Southern Inspiration

Today's recipe is going to begin with a disclaimer. I am NOT a Southern cook. I have never nor would I ever claim to be. Sure, I say ya'll and love me some greens, but alas, I am born and bread in Indiana. So, if you consider yourself one, or have been eating your granny from Mississippi's food all your life and know Southern food, and read this and think "that's not Southern"...please keep the hate mail to yourself. This is an interpretation of mine, a born and raised Yankee, just trying to make something new and yummy. 

 I don't care what the weather is doing outside, sometimes I just want foods that are not considered to be "in season." It can be 80 and sunny and I crave a certain soup, or it can be 30 and snowing and I want a big helping of potato salad, which was the inspiration for this. Well, except the weather part. It was actually unseasonably warm the day I made this. 60 in Indiana the last week of November? Yeah, that is odd, but we'll take it. 

When I sat down to plan my menu for the week, I couldn't get the words potato salad out of my head. I just wanted it. Now. And I wanted a new kind. I love the various recipes I have for it. From my Amish style to my Classic to the Loaded filled with bacon, they are all delicious. But I was just in the mood for a new kind. So I started reading, researching and of course Googling. 

After about a thousand recipes I came across a few I wanted to combine into my own creation, with this being the result; and to me it is Southern.

I know a lot of people are gearing up for that big holiday ham, and many serve potato salad with it. See, it's just not for summer! Lots of families are going to sit down next to the twinkling Christmas tree with some sliced ham and big ol' pile of tater salad next to it. If you're one of them, this would be a great version to include!

Southern Potato Salad

32 oz. bag frozen diced potatoes

3 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1 c. mayo

2/3 c. minced sweet pickles*

1/3 c. pickle juice

1 tsp. onion powder

1 1/2 tsp. yellow mustard

1 TBS dried parsley

Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large pot cover frozen potatoes with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 7-10 minutes. While potatoes cook whisk together mayo, pickle juice, onion powder, parsley, salt and pepper. Set aside. Once potatoes are cooked, drain well and add to a large bowl. DO NOT RINSE Mash slightly with a potato masher, leaving some chunks. Mix in pickles and eggs. Add dressing and mix well. Chill several hours before serving. *NOTE* The BEST way to get the pickles minced is to chop and then add to a food processor and pulse a couple times. You want them fine. Also, the potatoes will be warm when you mix everything, so when you add the dressing, it might look too wet and "soupy". That's okay. It will set up in the fridge. You want the potatoes warm because it absorbs the dressing.

Inspired by Southern Plate

Back To School Rush

We are two weeks in folks, and I'm already counting down the days until Christmas break. Okay, so maybe it isn't quite that bad, but I can say for sure I know when Labor Day is...and every other day off is circled on the calendar in red! 

Not only do I want my boy back home with me, but I'm just tired. Exhausted. We both are. I know we will get back into the swing of things and it won't always seem so overwhelming, but I don't know if we will ever welcome that early morning alarm. What can I say? We like our sleep. 

Once again I'm trying to find ways for supper to be easy and stress free. By the end of the day, after homework is done (and there is A LOT of it this year) I'm simply too fried to have to think too hard about what I'm making for dinner; and I know so many parents out there feel the same way. 

On days like this we need all the help we can get, and our slow cookers can be our best friend. I love these because if you have a programmable Crock Pot, you can put them on in the morning so they can cook and shut off while you're gone at work, or busy at home. Or, the other option for folks like me, who don't have one that fancy, they only have to cook a couple hours, so you can put them on when you get home and still be eating at a decent time. Or, the third option, cook them when you are home, chill and then reheat the next day! 

Anyway you decide to do it, you will be a rock star to your family. These are cheesy goodness on a bun. Think sloppy joe, but with melted, ooey gooey cheese! Liquid gold right there! Add your favorite burger toppings, some fries and dinner is served! 

School days are a blur sometimes, but we still need to eat. Make it as easy on yourself as possible. Don't stress. Just sit down with your family, hear about their day and enjoy a meal!

Crock Pot Cheeseburgers

Originally Developed for The Children's Museum

2 lbs. ground beef

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 c. dill pickle slices, finely chopped

2 TBS Worcestershire sauce

3 TBS yellow mustard

8 oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed

Salt and Pepper to taste

Pretzel Buns

Sliced Tomatoes

Lettuce

Ketchup

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain if necessary. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine. Spray Crock Pot with nonstick spray. Add beef mixture. Add cheese and pickles. Stir well. Cook on LOW for 2 hours until cheese melted. Serve on buns with toppings, or add your own!
*NOTE* I like to put the lettuce on the bottom of the bun to act as a barrier as to avoid squishy buns. And I use a little dollop of ketchup as “glue” for the tomato!

