There’s Mexican and Then Sort of Mexican.

When it comes to cooking up Mexican recipes, I often tend to wonder, “Is this authentic, or another recipe that has been Americanized?”.  Let’s get real about American food, it basically came about from other countries and cultures that immigrated to North America.  Nowadays, mainly in extremely large metropolises, purely ethnic communities can be found and you will get the real deal when it comes to their country’s cuisine.

Mexican food can be found from the smallest town to the largest city, but even restaurants have to cater to the awkward taste of the typical born and raised American.  Take, for example, fajitas; you will not be finding them served in Mexico City, Guadalajara (Gustavo’s of Monticello does have them on their menu), Oaxaca or even Tijuana.  Why?  Their origin is Texas, The Lone Star State, where cowboys from Mexico taught the American West cowboy how to eat better.  This is an example of fusion cooking, where the cuisine of Texas combined with Mexican cuisine, and a new recipe was born.  Don’t think this is true, then I’ll quote myself from November 2016, “A historical piece called “Fajitas, South Texas Style”, done at Texas A&M University by Mary K. Sweeten and Homer Recio, established that this could be traced as far back as the 1930’s in Texas; hence the beginning of what is called “Tex-Mex” cuisine.  (Go to: https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/147901/Bull1500a.pdf?sequence=9&isAllowed=y for the full story.)”.  A whole study done on Tex-Mex cuisine, and fajitas; now would I lie to you?

Let’s take on another popular recipe which, again, has its origins in Tex-Mex, Taco Soup.  Alright, don’t be getting your knickers in a twist, no way will I be disillusioning tacos.  Taco soup is actually derived from a more traditional Mexican soup, Tortilla soup. It combines traditional Mexican flavors, like those found in tacos and chili, with ingredients easily available in American supermarkets, such as taco seasoning, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and a variety of beans.

In my search for a taco soup recipe worth creating, I found one in a Paula Deen cookbook; however, it ended up being the consistency of chili, and tasting exactly like that.  Doing more searching, I was amazed that most of the recipe sites that mentioned taco soup had "cooks" with Paula's recipe listed word for word; yet they listed the recipe as their own "original" recipe.   So, I have "cooks" in quotes to show my sarcasm as they aren't real cooks, just copycats who don't have the manners to give credit where credit is due. The recipe I will be giving is highly influenced by Paula Deen, but tweaked enough to be considered an original, not a copycat.  It has a creamed soup texture, not thick like a standard chili, and the ranch dressing gives a mild flavor that does not overpower the concept of tacos.

 

 

Taco Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef (85% lean), browned, drain excess grease

1 (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes

1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies

1(14.5 oz.) can beef broth

1 (15 oz.) can great northern (white) beans

1 (15 oz.) can whole black beans

1 (11 oz.) can Mexican style whole kernel corn

1 (1.25 oz.) packet taco seasoning mix

¼ cup bottled original ranch dressing, not buttermilk

Preparation:

 

Set 4-quart crock pot on low; spray with nonstick cooking spray. Put in all items from ingredients list; do not drain beans or corn. Cover and cook for 4 hours.

 

Makes 10 (2 cup) servings.

Garnishes:

Chopped fresh cilantro

Avocado slices

Diced red onion

Sour cream

Shredded Mexican cheese blend

Crumbled Queso Fresco cheese

Tortilla chips or strips

Now for that authentic Mexican soup I mentioned earlier, Tortilla Soup aka Sopa Azteca aka Sopa de tortilla.  The origin of tortilla soup is traced to pre-Columbian Mexico, where the use of corn tortillas in soups was a natural way to utilize leftover tortillas. The dish evolved from indigenous practices in Central Mexico, incorporating ingredients like corn, tomatoes, and chiles, and later adding European influences like onion, garlic, and chicken broth. While the exact moment of creation is unknown, the combination reflects ancient Mexican culinary traditions. Tortilla soup's foundational ingredients were staples in the diet of indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica, including the Aztecs, long before the arrival of the Spanish.  It is an iconic meal that is comforting and resourceful at the same time.

