Southern Recipes

Southern Food Recipes

Southern home cooking with Old Southern Recipes: Here you can find Southern style recipes and Southern cooking recipes including southern cornbread recipes, fried chicken recipes and other traditional old southern recipes for that good ol' down home taste.

Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

The Bundt cake was extremely popular in the 70's, not sure why we loved it so much then.  Still a good choice even nowadays.  This poppy seed cake recipe makes a rich, dense cake.  We dress it up for company with a raspberry sauce and some vanilla ice cream.  Otherwise, it goes with our morning coffee.



Ingredients

1 cup of butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar
1 12-1/2 oz can of Solo poppy seed  filling
4 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
confectioners sugar for dusting


Southern Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Butter a bundt pan and dust with flour.
In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy, using an electric mixer.
Add the can of poppy seed and mix until well incorporated.
Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time.  Mixing well after each yolk.
Add the vanilla and sour cream.  Stir just until combined.

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
Gradually add to the batter until well mixed.

In a separate bowl with clean beaters, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
Fold these into the batter until you can no longer see any egg whites.
Carefully spoon the batter into the prepared baking pan.

Bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
It is done when a cake tester, inserted in the center part, comes out clean.

When removed from the oven, place it on a wire rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
The cake must still be warm to release itself from the pan.
Place a plate on top of the cake, and flip it upside down, using oven mitts.
It may not release immediately, allow to cool a bit more if not separating.
Once it has dropped, flip the cake once more onto wire rack.
It should now be right side up. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Baked Winter Squash with Sausage Recipe

Fall brings an abundance of vegetables.  Don't be afraid to try some of the different varieties available of winter squash. We found this kabocha squash,also called buttercup squash, and it was wonderful.  Butternut or acorn may be easier to find, whatever is local is best. These squash are loaded with beta carotene. You can also use link sausage in this old southern recipe, just squeeze it out of the casing.  Turkey sausage will also work.  Make a Waldorf salad while the squash is in the oven. Voila, dinner is served!



Ingredients

1 whole winter squash
1 lb reduced fat breakfast bulk sausage, medium heat

Southern Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon.
Fill the center with the sausage by spoonfuls.
Bake for an hour.
If there is any excess fat after baking, just sop it up with a paper towel.

Waldorf Salad Recipe

We just don't see this one around anymore. This southern salad recipe is high in fiber. We usually add raisins, but feel free to substitute red or green grapes, sliced in half. This recipes easily doubles or more.


Ingredients

1 cup diced apples
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup walnut pieces
2 Tablespoons raisins
1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise

Southern Recipe Cooking Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and toss carefully.

Cucumbers with Sour Cream Recipe

This is always a refreshing side to any meal.  It is so simple, use southern or locally grown cucumbers if you have access to them.  Serve with barbeque chicken to complement it's tangy sauce.

Ingredients

2 cucumbers

1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/3 cup onions, finely sliced

1 teaspoon chives or parsley, finely chopped

freshly ground black pepper

Southern Cooking Instructions

Peel the cucumbers and slice thinly.

In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream with the vinegar.

Whisk until well blended.

Add the onions and cucumber slices, toss carefully.

Refrigerate 1-2 hours.

Before serving, top with chives and a few grinds of black pepper.

Shrimp Jambalaya Recipe

This jambalaya recipe is a great comfort food meal. It contains some unusual ingredients but they really add to the complexity of the southern flavor.  Make it hotter by increasing the amount of the hot pepper flakes. Serve with rice and don't forget to put the hot sauce on the table.

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried apricots, diced

1/3 cup brandy

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

3 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 cup water

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 Tablespoon canola oil

1 cup scallions, both white and green parts, sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 large green bell pepper, cut into strips

1 large red bell pepper, cut into strips

3/4 cup ham, 1/4" thick, cut in 3" inch strips

1 lb fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 Tablespoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/8 teaspoon dried basil

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

pinch of dried thyme

1/3 cup pimento, diced

1/4 cup silvered almonds, toasted slightly

Southern Cooking Instructions

Place the apricots in a small bowl.  Pour in the brandy.  Set aside and allow to sit at least 15 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine the lemon juice, soy, cornstarch, red pepper flakes and water.
Stir with a fork to combine well, set aside.

