THE LADY AND SONS HOUSE SEASONING

 Paula Deen shares her popular seasoning.

1 cup salt

1/4 cup black pepper

1/4 cup garlic powder

Stir ingredients together. Keep in a shaker near the stove for convenience.

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BUTTERMILK FUDGE

3 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups fresh buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix soda into the buttermilk and let stand for 3 minutes. Cook all ingredients, except pecans, together to the soft ball stage. Cool slightly, add nuts and beat until creamy. Spread into a dish or pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Allow to cool and cut into squares.

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EASY MEATBALL SANDWICHES

This recipe is quick and easy because it uses meatballs from the grocer's freezer.

24 frozen meatballs
1 jar spaghetti sauce with garlic and onion
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 (6-inch) hoagie rolls
shredded lettuce, optional

Thaw meatballs in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. In a medium saucepan, heat the meatballs with the spaghetti sauce for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Open hoagie rolls and lay out on platter. Place 6 meatballs on the bottom of each roll. Add a little sauce over the meatballs. Top with the shredded mozzarella cheese and add lettuce, if desired.

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APPLE-RICE PUDDING

 

1 3/4 cups water

1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup uncooked long grain brown rice
1 medium (3/4 cup) Golden Delicious apple, chopped (do not peel)
1/2 cup fat-free milk
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp dried cranberries, chopped
cinnamon for garnish, optional

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan with a lid, bring the water to a boil; add the rice and salt.  Cook, covered, over low heat for 40 to 45 minutes until the water is absorbed.  Stir occasionally during cooking.

Stir in the apple, milk, honey, and cranberries.  Cook, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes until pudding is slightly thickened and creamy; stirring occasionally.

This pudding is delicious served warm or chilled.

Note:  Cinnamon is optional but remember that cinnamon is a blood sugar stabilizer and should be used regularly in your diet.

Yield: 6 servings of 1/3 cup each.

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ZUCCHINI BOATS WITH BARBECUE FILLING

2 medium zucchini

1 tbsp olive oil 

2 cups sliced mushrooms

1/2 lb ground beef or turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup barbecue sauce (your choice)

1 garlic clove. minced

1 tsp cayenne pepper sauce

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Fresh oregano leaves for garnish, if desired

Preheat oven to 400-degrees.

Halve the zucchini lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until browned. Transfer to a plate.

In the same skillet, add the ground meat, onion and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring to break up the meat. Cook until meat is no longer pink, about 7 or 8 minutes. Drain mixture if meat has produced grease. Return to skillet and stir in the barbecue sauce, garlic and pepper sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors blend, approximately 10 minutes. Add mushroom mixture and stir until heated through.

Place zucchini boats, cut side up, in a 2-quart baking dish. Fill with the meat mixture, cover and bake 20 to 25 minutes or just until the zucchini is tender. Uncover, add cheese and bake about 3 minutes until the cheese is melted. Garnish with the oregano leaves, if desired.

Yield: 4 servings

My version of a Woman's World '23 recipe.

PARMESAN PITA TRIANGLES

Serve these little triangles with hummus for a tasty but healthy snack.

6 pita bread rounds, split in half
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Set out 2 ungreased baking sheets.

Cut each bread half into six triangles.

In a 9 X 13-inch baking pan, mix the butter, garlic powder, and onion powder together.  Add the pita bread triangles and toss to coat well.  Add the Parmesan cheese and mix well.

Arrange in single layers on the two baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until lightly browned.

Makes 72 appetizer triangles.

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HALF-HOUR SKILLET DINNER

This is an old recipe clipping from my late mother's shoe box collections.

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SWEET POTATO SOUP

I first saw this in a Southern Living Magazine a few years ago.

2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
1 cup roughly chopped carrots
1 tbsp chopped garlic
3 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
7 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp salted butter
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup torn fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves


Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add all potatoes, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper; cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Add the chicken stock to the Dutch oven and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about half an hour.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring often, until toasted, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Transfer the potato mixture, in batches, to a blender. Remove center of lid to allow steam to escape; secure lid on blender and place a clean towel over the opening. Process until mixture is smooth. If you have one, you can replace the blender step by using an immersion blender in the Dutch oven.

Top each serving with 2 tablespoons pecans, 1 tablespoon yogurt, and 1/2 tablespoon parsley.

Yield: 8 servings.

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CRANBERRY ICED TEA

4 limes

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups boiling water

6 green tea citrus tea bags

2 cups cranberry juice

1 cup cold water

Ice cubes

Using a vegetable peeler, shave zest from 1 of the limes. Squeeze 1/4 cup juice from the times; reserve.

In a pot, combine sugar, 1/3 cup tap water and the zest and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, approximately 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl, cook, strain.

In a heat-proof pitcher, combine boiling water and tea bags; allow to stand 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and discard. Stir in the cranberry juice, cold water, lime juice and the cooled, strained syrup.

Chill tea until cold, at least an hour. Serve over ice in glasses. Garnish with cranberries and/or lime slices, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings

Recipe and photo Woman's World '23

GRILLED TOMATO BRUSCHETTA

 

16 slices (1/2-inch thick) French bread baguette
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 ripe tomatoes, seeded & chopped
1/2 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup torn fresh basil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Preheat grill to 350 to 400 degrees (medium-high heat).

Brush both sides of the bread slices with the olive oil.  Grill a minute or so on each side until toasted.

In a mixing bowl toss together the tomatoes, onion, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper; serve over the bread slices.

This recipe idea is from an old Southern Living magazine.