Besides chicken broth, my recipe also incorporates chicken meat, so hence the name, chicken tortilla soup. The soup is colorful from the ingredients, flavorful from the seasonings and a mild warming sensation from the chilies exemplified the essence of comfort.  The tortilla chips? I wondered about them, basically why put something crunchy in a soup, just so it can get soggy?  I was surprised though; the softened tortilla chips gave the illusion of noodles (tortilla strips) or dumplings (tortilla chips) enhancing the feeling of comfort overall.

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

 

Ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, do not drain liquid

1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, do not drain liquid

2 (11 oz.) cans Mexican corn, do not drain liquid

1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 Tbsp. dried cilantro

½ tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. ground cumin

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

2 (14.5 oz.) cans chicken broth

Tortilla chips

Preparation:

Set a 6-quart crock pot on low; place inside the ingredients in order of listing. Cook for 6 hours; remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to crock pot and mix thoroughly. Line bottom of soup bowl with tortilla chips; ladle soup over chips.

Makes 12 servings.

Garnishes: sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado, chopped fresh cilantro

Considering the stormy weather we are currently having, a hot bowl of either of these soups will warm body and soul up quite nicely.

Mary Cokenour 

 

 

Time to Start Thinking Harvest.

The end of August is almost here, and we are never too sure what the weather for September and October will be bringing to us.  Anyone home gardening should be considering what to harvest now, and what can wait a bit longer.  Our summer has not been overly heated, but we never did get our annual monsoon, so dry, dry, dry.  Many gardens probably did well with constant secondary watering, and care; many did not fare well.

Thanks to our friend Steve, he made sure we received yellow squash as often as possible.  Even though he was disappointed in their lack of growth size, I was able to make many a delicious squash quick bread to share back with him.  Quick bread made with squash?  Well sure, I bet you have had zucchini bread, well that’s a squash.  Simply use my recipe from the June 29, 2022 article, in the San Juan Record, or from my food blog, and substitute yellow squash for zucchini.  If the squash is not over ripe, the skin can be shredded into the bowl along with the insides, or peel it off if you’re unsure.  Just make sure to remove the stem and root ends, and throw those into the compost bin.

This got me to wondering about the various tribes of Utah’s indigenous peoples, and what they refer to as The Three Sisters: squash, beans and corn.  The most important aspect to these three food items is…water!  I have written many a time about Navajo recipes, even one on Hopi, but not on the Paiute or Ute, and finding them mentioned in southwestern native cookbooks seems to be nonexistent.  The state of Utah is named after the Utes, and information from Utah.com states, “The name "Utah" is believed to be derived from the Ute word "yuttah," which means "people of the mountains"”.  National Geographic states, “It comes from the Spanish nickname for the Ute Native American tribe, “Yuta”. But others say the name could come from the Ute word “yutas”, which is said to mean “the people,” or “people of the mountains.””   When it comes to researching, there are very few books available about the Paiutes and Utes, so most of my information comes from roaming the internet.  So, apologies to the descendants of both tribal cultures if I get something incorrect. 

Speaking of roaming, both Paiute and Ute people are descended from Numic-speaking hunter-gatherers who migrated east from Southern California around 1000 AD.  While they shared linguistic and cultural traditions, eventually, due to traveling to, and setting up home, in different states, the tribes developed individually distinct qualities.  One important quality remained for both though, the need to be near water sources, for how else can food be grown?

This brings it all round to The Three Sister of squash, beans and corn that not only can be cooked together, but can be harvested and stored to last throughout the winter months.

Unfortunately, the only recipes I could find, relating to Paiutes and Utes, were too modernized to be authentic.  Ingredients that grew native to Utah may no longer exist, or recipes list ingredients that are more readily available in stores, then to go foraging for. Take, for example, herbs native to Utah: common yarrow, yampah, sagebrush, purple sage, globe mallow, blue lupine, thread leaf ragwort, fleabane and fern bush. Now different types of sage are readily available in stores, but the rest, not so much, unless home grown or foraged.

So, what herbs can be purchased, or even grown in home gardens?  Of course, sage is number one on the list, after that is: lemon thyme, thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, parsley, chives, mint and lavender.  Sounds like we have a Mediterranean theme going on in this herbal garden.  All of these herbs are considered aromatics, and enhance any food they are being paired with. 

