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.

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

If you love eggplant, this is one of those eggplant recipes you will have to try. We especially like the short cut by baking the eggplant slices instead of pan frying them, batch, after batch, after batch....
Healthy dinner recipes always start with something fresh from the market. Southerners love their vegetables, the more, the merrier! And summer eggplants are just plain beautiful when they are in season. Even if you do not like eggplant, this recipe may be the one that converts you.


Good Southern Ingredients

2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1 large or 2 medium eggplant, about 1-1/2 lbs
1 egg, well beaten
2 Tablespoons 2% milk
2/3 cup bread crumbs, plain or Italian style
vegetable cooking spray
Marinara sauce, about 1 quart
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese


Good Southern Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Warm the marinara sauce on the stove or microwave is fine.
Spray two baking sheets and a 9 x 12 baking dish with the vegetable spray.
Put the flour into a large ziplock plastic bag. Set aside.
Beat the egg in a shallow bowl, set aside
Place the breadcrumbs also in a shallow bowl. Set aside.

Peel the eggplant with a vegetable peeler or small knife.
Then slice into 1/2" slices.
The first step is to coat each slice with flour. Place several slices in the plastic bag and shake to coat.
Then dip each slice in the egg, coating both sides.
Then press each slice into the breadcrumbs, also both sides.
Place the slices in a single layer on the baking sheets.
Continue until all the slices are coated.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until the slices are ever so slightly browned.

To assemble, place half of the eggplant slices in the bottom of the baking dish, overlapping the slices.
Pour half of the marinara sauce over the slices.
Then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese.
Add another layer of eggplant slices, then more tomato sauce and the rest of the mozzarella.
Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.

Bake uncovered for 10-12 minutes or until all the cheese has melted.
Allow to sit a few minutes before serving.

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.

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Definitely one of our favorite comfort foods, a taste of home recipe.  Nothing compares to a homemade pot pie.  We make this chicken recipe easier by using dumplings to top it and heart smart by using the reduced fat Bisquick.  If you have leftover turkey, that would also be a good choice in the place of the chicken.





Ingredients

For the filling:


2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3 chicken breasts, pounded slightly to flatten
salt and pepper
1 small onion, diced
1 stalk of celery, diced
2 Tablespoons all purpose white flour
1/4 cup white vermouth
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup cream
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 small package frozen green peas and carrots
cooking spray

For the topping:

1-1/2 cups Heart Smart Bisquick Mix
1/2 cup milk


Southern Cooking Instructions

In a large saute pan, melt the butter until it is lightly browned.
Sprinkle the chicken with some salt and pepper. Both sides.
Add the chicken breasts to the browned butter and brown slightly on one side only.
Remove from the pan and set aside
Add the onion and celery to the pan and cook these until soft.
Add the flour to the pan, stirring well with vegetables.
Cook until this mixture is light brown, stirring constantly.
Carefully add the vermouth.
Stir until well combined and the flour is dissolved.
Add the chicken broth and stir this until combined.
Add the cream and thyme. Stirring well.
Add the frozen peas and carrots. Stir again.
Return the chicken to the pan.
Bring to a simmer, cover and cook another 6-10 minutes, until the chicken done.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Remove the chicken breasts from the pan, cut into 1/4" slices and return to the pan.
Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine the biscuit mix with milk.
It will be a sticky dough with some lumps.  Do not overmix.

Pour the chicken mixture into the baking dish.
Using two spoons, drops the biscuit dough onto the top covering most of the surface.
The biscuits will expand some, no need to worry about complete coverage.
Bake in the hot oven 7-9 minutes until the top is nicely browned.
Serve immediately or freeze some for later.

Southern Cornbread Cake Recipe

The funny thing about this cake recipe is that there is absolutely no cornbread in it.  It doesn't make much sense, but the French never heard of French toast.  Go figure.  We first found this cake in the office cafeteria.  It was always a big hit and created a buzz whenever it appeared on the food line. You will love this Southern favorite that is also high is protein.
 

Ingredients

1 cup of granulated sugar
1 cup of light brown sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups pecans, chopped very fine
whipping cream

Southern Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease and flour a 9 x 13 baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine both sugars, eggs and oil until smooth.
Stir in the flour and vanilla until well combined.
Fold in the pecans until evenly mixed.
Spoon into the prepared baking pan and spread to all sides.
Tamp the pan on the counter to remove any bubbles in the batter.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a baking rack.
Serve with a dollop of whipping cream on each 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.

Upside Down Fig Cake Recipe

We are not sure why this one is not more popular.  When figs are available, this will become one more reason to look forward to them.  The fig season is so short, but it is so wonderful to eat the local southern produce as it arrives in the markets. If you can locate honey from your area, it is even better.

Ingredients

10-12 fresh figs, depending on their size
1/2 cup honey

1   9-oz box Jiffy Golden Yellow cake mix
1 whole egg
1/2 cup cold water
cooking spray

Southern Cooking Instructions

Gently wash and dry the figs. Use only those that are soft and ripe.
Trim any hard stem portion from the top if necessary.
Slice each fig in half lengthwise and place in a small bowl.
Drizzle the honey over the fig halves.  Toss very tenderly.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Arrange the figs, face down in the dish. Filling the bottom completely.
Scrape any residual honey from the bowl on top of the figs.

In a medium bowl, place the cake mix, egg and water.
Mix by hand for about  30 seconds to moisten the batter.
With a electric mixer, continue beating for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Best to use a timer here.
Pour the batter over the figs.
To remove any air bubbles from the batter, lift the dish from your counter a few inches and drop it flat on the counter, slamming the dish will make the bubbles rise to the top of the batter and burst.

Place in the center rack of the oven and bake 20-25 minutes.
Test with a toothpick placed in the center of the cake, there should be no moist batter on it.
Allow to cool on a rack for about 10 minutes.

The cake may fall apart if you try to flip while too warm.  If you allow the honey to cool too much, the figs will not release from the pan.

Run a knife along the edge of the dish to loosen the cake.
Place your serving plate, face down on the baking dish.
Keep your oven mitts on, holding both plates together, grab the edges, making sure your thumbs are on the top plate.
Say a small prayer and flip the plates in one motion towards yourself.
The cake and the figs should release onto your serving plate.

If a few stubborn figs remain in the baking dish, carefully place on the cake while everything is still warm.
You can do some decent patching while the honey is pliable.

Cool before serving.

Baked Beans Recipe

The South has a love for beans; black eyed peas, butter beans, field peas, just to name a few.  Here is an old southern recipe that combines some of your favorites.
 


A great source of fiber, this nutritious recipe is easy to take to a barbeque.


Ingredients

2 1-lb cans of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 1-lb can of butter beans, rinsed and drained
1 1-lb can of lima beans, rinsed and drained
1 2-lb can of pork and beans, do not drain
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of garlic powder or garlic salt
1 teaspoon of dry mustard
8 slices of peppered bacon
4 large yellow onions, sliced in rings
1/2 cup of white vinegar

Southern Cooking Instructions

Fry bacon until crisp in a large pan, remove and set aside.
Add the onion rings to the bacon grease and saute until soft.
Add the brown sugar, garlic, mustard and vinegar.
Cover and simmer about 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place all the beans in a 3 quart casserole.
Pour the onion mixture over the beans.
Crumble the bacon over the top.
Bake for 1/2 hour covered and then an additional 1/2 hour uncovered.