Italian Pepperoni Pasta

One of my twins loves pasta!  He could eat it all day , each and every day.  Now that I think about it, I think he does have it at once a day.  This is perfect for the summer as it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.  I’ll be making this one  a lot.  

Mexican Corn ..You know, like in the can

Mexican Corn.  Do you remember your precious Mama making it out of the can for you?  Well, I do!  I always loved it.  Now, I love this a lot more.  Simple and so flavorful!

Cheesy Alfredo Bacon Ranch Potatoes and Onions

Alfredo, cheese, ranch and bacon on buttery potatoes and onions.  Loving every bite!

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Potatoes and Ham Soup

This brings back memories of my precious Mama cooking newly dug potatoes from the garden.  I would have to wash the dirt off and place them on dry grass to dry, turning them over to ensure even drying.  There is nothing better than fresh potatoes that have simmered on the stove, either with a cream sauce..Potatoes and Cream Sauce, or with a hunk of leftover ham.  Mama always put a lot of pepper in her potatoes and would sometimes but garden peas in with the cream sauce.   I started out not making this to write down and just added a little here and more there.  Adjust the recipe to suit.  Do you have a potato memory?  ~smile~

Tomato Casserole

This is an easy and economical side or main dish (double recipe.)   Add your favorite herbs, meats and cheeses or leave it plain.  Any way you make it is going to be a hit!

Fried Potatoes, Green Peppers and Onions

 It's National Potato Day Y'all!

We love potatoes!  Actually my boys like more of the french fry version but hubby and I love just about any way you can fix them.  This is a favorite.  I can see my sweet Mama cooking this many, many years ago.  ~smile~   

What's your favorite potato dish?  I continue to fix them different ways with hopes of them finally liking them as we do.  

I just love the smell of onions and green peppers cooking away!  Throw in some potatoes slices and I can make a meal of this dish.  My precious Mama would brown hamburger meat first then add the potatoes, onions and peppers.  Sometimes I add mushrooms, also.  

Grounded beef or turkey can also be added.

Served with a hunk of bread and this is comfort food to me.  

Fried Potatoes, Green Peppers and Onions

4 to 6 medium potatoes, however many you need

1 small to medium onion

1 small green pepper

sea salt, to taste

freshly ground pepper, to taste

coarse ground garlic with parsley, to taste

Cut potatoes into slices, place in bowl and covered with water with a teaspoon of salt.  Refrigerate. Keeps them fresh and they don't turn. 

  Spray skillet and heat to medium/medium high. Add potatoes and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic.  Add onions and peppers...season again.  

Cook until a little brown on the bottom and flip.  Cook until all vegetables are tender and brown.  

Moved this over from RecipesForOurChildren.com

Roasted Caramelized Bacon Asapargus

This has got to be the best asparagus I have cooked!  It is caramelized, has a background taste of bacon cooked in it, a little peppery, a saltiness that is just right and topped with crumbled bacon.  MMMMM...I could have eaten it all!  Next time I will definitely cook two bundles.  <3 and hugs!

Roasted Bacon Asparagus

1 lb asparagus

3 pieces bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

1-2 tablespoon bacon grease

sea salt, to taste

freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400F.  Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray.  Rinse asparagus and trim the tough ends off by bending at the bottom.  The tough part will break off.  

Place on cookie sheet in a single layer and drizzle with bacon grease.  

Roll asparagus around to coat.

Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Cook at 400F for 10 minutes.  Check and turn asparagus over.

Cook another 5-10, maybe 15 minutes depending how thick the stalks are or until crisp tender and they begin to caramelize.  

Put on serving plate and add more sea salt and pepper if desired. 

Sprinkle with crumbled bacon.

Can also be viewed at here

Alfredo Green Bean Casserole

A spin on my Mama's, and probably yours too, green bean casserole.  The one with mushroom soup, french style green beans and fried onions.  I loved my Mama's green bean casserole and looked forward to eating it.  However, my boys like alfredo better, so....I made it with alfredo sauce and it was  HIT!    Try it for something different.  I bet your family will like it too.  <3 and hugs!

Three Cheese Garlic Grits

Grits!  There isn’t a Southerner around that hasn’t had a bowl of grits.  With nothing added to them, they are plain, blah and just not good at all.  When you add salt, garlic, cheese, bacon and/or butter..you are in for a southern delight!  Something to keep in mind…when grits boil, they hurt you if they land on you.  They will pop out of the pot like crazy if they are cooking too high.  When they get on you….they stick to you and burn.   Just keep them simmering and you’ll be fine.  ~smile~

3 Cheese Garlic Grits with Shrimp

Three Cheese Garlic Grits

4 cups water, chicken broth is Great

1 cup grits, old fashion

1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons minced garlic, I used bottled in water

1 medium to large bay leaf

1- 2 teaspoon kosher salt, to taste

fresh ground pepper to taste

3/4 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded

3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2  - 3/4 cup parmesan cheese

Bring water, or chicken broth, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and bay leaf to a boil.  Stir in grits, cover and reduce heat to a simmer.  Cook according to directions.  Add cheese, change the amounts to suit your taste, when done.  Taste and add more seasoning if desired. 