Well, I have some lovely yellow squash sitting on the kitchen counter, and while I will cheat a little by using canned pinto beans and whole kernel corn, here’s my take on Three Sisters Stew.  Oh, while this can be done on the stovetop, about an hour of cooking on medium-high heat; I chose to use a crock pot instead.  Like I have mentioned many a time, low and slow is the way to go, as it gives each ingredient, not just time to cook thoroughly, but to infuse, and be infused, with surrounding flavors.

 

Three Sisters Stew

(In honor of all the indigenous people of Utah)

Ingredients:

2 cups yellow squash, peeled and cubed (butternut or acorn squash are good as well)

1 (15.25 oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15.25 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained or rinsed

1 large onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. each dried sage, thyme and rosemary

¼ cup pinyon (pine) nuts

4 cups vegetable broth

Preparation:

Place all ingredients into a 2-quart crock pot, and pour vegetable broth over all.  No need to stir together until fully cooked.  Set on low for 4 hours.

After 4 hours on low.

All Ingredients into Crock Pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Makes 4 servings, or 6 if being used as a side dish.

Notes:

Stove top method: Do same preparation as above, but into a 2 to 3-quart cooking pot.  Set on medium-high heat, for one hour, occasionally stirring to keep from boiling over, or food sticking to bottom of pot.

Corn – fresh can be used, or, if using frozen, make sure to thaw before adding in.  Adding in frozen, the corn will contain additional water which will dilute the broth.

Beans – soak dried overnight can be used, but the cooking time will be increased, and increase vegetable broth to six cups, instead of four.

Herbs – yes, you can use some of the others that are listed within the article, instead of what I have used.

Spicy?  A few recipes did add diced Hatch or jalapeno chilies, so up to personal tastes if the stew is to be mild, medium or hot.

Tomatoes?  A few recipes did add diced tomatoes, however, I was looking to create something more geared towards the indigenous cultures, than Italian cuisine.

A Complete Meal of 3 Sisters Stew plus Fried Flounder.

 

Basically, try my recipe first, and hope you enjoy it.  After that, have more adventure in your own kitchen by adding other ingredients such as chilies or tomatoes.

Mary Cokenour 

 

 

 

 

Finding Comfort in Cornbread Convenience.

 

Deep Fried Chicken Tenderloins with Honey Mustard Sauce, Garlic Baby Potatoes, Sweet Corn Casserole.

Whether seeing recipes online, reading through a myriad of cookbooks, or finding a product at the supermarket, I am always looking for something new to cook or bake.  During the 2024 holiday season, I discovered a new product from frozen food diva, Marie Callender, Sweet Corn Casserole.  The description is, “Indulge in sweet whole corn kernels in a creamy cornmeal batter with a touch of cheese for a quick and convenient casserole with homemade taste you'll want to savor.”  This product can be eaten alone, or as a side dish, with 2-4 servings dependent on how much is spooned out.

At home, the product was prepared according to package directions, using the oven method, as I am not very keen on microwave cooking. Why? Personally, I have found cooked, or “baked”, dishes, have unpredictable results, as the microwave simply does not cook evenly throughout. Anyway, after 20 minutes, I pulled the oven proof dish out, stirred the ingredients and then waited.  What did I get?  Soup, yes, a soupy mixture of very little corn kernels and barely noticeable cornbread around the rim.  What the…?  Read the directions again, and I had done them correctly, but this looked nothing like the photo on the box.  How do I fix this?  I opened and added a can of whole kernel corn, put the dish back in the oven for another 20 minutes, and wallah…sweet corn casserole.  It was tasty, a consistency similar to very firm mashed potatoes, and, of course, now loaded with corn.

Overall, though, I was very disappointed with the experience, and needed to know how to make the dish myself.  First, I found hundreds of references to Paula Dean, as she is the queen of southern cooking, and here is her recipe.

