Welcome to the River City Diner
What a blessing to have been raised in Memphis by a country cook who knew what she was doing. Good cooking was just a way of life in our household and among our extended family. My mother prepared the best fried chicken in Tipton County (We grew up in Memphis, but our reunions were in Tipton County.) according to my aunts, uncles, cousins, and great aunts & uncles; I have no reason to doubt their words of praise. I saw at every family reunion whose chicken was the first to go.
And my mother wAnd my mother wasn’t the only good cook in our house. My daddy was a master at the grill and could throw together a variety of tasty snacks inside as well. He specialized in oyster chowder & Bleu Cheese Dressing; and sitting down with Daddy as we built snacks of smoked oysters, cheeses, crackers, olives, and anything else he could scrape together was a banquet in itself.asn’t the only good cook in our house. My daddy was a master at the grill and could throw together a variety of tasty snacks inside as well. He specialized in oyster chowder & Bleu Cheese Dressing; and sitting down with Daddy as we built snacks of smoked oysters, cheeses, crackers, olives, and anything else he could scrape together was a banquet in itself.
Chicken Tetrazinni
Ingredients 4 pounds chicken leg quarters ; cooked and deboned 8 ounces Spaghetti (I like linguini.) 1 cup Parmesan cheese ; grated 1 pound Mushrooms ; sliced 1/2 pound Bacon 1 Onion ; chopped 4 Garlic ; minced 1 cup Chicken broth 3 tablespoon Butter 3 tablespoon...
Chipotle BBQ Chicken
Ingredients Reynolds ; Wrap® Release® Non-Stick Foil1/2 cup barbecue sauce2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar2 tablespoons lime juice1 tablespoon chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce6 chicken pieces InstructionsHEAT grill to medium (350° to 400°F). Make drainage...
Col. Benjamin’s Curry Chicken
Ingredients 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 4 cups onion ; chopped 2 cloves garlic ; minced 3 1/2 cups tomato ; chopped 2 tablespoon lemon juice 3 pounds...
Enchiladas Rancheros
Ingredients3 pounds chicken leg quarters ; skinned1 pound Poblano Chile1 pound tomatillo1 onion ; diced1 teaspoon salt1 bay leaf3 cups chicken broth3 cloves garlic ; minced1 or 2 cups cheddar cheese ; grated1 or 2 cups of Swiss cheese; grated1 cup black olive ;...
Grilled Duck "A L’Orange"
They say that in Paris, duckling à l’orange was the highest test of a chef’s mettle. The duck had to be roasted just so-skin crackling crisp, meat tender and juicy-and the orange sauce had to strike a perfect balance between the sweetness of the caramelized sugar, the...
Joel’s Jambalaya
Our neighbor, Joel St. John, is a chef by profession. Now and then he delights us by bringing something he's just whipped up or by inviting us to his house to dine. This is not Joel's recipe, but is my version of how to copy the flavor of his. Ingredients 4 chicken...
Kung Pao Chicken
Hot and spicy! I fixed this for Mary Ann Murphy and she almost turned Chinese! The image to the right is a photocopy I took of a page from a book I checked out from the now defunct Highland Branch Library (Memphis and Shelby County Libraries). The book had the English...
Mediterranean Meatloaf
Ingredients 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes 10 ounces frozen spinach ; thawed and drained1/2 cup onion ; chopped1/4 cup feta cheese ; crumbled1 1/2 pounds Ground turkey 1 cup oatmeal 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black...
Pacific Rim Chicken
Ingredients 1 onion 1 sweet green pepper 5 chicken breast 1 ounce canned pineapple 3/4 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup dry sherry 2 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 teaspoon rice vinegar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1...
Rachel’s Chicken And Squash Casserole
Ingredients 2 cups squash, diced 2 cups cornbread, crumbled 1/2 stick of butter, melted 10 3/4 ounces cream of chicken soup (To cut the sodium, make your own.) 1 1/2 cups Cooked chicken thigh meat, diced 1 onion ; chopped salt and pepper Instructions Spread chicken in...
Satay Chicken
Ingredients 4 tablespoon garlic ; minced 4 teaspoon coriander; ground 4 teaspoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon black pepper 2 1/2 pounds chicken breast 1/2 cup soy sauce 4 teaspoon ginger ; minced 2 tablespoon lime juice 6 tablespoon oil 1/4 cup cilantro (for garnish) 2...
Sharli’s Chicken Wings
Sharli is a gal I knew in Arkansas. As country as the day is long. But she knew a thing or two about wings. Ingredients 5 pounds chicken wings 5 cloves garlic ; minced 5 1/2 inches ginger ; slices, peeled 1 cup soy sauce 4 teaspoon sugar Instructions Heat soy sauce,...
Smothered Chicken
I use two versions of Smothered Chicken - the one shown here, and sometimes I do another by Craig Clairborne. Ingredients 4 pounds chicken leg quarters ; skinnedsalt to taste (optional)1/3 cup flour (more if needed1/4 teaspoon cayenne1/2 teaspoon white...
Spicy Hoisin Chicken
We don't do a lot of Chinese. When we do, though, we have a blast. Try this one.It's worth giveing it a go.Ingredients 1/2 cup hoisin sauce1 teaspoon ginger ; minced1/2 teaspoon red pepper4 cloves garlic ; minced1/2 teaspoon sesame oil1 tablespoon soy sauce1...
Turkey Sausage and Vegetable Casserole
Ingredients 1 pound turkey sausage4 cups cooked rice2 chayote1 tablespoon oil1 onion ; chopped1 sweet green pepper ; chopped14 1/2 ounces canned tomatoes10 3/4 ounces cream of chicken soup16 ounces mixed vegetables2 cups broccoli ; cut into flowerettes2...
