Soul Food Squash and Tomato Casserole
2 lbs yellow squash, sliced
1 C water
3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped with juice retained
1 T all-purpose flour
2 t sugar
1 t kosher salt
1 t paprika
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t black pepper
2 C shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2-1 C parmesan cheese
Combine the squash and water in a large saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer on low until tender. Drain and set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine tomatoes, flour, sugar, salt, paprika, garlic powder and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir well....turn heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Place half of squash in a prepared ( greased) shallow 2 quart casserole dish. Pour 1/4 of tomato mixture over squash and spread gently...won't look like enough but it is! Top with 1 C shredded mozzarella cheese, and another 1/4 of the tomato mixture. Repeat layers with the remaining squash, tomato mixture and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the top with the parmesan cheese. Bake 30 minutes at 350. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Reheats very well!! Serves 8
* I was skeptical that this would be good as I'm used to making squash casserole with mayo, sour cream, cheddar cheese, eggs....cracker crumbs, butter...etc...! This doesn't take it's place but it was incredible! Miller's comment was "If I have to eat squash...this is the best way!" It's so much less fattening and it doesn't taste it!!!
I hope you love it!
White Barbeque Sauce Chicken
I've never really thought about people in other area's of the US not experiencing this fabulous, easy everyday meal that we all take for granted down south!!! So here it is!
6 HEAPING T of mayo ( I use Hellman's Light )
2 T sugar
1 T salt ( I use 1/2 )
1 T pepper
3 T lemon juice
3 T white vinegar
mix well with wisk...place cleaned, boneless,skinless chicken breasts in marinage ( about 6-8 )
let marinate for about 8 hours....cook over medium hot grill, basting occasionally....YUM!!!!
to serve white barbeque sauce on the side...this is the version we do..it's also incredible with the pork tenderloin recipe I've posted before! People truly love it!!!
White Sauce
2/3 C mayo ( I use light!)
1/3 C apple cider vinegar
1 t salt
1 t pepper
mix all ingredients in a small sauce pan and heat over low....don't boil...just heat and serve warm with chicken or pork.
"Old Faithful" Squash Casserole
2-3 lbs yellow squash, washed and sliced
1/2 large onion, diced.....
3-4 T butter
season with salt and pepper
small amount of water
put all 3 ingredients in a large dutchoven and bring to a low boil....heat for 15 or so minutes until squash is tender....drain well...mashing out water in a colander
put squash in a mixing bowl and add...1 Cup Mayo, 1/2-3/4 C sour cream, one beaten egg....1 t salt and 1 t pepper.....2 C shredded cheddar cheese....1/2 C parmesan cheese.....
put in greased 2 quart casserole dish and top with 1- 1/2 sleeves Ritz crackers...rolled into crumbs and tossed with 3/4 C melted butter....
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until browned.
Best thing ever!!!!!
Fresh Green Beans
My mom taught me how to do this years ago and it's pretty tried and true! You just have to learn to adjust the seasonings according to how many green beans you are cooking at the time. Let's say you have 6-8 Cups of green beans by the time you wash them, string them, etc…and break into the size pieces that your family likes. At that point, after they are rinsed…you put a small amount ( 2 T ) of olive oil in the bottom of a dutch oven and place the prepared green beans in. Heat over medium to medium high heat stirring beans to get coated well. Keep stirring until they begin to turn a bright green color. At that point, cover the beans with chicken broth…not water! Probably enough to cover them with an extra inch or so of broth. Add ALOT of Cavendar's Greek Seasoning and bring to a rolling boil. Cover and turn down to low and cook until desired tenderness. I usually cook mine for about an hour and then let sit for the day and then return them to the heat while I'm cooking the rest of my dinner so that gives them an extra hour to finish until the way my family likes them…pretty much cooked to death! That's it! It's that simple!! Hope you enjoy
Ham Delight Sandwiches
2 lbs. shaved deli style ham ( honey maple by Boar's Head is what I use)
3 packages shredded Swiss Cheese
1 medium onion, quartered
2 sticks butter, softened
3 T yellow mustard
1 1/2 t Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 T poppy seeds
3 packages Hawaiian Rolls or Pepperidge Farm Party Rolls ( small square size)
In a food processor, chop onion finely and add mustard, softened butter and worcestershire sauce. Process until well blended. Add poppy seeds and stir or blend well. Slice rolls horizontally while all stick in tact. Lay top side over and place bottom side on a foil pain or thick foil. Layer 1/3 of the ham and then 1/3 of the swiss cheese on bottom halves of al of the rolls. Spread butter and onion mixture over top halves of all of the rolls. Place top halves on to the sandwiches and then slice along lines of cut rolls…so as to make it easier to cut the sandwiches apart. It is very difficult once they are hot! Trust me on this one!) Cover tightly with foil all the way around the pan and bake at 325-350 for 30 minutes or until completely hot! So good!!! Everyone loves these!!! Enjoy!!
Double Roasted Walnuts!
(ever wonder how restaurants come up with these fancy names like Pork Belly and Double this and Double That?) Well, tonight I was desperate for some quick things to add to our Autumn Dinner Salad and I knew I needed nuts! I had a baggie in the freezer of walnuts that I'd toasted a while back..so…I thought, why not? I took them out and threw them in the skillet with a tablespoon or two of unsalted butter…sautéed them for just a bit…added a few heaping tablespoons of brown sugar…stirred them for a minute or two and then got brave! That's when I added the spiced that I will always add to my candied pecans, walnuts, etc… a dash of cinnamon, cumin, chili powder and curry powder… Stir for a bit longer…turn out onto a sheet of wax paper and let them cool!!!
Truly divine!!!