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Little Sandwich Supper

Well folks, school is in full swing. Only 6 days in and I am E.X.H.A.U.S.T.E.D I'm not kidding! I took a nap this past Sunday! I haven't taken a nap in I don't know how long. But there I was at 4 in the afternoon laying on our bed, fast asleep.

I'm sure my sleep schedule is totally whacked out and when it's back on track I won't feel like I am asleep on my feet 24/7, but until that happens, I am finding ways to ease my life any way I can.

Supper is always one way I look to shave a little time off my oh so busy day. If there is a way I can feed my family, but spend a little less energy doing so, sign me up!

On nights when I need simple, yet scrumptious, quick yet satisfying, many times I turned to my friend the sandwich. Rather it be soup and sammies, salad and sammies, fruit and sammies....I have so many different ways I serve them up, but each gives us a supper that is easy on me, and filling for my family.

These little tasty gems will certainly become part of our regular sandwich rotation, and I'm guessing if you try them, yours too. Think hot ham and cheese taken to the next level. If you've never had a Cuban Sandwich, or "Cubano", it's filled with ham, roasted pork, pickles, Swiss cheese, mustard and then pressed until it's thin and crispy. Well, minus the roast pork, these have all of that! And the sauce on the top? Well, I could drink that stuff with a straw!

If you're looking to switch up your sandwich routine because your schedule is as busy as mine, and you too find yourself struggling to keep going at the end of the day, these are exactly what you're looking for.

Cuban Sliders

12 Hawaiian Slider Buns or Dinner Rolls

24 thin slices ham (I like the small round ones)

Sliced Swiss Cheese, cut into fourths

Dill Pickle Chips

1 stick butter, melted

2 TBS Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. onion powder

Preheat oven to 350. Lay bottoms of buns in 9 x 13 baking dish. Add two slices of ham, two fourths of cheese and two pickles to each. Put tops on. In a large bowl, combine butter, mustard and onion powder. Whisk well. Baste tops of sandwiches liberally with sauce. Cover with foil. Bake for 10 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 additional minutes until golden brown on top.  

Shared at Weekend Potluck


Inspired by Taste of Home

As a Field Editor of Taste of Home, I share this recipe as a volunteer, NOT a paid employee. 

A Deep South Dish {A Review and Giveaway}

Do you love traditional Southern food? Our family sure does. Any time I can find recipes that bring a little bit of the South into my Hoosier Yankee kitchen I am a happy cook! Those flavors we love in the dishes we can't get enough of; and now I've got another source for them all! Another food blogger we love has a terrific cookbook!

Deep South Dish Homestyle Southern Recipes is full of Southern comfort food that is nothing short of homemade heaven! Mary loves to share the food that her mother and grandmother used to make. She calls on her heritage to come up with recipes that have one thing in common--incredibly great taste!

When I first started thumbing through my copy, I didn't know where to begin. Each recipe was making my mouth water more than the last. So many delicious things to try, what's a girl to do? But then I came upon this recipe and at first I didn't think it would be the one, but then I saw the on ingredient that made it just that. See, I had made another recipe with that ingredient years ago and while the hubby loved it, I wasn't convinced, so I wanted to try again.

This is what Mary calls her "basic creamy coleslaw", but it's so not basic! And that ingredient that caught my attention? Horseradish! We love the stuff, but the recipe I had used it in a before wasn't anything special and I felt it didn't add anything but an overpowering flavor. But not this! This is exactly what I was looking for the first time around, but had to wait to try Mary's recipe to find.

This will be the dish you make for your next cookout or summer party that everyone loves, and asks "What do I taste?" They will know there is something special hiding in there, but won't be able to put their finger on it. It's the perfect side dish this time of year, after all what is a backyard barbecue without a great coleslaw?

If you love Southern comfort food as much as I do, be sure to check out what Mary has cooking over at her blog, and order a copy of her book while you're there! But you can also WIN one right here! Yep, I'm giving a copy of Deep South Dish away to one lucky winner, just scroll down to find out how!

Creamy Coleslaw

1/2 large head cabbage, shredded

1/4 white onion, grated

1/2 c. grated carrot

1/2 (16 oz.) jar bread and butter pickles, chopped 

Dressing:

1 c. mayo

3 TBS sugar

1 TBS apple cider vinegar

1/4 tsp. pepper

Large pinch kosher salt

2 heaping tsp. prepared horseradish 

1 tsp. celery seed

1/4-1/2 c. pickle juice from the jar

In a large bowl, whisk together mayo and sugar until well blended. Add vinegar, salt, pepper, horseradish, celery seed and pickle juice. Whisk well. Add cabbage, carrots, onion and pickles on top of dressing. Toss until dressing is mixed and cabbage is covered. Chill for 1 hour or longer, tossing occasionally. *NOTE* I added some dried parsley and extra celery seed for garnish.  