In a large skillet, heat the oil along with the butter on medium high heat.
Add the garlic and stir for about 30 seconds. Add the scallions and stir for a minute or two.
Add both peppers strips and the ham.  Cook about 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
Add the shrimp, continue stirring. Cook 3-4 more minutes, until the shrimp turns pink.
Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan, stir carefully.
The jambalaya should start to thicken.
Add the spices and the pimento. Stir to combine well.
Cook another few minutes.  Add more water if too thick.
Top with the almonds when ready to serve.

Fruit Dessert Recipe

Make it simple. Make it easy.  Make it fruit!  Eating whatever is in season is a Southern tradition. When melons are at their peak they make the refreshing dessert for a summer meal.




Ingredients

1 half cantaloupe melon, sliced in wedges
1 quarter of a honey dew melon, sliced in wedges
1 cup of grapes, each sliced in half


Southern Cooking Instructions

Chill your serving plates ahead of time.
Cut the wedges in bite size chunks.
Arrange the fruit on each plate. Top with mint if you have some.

Cottage Cheese with Mango Recipe

You probably grew up with cottage cheese and canned peaches on the southern lunch menu.  It is a favorite, but now it is time to upgrade. The many nutrients in fresh mangos will bump up this lunch staple a few notches. Once you try it, you won't go back.


Ingredients

Small curd cottage cheese
1 fresh mango

Southern Cooking Instructions

To cut the mango, there is a slight trick handling it.
Think of the fruit as having three sections:  two flesh side sections and one center pit section.
The pit is large and somewhat flattened in shape. It is not round.
Stand the mango up with the large end on your cutting board.
You are trying to follow the edge of the large flattened pit that is in the center.
Position your knife so you are parallel to one of the flat sides of the pit.
Place your knife at the top of the fruit and gently move down the length of it with a sawing motion.
This will be similar to filleting a fish.
Continue down the side to release your first section of flesh.
Place the knife at the top on the other side and do the same motion.
You should now have your two fruit sections and the pit section. Toss the pit section.
Pick up one section and run your knife all around the edge near the skin without piercing it.
Next run your knife across the flesh and again lengthwise to create cubes, also being careful not to pierce the skin.
Now take the section and turn it " inside out " to release the cubes, use your knife for any stubborn chunks.
Repeat with the other section.

Place your cottage cheese on a plate.
Top with the mango cubes.

Green Beans with Fresh Herbs Recipe

The addition of  fresh mint along with some fresh basil really liven up plain green beans. This old southern recipe can be served warm or cold.





Ingredients

2 lbs green beans, ends trimmed
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2  red sweet bell pepper, cut into strips and in half again
1/3 cup fresh mint, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil, coarsley chopped
 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt


Healthy Cooking Instructions

Place the beans in a saucepan with a cup of water. Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, keeping a slow boil. Cover and continue cooking for 6 minutes.
Add the garlic to the beans and cook one more minute.
Drain in a colander.
While the beans are cooking, place the peppers, mint and basil in a medium bowl.
Add the olive oil and salt to the bowl and toss to coat well.
While the beans are still warm, add to the bowl and toss again.

Yellow Squash with Tomatoes Recipe

When the summer brings fresh produce from the garden, we are always looking for good southern recipes that are quick and easy to make. This one tastes best when the ingredients are straight from the garden.

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

2 cups of yellow squash, sliced

1 1/2 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and cut into chunks, careful to save any juices

1 Tablespoon fresh oregano, coarsely chopped

1 Tablespoon fresh basil, cut into fine strips

salt and pepper if needed

Southern Cooking Instructions

Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat.

Add garlic and saute for about 1 minute.  Do not allow to brown.

Add the squash, tomatoes, and oregano.

Stir to combine well, increase to medium high heat.

When the tomatoes come to a boil, reduce to medium low heat.

Cover and allow to simmer  30-40 minutes.  Stirring occasionally.

Taste prior to adding salt or pepper. If the veggies are really fresh, you may not need to add any.