Southern Holiday

With Designs by Gollum

Many years ago, I lived in Fort Worth, Texas. A fabulous place to live. After Fort Worth, I moved to Las Colinas, Texas which is between Fort Worth and Dallas.

While I was living in Fort Worth, I worked for a while doing computer work for Travis Avenue Baptist Church. Those were great times. The ladies on the staff that I worked with were so great. I’ll never forget JoAnn Morgan who was the anchor of the staff and was just as sweet and crazy as they came. She would wear two different shoes to work sometimes. One of the funniest things she did was put a post it note on her shirt pointing to where she had spilled something at lunch that said something about knowing that the spill was there and that she meant it to be there. Just a great group of people!

Today, I’m posting a couple of recipes from the 1989 Travis Avenue Cookbook.

The first recipe is from LaNell Doyle. LaNell was on the staff and was great fun. She would bring this dish to pot lucks in her blue and white casserole (she insisted that it be served in a blue and white casserole) and it was always delicious and so much better because she is such a great person. This would be a great addition to any Thanksgiving table.

Lanelle’s Corn Casserole

2 can cream-style corn
2/3 cup cornmeal
2egg
6 tablespoons oil
1 can green chilies
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic or onion salt (or both)

Mix all ingredients together and bake at 375 for 45 minutes until firm in center. Serves 8 (can be halved for 4 servings).

This next recipe is also from the cookbook and is, of course, a Thanksgiving classic with a twist. Green Bean Casserole that is just the best. It has a little better flavor than most I’ve tried.

Trav Ave. Green Bean Casserole

2 cans green beans, drained OR 1 lb. fresh green beans cooked
1 can cream of mushroom soup (the bechamel of the South)
1/2 lb. pkg. Old English cheese
1 large can mushrooms or 1/2 carton fresh mushrooms
1 green pepper, chopped
1 small jar pimentos
Crushed Ritz crackers or 1 can French-fried onions (I use the onions)

Saute mushrooms, green peppers and pimento in butter. Heat mushroom soup and cheese together until cheese is melted. Add to sauteed mixture. put beans in a 7 1/2 X 12 inch Pyrex baking dish. Pour sauce over top. Place crushed Ritz crackers or 1 can French-fried onions on top. Heat in a moderate oven until browned and bubbly.

Hope you try one of these recipes for your own Thanksgiving dinner!

Today’s Lagniappe:  Volera’s Pralines
Another great member on the staff at Travis Avenue was Volera Kirkpatrick.  She made these divine pralines. They are kind of thin and just fabulous. Volera was an artist. I’ll never forget her telling me that she didn’t understand people who purchased art to match the colors in there living rooms instead of just good art that they loved. Words from a true lady or art!

3 cups sugar
1 cup pecans
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cook to a soft ball stage slowly. It will turn a nice brownish color. Add the pecans, return to the fire and cook to soft ball stage again. Cool slightly, add vanilla. Beat until thick, drop on waxed paper. It will spread and make thin candy.

Note: These are the directions straight from the cookbook. The do require you to be somewhat intuitive, but they really do make great pralines.

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Southern Cranberries? I know, I know, I’ve never seen cranberries grown in the South. However, as so many Americans, we Southerners love cranberries with our Thanksgiving dinner as much as the next family. Not only are they such a beautiful red color, they are also delicious and nutritious!

According to Ocean Spray:

They help cleanse and purify the body. But do you know how? They contain powerful nutrients called proanthocyanidins, thankfully referred to as PACs, which research suggests help keep certain bacteria from sticking inside the body.(1,2) And the PACS in cranberries are different from other fruits, which gives them more “anti-stick” potential. They also have something called antioxidants, like flavonoids and vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system. (3,4) In fact, cranberries have more naturally-occurring antioxidants per gram than most other common fruit.

Cranberries!

So, hooray for cranberries! Here are three recipes with cranberries that I hope you will enjoy.

Orange Cranberry Rolls

1 package (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with  Parchment Paper.

Unroll crescent roll dough on parchment paper to form 12×7-inch rectangle; firmly press perforations to seal. Sprinkle dough evenly with cranberries, pecans and brown sugar. Roll up starting at long side; pinch edge to seal. Cut into 16 pieces. Press slightly to form round shape.

Arrange pieces, cut side up, 2 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Glaze

For glaze; Mix powdered sugar, juice and grated orange peel in small bowl until well blended. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Serve immediately.

Makes 16 rolls.

Yummy Cranberry Sauce

* 1 cup water
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 (12 ounce) package fresh cranberries
* 1 orange, peeled and pureed
* 1 apple – peeled, cored and diced
* 1 pear – peeled, cored and diced
* 1 cup chopped dried mixed fruit
* 1 cup chopped pecans
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. In a medium saucepan, boil water and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to simmer, and stir in cranberries, pureed orange, apple, pear, dried fruit, pecans, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst. Remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature.

And from Ocean Spray

Cranberry Chutney

1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup peeled, diced apple
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons vinegar
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
dash ground cloves

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender and sauce has thickened slightly, about 30 minutes.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Cranberries – so many wonderful ways to enjoy them. More from Ocean Spray about the health benefits of cranberries:

PACS are all-natural components of cranberries that help keep certain bacteria from sticking to the body. Which is a very good thing.  And antioxidants are compounds that reduce free-radical, or oxidative damage. The kind of damage that can lead to chronic diseases like heart disease.  Antioxidants include some vitamins and other natural components of foods, called flavonoids. And, guess what? Cranberries are packed full of all of these! We don’t call it the Wonderberry for nothing.

Today’s Lagniappe:  Cosmopolitan
Some yummy cranberry goodness in a cocktail. Gotta love that!

• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger vodka
• 1/2 fluid ounce cointreau
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces cranberry juice
• 1 twist lime zest, garnish

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with lots of ice. Shake vigorously for several seconds and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

It’s a three-for Tuesday! Join these great blogs for more recipes and great ideas.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday

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