Semi-Homemade Black Eyed Peas

I can remember in the past on New Year’s Eve my Grandma making all the traditional southern new year staples, black eyed peas, cabbage, corn bread and I am sure some sort of protein, most likely something pork, and although the following recipes aren’t from my Grandma I do make them every year because of her. Since learning what these foods represent I can’t imagine not eating them on the eve of or the actual day, hopeful that they might actually pull through. Superstitious maybe but I’ve always heard that you make your own luck and mine just happens to be in a big old pot on the stove, or so I believe.

The first recipe I’ll be sharing this evening is something that I call my semi-homemade black-eyed peas. A couple of years ago, Baby Cakes and my first New Years together, I wanted to make the whole spread for him and went to the store in search of the needed ingredients, to make a long story short they were sold out and I ended up buying canned. I didn’t care and was dead set on making them the way I wanted to originally only with canned peas so I did and they were wonderful. Since then I have made them using frozen and fresh peas, salt pork, bacon and even ham bone but I keep coming back to this recipe. Don’t judge me just make this recipe and see for yourself.

Everyone who tried them last night at the party loved them, I got nonstop compliments and I might even add a challenge or dual rather for next year.


Semi-homemade Black Eyed Peas

1 package of bacon, sliced into 2 inch segments, browned and drained
½ of an onion, diced and cooked in the bacon drippings, drained
6 cans of black eyed peas, drained
2-3 tbs. of seasoning blend, your choice
1 tbs. of garlic powder

Once the bacon and onion are cooked and drained add them along with the rest of the ingredients to a Dutch Oven and cook over low heat for 1 or 2 hours.

You might need to and can add a bit of water as needed, ½ a cup at a time.

Like I said above this is an amazing recipe and although I have never seen anyone post an embellished canned good recipe I am taking a risk and doing it anyway.

Yum!

Amaretto Hard Sauce

My Nanny, Green Nanny as I’ve heard her called in the past being as her last name is Green, is down from Idaho for Christmas this year and that means that my Mother’s side, part of them- really just sisters and Mother, are joining in the Jones side festivities. Would you like to know what else that means? It means that I do not have such a heavy work load when it comes to the list of items I am to make (for this particular Christmas party- 2 more to go) and carry over. Whew. This also means that I will be feasting on my Nannie’s Apple Pie and Sweet Potatoes. Yum! I rarely share recipes from that side of the family because like I’ve said in the past I really got the majority of my culinary experience from my Daddies side of the family. However, I have blogged one recipe from the Green side of the family, Goulash O’Neil. So although y’all have no idea to what amazing dishes my non-southern side of the family serves let me tell you that it could very possibly rival some southern dishes, just sayin’.

Anyway, I ramble, so because I haven’t any baking to do for Christmas Eve and because I wanted to contribute something and cannot possibly go somewhere empty handed, I wracked my brain trying to think of something to share with everyone, other than the Eggnog Fudge, and recalled seeing this Hard Sauce recipe on The Pioneer Women’s blog during Thanksgiving. Ta-da, I’ll bring Hard Sauce for Nannies Apple Pie. I contributed and can rest easy. GRIN.

When I saw the ingredient list I thought this is exactly like buttercream frosting, or my Momma’s version of it anyway but it’s not. The difference being that butter cream is mostly powdered sugar and this sauce is mostly butter. Paula Deen would eat it with a spoon and truth be told so could I. It is really good. I had no problem using my finger to clean the mixing bowl.

Everyone who tried it liked it, once I told my Nanny what was in it she asked "could you pour me a glass?", lol.


Amaretto Hard Sauce
recipe from ThePioneerWomen.com

1 stick softened (not room temperature) Butter
1 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Amaretto

Beat butter in mixer with paddle attachment until fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually until incorporated, scraping sides of the bowl twice during the process.

Add whiskey and beat again, scraping the bowl to make sure everything gets mixed together.

Spoon into a bowl and serve, or keep in the fridge (it will last for days covered in plastic wrap) until you need it.

NOTE: The hard sauce will harden in the fridge, so be sure to remove it at least a couple of hours before you want to serve. Hard sauce should be smooth and easily spooned onto desserts.

Serve on warm pie. Yum!


Merry Christmas to you and yours,

Polish Potato and Sausage Bake

I don’t think I have ever had this happen before- I held on to a recipe before making it for so long that the blog that I got it from is no longer an active blog. This morning I tried going to it and low and behold it’s gone so I can’t really link to it. However, I can share what is what called and pay her homage in that way, napoleonicecreamcomplex.blogspot.com. I don’t know where she went or why because apparently I have been a bad blog follower but she had some good recipe while she was around and this is one of them.

I actually made this last night, prepared it and then stuck it in the fridge so that tonight’s supper would be a breeze. If I had known how amazing it is it wouldn’t have lasted through the night. The vinegar adds something, a certain bite, to the potatoes and the sausage it perfect for this dish, it gives it a warmth that you wouldn’t get from ground hamburger (but if that’s all you have on hand certainly be my guest). There is not one thing I would change about it. I plan on making it again and again and always following the recipe exactly how it is now.

The Cakes give this one a 8.7, what his scale is based on I don’t know but I disagree with him and say that it is a 10 without question. This is very, very good and I hope that you’ll try it.


Polish Potato and Sausage Bake
adapted from the extinct Napoleon Ice Cream Complex

4 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tsp. olive oil
8 oz. fresh spinach
1 log breakfast sausage, broken into small pieces
1 onion, medium, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
3 large russet potatoes, washed, 1 unpeeled, and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup half and half
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
dash of nutmeg and paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided into 1 cup each

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Butter an 8 x 8 inch or round baking dish.

Heat one tsp. olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer it to strainer and drain. When cool, squeeze out liquid and roughly chop the spinach. Set aside.

Add the sausage and onion as well as the last tsp. olive oil to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned.

Meanwhile, place the potatoes into a large pot and add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring them to a boil, lower heat, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and put them back into the pot, and mash with butter, cream, garlic, vinegar, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir in spinach and 1 cup of the cheese.

Transfer the potato-spinach mixture to a prepared baking dish and top with sausage-onion mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and top with paprika for color. Bake until potatoes are very hot and cheese gets golden and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.


3 more days until Christmas,

Eggnog Fudge

My littlest brother Daniel, who isn’t so little anymore, he is the father of my niece Hailey, loves Eggnog. In fact out of the 8 of us, before spouses and baby’s came along, My Mother, Daniel and I were the only ones who even liked Eggnog and to this day I think that that is still a fact. A few years ago I began collecting Eggnog themed recipes and putting them aside to one day make for him. This is the one I chose to make for various reasons, one being that it is actually quite easy compared to the Merry Cherry Fudge and the second reason being below.

My Father-in-Law is the Fudge maker in my family, since I began dating Baby Cakes his father has been the one making and sharing fudge with everyone. His is the traditional chocolate fudge with pecans, the recipe you find on the back of the Marshmallow Fluff Jar. It is wonderfully rich and creamy and how I do enjoy it but this year I wanted to play a hand in spreading Christmas Cheer as well so I began searching for ways to do just that, enter Eggnog Fudge. Now I can kill two birds with one stone (which isn’t very Christmas-y now that I think about it, "two partridges in a pair tree…”), make some fudge and make something Eggnog for my youngest baby brother.


Eggnog Fudge
recipe from RecipeGirl.com

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup dairy eggnog
10.5 ounces white chocolate bars, chopped into small pieces
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, plus a little more for the top of the fudge
One 7 ounce jar marshmallow creme
1 tsp rum extract

Butter a 8 or 9 inch square glass pan.

In a heavy, 3-quart saucepan combine sugar, butter and eggnog. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat or until a candy thermometer reaches 235°F, soft ball stage, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat.

Using a wooden spoon, work quickly to stir in white chocolate chips and nutmeg until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in the marshmallow creme and rum extract. Mix vigourously until well blended and then pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle a little freshly ground nutmeg on top. Let stand at room temperature until cooled. Refrigerate if you’d like to speed up the process.

When completely cool, cut into squares. Store in a covered container.



I left a taste for Baby Cakes on the spatula and he raved about it. This tastes exactly like eggnog, in fact when you’re cooking it, the exact moment during the mixing process that the rum extract is added you can smell it, it smells exactly like eggnog. I've already eaten 2 peices! I love it, you'll love it and I can't wait for everyone to try it.

5 More Days...

Merry Cherry Fudge (Homemade Gifts)

This is the first year that Baby Cakes and I have owned a house during Christmas and because of this we decided to make gifts for the extended family instead of purchasing them. So I began buying all the special magazine publications for homemade gifts, so much for saving money right? The funny thing is after dog earring so many delicious looking goodies I found “the one” in the December issue of Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. The moment I saw it I decided that this was the gift I was hand making and handing out to everyone, all 31 attendees. Only I didn’t know…

When I think fudge I think thick sweet creamy goodness and this recipe reminds me more of divinity than fudge. Once it has been brought up to soft ball temperature and then back down to the needed temperature you have to hand whip it with a wooden spoon for 5 minutes. The only problem? I am a weakling and it is really thick and hard to stir “vigorously”. Perhaps I should have waited for the hubs to be home. Oh well, you should see my guns now. lol.