Paula Deen's Corn Casserole

Ingredients:

14.75 oz. creamed corn

15.25 oz. whole kernel sweet corn, drained

8.5 oz. Jiffy corn muffin mix

8 oz. sour cream

1 stick butter, melted

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for the cheddar cheese. Be sure to drain the whole kernel corn.

Pour into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish or 10-inch cast iron skillet.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.

Top with shredded cheddar. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the top begins to brown.

Let stand for 5 minutes prior to serving.

Servings: 6 (those must be whopping sized servings!)

Reviews varied from worse to best thing ever, so I decided to do a bit more digging about this dish.  Sweet corn casserole is known by a variety of names: corn pone, spoon bread, corn pudding, and hoppy glop.  It originated with the Native Americans of the south who added ash to the cooking process of corn with water.  The ash would soften the corn by breaking down the cellular walls, allowing more water to penetrate. The name “corn pone” likely came from one of these Native words, apan, oppone or supawn which translate to “baked”, since the mixture would be baked on hot coals to form a cake.  As explorers and settlers came to the east coast of the New World, ingredients, such as butter, sugar and flour, were introduced to the mixture.

Being an explorer of foods myself, I eventually came up with a recipe that hit the spots of sweet, tangy and savory.  During these last weeks of frigid weather, a warm bowl heated the hands, while the casserole heated the body from the inside-out.  Since my hubby ended up eating most of this casserole, I would rightly say that I must have done it correctly.

 

Sweet Corn Casserole (I did it my way…. sing it Frankie!)

Ingredients:

2 cups plain cornbread mix

1 (14.75 oz.) can cream style corn

1 (15.25 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained

½ cup butter, melted

2 Tbsp. honey

1 cup sour cream

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

 

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350F, and butter inside of a 2-quart casserole dish.  Stir together all ingredients and spoon into the dish.  Bake for 45-55 minutes; or until top is golden brown.  If desired, spread more shredded cheese over top and leave dish in oven for two minutes to allow melting.

 

Remove from oven, let rest for five minutes before serving.

Makes 12 servings.

 

 

 

But wait, I found another cornbread convenience trick that surprised even me.  I recently purchased a cornbread from the local market which was simply delicious.  It was moist, did not fall apart when using a fork, honey sweet and one of the best I have ever tried.  Reading the ingredient label, I found “cake mix” as one of the main ingredients.  Huh? Cake Mix?  Yes folks, I have found another baked good that has cake mix as one of its main ingredients.  Researching recipes, several food bloggers stated that this was a trick used by many a restaurant that served cornbread as a side.  Not only does it stretch the recipe, but it makes the cake less dry and crumbly, allowing for softened butter to spread on more easily and smoothly.

Here is a basic recipe that can be played with.  Like cornbread with cheddar cheese, honey, or chopped jalapenos?  Add them!  it is your creation, so have fun playing.

 

Cake Mix Cornbread

 

Ingredients:

1 (15.25 oz.) box yellow cake mix (with or without pudding, both work)

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. cornbread mix

1/2 cup milk

4 large eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup warm water

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Butter, or use butter flavored nonstick spray, in a 9x13 baking pan, or 2-8-inch round baking pans

Whisk cake mix and corn bread mix together in a large bowl to smooth out any lumps.  Add remaining ingredients and whisk well to combine.

Pour into baking pan(s); bake for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool in pan.  With the round cake pans, there will be 8 servings.  Depending on how the cake, in the 9x13 pan, is cut, there could be up to 15 servings.

Note: If high altitude, check cake mix box for any additions to the cake mix, such as flour.

Mary Cokenour

 

 

 

 

 

Word to the Lima Bean.

 According to the Urban Dictionary, “Originally "word to the mother." is used by African- Americans as a salutation. It means "Give due respect to the motherland from which we came." Can be used in the same context as "Keep it real." or, also, can be used to literally express respect to the motherland and African-American customs and traditions.”  In a more generalized context, it means, “respect to your motherland and keep a hold of your roots”, which seems to actually apply to any world culture.

