Southern Byways

I know that it is easy to simply pick up a package of cornbread that simply requires water… which I have no problem with by the way, but I thought this morning, we would make it from scratch.

2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups cornmeal (I prefer the rougher textured variety)
1 tsp salt

Prepare oven to 450 degrees.
Choose an 8 inch baking pan and butter well. Put into oven so that it will be hot when battered has been prepared.
Break eggs into a bowl. Beat and add milk.
In separate bowl, combine baking soda, salt and cornmeal.
Add egg …read more

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4 chicken breast halves or other chicken pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
2 to 3 bunches green onions, cut into 2-inch lengths

Directions
1. Combine the salt, pepper and flour in a freezer bag and then drop in the chicken pieces. Toss until each piece is well coated. Add a tablespoon of oil to a large frying pan and turn heat to high. Add chicken and cook until each side is a nice golden brown.
2. Remove chicken from frying pan and pour oil into a waiting can that you have saved for that purpose. …read more

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In the north, most of our ice tea came out of a tin. You add the powdered mix to water, stir and then add ice cubes. Not so in the south. They take the time to make it from scratch. Just in case you want to give it a try, here’s a recipe…
3 cups boiling water
4 tea bags
sugar
mint sprigs, lemon wedges
Place into a tall glass pitcher and allow to tea to steep for about 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar and stir to thoroughly dissolve. Add 5 more cups of icy water and then serve in tall glasses filled with …read more

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The last time we were in Florida, the lady next door came over carrying a few slices of Red Velvet Cake. I of course had to ask her for the recipe and before we left, she brought it over, handwritten on a file card.

2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 C. sugar
1 T. cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/2 C. oil
1 C. buttermilk
2 oz. (1/4 C.) red food coloring
1 tsp. vanilla

1. All the dry ingredients into a bowl.
2. Break eggs and whip with a fork.
3. Add oil and keep whipping.
4. Add to dry ingredients and continue whipping until batter …read more

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Have you ever seen the back of an alligator… that probably has something to do with the name of this masque.
Just couldn’t resist sharing this recipe.
Here are the ingredients for a complexion that even an alligator would envy!
2 tablespoons distilled water
1 avocado
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon almond oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon flour
Go here for Directions

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Since Elvis is in the headlines this week, I thought that I would go looking for a recipe that would have appealed to him. Apparently, he had this things about peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But, not your ordinary peanut butter and banana sandwich. He liked them fried. So, here’s a recipe that fits the bill.
~2 slices of white bread
~peanut butter… something tells me that he wouldn’t have scrimped on the amount.
~a small well ripened banana
~margarine for frying
1. Slather the peanut butter on both slices of the bread and then spread one slice(almost to the edges) with mashed banana. You …read more

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There simply isn’t anything better than sitting by the pool, sipping a Margarita, but would you know how to make your own from scratch? Sadly enough, I usually wait for Margarita Tuesdays at Chili’s, which are great, but this sounds even better. I wouldn’t have to wait. Time to stock up on some Tequilia, Cointreau, fresh limes, salt and some funky margarita glasses.
Want the recipe?? Here you go!
And did you know this about Margaritas??
In surveys of the most popular cocktail in the United States, the margarita ranks No.1 or No. 2 (behind martinis). (Source)
Tequila is thought …read more

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1 cup butter
5 eggs
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 cup strawberry jam
1 cup raisins
1 cup nuts ( I prefer pecans)
1/2 tsp. salt
1tsp cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. rum flavoring
1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, stirring well after each.
2. Place flour and spices in a bowl and add to butter mixture alternating the butter milk. Mix well.
3. Add rum flavoring.
4. Flour the raisins and nuts until coated and then stir into batter.
7. Stir in jam
8. Bake in well greased and floured baking tins. (I use …read more

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And you thought that you had to be from the south to cook like a Southerner… apparently not. The fact that these two gentlemen were from the north didn’t stop them. I was just looking at some of their recipes. I have no idea what pickled peaches taste like or blackened potato salad. I really need to get out more obviously!!
“The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook tells the story of the brothers’ culinary coming-of-age in Charleston–how they triumphed over their northern roots and learned to cook southern without a southern grandmother. Here are recipes for classics like Fried Chicken, …read more

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For some reason, I thought that this would be an elaborate recipe, but it’s not that way at all. Actually, it looks rather simple. So how did the Mint Julep come into being?? It is THE drink to enjoy at the Kentucky Derby, but I’m sure that a lot of Southern Belles sipped the beverage on a hot summer afternoon on the porch… but I could be wrong
So here’s how you whip yourself up a glass…
a small handful of fresh mint leaves
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 tsp powdered sugar
2 tsp water
Crush the leaves, add the …read more

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