Shared at Weekend Potluck



Disclaimer: I received a free cookbook in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*******GIVEAWAY********

Leave a comment telling me your favorite traditional Southern dish. Be sure to leave your email address too so I can find you if you win! 

Contest Ends: June 22, 2015

Easy Dinners with McCormick {A Sponsored Post}

What if I told you dinner could be on the table in about 15 minutes? Think I'm crazy? Are you saying "NO way." Well, I wouldn't lie to you! It's a reality, thanks to my good friends from McCormick and their new line of Skillet Sauces! 

That's right, a trusted name in our kitchens for years, has recently launched their new Skillet Sauces, now available at your local Walmart.

And in case you are wondering where in your store to find them, start in the baking aisle. I found mine next to the other sauce and gravy mixes.

With 7 varieties to choose from, the possibilities are endless. Plus, each one comes with its own unique and tasty recipe, right on the package. From Sloppy Joe, to Tacos, to Chicken Fajitas, there are so many delicious options to choose from!

So, you might be wondering which one I chose to try. Well, the minute I saw the Smoky Applewood BBQ Chicken I knew it would be coming home with me. But imagine how excited I was when I read the directions, and discovered this one came with slow cooker directions too! Talk about a match made in heaven! Sure, a meal that is ready in 15 minutes in the skillet is hard to beat, but one that can cook in my crock pot while I am busy doing other things is even better in my book! Many of the sauces come with this slow cooker option, so just be sure to read the directions carefully! 

These are a terrific weeknight meal when time is of the essence, or would also be fabulous to feed a crowd! I'm thinking tailgating while you cheer on your favorite team. Or...remember, that holiday rush is just around the corner, and we are all in need of simple meals when family comes to town!

If your dinner plans must include the words "quick, easy and scrumptious", then you need look no further than McCormick's Skillet Sauces for your answer. And be sure to stay up on all the great products they offer by connecting with them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. 

Slow Cooker 

Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

3 large boneless chicken breasts

1  ( 7 oz.) pouch McCormick BBQ Chicken Skillet Sauce

1 white onions, cut into wedges

Garlic Powder

Salt and Pepper

Pretzel Buns

Sweet n Spicy Pickles

Spray slow cooker with nonstick spray. Season chicken liberally with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place in slow cooker. Add onions. Pour sauce over the top. Cook for 8 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH. An hour before finished, remove and shred using two forks, or a stand mixer. Place back in slow cooker and stir to combine with sauce and cooked onions. Reduce heat to warm setting until serving. Serve on pretzel buns with pickles. *NOTE* My chicken was done in about 5 hours on LOW.

Shared on The Country Cook Oct. 31, 2014

Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post by McCormick. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sneak It In Where You Can

All of you moms and dads out there know exactly what I meant when you read that title. There are certain foods that you sneak into your kids' diets whenever and wherever you can. You don't feel bad about being just a little deceitful because let's face it, when it comes to those veggies or other things they turn their noses up at every single time, you will get sneak them in no matter what.

In our house, there aren't many things my big or little boy won't eat. Yes, I know how lucky I am. And for those hating me right now, believe me I feel your pain. I watch parents and spouses struggle with the notion of having to not cook certain things because they will not go over well. So for me, it's more sneaking in substitutes trying to make things a little healthier here and there.

One way I do this is by using ground turkey in place of ground beef in many of my recipes. If you have never tried this, I highly recommend it. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was probably 2 years of me doing this before my husband ever caught on; and to this day I don't know if they boy has. Ground turkey works fabulously in tacos, sloppy joes, casseroles...really for the most part any place ground beef is called for. 

This recipe was one I had been thinking of trying for a while, and with our freezer beef running low, I knew it would be a great place to perform my magical trick. If you have made traditional tater tot casserole before, this will be a tasty twist on it. If you haven't, then it's a great place to start. 

It makes a fantastic weeknight meal, especially on those nights when the family is starving and dinner is something you're just ready to put a lot of effort into. Plus, you can sneak something a little more healthy onto the dinner table without them even suspecting. All they will know is it's delicious!

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

32 oz. bag frozen tater tots

1.5 lbs. ground turkey

8 oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 c. ketchup

1 TBS Worcestershire sauce

3 TBS brown sugar

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 medium onion, finely chopped, reserve some for garnish

Salt and Pepper to taste

Finely chopped dill pickle, for garnish, optional

Cooking Spray

Preheat oven to 425. Grease a 9x13 pan. Place tater tots in pan. Bake for 12 minutes. While cooking, in a large skillet, sprayed with cooking spray, brown ground turkey until no longer pink. When almost done, add onion and saute together. In a medium bowl whisk together tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, garlic powder, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Add to ground turkey. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove tater tots from oven. Add ground turkey mixture to pan. Top with cheese. Bake for 15 additional minutes until heated through and cheese melted. Allow to stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra onion and chopped pickle, if desired. 

