Category Archives: Ethnic – Regional

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

What would Thanksgiving be without Sweet Potato Casserole?    In my family, I’m the one who always gets to bring it because I know the best sweet potato casserole recipe ever!  My secret is the crunchy buttery topping with coconut, pecans and brown sugar.  It’s so delicious and sweet that I usually eat it last, like a dessert.  The fluffy mashed sweet potatoes spiced with pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, ginger and all spice are just heavenly!  So if you’re looking for the best sweet potato casserole recipe, take it from this southern girl, here’s the only one you need.

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe – Cooking your sweet potatoes:

First of all, you have two options of how to cook your sweet potatoes.  You can either bake them until they’re soft and scoop out the inside of the sweet potatoes and discard the skins, or you can peel the sweet potatoes, cube them and boil them in a pot of water until they are fork tender then drain them and mash with a potato masher.  I’ve done it both ways and they both work equally well.  I usually use about 5 or 6 medium sized sweet potatoes.

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:

Mashed cooked sweet potatoes
1 egg
1/3 cup milk or flavored liquid coffee creamer (hazelnut or vanilla)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Mix together the above ingredients with your  mashed sweet potatoes.  Spread them into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.

Sweet potato casserole recipe topping:

1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Mix together the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the casserole.  Bake in a 350○F oven for 20 – 30 minutes.  The topping should be bubbly and browned.  The smell should be amazing and will summon you to the oven when it’s getting close to done.  Serve this awesome comfort food at your next Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and everyone will be begging you for your Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe.

Remember to return often to my blog for more great recipes.

Sharon Springfield

Sharon Springfield

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Southern Corn Casserole

Southern Corn Casserole

 

This southern classic – Corn Casserole – is rich and buttery, sweet and creamy and a must have at our family gatherings for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This goes well as a side dish for spicy dishes like Chili, Cowboy Stew, and Cheesy Manwich Chicken Pasta.

1 cup self-rising cornmeal
3/4 cup self rising flour
1/4 cup sugar
dash of salt
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 can creamed corn
1 1/2 cup buttermilk

Whisk together the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Add the next 4 ingredients and stir just until combined.  Pour into a greased 2 quart casserole dish.  Bake at 400° for approximately 30 minutes.  The middle should not jiggle when pan is shaken around.  If its not firm then bake longer.

Spoon it out to serve.

This is similar to the recipe using Jiffy corn muffin mix, but I like to avoid pre-packaged foods whenever possible.  You could use a cornbread mix if you want and omit the cornmeal and flour.  I hope you enjoy my recipe for Southern Corn Casserole.  If so, share with your friends and Pin it on Pinterest.

Southern Corn Casserole

Sharon Springfield

Sharon Springfield

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Orange Cashew Chicken Recipe

Orange Cashew Chicken Recipe

 

Orange – Cashew Chicken

Chicken:
1 lb chicken breast, cubed
1/4 cup flour
1 T flour
a couple dashes of paprika & garlic powder
2 T butter

Sauce:
1 cup orange juice
1 T cornstarch
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
fresh ground white pepper
1/4 cup orange marmalade

Veggies:
2 cups broccoli florets
1 (4 oz) can sliced mushrooms (drained) or use fresh sliced
2 T diced pimento (or fresh diced red bell pepper)

Toppings:
1/4 cup cashews
1 tsp sesame seeds

Directions:

Put flour, cornstarch, paprika and garlic powder in a large ziplock and mix around until blended.
Add chicken and toss until well coated.

Melt the butter in a large deep sided skillet or a wok. Add chicken (shake off excess flour) and stir fry until
chicken is golden brown and is done inside (firm when pressed on with spoon). Remove chicken to a bowl.

Whisk together the sauce ingredients and pour into the skillet. Add the veggies and stir until sauce thickens
and veggies are crisp tender. Stir in chicken and the toppings. Stir over steamed rice.

Orange Cashew Chicken Recipe

 

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Sharon Springfield

Sharon Springfield

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Risotto Florentine

This was a risotto improvisation that turned out wonderful!  Very rich and filling dinner.

12 oz bag Arborio Rice
2 Tbsp. butter
8 oz mushrooms, diced
1 large onion, diced
1 cup white wine
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup frozen spinach
5 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

In a heavy saucepan, saute rice in 1 Tbsp. butter, stirring constantly.  Add mushrooms, onion and garlic powder.  Saute until onion is tender.  Stir in spinach.  Add wine and saute until absorbed.  Slowly add 1 cup broth, stirring frequently.  As the liquid cooks down, continue to add remainder of broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until all broth is used and the mixture is very creamy.  Fold in the cheese, pepper and remaining butter.

Red Pesto and Vegetable Penne

1/4 cup olive oil
1 eggplant, cubed
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 orange bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
12 ounces dry penne pasta
3 tablespoons red pesto sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
fresh ground black pepper
8 ounces feta cheese basil leaves (to garnish)
Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the eggplant and peppers, and sauté over a moderate heat for 10 minutes until the eggplant is golden and the peppers softened and browned at the edges.  While the vegetables are sautéing, cook the penne in a large pan of boiling water for 8 minutes or until al dente. Drain, return to the pan and add the red pesto, stirring until the penne is coated. Add the rice vinegar to the eggplant and pepper mix, and season with black pepper. Spoon the penne on to warm plates and pile the vegetables on top. Crumble over the feta cheese and serve garnished with basil leaves.
4  Servings