Look at the small melting pot which resides right here in the Four Corners region of the Southwest – Caucasian, Indigenous peoples, Hispanic, African-American, and even many from the South Pacific, and Asian nations.  While the Indigenous people can claim this land as the homeland of their ancestors, the rest came here via exploration, freed slaves, or those seeking freedom from a homeland which had become oppressive in some fashion.  With them, of course, came forth, not just their traditions, but their culinary culture as well.

April 20, 2023 is Lima Bean Respect Day; hey, I do not make this stuff up!  A much-maligned legume whose homeland is Peru, and named after the capital city of Lima.  The native people of Peru, the Moche, settled within the area around the 15^th century, and drawings of the lima bean can be found on discovered pottery.  Its scientific name, ‘Phaseolus Lunatus’, translates to ‘half-moon,’ which refers to the bean’s shape.  Lima beans are rich in protein, fiber, and other nutrients such as manganese, potassium, copper, iron and a few more body essentials.  However, they could be poisonous if too many are eaten raw.  Since the Moche believed the bean symbolized both war and eternal life, being poisoned would certainly be a war on the body, and send one to a celestial eternal life.

Since it has been established that trade did occur between the people of Meso-America, and North America, it is no surprise that the lima bean made its way up north.  With explorers coming from Spain, and, eventually the colonization of North America, foods of this homeland were introduced to recipes of Europe. 

According to culinary history, the word “succotash” is derived from the Narragansett Indian word “msickquatash” which means boiled corn kernels. This dish featured green corn kernels, beans and other vegetables, boiled together, and is a nourishing dish of native origin.  Of course, dependent on which area of the country involved, the beans and vegetables often differed, but corn was still a main ingredient.

Alright, who does not remember the cans of succotash sold in supermarkets?  It was basically a mixture of boiled lima beans and creamed corn; am I the only person who liked it?  Poured over roasted chicken, with a side of buttery mashed potatoes; oh yeah, that is what I am talking about!

Since the Utah pioneers interacted with the tribes of the area, learning about the cooking of beans with corn would not be a surprise.  In The Mormon Pioneer Cookbook, page 21, there is a recipe for succotash.  It is listed as a typical item during a typical pioneer dinner.

 

Succotash

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. butter

2 cups cooked lima beans

2 cups whole kernel born

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. sugar

¾ cup light cream

Preparation:

Melt butter in a saucepan, stirring in remaining ingredients.  Heat 5 minutes over low heat.

Yield: 6 servings.

 

Now here is an example of another recipe that features several differences in ingredients; from Southwest Indian Cookbook, page 62.

 

Zuni Succotash

Ingredients:

3 cups canned pinto beans, drained

1 and ½ cups fresh or frozen corn kernels

1 and ½ cups fresh string beans, chopped

1 and ½ cups water

4 Tbsp. butter or shortening

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

Pepper to taste

2 Tbsp. shelled sunflower seeds, crushed

Preparation:

In a large heavy saucepan, place all the ingredients, except for the sunflower seeds, in water with 2 tablespoons butter.  Simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Add sunflower seeds and remaining butter and continue to simmer until mixture thickens.

Yields: 6 servings.

Maybe after all of this, there is still no way you would eat succotash, no matter what the recipes contained.  Here are two of my recipes which are definitely pleasing to the palette, and cooked separately.  At least try succotash though, to give it a fair judgment.

 

Baked Lima Beans

Ingredients:

1 (40.5 oz.) can Lima beans (also called Butter beans)

1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chiles, mild

1 medium onion, chopped

1 (16 oz.) bottle hickory smoked, brown sugar barbeque sauce

6-8 strips thick cut bacon, roughly chopped

Preparation:

Preheat oven at 350F. Spray a 2-quart casserole with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients; spoon into the casserole dish. Bake for 2 hours.

Serves 8.

 

Corn Nuggets

Ingredients:

1 (14 ¼ oz.) can creamed style corn

1 (14 ¼ oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained

¾ cup cornmeal

¾ cup flour

2 egg whites

3 Tbsp. milk

¼ tsp. salt

Canola oil for frying

Preparation:

In a small bowl, mix together both cans of corn; line a jelly roll pan with wax paper; spoon tablespoons of mixture onto wax paper and freeze until firm (about 3 hours).