Shared on The Country Cook April 25, 2014

Casseroles at Very Good Recipes

New Smyrna Living

As many of you already know, we once again took our annual family vacation to New Smyrna Beach, Florida...loving every single minute!

For 3 weeks in June/July, we played in the waves, swam in the crystal clear pool, felt the sand between our toes, and most of all, enjoyed time together as a family, just the the three of us. 

One of our favorite things to take full advantage of while we are just yards away from the Atlantic Ocean is the incredibly fresh and delicious seafood! I love sending the boys to the local seafood market and knowing what they bring home just came in on the boat that morning! You can't get much better than that! And we've really learned over the years that for what it would cost for one meal at a restaurant, we can buy enough to feed all three of us, leaving us so full we could burst! 

This year one of the things I decided to make were Po'Boy Sandwiches because we got such an incredible deal on shrimp. They were practically giving the stuff away! 

If you have had an traditional Po'Boy down in Louisiana, you know just how delicious they are. Now I've never been lucky enough to experience the "real" thing, but Mr. Everyday has, and he said these were close...very close. They make a tasty, quick weeknight supper for summer. Plus, even if you're not getting the deal we did on shrimp, they allow you to make a little go a long way, so they make a seafood treat economical. 

We are still trying to get back into the swing of things...and we've been home two weeks! But hey, three weeks on the beautiful beach will do that to you, and the recovery is 100% worth it!

Shrimp Po' Boys Adapted from Simply Recipes

1 lb. medium shrimp, shelled, deveined and tails off

1 1/2 c. flour

1 TBS Cajun seasoning

1 TBS Old Bay seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

Vegetable oil for frying

Iceberg lettuce

Sliced tomatoes

Sliced dill pickles

Hoagie buns

Sauce: 

1/4 c. whole grain mustard

1 1/4 c. mayo

1 tsp. dill pickle juice

1 tsp. hot sauce

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1-2 tsp. Cajun seasoning

1 TBS Old Bay seasoning

In a small bowl whisk together all ingredients for sauce. Mix well. Set in fridge to chill for about an hour. In a medium bowl combine flour, 1 TBS each Cajun and Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix well. Dredge shrimp in flour and set on a plate for about 5 minutes. Heat oil over medium in a large pot or deep sided skillet. Fry shrimp in small batches for about 5-7 minutes each. Drain shrimp on paper towels. To assemble sandwiches, spread sauce on both sides of bun. Line with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Divide shrimp evenly among sandwiches, about five or six each. Makes 5 sandwiches

Shared on Make Ahead Meals July 22, 2013
Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain July 24, 2013
Shared on The Country Cook July 26, 2013

Shrimp at Very Good Recipes
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It's All In The Pickle

Sometimes it amazes me just how many versions of the same dish can be found. Seriously, with certain things, the possibilities are endless. To the point that I find myself seeing the same dish prepared a thousand different ways. Between cookbooks, magazines, blogs, websites....you can find certain things made so many different ways you could have a new one every night of year and never repeat! So when I come across a brand new way of preparing such a dish, it definitely makes me sit up and take notice!

This was the case when I first saw this recipe prepared on Rachael Ray's daytime talk show. I was only half listening, so when she said she was "going to make a coleslaw" I didn't even look up from my computer. But then she said the magic words that made me stop what I was doing and make sure I was listening. Pickle Juice.

Yep, the secret ingredient in this coleslaw is just a hint of pickle juice. Now, we are pickle people. We love all kinds, all shapes and sizes. From the baby gherkins to the huge dill pickles on a stick we enjoy at a fair. So of course my ears perked right up when I heard this.

Something else that makes this a little different than other slaws I make a lot is the dressing. Not only is it not creamy, it's also cooked. So technically, this could be served as a warm slaw, but we like ours cold. It's sweet and sour, crisp and crunchy! This would be a fantastic slaw for on top of a pulled pork sandwich too!

If you are still looking for sides for your July 4th barbecue, maybe this can be added to your list. And be sure to top it with those few chopped pickles! They will be just enough to peek your guests' interest!

Oil and Vinegar Slaw Adapted from Rachael Ray
2 ( 16 oz.) packages coleslaw mix
3/4 c. cider vinegar
1/4 c. bread and butter pickle juice
2 TBS yellow mustard
1 tsp. celery seed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. white sugar
1 TBS brown sugar
2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 bread and butter pickles, diced for garnish

In a small pot, combine vinegar, pickle juice, mustard, celery seed, garlic, both sugars and salt. Heat on medium just until sugar and salt dissolve. Stir well. Reduce heat to low and slowly whisk in oil. Continue whisking until well combined. In a large bowl place coleslaw mix. Pour dressing over and mix well. Cover and chill until serving, up to the next day. Garnish with diced pickle.

Coleslaw at Very Good Recipes
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