Tamale Pie
Ingredients 12 ounces ground round burger1 onion ; chopped1 1/4 cups salsa1/2 cup black olive ; sliced1 cup frozen corn ; whole kernel, thawed1/2 teaspoon cumin4 cups cornbread ; crumbled1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese ; grated1/2 cup Light sour cream Instructions Heat oven...
Mexican Style Cornbread
A delicious alternative to traditional cornbread. Ingredients 1 batch Rachel's Cornbread 1 cup Cheddar grated 4 Jalapeno peppers seeded and minced 1 cup Corn cut from cob Instructions Preheat oven to 350. Gather ingredients for Rachel's cornbread batter. To Rachel's...
Maple Glazed Ham
Ingredients 7 pounds ham 1 1/2 cups maple flavored syrup 1 teaspoon Ginger ; powdered1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon allspice 16 cloves 10 ounces pineapple ; chunked8 ounces maraschino cherries ; bottled Instructions Remove thick skin if a strong smoke flavor is...
Flanagan Sauerkraut And Ribs
Very tasty! Ingredients 32 ounces sauerkraut2 pounds pork rib1/4 cup brown sugar10 ounces Canned French Onion Soup Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place meat on bottom of a 9 by 13 casserole dish. Cover with the drained sauerkraut. Sprinkle with the brown...
Dwayne’s Ribs
Dwayne does almost as good a job on ribs as Daddy did. Ingredients 2 racks Pork ribs 2 cups Pineapple juice Dry Rub for Ribs Apple cider Cooking Oil Instructions Rub ribs down with spicy BBQ rub and refrigerate over night. When fire is ready mist ribs with a 50/50...
Indonesian Style Satay Pork
Ingredients 2 pounds Pork 1 tablespoon peanut oil 3 tablespoon curry powder 1/2 teaspoon red chili 2 garlic ; minced 2 onion 1 tablespoon salt 4 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon honey Instructions Slice the meat into thin strips about 1/4 inch by 1 inch. Mix...
Mexican Style Pork Stew
Delicious and easy!Ingredients2 pounds pork stew meat ; cubed1 large onion ; chopped4 cloves of garlic ; minced2 cups dried lentils or split green peas 14 ounces canned tomatoes ; pureed1 cup of raisins 3 tablespoons oil for pan frying 1 plantain ; diced14 ounces...
Italian Sausage and Spinach Meatballs
I adapted this recipe from The Frugal Gourmet cookbook by Jeff Smith. It really is easier to do on the smoker/grill than on the stove top. I'm sure they'd do just fine in a hot oven too. We have fun with them every time. My son Sam calls them "Meteors."...
Italian Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
My son frequently asks for this one. Not your typical “church spaghetti.” Ingredients 1 pound Italian sausage 1 yellow onion; chopped 2 cloves of garlic; minced 1 or 2 14 ounce cans of diced tomatoes 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds (or...
Lamb and Artichoke Stew
Ingredients4 tablespoon butter 2 pounds lamb 3 yellow onion ; chopped2 garlic ; minced1/2 cup parsley salt and pepper 1 can tomato paste 1 cup dry white wine 2 cans artichoke 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed 3 tablespoon lemon juice InstructionsMelt the butter in a large...
Who Is Tommy Moore?
An unusual springtime snowfall canceled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s plans for a March 22, 1968 protest. More than 16 inches fell: the second largest snowfall in Memphis history, and well beyond the city's yearly snowfall average of 5.6 inches. But Thomas Moore,...
Cheese Spinach Bake
Ingredients 3 medium eggs ; beaten. 20 ounces of frozen chopped spinach. 4 ounces of cheddar cheese ; grated. 1 cup of cottage cheese. 1/4 cup of butter ; softened. 2 teaspoons of flour. Salt ; and pepper. 1 cup Bacon ; fried and crumbled Instructions Cook the...
Corn Souffle
Ingredients 3 Eggs,separated 1/4 cup All purpose flour 1 tablespoon Sugar 1 teaspoon Salt 1/4 teaspoon White pepper 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 cups Half-and-half cream 4 ounce Pimento (4 ounce jar, diced) 2 tablespoon Butter, melted dash Nutmeg ground 1...
Ginger Sesame Dressing
Ingredients2 cloves garlic -- coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh ginger -- coarsely chopped 3 tablespoons rice wine 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons sesame oil 3 tablespoons tahini 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Instructions Process garlic,ginger, rice wine , soy...
Penne Pasta with Garlic Roasted Tomatoes and White Beans
Ingredients3 large tomatoes, cut into wedges4 cloves garlic, unpeeled2 tablespoons olive oil1/4 teaspoon saltFreshly ground black pepper1(15 ounce) can cannellini beans1/2 pound penne pasta1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn2 tablespoons freshly grated...
Grilled Portabello Mushrooms on Kaiser Rolls
IngredientsAioli 1/3 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic Marinade 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons finely minced shallot 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon kosher salt...
Southern Pulled-Pork Sandwiches (Oven)
Pork shoulder, a well-marbled cut available at most supermarkets, turns tender after long, slow cooking. Spice rub and vinegar give it that "southern" touch. Ingredients 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepperCoarse salt and ground black...
Quick Maple Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients1/2 cup cider vinegar 1 cup ketchup 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons dry mustard 1/4 cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 teaspoon kosher salt...
Brined Grill-Roasted Chicken
Ingredients1/3 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup kosher salt 3 quarts cold water 1 bay leaf ; torn into pieces3 sprigs fresh thyme 4 garlic cloves ; peeled2 allspice berries ; crushed1 teaspoon peppercorns 3 pound whole chicken3 tablespoon Butter ; meltedInstructionsFor the...