Flank Steak with Mustard Butter

This is an old family favorite. I started making it when we lived in California in 1963-64. I make this during the summer when I can get nice fresh okra.

Flank Steak with Mustard Butter

1- 1 1/2 lbs flank steak
2 tablespoons smart balance or butter  

a little less than 1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper ( I use about 1 teaspoon but I'm a pepper fan!)

1 heaping teaspoon powdered mustard

juice of one lemon

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Select an oven proof dish large enough to accommodate the steak and place in hot oven for 5 minutes. Without removing dish from oven add butter; When it is melted add salt, pepper and mustard and stir. Place steak in dish. Bake 7 minutes on each side. Take dish out of the oven and remove steak; add juice of 1 lemon juice to to dish, stir and pour over flank steak. Slice steak along the grain and serve. Serves 4-6. Enjoy!

I serve this with whipped potatoes, fried okra and ripe tomato slices.

Southwestern Salad

This recipe came to me by way of a friend who served it at a party with corn chips as scoopers. I make it often in the summertime where it will keep in the refrigerator for a week or longer. Use it as a side dish or as a salad. 

3 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can garbonzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 package of Uncle Ben's wild and long grained rice

1 16 oz package frozen corn

1/2 large red pepper, diced

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

5 jalapeno peppers, diced

3/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1-2 ripe tomatoes

Dressing

3/4 cup red wine vinegar

3/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lime juice

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook rice according to directions. Mix everything together except tomatoes, add dressing. Mix. Prior to serving add 1 or 2 cut up ripe tomatoes. Serve with or without tortilla chips.  My favorite way to eat it is to put it in a salad bowl on a bed of spring greens, chop a tomato on top, then add (if I am very hungry) chunks of of canned red salmon, avocado or chilled shrimp. Let sit for 10 minutes or so to chase the chill off the olive oil. Makes a bunch. Enjoy!

Posole

This recipe reminds me of all the times that I ate hominy while I was growing up.  Every winter my Mom saved hickory ashes from the fireplace,  made her own lye and boiled it with dried field corn in the big black wash pot until the husk of the corn came loose.  She then washed the corn until the lye was washed away.  The hominy was a bit lighter in color than a brown paper bag and so good!  Momma made enough to last through out the winter, canned it in quart cans, or put it in the freezer. 

Posole has a good flavor and the hominy just makes it better.   

Posole -- makes 8 servings

1   tablespoon canola oil
2   lbs lean boneless pork, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1   medium onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
6   cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1   tablespoon chili powder
2   teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
2   (15-ounce) cans white or yellow hominy, drained
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
6   cups fat-free chicken broth

For garnish: shredded lettuce, sliced radishes, green onions, diced avocado, lime wedges, chopped fresh cilantro.

In a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat, warm the oil and add pork, onion, and garlic.  Saute until lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes.  Stir in all the seasonings, hominy, and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until pork is tender, about 1 hour.  Ladle into bowls and serve the garnishes in separate bowls, to add as desired. 

I used the lettuce, radishes, cilantro, and the lime.  Enjoy!

Shrimp Creole

Here's another recipe that has been with us for around 50 years and I still like it. It's good in both winter and summer.

Shrimp Creole

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon canola oil

1  14 1/2 ounce can tomatoes, chopped

1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Dash of Tabasco sauce

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 Tablespoon cold water

1 pound raw cleaned shrimp, 40 to 50 count 

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

Cook onion, celery, and garlic in hot oil until tender, but not brown. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings. Simmer uncovered 45 minutes. Mix cornstarch with water, stir into sauce and cook until sauce thickens. Add shrimp and green peppers. Cover and simmer until done, about 5 minutes. Serve over rice.  Serves about 5 or 6. I do not devein my shrimp and it is still good. I serve it with my green salad and garlic bread. Enjoy!  

Beef Stew

Thank goodness for that red and white checked cookbook.  We would have been mighty hungry without it!  I've made this winter-time recipe for more than 50 years. 

Beef Stew

2 pounds of beef stew meat ( I trim off any large chunks of fat.)

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 cups boiling water

2 cups burgundy ( I use Livingston Cellars, which used to be Gallo.)

3 cloves garlic

1 large yellow onion, sliced

2 bay leaves

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Dash of allspice

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Juice of 1 lemon

4 or 5 carrots,scraped and cut into chunks

1 large yellow onion, quartered, or cut into eights

4 to 6 white potatoes, peeled and cut into half, length-wise, then cut across, to make bite sized chunks

Brown half of the meat, on all sides, in hot oil. Lift it out of the pot onto a plate, then brown the other half.  Put meat back into cooking pot and add 2 cups of boiling water. Slowly add burgundy, so that the stew continues to stew. Add the seasonings, including lemon juice. Cover, simmer 2 hours, stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking. Add boiling water, if needed. Make sure that there is enough liquid to cook and flavor the vegetables.