Even though it isn’t necessarily fudgy, actually it has more of a grainy texture, it is very good and I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks about it. If only I could have thought of a different name to call it, something more of a candy than a fudge.

Baby Cakes loves it, but there isn't a sugar the man doesn't love, and has assured me that everyone else will love it too. Oh bless him. XOXO.

Merry Cherry Fudge aka Candied Cherry Opera Fudge
from BHG.com

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream
1 Tbsp. light-colored corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. amaretto
1/3 cup coarsely chopped candied red cherries
Halved candied red cherries (optional)

Line a 5-3/4x3x2-inch loaf pan with foil, extending foil over the edges of the pan. Butter the foil; set aside.

Butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart saucepan. In the saucepan combine the sugar, milk, half-and-half, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Clip a candy thermometer to sides of pan.

Continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate, stirring occasionally, until thermometer registers 236 degrees F, soft ball stage, (about 20 minutes). Adjust heat as necessary to maintain a steady boil.

Remove saucepan from heat. Add butter, vanilla, and amaretto but do not stir. Cool, without stirring, to 170 degrees F (about 20 minutes). Remove thermometer from saucepan. Beat mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon for 5 minutes. Add 1/3 cup cherries. Beat mixture vigorously for 1 minute more. Pour into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Let stand until firm. Use foil to lift fudge from pan; remove foil. To serve, top with additional cherries. Cut fudge into thick slices.

To make the tin gifts I simply prepped them with butter and parchment paper and when the mixture was still warm scooped some in and tapped the tin on the counter until smooth and spread out.



I highly recommend this recipe although as I said above it isn’t very fudgy but it is ohhhh so good.

Make some and share. Merry Christmas,

If Ya Can’t Stand the Heat Chili

As a child I always knew when winter was on its way because on that first cold snap my Daddy would come home from work and make a giant pot of his chili. Now let me tell you that his chili is not for the faint of heart, he likes heat in his bowl and sometimes forgot that the majority of his children and his wife (god love my Yankee Momma) were wimps in regards to the Scoville Scale. Yes, winter was on its way when chili was served for dinner in the Jones house.

The thermometer right now reads 52 degrees and falling and although I do love a break from the sweltering heat I am not a fan of the bitter cold, no thank you. Mother Nature can keep the bone chilling cold weather that is on its way to my front door as I sit here typing this. (Shiver) This “winter” has been a few cold days with a few comfortable fallish days and even a warm day thrown into the mix for good measure. God Bless Texas, right? Right.

Anyhoo, due to the cold weather I decided that chili was on tonight’s menu, being the carbon copy of my father that I am, so I called my Daddy to ask him how he makes his version. Now the recipe that follows isn’t really a verbatim copy of his his but it’s my variation because as I stated above I am a wimp. It’s also not his because with just two mouths to feed versus 8 mouths it would take us weeks to eat it all so I’ve scaled it down a bit. Oh, and I didn’t have all of his ingredients on hand so I improvised. Okay, so maybe this is actually Megan’s version of Ronnie’s (a.k.a. Daddies) Chili. Oh well. Either way his is my inspiration for the recipe that follows.

Baby Cakes LOVES this chili and I must concur, it is amazing. There is a subtle sweetness to it and the heat level is finally more on my level. However, there is enough heat for the BCakes to enjoy it as well, plus he added some extra chili powder. I would have eaten a second bowl but kept thinking about how nice it would be to come home from work tomorrow to another Frito pie for supper. I really can’t say enough about it, it’s wonderful.


If Ya Can’t Stand the Heat Chili
highly adapted from my Daddies recipe

1 lb. lean ground chuck beef
1 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1-2 tbs. chili powder*
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 large onion, diced
1 can Rotel, regular, chunky*
1 small can tomato sauce
1 can ranch style beans, with liquid
2 cans dark red kidney beans, with liquid
1-2 cup(s) frozen corn

Measure in the olive oil into a large dutch oven, turn the heat up to high and add the ground beef and onion and sauté until cooked completely.

Add the chili powder and ground cumin and stir, cook about a minute longer. Turn the heat down to medium/medium high and add the rest of the ingredients, stir. Bring the chili to a low boil and then turn the heat down to low. Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. The longer it slowly heats the more the flavors will marry.

*If you want more heat try adding HOT Rotel or 3 Tbs. of chili powder. It won't take much to take the heat up a notch.

(I do keep saying how wimpy I am but in all honesty I can handle quite a bit of heat, my idea of the perfect amount might truly be too much for some other people. So although this recipe isn't spicy it isn't mild either. Just a heads up.)