Serve with sautéed or fried shrimp, eggs, ham…you get the idea! 

Greens

With cooler weather come Greens!  I just love a big ole pot of greens, but no collards for me please,  that have been simmered with ham seasoning.  reid  I see someone was on my blog.... <3  I like to cook them while in season and put in freezer bags for later in the year.

A standby side dish, or just eaten as a meal with Corn Bread and Hoecakes...it's a Southern favorite.  I have to admit, I hated them as a youngun and didn't acquire a taste for them until I was in my late 20's.  My boys don't like them now but I am certain, when they get older, they will like them, too.  ;D

Greens

2 lb bag or, as us Southerners say...A Mess, of Greens.  Mustard, my favorite, Turnip or Collards.....Washed and stemmed. 

1/4 lb Ham, bacon, hog jowl, salt pork (if using, reduce salt)...you get the idea

OR......3-6 tablespoons bacon grease

salt and pepper to taste

hot sauce and vinegar, for those that like it with their greens

Directions

If using them fresh out of the garden or in bundles, A Mess, you will need to wash, wash, and wash them in the sink to remove any dirt.
You will also need to stem the greens by folding in half lengthwise, hold the leafy part and pull the stem off of it.  The biggest part of it will come off, discard as this is tough.
Tear into pieces.

Put 6-12 cups of water in stock pot or 1/3 to 1/2 of your pot full.

Add seasoning.

Bring to boil.

Boil for 30 minutes., until tender.  I usually cook them for hours.

 Add greens.  

Your pot will be full but they will shrink down by at least half.

See!

Cook until tender.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Have hot sauce, hot pepper sauce and/or vinegar available for those that like to add it to their greens. 
Cornbread or Hoecakes are a must!

Enjoy!  <3 and HUGs!

Simmered Cabbage

What better to eat fix on a dark, windy and rainy Sunday...  This was perfect for yesterday since it had been raining for 3 days and a storm was brewing for the night.  I started this in mid-morning, the smell was wonderful throughout the day.  The thought of supper simmering away on the back burner was a great relief.  This would cook well in a crock pot also.  

Simmered Cabbage

YUM!

1/2 to 1 lb of ground turkey or sirloin

1 head of cabbage, chopped into pieces

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste

1 tablespoon minced garlic, I used from jar in olive oil

2 bay leaves

1/2 cup onion, diced

4 cups chicken broth, I used boxed

28 ounces tomato sauce or diced tomatoes

Optional ingredients...whole kernel corn, chunks of potatoes, celery and carrots can be added about 20 minutes before cabbage is done.   

Can also fry bacon, crumble and add at the end, instead of the ground meat.  Using 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings to season.

Brown meat and drain if any fat is present.

Add onions, season with salt, pepper and garlic.  Cook until starting to get tender.

Add chicken broth, tomato sauce or tomatoes, and cabbage.

Bring to boil and simmer until cabbage is almost done and add optional vegetables if desired.  

Cook until tender, stirring occasionally.  

Remove bay leaves before serving.

Enjoy!  <3 and Hugs!

Would be great with this......Buttermilk and Corn Corn Bread.  

Sweet Beans and Ham

We baked a ham Sunday and I wanted a pot of beans.  I was going to make Northern Beans and Ham but my oldest said he wanted "Sweet Beans".  That is his name for Baked Beans.  :D  So…..Sweet Beans and Ham it is!  A pan of Corn Bread and we will be set! 

Sweet Beans and Ham

1 bag of dried Great Northern Beans…12 oz

3/4 to 1 cup Ketchup

3 teaspoons Honey Mustard

1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar

1 small Onion, diced

1 1/2 cups diced Smoked Ham

1/3 teaspoon Pepper

1/2 Salt

Rinse beans and pick out any bad ones or foreign objects.  Put in pot, cover with water, boil 2 minutes.  Cover, remove from heat and let sit 1-4 hours.

Drain the beans and rinse.  Put in crock pot…add ingredients and water to cover.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low –10 hours.

Okay….NOTE HERE:  I boiled the beans for 2 minutes.  Let sit for 4 hours, first day with a girlfriend without my precious babies in umpteen years, then cooked on high for 5 hours in crock pot.  They were NOT done.  I had to cook them at 3 minute intervals for 30 minutes.  Sooooo, next time I will either….cook for an hour and then put in crock pot or, simmer on stove for the afternoon. 

<3 and Hugs!


Shared on Jam Hands Recipe Sharing Monday Party

Creamed Corn and Bacon

First you need to get little helpers to shuck and silk the corn for you.  You then can use a creamer to make creamed corn or cut the kernels off, put in blender with a little water to make creamed corn. 

Fry 6 pieces of bacon...saving the drippings.  Let your children crumble the bacon once it is cool.  If your children are like mine, you might as well cook the whole package.  They like to eat the bacon while making crumbles.  ~smiles~

Once the corn is creamed,  add water if it is too thick, put in a microwave safe dish.  Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.  Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of bacon drippings.  Cook for 3 minutes in microwave.  (can be cooked on stove)  If it is still too thick add more water...too thin, cook longer.  Keep cooking at 2-3 intervals keeping an eye on it.  It is done when the starchy taste is gone.  Add chopped bacon and watch it disappear!~