbled bacon and I like to add some provolone cheese in addition to cheddar

If you like this you might also want to try Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescents.

Fudgey Cake

1 box Fudge cake mix
2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs (well beaten)
2 cups oil
1 box chocolate pudding mix

• Mix all ingredients
• Grease and flour two nine inch cake pans
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until done.
• Cool and frost with Creamy Cool Whip Frosting

Creamy Cool Whip Frosting

In honor of my Katiebug's 13th birthday!

1 envelope Dream Whip Frosting Mix
1 pkg cream cheese softened
1 large tub Cool Whip

• Whip together softened cream cheese and Dream Whip until creamy
• Whip in Cool Whip until mixed thoroughly
• Add coloring if desired
• Frost cake and store in refrigerator
• Goes well with Fudgey Cake

* Substitute chocolate Cool Whip and chocolate pudding mix to make Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Apple Enchiladas

Cherries or peaches can be substituted for apples.

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling

6 (8 inch) flour tortillas

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup water

• Spoon about one heaping quarter cup of pie filling evenly down the center of each tortilla.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon; roll up, tucking in edges; and place seam side down in prepared dish.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes.
• Pour sauce over enchiladas and let stand 45 minutes.
• Bake in preheated oven 20 minutes, or until golden.
• Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Southern Style Corn

6 T butter
2 T flour
2 T sugar
1 t salt
1/2 cup milk
1 can whole kernel corn

• Melt butter in skillet.
• Mix flour, sugar, and salt together real well.
• Add corn, and dry mix to the butter and stir thoroughly.
• Add 1/2 cup milk.
• Cook, covered, for 10 minutes on low heat.

Tamale Pie

1 lb ground beef

1 medium chopped onion

1 T chili powder

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

3/4 t salt

3/4 cup cornmeal

1 1/2 t baking powder

1/3 cup milk

1 T sugar

1 T flour

1 egg (beaten)

1 T oil

1 can whole kernel corn (drained)

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

• Brown beef with onion and drain.
• Add tomatoes, 1/4 t salt, chili powder, corn, green pepper, and black beans.
• Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Pour into greased 2 quart casserole dish.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, 1/2 t salt, baking powder, egg, milk, and oil.
• Stir until just moistened.
• Spread mixture over beef.
• Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes or until corn bread is brown.
• Serve with cheese and sour cream on top.

Easy BBQ Chicken

2  to 2 1/2 pounds chicken
16 ounces Coca cola
1 bottle BBQ sauce

• Place chicken in a large deep pan.
• Mix Coke and BBQ sauce.
• Pour over chicken.
• Simmer until chicken is tender and sauce is thick.

Mamaw's Liver and Onions

Not a favorite of most but, I sure love it!

1 to 2 pounds beef liver
2 envelopes Lipton onion soup mix
1 medium onion

• Coat liver in flour and salt
• Fry until browned
• Place liver in a crock pot.
• Empty soup packets and sliced onion on top.
• Cover with water.
• Simmer on low until tender.

Carmel Pecan Ice Cream

Scooter's favorite ice cream!

2 T butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup white sugar
1 quart half and half
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 (12 oz) jar caramel ice cream topping
1 T vanilla
1 quart whipping cream

• Combine butter, pecans, and white sugar in an 8 inch skillet
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar melts and turns golden brown (6 to 8 min)
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool
• Break into small clusters and set aside
• Combine half and half, brown sugar, and caramel and mix well
• Stir in whipping cream and pecan clusters
• Pour mixture into a one gallon ice cream freezer and freeze according to instructions
• Pack freezer with additional ice and salt and let stand one hour to ripen before serving.
• Makes 3 quarts

Cranberry Salad

1 large box cherry jell-o

1 can mandarin oranges (drained)
1 small can crushed pineapple
2 cups hot water
1 cup chopped nuts
1 lb. cranberries
1 1 /2 cups sugar

• Freeze cranberries
• Put frozen cranberries in food processor and chop fine
• Make jello using half amount water called for.
• Dissolve sugar in jello.
• Mix jello, cranberries, nuts, mandarin oranges and pineapple together. 
• Will keep in frig 2-3 weeks.