Now Daddy always served his over rice or with crackers and one of my sister Kayla always insisted on a slice of American cheese on top but I prefer a warm bowl of Frito pie. Fritos, shredded cheese and a huge dollop of sour cream, Yum. No matter how you serve it just serve it because it really is so flavorful. There’s something about chili, it warms the soul.

"Baby, it's cold outside",

Spicy Sausage and Tortillini Soup‏

Whew, what a day. I have just spent from about 9 am this morning until 6 pm this evening making fudge, fudge and more fudge for Christmas for Baby Cakes' extended family's get-together this Saturday. The only thing I've had to eat all day is Merry Cherry Fudge (recipe coming soon!) and a bologna sandwich, yes I like bologna infact it happens to be my favorite lunch meat. Blame my Mom. So I need something other than sugar quick, fast, and in a hurry, enter Spicy Sausage and Tortillini Soup.

Let me just let you know right away that this soup had so much bite to it that my eyes were watering the entire time that I was eating it. Wow and ouch seriously. Next time I will either skip the mustard all together or not use spicy sausage. Too much heat, wow!

It is the perfect cold night supper. Baby Cakes said "It's good baby, I like it, I like those little tortillini deals". He also referred to the broth of the prepared soup as "liquid gold". So apparently he loves the heat, shrug, as if I didn't already know he would love it. Just call me wimp.


Spicy Sausage and Tortillini Soup‏
from Tasty Kitchen

1 lb. hot sausage, ground
2 cloves garlic, minced
46 oz. chicken stock
2 cups water
10 ounces bag frozen cheese tortellini
14 oz. can stewed tomatoes
1-2 cups frozen veggies, mixed
⅓ cup dijon mustard
oregano, to taste
½ teaspoons black pepper
1 cup fresh spinach leaves

Brown the sausage and garlic in a stock pot; drain and return to pot.

Add the chicken stock and water and bring to a low simmer.

Add the tortellini and cook about 5 minutes or until tender.

Add the tomatoes, frozen veggies, dijon mustard, oregano, and pepper. Stir thoroughly and heat through.

Add the spinach and cook until wilted.


This pairs wonderfully with some crusty garlic bread. Overall, it was/is a wonderful quick weeknight meal. Next time I'll play with it a bit and see what we get.

XOXO,

Corn Bread Topped Spicy Sausage Pie

I am sick and therefore should be exempt from cooking dinner today but we are all out of leftovers and BCakes has worked in the cold and rain all day and deserves a hot meal. To the recipe files I go and find this, I know that it can easily be adapted with venison sausage and he will be thrilled, he loves it when I cook with venison. (He is man, he provide for family.) So he's happy, wonderful and I am happy because it seems fairly simple and foolproof (or sick proof as were the case). It’s a win-win.

This recipe comes from a blog that I frequent named Jenn Cooks, she has been blogging for 3 years and has yet to disappoint. I thought I might note that she takes step by step photos while she is making the recipes that she features, what an overachiever she is. Lol. Honestly, I am jealous, I am lucky if I remember to take one picture of my dishes. Get familiar with her because I will be making more of her yummy recipes in the future and you will too if you go check her out.

Baby Cakes is in love with this one and I must admit I am too. It is very hearty and flavorful. The perfect weeknight meal for a cold and wintery evening spent inside snuggled on the couch. The best part about it is after he ate he started wrapping all the Christmas presents, he knows I despise that one things about Christmas, I know I know just call me Scrooge.

I have a habit of adding things to make a meal stretch, blame it on my watching my parents cook while growing up. Once upon a time my parents were on a tight budget and had 6 little mouths and 2 adult mouths to feed, adding a can of corn here or some beans there often did the trick and even though in my household it's only the BCake man and myself I still find myself adding extra cans of this or that to almost every meal. So the point I am making is that I added a few extra things and made one small little change other than the venison/hog sausage.


Corn Bread Topped Spicy Sausage Pie
recipe adapted from Jenn Cooks

1 lb. spicy sausage
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz.) sliced stewed tomatoes
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
1 jar (4.5 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 can (15 oz.) dark red kidney beans
1 tbs. garlic powder
1 tbs. salt
1/2 tbs. pepper
1 1/2 cup shredded cheese
corn bread mix, prepared per package directions
1/4 cup shredded cheese

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage, onion, bell pepper and garlic over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until sausage is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in tomato sauce, corn and mushrooms. Heat to boiling; remove from heat.

In medium bowl, stir cheese into prepared cornbread batter.

Spoon the sausage mixture into an ungreased 2 qt. casserole dish and sprinkle with the 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese.

Pour and spread the cornbread mixture over the top and spread evenly.

Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until topping is golden brown.


Like I said above delish. The cornbread works as a buffer to the spice in the sausage and the corn adds a touch of sweetness. I love it and absolutely will be making it again soon.

XOXO,