What a Blessing
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.
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Daddy Cooked Too
And 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 stew & 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.
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Let’s Get Cooking
The blog entries below come from recipes we enjoy around our household; from recipes I’ve yet to try; from recipes given me by friends and family, and things I’ve read about on line or in real print. Yes, I do still subscribe to magazines that come in the mail. Also there are posts about cooking equipment, techniques, sources for more information, etc. I hope you find something of interest. By all means, feel free to write (rbyrd@rbyrd.net).
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Amy’s BBQ Chicken Salad
Ingredients 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 1 head red leaf lettuce ; rinsed and torn 1 head green leaf lettuce ; rinsed and torn 1 fresh tomato ; chopped 1 bunch cilantro ; chopped 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn ; drained 1 (15 ounce) can black...
Chicken Crepes
I used to make this from scratch. That is I made crepes the traditional French way. Now, I just use a good flour tortilla. Not as delicate, but very delicious. Ingredients 1/2 pound Mushrooms ; sliced 2 cups Chicken breast ; cooked, and diced 1 cup frozen green peas ;...
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 Foil 1/2 cup barbecue sauce 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 6 chicken pieces Instructions HEAT grill to medium (350° to 400°F). Make...
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
Ingredients 1/2 cup hoisin sauce 1 teaspoon ginger ; minced 1/2 teaspoon red pepper 4 cloves garlic ; minced 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 8 chicken thighs ; skinned Instructions Preheat oven to 500°F. Whisk together all...
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 tablespoon...
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 Pork1 tablespoon peanut oil3 tablespoon curry powder1/2 teaspoon red chili2 garlic ; minced2 onion1 tablespoon salt4 tablespoon lemon juice1 tablespoon honey Instructions Slice the meat into thin strips about 1/4 inch by 1 inch. Mix seasoning...
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...
Cucumbers and Onion
Ingredients1 yellow onion; thinly sliced4 cucumbers; peeled and thinly sliced3/4 cup sugar1 cup white vinegar1/2 cup water1/2 T dill weed; dried wholeDirectionsBring water, sugar, vinegar and dill to a boil. Pour over cucumbers and onions. Chill.
Memphis-Style Cole Slaw
Ingredients1 head cabbage ; shredded2 carrots, peeled and grated 1 green bell pepper ; cored, seeded and finely diced2 tablespoons onions ; grated2 cups mayonnaise 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup cider vinegar 2 tablespoons celery seed 1...
Cactus Salad
We've been making this cactus salad for years, going back to our Memphis days. We always used bottled nopalitos, but they are expensive and a bit heavy on the salt. I'm looking to experiment with fresh cactus available at our local market at a reasonable price. In 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...
Greek Poultry Marinade
Ingredients1 cup fresh lemon juice 1 shallot, minced ; (about 1/4 cup)6 garlic cloves ; thinly sliced1 bunch fresh oregano ; minced1 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper InstructionsWhisk ingredients together until well combined....