Old Fashioned Perfection Salad

Old Fashioned Perfection Salad is an old recipe going back many generations.  It has stood the test of time and continues to be a favorite congealed vegetable salad. This salad goes well with roast, ham, turkey, chicken . . . almost any kind of meat. 

Ingredients

2  envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. boiling water
1 1/2 c. cold water
1/2 c. vinegar
2 Tbs. lemon juice
2 c. cabbage, shredded
1 c. celery, chopped
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1/4 c. pimentos, diced
1/3 c. stuffed green-olive slices (optional)

Directions

In a large bowl, mix gelatin, sugar and salt together.  Add boiling water and stir until the gelatin, sugar and salt are completely  dissolved. 

Add cold water, vinegar and lemon juice. Place in the refrigerator until slightly thickened or partially set. 

Remove bowl from the refrigerator.  Stir in the cabbage, celery, green pepper, pimentos and olives.  Chill until firm.  

Cut into into squares and serve on a lettuce leaf.  You can also add some mayonnaise on top of the salad as well.   

Hello Dollies

Hello Dollies is a very old recipe that my grandmother used to make for special occasions. They are easy to make and so good!  Are they like a piece of candy, or a rich tasting bar cookie? You decide.  

This is the basic recipe, but sometimes we will add a layer of butterscotch chips after the chocolate chips. You can also use pecans instead of walnuts. 

Ingredients

1 c. butter or margarine
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. shredded coconut
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. walnuts, chopped
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions

Melt butter in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch cake pan

Pour graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter, spreading out to cover the bottom of the pan. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.

Next, layer the coconut over the top of the crust, pressing into the graham crackers below.  Then, repeat with the layer of chocolate chips and press those into the coconut layer.  Layer the chopped walnuts over the chocolate chips, pressing them into the chocolate chip layer below. 

Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.

Bake at 350° for 25 minutes, or until the top begins to lightly brown. 

Cool thoroughly before cutting into squares.

**To get the milk to pour better, sit the open can in some hot water for a few minutes.

Southern Style Macaroni

Southern Style Macaroni may be a simple and easy dish to prepare, but it tastes so good. You can transfer the ingredients into a casserole dish, but we always leave ours in the skillet.  This way, we have one less dish to wash.  

Ingredients

1 (12 oz) pkg. macaroni, cooked
salt for the macaroni water
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. bacon, diced
1 onion, chopped fine
1 green pepper, chopped fine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
1 to 2 tsp. Italian herb seasoning
1/2 to 1 tsp. Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
1 (16 oz.) can red beans
1 (16 oz.) can peas, drained ** see notes below.
1 (16 oz.) can tomatoes
1/2 lb. American cheese, cubed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Fill a large pot with water, add some salt, and bring to a boil. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain.

Brown ground beef, bacon, onion, green pepper and garlic in a heavy cast iron skillet. Drain off fat. 

Stir in the beans, peas, tomatoes and cooked macaroni.

Season with salt and pepper, Italian herb seasoning, Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning. Taste the mixture and add more seasonings if desired.

Sprinkle cheese over the top.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until the surface is bubbly, and the cheese is melted.

**

Instead of throwing out the juice from the pea can, add it to the macaroni water.  It adds some flavor to the pasta.  

Homemade Butterscotch Brownies

Homemade Butterscotch Brownies is a quick and easy recipe. This is one brownie that your family will love and ask you to make often. They are chewy and sweet with butter and brown sugar. You can make them with or without the coconut and/or nuts.

Ingredients

1/3 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. coconut (optional)
1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1/2 c. nuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8 or 9 inch square pan. 

Melt butter in medium saucepan. Set aside until cool.

Add brown sugar, egg, salt, flour, baking powder, and vanilla. Blend ingredients well.

Mix coconut, chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

Spread in prepared pan. 

Bake for 25 minutes.

Do not over bake the brownies.  They may look like they are not quite done, but remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.  If you over bake the brownies, they will be hard and dry.

 Baked Beans and Sausage Casserole

This is a very simple and easy meal that satisfies the hunger and people ask for more. The diced tomatoes are optional. It calls for draining off the liquid. You can  leave it in and cook the baked bean dish longer or at a higher heat to evaporate the extra liquid, or pour it into a container cover with a lid and place it in the refrigerator to use in another dish.

Ingredients

1 lb. Italian sausage, hot sausage or your favorite sausage
1 c. smoked ham, cut up (Optional)
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 (15 oz.) cans pork and beans ** see below
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained (Optional)
1 to 2 tsp.  mustard
1/3 to 1/2 c. ketchup
1/4 to 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 Tbs. molasses
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°.

In a large cast iron skillet, crumble and cook the sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. 

Add the onions and pepper to the skillet. Saute until the vegetables are tender. Drain.  

Add the pork and beans, and diced tomatoes. Mix in, using the minimal measurement amounts first, mustard, ketchup, brown sugar and molasses. Stir to mix. Taste the baked bean mixture to see if it needs more mustard, brown sugar or ketchup.  We like a sweeter base, while others like it less sweet. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Bake for 1 hour.

***You can use  1 (28 oz. ) can baked beans instead. just omit the mustard, ketchup and brown sugar from the ingredients. 

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Creamy Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Most of the enchiladas we make are made with beef, but here is a different variation of the recipe where we use chicken.  It is a great way to use up any left over chicken that has already been cooked if you have some extra on hand. 

Ingredients

8 (8 inch) four tortillas
1 lb. chicken breast, diced  or 2 c. shredded chicken meat already cooked
1 onion, diced
1 tbs. oil
2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded or Monterey jack cheese or hot pepper cheese 
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
2 c. chicken broth
1 c. sour cream
1 (4 oz.) can green chilies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.  Lightly spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

In a cast iron skillet, pour in the oil and heat.  Cook the diced chicken pieces and onion together until the chicken is just done, and the onion is tender. 

Evenly distribute the chicken and onions on each of the flour tortillas.   Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons cheese on top of the chicken. Roll tortillas up and place seam side down in the prepared pan.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium low heat.  Stir in flour to make a roux. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes to remove the flour taste. 

Whisk in the chicken broth, stirring constantly until smooth.  Bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and stir in the sour cream and green chilies.  Warm through, but do not boil. 

Pour the sauce over the top of the tortillas.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes until cheese is melted and the sauce around the edges is bubbly.

Apple Bread Or Bars

This is a recipe from my grandmother's recipe box. It makes a simple, yet delicious apple bars. They are great for snacking, lunches or even as a dessert with a dollop of whipped cream or served with ice cream. 

Ingredients

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbs. sour milk
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
2 c. chopped apples
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 13 x 14 1/2-inch pan or two smaller pans.  You can use a sheet pan, but the bars will be thinner.

Cream shortening, white sugar and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. 

Beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  

Mix in the vanilla extract and sour milk.

Add the soda, salt and flour, mixing until combined.

Stir in the apples.

Spread out in the prepared pan. 

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top of the apple bars. 

Bake at 325° for 55 minutes.