Blueberry Delight

2 sticks melted butter
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
8 oz cream softened cream cheese
1 large carton cool whip
1/2 box powdered sugar
1 can blueberry pie filling

• Mix butter, flour, and pecans
• Pat into an 11x13 pan. 
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes and let cool.
• Mix cream cheese, 1/2 of the cool whip and powdered sugar
• Spread over cooled crust
• Top with blueberry pie filling
• Store in refrigerator

Mix and spread over cooled crust. 

Texas Salad (Slaw)

1 large cabbage

1 onion

1 carrot

1 bell pepper

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup white vinegar

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup water

2 T salt

1 t ground mustard

1 t celery seed

1/2 t turmeric

• Grate vegetables and mix sugar over them. 
• Heat vinegar, oil, water, salt and spices to boiling point. 
• Pour over vegetables and mix. 
• Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

Peaches and Cream Cheesecake

Made in three layers...

Layer 1
3/4 cup flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/2 cup milk

3 T butter

1 box vanilla pudding mix (not instant)

1 egg

Mix all ingredients together.  Beat 2 minutes at medium speed.  Pour into a greased 9 inch deep dish.

Layer 2
1 (15-20 oz) can sliced peaches

Drain peaches well and reserve juice.  Place peaches on top of layer one.

Layer 3
1 pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
3 T reserved peach juice

Mix together well and spoon on top of peaches making sure you leave a one inch edge around the pan
Sprinkle 1 T sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes until crust is golden brown.  Filling will appear soft.  Store in refrigerator.

Shrimp Jambalaya

One of my favorite dishes Momma makes...

   1  pound shrimp (cooked and peeled)
   1  pound smoked sausage
   1  T flour
1/2  t Worcestershire sauce
       dash paprika
   1  (16oz) can tomatoes
1/4  c chopped onion
   3  T chopped green peppers
   1  cup minced garlic
1/2  t salt
       dash cayenne pepper
   2  (6oz) cans sliced mushrooms
   4  cups cooked rice

• Cut sausage in small pieces and fry until brown.
• Add onion, green pepper, and garlic and cook until tender
• Blend in flour and seasonings
• Add mushrooms, tomatoes, and shrimp.
• Simmer for 20 minutes
• Pour over cooked rice

Cabbage Creole

Even if you don't like cabbage you should try this.

1 -2 lb ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 medium head of cabbage, chopped

1 (10 ounce) can Ro-tel

1/2 lb Velveeta, cubed

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

In a large skillet, brown beef with chopped onion. Drain, if necessary.

Return meat mixture to pan.

Add chopped cabbage (this may have to be done in batches depending on how big of a pan you use).

Cook until cabbage is somewhat wilted.

Add Rotel and continue to cook until cabbage is tender.

Add cubed Velveeta and seasonings to taste.

Cook until cheese is melted.

Serve hot.

Strawberry Bon Bons

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 large packages wild strawberry jello7 oz sweetened shredded coconut
1 c finely chopped pecans
red sprinkles
green sprinkles

• Combine all ingredients, except sprinkles
• Refrigerate at least an hour so that they mix is firm enough to shape.
• After mixture is chilled scoop out tablespoon sized amount of mix and mold into strawberry shape.
• Roll the strawberry, except for the top into red sprinkles, press top into green sprinkles to create the look of a stem
• Store in frig

Ding Dong Cake

1 box pudding type cake mix

1 c. milk

4 tbsp. flour

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. shortening

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

• Bake cake according to directions on box, using a 9"x13" pan.
• Combine milk and flour.
• Cook until thick, then cool.
• Mix butter and shortening for 4 minutes.
• Add sugar and vanilla and mix 4 more minutes.
• Add flour mixture and beat 4 minutes more.
• After it cools, slice in half horizontally and spread with filling.
• Replace top layer of cake or you could bake it in a bundt pan and then slice in half horizontally and scoop some of the cake out of middle. I've seen it both ways.
• Cover with icing. (recipe below)

ICING:

1 tbsp. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

3 tbsp. milk

2 tbsp. cocoa

Add powdered sugar until thick

Sour Cream Raisin Pie

1 cup sugar
3 egg yolks
1 cup sour cream
1 cup raisins
3 T flour

• Soak raisins until tender
• Mix egg, sugar, flour, and sour cream
• Add raisins
• Cook until thick, stirring constantly
• Pour into pie shell and cover with meringue.

Broccoli Casserole

1 pound Velveeta (cubed)
1 cup cooked rice
8 oz cooked broccoli
1 medium onion (finely chopped)
1 stick margarine
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups crumbles Ritz crackers

• Mix all ingredients together, except crackers, and pour in a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish
• Sprinkle with crackers
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until crackers are toasted and cheese is melted.

Optional:  add some sliced water chestnuts to the mix or you can substitute cream of mushroom for cream of chicken

Bodacious Bad Breath Beef Ball

Don't breathe on anyone after eating this!

2 pkg cream cheese (room temp)
6-8 green onions
1 jar dried beef
1 t accent
1 t Worcestershire sauce
chopped pecans

• Mix all ingredients together
• Form into a ball
• Roll in chopped pecans
• Chill and serve with crackers

Lasagne

When the stars make you drool like a bigga pasta fool, that's amore!

8 ounces lasagna noodles
1 pound ground beef
2 one pound cans tomatoes
8 oz tomato sauce
1 T seasoning salt
1 pkg spaghetti sauce mix
2 cloves minced garlic

• Fry meat, garlic, and salt until meat is brown, drain
• Add rest of ingredients, except cheese, and simmer 30 minutes
• Cook noodles according to directions on box and drain
• Pour half of mixture into large rectangular pan
• Put a layer of noodles on top of meat
• Cover noodles with cheese
• Layer, meat noodles and cheese as before
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Chicken Enchilada's

Courtesy of Jeanie Brown

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1 cup salsa

2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast meat

6 (6 inch) flour tortillas

2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream cheese and salsa. Cook, stirring until melted and well blended.
• Stir in chicken.
• Fill tortillas with the mixture, roll and place in a lightly sprayed baking dish.
• Spread cheese over the top.
• Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through.
• Garnish with your favorite toppings such as lettuce and tomatoes, or sour cream

Shrimp and Potato Soup

1/2 stick butter
1 small onion (finely chopped)

2 medium diced carrots

2 T flour

8 medium potatoes (cubed)

4 cups milk

2 chicken bouillon cubes dissolved

1 cup half and half

1 t salt

1/4 t pepper
2 cups salted water
1 pound shrimp
bacon, sour cream, and cheese for garnish

• melt butter and saute onion and carrots until both are tender
• whisk in flour and cook for one minute
• add potatoes, milk, and dissolved bouillon cubes
• cook over medium heat for 15 minutes until potatoes are soft and some have began to dissolve
• add the half and half, salt, pepper
• add shrimp and cook over low heat until shrimp are cooked
• garnish with bacon, cheese, and sour cream if desired

Meatloaf

Not a "chunky" meatloaf.


Loaf
1 1/2   pound hamburger
   1/2   cup bread crumbs
   3/4  cup milk
      2  eggs
      1  t salt

Topping - mix the follow three ingredients together well
1/4  cup ketchup
   2  T brown sugar
   1  t mustard

• mix ingredients together well
• put in loaf pan
• bake at 350 degrees for 65 minutes
• pull out of oven and pour topping on loaf
• bake 10 more minutes

Jean's Mexican Cornbread

Courtesy of Linda Harton

1 1/2 - 2 cups shredded cheddar
1 small minced onion
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sweet milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup plain meal
1 t salt
1/2 t soda
1/2 cup cream style corn

• mix all ingredients together
• coat skillet with non stick spray and sprinkle with meal
• bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes

If you are a cornbread lover you might also want to try Sour Cream Cornbread.