Fill a deep fryer to fill line, or a deep skillet to one inch, with oil; bring temperature up to 350F. While oil is heating, in a medium bowl, mix together cornmeal, flour, egg whites, milk and salt thoroughly. Dip frozen corn into the batter and then deep fry, 4-5 at a time, until golden brown. Remove to paper towels to drain; serve as is or with assortment of sauces.

Makes about 2 dozen.

Options: before freezing, add to corn mixture, ¼ cup of crisp, crumbled bacon; petite diced bell peppers, chile peppers or onions; or a combination of ingredients.

Mary Cokenour

An Ear of Corn Speaks Volumes.

During the month of October, we were subjugated to Mother Nature experiencing the indecisive phase of menopause.  It started our seasonably warm during the day, and comfortably cool for good sleeping nights.  That was her version of sleeping with one leg outside of the blankets.  Suddenly, it became so cold that snow fell; then sort of cold with thunderstorms, and hail pounding the land.  Most days, we start out wearing a winter coat, switch to a lighter sweatshirt, only to be searching for that coat, once again, at night.

Here we are in November, the in-between of last harvest and the hibernation of winter.  It is also the month to begin planning for the holidays; feasting, presents, traveling and making resolutions for the New Year.  While the various Hallmark channels are playing Christmas themed movies already, 24/7, until sometime in January; Black Friday commercials have been running for weeks.  Basically, while sitting in your Halloween costume, you can shop for Christmas presents, and plan your Thanksgiving meal, all at the same time.  Bah Humbug, I say!

There is something important, that the past two years should have taught us all, and that is to savor every moment.  Correct, tomorrow is never guaranteed, but pushing everything together, just in case, leaves nothing to appreciate later on; like the simple things.

There are many things that are simply good as is, and you do not need a good reason to want them.  A bowl of steaming mashed potatoes, butter oozing over the creamy spuds.  A slice or two of toasted bread smeared with cream cheese and orange marmalade; fruity, rich and that satisfying crunch of the toast.  No matter the weather, no matter the season, or what holiday has rolled around; these are the things that make us feel good, and give us comfort.

Some of our most satisfying comforts come from a versatile vegetable, Corn.  Delicious freshly grilled and coated with garlic or honey butter; or boiled in milk to bring out that rich sweetness.  Or added to casseroles for the taste and crunch it can provide.  Around the world, corn is used, in various forms, to create a basic staple, or an awesome gourmet dish.

In our southwestern states, especially, white, yellow or blue cornmeal is a mainstay staple found in almost every pantry.  Cornmeal is corn ground to a fine consistency; used in baking, as in cornbread or hushpuppies; for dredging when frying, or the making of tortillas.

Grits, a word that comes from the Old English “grytta” meaning a coarse meal and as the name implies, gritty; these are a staple in most southern USA dishes; served for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. Grits have a creamy texture similar to porridge or moist oatmeal.  This can be eaten alone, as a side dish, or as part of a larger recipe.

Polenta, what was known as a peasant food in Italy, was often cooked in a copper pot called a paiola; the grind is somewhere between the consistency of cornmeal and grits; used in baking, or a side dish similar to mashed potatoes.

Using the process of milling called “Stone Ground” retains some of the hull and germ of the corn, lending more flavor and nutrition to recipes. It is more perishable, but will store longer if kept in an air tight container and refrigerated.

Basic Grits

Ingredients:

4 cups water

2 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. salt

1 cup stone ground grits

Preparation:

In a large saucepan, on high heat, bring the water, butter and salt to a boil. Gradually add the grits, return to a boil; reduce heat to low.  Cook the grits, stirring occasionally, so that they do not stick or clump; they are done when the texture is creamy, about 25-30 minutes.  Season with additional salt and butter to taste, if desired.

Makes 4 servings.

Notes:

Additional seasonings:  ½ tsp ground black pepper or garlic

If adding cheese reduce water to 2 cups, add in 2 cups milk; cook grits according to instructions.  Add ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese plus 2 additional Tbsps. butter to grits; whisk to fully incorporate.

