Southern Skillet Cornbread

I can't believe the first time I had cornbread was only just over a year ago! It is such a wonderfully satisfying food and it has quickly become one of my favorite comforts as well as my husband's. This recipe is pretty easy and you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry! I LOVE this recipe and I know you will too. :)


Ingredients:
-2 cups cornmeal
-2 cups all-purpose flour
-1/2 tsp. salt
-2 tbs. baking powder
-2 eggs
-1 cup margarine, melted
-4 cups buttermilk
-Corn oil (enough to coat skillet)

*Preheat oven to 400°F.

*In a large bowl, mix together corn meal, flour, salt, and baking powder.
*In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, butter, and buttermilk.
*Add corn oil to skillet and swirl oil around to coat bottom and sides.
*Leave remaining oil in pan.
*Return to high heat for 1 minute.
*Pour the cornbread batter into the skillet and cook on high heat until bubbles start to form in the center.
*Remove from stove.
*Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
*Serve warm!

Southern-style Collard Greens

Collard greens are one of those secret treasures that not many know about unless they're from the south. I discovered this tasty find when I began my quest to learn southern cooking. Collard greens are quite pleasing to the palette when made the right way and they're a great way to sneak in some of those leafy greens that are so good for our health into your diet. This particular recipe is a variation of one given to me by my mother-in-law. I added a few of my own touches to it. Give it a try! :)

Ingredients:
-4 bunches collard greens
-1 and 1/2 cups seasoned salt (I use Lawry's)
-3 beef bouillon cubes (I use Maggi)
-1 pkg. (about 10 strips) smoked turkey bacon

Preparing the greens:

It's important to make sure your collard greens are properly cleaned as they may contain a lot of dirt, bacteria, and even little bugs sometimes.

*Fill up your (clean) sink with cold water and add lots of salt (to kill any bacteria).
*Submerge collard greens in water and move around with your hands.
*Leave greens in water for about 10 minutes so that all of the debris falls to the bottom of the sink.
*Drain water and gently wash off any remaining salt and/or debris from greens.

In a large pot:
*Bring to boil about 4 qt. water.
*Add seasoned salt, beef bouillon cubes, and turkey bacon slices.

*Gently pat the excess water off of your greens with a paper towel.
* Roll out each leaf and cut out the stem so that all that's left are two clean halves of a leaf. (Some people like to keep a little stem, but it's really up to you)
*After all the greens have been destemmed, stack 5 or 6 leaves on top of each other and roll up.
*Cut the roll of greens in 1/2 inch chunks.
*Place all cut up greens into a bowl as you go along.
*When all greens are cut up, add them to your pot of boiling liquids and turkey bacon.
*Reduce heat to medium-low and allow greens to cook for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes.
*Drain water, discard turkey bacon slices, and serve hot!
(Optional: Southerners often like to add some hot sauce to their greens)

Bon appetit!

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of the simplest comfort foods to make. They're also one of the most satisfying. Try this classic recipe!

Ingredients:
-2 lbs. Idaho (brown) potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks (about 5 cups)
-3/4 cup hot milk (1%, 2%, or whole milk)
-2 tbs. butter
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1/4 tsp. black pepper

Optional ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
-2 tbs. freshly chopped parsley or dill

*Place potatoes in large pot and add enough water to cover potatoes.
*Cook 13 to 15 minutes or until very tender.
*Drain potatoes in colander.
*Return cooked potatoes to pot and stir over medium heat, about 1 minute, until excess water has evaporated.
*With potato masher, mash in hot milk, butter, salt, and pepper.
*Beat with wooden spoon until potatoes are smooth and creamy. Stir in any optional add-ins, if desired.

Enjoy! :)

Candied Yams

When my husband and I got married, I began learning about southern cooking and "comfort foods" to remind him of the food he grew up eating. Luckily, over the past year I've become a pro in the art of soul food. The first I heard about candied yams, it sounded like the least appetizing food possible, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. Candied yams have become one of my personal favorite comfort food dishes. The sweetness of candied yams also blend in well with other southern foods like mashed potatoes, collard greens, corn bread, and even turkey or chicken. I'm sure you guys will love this recipe as much as I do and it's so easy to make! :)

Ingredients:

-2 cups water
-2 cups granulated sugar
-4 tbs. butter
-1 tsp. lemon juice
-1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-8 small yams (or sweet potatoes)

*Peel outer skin from yams or sweet potaoes and slice into 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick circles.
*Rinse in cold water, allow to drain, and set aside for later use.
*In a medium pot, bring water and sugar to a boil, add butter, lemon juice, nutmeg, cinnamon and sliced yams or sweet potatoes.
*Return to boil, cover pot and reduce heat to simmer.
*Cook yams or sweet potatoes for 35 to 45 minutes until tender.
*Gently stir while cooking.

Oven-baked Sweet Potato Fries

A while back, my friend Emily asked me for a good recipe for sweet potato fries. I had these for the first time last summer at the Ugly Tuna Saloon in Columbus and let's just say it was love at first taste. ;) I tried my own version of this recipe and I was quite pleased with the results. I hope you all are too. :)

Ingredients:

-4 yams (sweet potatoes)
-1/4 cup olive oil
-Salt to taste

*Preheat oven to 400°.
*Cut sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch thick lengthwise strips and toss with olive oil.
*Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and arrange potatoes on baking sheets.
*Bake potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on bottom.
*Turn potatoes over and bake about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown all over.
*Sprinkle with salt and serve!

Southern-style Spicy Fried Wings

Ingredients:

Spicy Chicken Seasoning Ingredients:

-1 tbs. seasoning salt
-1 tbs. crushed red pepper flakes
-2 tsp. black pepper
-2 tsp. cayenne pepper
-2 tsp. poultry seasoning
-1 tsp. lemon-pepper
-12 whole chicken wings, cut in 1/2 at the joint

Spicy Chicken Batter:

-2 eggs
-2 tbs. hot sauce
-1 tbs. crushed red pepper flakes
-1 tsp. black pepper
-1 tsp. cayenne pepper
-2 cups all-purpose flour
-vegetable oil, to fry

Spicy Dipping Sauce:

-1 cup sour cream
-2 tbs. horseradish
-1/4 tbs. chili sauce
-1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
-Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl.

Directions:

*In a small bowl whisk together seasoning salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, poultry seasoning, and lemon pepper.
*Reserve 2 tablespoons in a separate bowl.

*Rinse chicken wings in cold water and place into a shallow baking dish.
*Sprinkle the wings evenly with the seasoning, and let them marinate, covered and chilled, for 1 hour.

*Whisk eggs, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into a medium size mixing bowl.
*Set aside.
*Put the flour into a shallow dish or pie plate.

*In a large deep-fryer or large Dutch oven, heat oil to 350° on a deep-fat thermometer.

*Dip chicken wings into the egg mixture then into the flour.
*Place wings 3 at a time into the hot oil and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and golden brown.
*Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray.
*Make sure oil returns to temperature before adding the next batch.
*Sprinkle the wings with the reserved seasoning for extra hot wings.

Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy!