Chicken Pastry by Mrs. Barnes

June 7, 2020June 8, 2020

This post is dedicated to all the fabulous food of black origin. Bernice “Lady Bug” Barnes is my daughter’s boyfriend’s mom. Marcus is from North Carolina and his family makes some of the most scrumptious looking dishes I have ever seen. The Barnes family has a huge family reunion each September, where many of these dishes are shared. I asked Marcus what I should make to celebrate the food he grew up with and he said it had to be Chicken Pastry. His mom usually makes this with turkey, but she explained chicken was fine, too. This is her recipe.

Homemade Spicy Ranch Dressing

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020

My hubs says this is the best ranch dressing he has ever had. I don’t know about that, but it’s good! I think it’s just because it’s homemade. You decide!

Crepes w/Whipped Ricotta Cream & Berries

April 26, 2020April 26, 2020

These crepes are such a treat! I used my mom’s German Pancakes and stuffed them with whipped ricotta (1 cup ricotta whisked with 1/4 cup heavy cream). I topped them with blueberry simple syrup and fresh berries. These crepes are very versatile. And, they freeze well. This yummy breakfast was made with a batch I had frozen.

Lemon Buttermilk Pie

April 15, 2020April 15, 2020

I tweaked my Rustic Buttermilk Pie recipe to make it lemony. Turned out awesome! I just love tart lemon desserts, and this one hits the mark. The dusting of powdered sugar is a nice added touch.

Fresh Poteet Strawberry Jam

April 4, 2020April 4, 2020

Every year, I make the 45 minute trek to Poteet, Texas, for a flat of strawberries. Poteet is just south of San Antonio and is known as the Strawberry Capital of Texas. They even host the annual Poteet Strawberry Festival celebrating the many strawberry farmers in the area. The soil in Poteet is sandy, making it perfect for growing these luscious berries. Here is my recipe for strawberry jam that only uses about 2 pints of berries.

Strawberry Scones w/Lemon Icing

March 29, 2020February 13, 2022

These scones are scrumptious. Another recipe I found a couple of years ago, when scrolling through Pinterest looking for things to make with my Poteet strawberries. I love the addition of the tart lemon icing – it pairs so well with the extra sweet strawberries. Just add a cup of coffee and your set. The original recipe is from Baker by Nature.

Strawberry Banana Bread

March 24, 2020April 1, 2020

I found this recipe a couple of years ago on Pinterest when I was searching for things to make with my annual flat of Poteet strawberries. This bread from Positively Splendid is indeed, splendid. It is moist & delicious. The best thing about this recipe is that it makes 2 loaves of bread – one for me & one for you!

Banana Split Pie

March 19, 2020March 20, 2020

DESSERTS

My family asks for this dessert for every birthday and special occasion. It really is good, but sometimes I cringe when they ask for it – I think I make it at least 20 times a year. Be careful if you make it – you might find yourself in the same position I’m in – Making it over and over!

- I have found that the crust comes out better when using a foil pan. - It has been my experience that making the crust the day before is very helpful. - Really drain the pineapple well. I even place the pineapple on a paper towel and squeeze out any extra juice. You don’t want soggy pie! - Do not drizzle too much chocolate syrup. I just do 4 or 5 passes.

Homemade Irish Cream

March 14, 2020March 14, 2020

This Irish Cream puts the store bought version to shame. I wanted to drink the whole bottle in one evening. I did exhibit a semblance of self control and only had 2 of these. This thick and creamy concoction is lovely on its own, in frosting, over ice cream or in coffee! The recipe is from Saveur magazine.

My Mom’s Lentil Soup

March 12, 2020March 12, 2020

This hearty soup is my mom’s recipe. It kind of reminds me of an Irish stew, my reason for sharing this in a series of St. Patrick’s Day recipes. You could easily eliminate the sausage and make this vegan. Either way, this soup is flavorful and feels like a hug!