Basic Polenta

Ingredients:

6 cups water

2 tsps. salt

1 and 3/4 cups stone ground cornmeal

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter

Preparation:

In a large sauce pan, high heat, bring water to a boil; add salt.  Slowly whisk in the cornmeal; reduce heat to low; cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; add butter; stir until fully incorporated.

Makes 6 servings.

Notes:

Polenta can be served as is, or spread in a parchment lined baking pan, cooled in the refrigerator and cut into shapes.

Additional ingredients to make it more savory:  ½ cup of minced mushrooms, red onion or both; sautéed in butter before adding.

Use chicken broth instead of water for a richer flavor.

Reduce water to 4 cups; add 2 cups milk, follow cooking instruction; and then whisk in ¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese.

 Cornbread

 This is a basic recipe for cornbread.  Chile peppers, such as jalapeno, and/or cheese can be added; the amount is up to the baker.  Personally, if making a cornbread with chile peppers, I only add one fine diced for each loaf being made.  I do not want the flavor of the cornbread itself to be overpowered.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. melted, unsalted butter

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 cups yellow cornmeal

½ cup sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups milk

2 large eggs, beaten

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400F.  Brush two 9”x5”x3” loaf pans with the melted butter.

Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add in the cornmeal and sugar, mix well.  Cut the softened butter into the dry mixture until it forms a coarse meal.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs; mix with coarse meal until a smooth batter forms.  Divide the batter between the 2 loaf pans.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes cleanly out of the center.  Cool the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes before turning the loaves out.  The cornbread can be served warm or cool.  To store, wrap in plastic wrap and it will keep for 2 days in a cool, dry place; or it can be frozen for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 2 loaves.

…and if you are looking for a soup to serve at a holiday meal, something to warm up your bones, or even bring to someone feeling poorly, try…

 

Chicken Corn Chowder

 

Ingredients:

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/8 tsp salt

¼ tsp. paprika and ground black pepper

4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 carrots, peeled and large diced

2 stalks celery, large diced

1 small onion, diced

6 Tbsp. butter

4 Tbsp. flour

3 cups milk

2 cups cooked whole kernel corn

2 hard boiled eggs, diced

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350F; spray roasting pan with nonstick spray. Season chicken with the salt, black pepper and paprika; roast for 15-20 minutes; juices in chicken will run clear. Remove and cut into cubes. While chicken is roasting, place potatoes, carrots and celery in a large pot, cover with salted water; cook on high heat until potatoes are fork tender. Drain, but retain 1 cup of water.

In the large pot, melt butter on medium-high heat, add onion and cook for 5 minutes; add in flour and mix thoroughly. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring to make sure the flour is well incorporated. Add in milk, retained water and corn; bring to a boil, stir and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Mix in diced eggs and serve.

Makes 6 servings.

Mary Cokenour

Another Easy Chicken Recipe.

When it comes to bone-in chicken, there is only two ways I usually use it; deep fried or baked in barbecue sauce.  So, when I received a ten pound bag of chicken leg quarters, all I could think was, "That's a lot of chicken to fry up."  Yes, when it comes to bone-in chicken, I don't have much imagination for its use; Roy and I are more prone to eat boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Ah, then an idea hit me, why not make the chicken and stuffing crock pot recipe, but use this chicken instead.  I layered the chicken on the bottom of a six quart crock pot, covered it with whole kernel corn, stuffing mix and a soup mixture.  Six hours later, on low heat, the meal was done; miserable part was, the chicken came off the bones.  As I spooned out stuffing with chicken, included were pieces of bone that had to be picked out before serving.  Talk about a mess and nuisance!  The chicken was parboiled to remove skin and fat, so I wonder if I should have simply cooked it for four hours instead, to keep the chicken intact.

Alas, I have no photos of that cooking mishap; hint, do NOT allow your spouse to use a camera without taking photos off of it first!  He doesn't know how he did it, but all my photos had been deleted while he was recording a snowfall outside.  Fortunately, I used the loss of the photos as an excuse to make the dish again, but in a different fashion.