Add carrots, onion, and potatoes, cover, continue cooking for 30 minutes or until vegetables are done. Check for seasoning, add salt if needed. Serves 6 or more. You can expand this dish by adding another carrot and/or potato. I serve it with a green salad and maybe garlic bread. Enjoy! 

Veggie Dip

Veggie Dip

16 oz Sour cream

1/2 cup real bacon

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 pack Hidden Valley Ranch dressing

Mix and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to let the flavors develop. Serve with your favorite raw veggies. Enjoy!

Creole Black-eyed Peas and Rice

As everyone who is Southern knows, you have to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's day.  Here is the recipe that I make every year, and serve with a salad and a glass of wine.  What more could a person want to start off the new year?

Creole Black-eyed Peas and Rice

1/2    16 ounce package dried black-eyed peas

2        slices of bacon

1        large onion, chopped

1        stalk of celery, chopped

1/2     large green bell pepper, chopped

1/2     bunch of fresh parsley leaves, chopped

2        cloves garlic, chopped

1/2     teaspoon salt

1/2     teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2     teaspoon black pepper

1/2     Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2      teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1/2      teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1         Bay leaf

1         can (14 1/2 ounce) diced tomatoes

1         lb. smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces

Sort and wash peas.  Cover with water and soak overnight.  Drain peas, place in Dutch oven or large pot. Cover with water, add bacon, cover and cook over low hear 45 minutes.  Add everything else except sausage, cover and cook over low heat 1 hour, stirring occasionally.  Add sausage; cook uncovered, over low heat 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Check seasoning.  Serve over rice.  About 5 servings.  Enjoy!  

Cranberry Mush

This is a recipe we enjoyed at a family gathering in Springfield Missouri. It has become part of our holiday buffet.

Cranberry Mush

1 lb ground cranberry

2 cups sugar

1 tall can crushed pineapple, drained

10 large marshmallows, cut up

1 pt whipping cream, whipped

3/4 cups pecans, chopped

Mix everything but cream and let set for 24 hours in the fridge. Whip cream and fold in. Enjoy!

Coconut Cookies

Over the years, I have come to make lots of cookies at Christmas time. Here is one that everyone enjoys.

Coconut Cookies

½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
1 cup sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups coconut
2 cups corn flakes
2 teaspoons vanilla

Cream butter or margarine; add sugars and mix well. Add egg.

Add sifted flour, baking powder, soda and salt, mixing well.

Stir in coconut and corn flakes, then vanilla.

 Drop mixture from a teaspoon onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Note: if desired the coconut and corn flakes may be toasted, then slightly crushed before adding to other ingredients.

Enjoy!

Grandma Barfoot's Christmas Candy

My mom made lots of candy throughout the year. Things like peanut butter fudge and black walnut fudge, syrup candy, etc. Sometimes in the early 1950s she started making this candy at Christmastime and she considered it to be very special. Christmas time candy making grew and she eventually would make huge amounts, sending boxes to California to the girls. Everyone who visited was given samples. Mama got a lot of pleasure from seeing people enjoy her candy.

Uncooked Fondant

Melt in a 2 quart saucepan over low heat- 1/4 cup butter or margarine.
Remove from heat and mix in- 1 1/2 tablespoons water.
Mix in a mixture of- 3 cups sifted powdered sugar and 2/3 cup dry powdered milk.
Mix until smooth and creamy. Makes about 1 1/2 cup fondant.


Chocolate Nut Balls

Shape fondant into inch balls. Partially melt 1 package semi-sweet choclate pieces in a double boiler. Remove from heat and stir until entirely melted. Drop balls into chocolate, one at a time and remove using 2 forks. Roll in finely cut, unsalted nuts. Cool on waxed paper. Mama used black walnut meats.

Cherry Walnut Patties

Blend 1/2 cup fondant, 2 tablespoons finely cut candied cherries and 2 tablespoons finely cut walnuts. Shape into a roll 1 inch across. Wrap in waxed paper. Chill. Cut into 1/4 inch slices.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

Drain 24 maraschino cherries. Cover each with 2 teaspoons fondant. Melt 1 package semi-sweet chocolate pieces in double boiler. Drop covered cherries, 1 at a time, into chocolate. Remove using 2 forks and put on waxed paper to cool.

Coconut Patties

Mix 1/2 cup fondant with 1/2 cup finely shredded coconut.  Shape 1 teaspoon fondant mixture into ball, then flattten into round patties. Makes 2 dozen.

Enjoy!