After parboiling, skin and fat removal, seasoning, the chicken was placed into a baking dish.  Corn, stuffing and soup mixture went into a separate baking dish.  The corn stuffing finished 10 minutes earlier than the chicken, but this gave it time to settle.  Now this meal was so much better; the chicken came easily off the bone, but didn't have to be picked out of the stuffing.  Roy brought over some to his mother and brother to try; they cleaned their plates and wondered if more was available.  I'd definitely say it was a huge hit!

Trial and error; sometimes cooking is a fail, but it spurs you on to try again and find a delicious solution.

Baked Chicken with Corn Stuffing

Ingredients:

8 chicken leg quarters

2 tsp. each salt and ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. paprika
2 cans (14.5 oz.) whole kernel corn
4 Tbsp. butter
2 boxes (6 oz.) chicken flavored stuffing mix
1 can each (10.5 oz.) cream of chicken and cream of celery soup
1 and ½ cups milk

Preparation:

Parboil the chicken for 15 minutes; let cool slightly before removing skin and any remaining pieces of fat.  Preheat oven to 350F; spray inside of two 9” x 13” baking dishes with nonstick cooking spray.

Mix together salt, black pepper and paprika; split mixture in half and sprinkle over both sides of chicken.  Place chicken, bone side down, into one baking dish; place inside preheated oven.

In second baking dish, pour corn (with liquid) inside and place butter in four corners of dish; spread stuffing mix over corn.  In a medium bowl, mix together soups and milk; pour over stuffing and spread out evenly.  Place in oven alongside baking dish with chicken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken will take about 40-45 minutes to bake (internal temperature of 185F); corn stuffing will take about 30-35 minutes to bake (soup mixture firmed up, liquid from corn entirely absorbed by stuffing).

Makes 8 servings.

Mary Cokenour

Layers of Flavor in a Strata.

Remember that brined turkey I made and saved the white meat for future use? The future is here!  One recipe my husband loves, simply loves, is Turkey Vegetable Strata.  When we lived in Pennsylvania, my mother would make several trays of this dish just for him; we would freeze the trays for when he felt the desire for it.  Well, she is 2700 miles away in Pennsylvania; we're in Utah, so I needed to make this dish on my own for him; of course I tweaked the recipe.  No, I just can't leave recipes as is; have to keep playing with new ingredients.

Anyway, my husband paid me the most awesome compliment the other day, "Hunny, this strata is so good; it's even better than your mother's."  I was on cloud nine and still climbing; I think the smile on my face was so wide, I dented the walls in the kitchen.

Turkey Vegetable Strata is one of those casserole dishes that takes two days to prepare.  The first day, the body of the casserole needs to rest in the refrigerator, so moisture and flavor can soak into the bread stuffing.  The second day is the baking process and to be truthful, the casserole is even better the next day after that when all the flavors have melded together...but who can wait!?!

Enough teasing, lets get to baking and eating!

Turkey Vegetable Strata

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, diced

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 cup diced mushrooms
2 Tbsp butter
1 (10 oz) bag herb seasoned, cubed bread stuffing (white or cornbread)
1 (16 oz) bag frozen white corn
1 and 1/2 lbs cooked turkey, white meat, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided in half
2 eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt
3 cups milk, divide into 2 cups and 1 cup
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 (10 3/4 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of celery soup
1 tsp crushed dry sage

Preparation:

 

 

 

In a 12 inch skillet, melt butter on medium heat; sauté onion, bell pepper and mushrooms for 10 minutes; do not let brown, just soften. 

 

With nonstick cooking spray, spray a 4 quart baking dish.  In a large mixing bowl, combine cubed bread, corn, turkey, one cup cheese and sautéed vegetables; spread out into sprayed baking dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, mayonnaise (or yogurt), two cups milk and black pepper until smooth.  Pour evenly over contents in baking dish; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 hours.

 

 

 

 

 

Next day, bread stuffing is moist and double in size.

 

Next day, preheat oven to 350F.  In a large bowl, mix together soups, sage, one cup milk and one cup cheese till well combined; spread evenly over top of contents in baking dish. 

 

 

 

 

Bake covered with aluminum foil  for 50 minutes; uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes.  Let casserole rest for 15 minutes before serving.

 

Makes 12 servings.

 

Mary Cokenour