What a blessing to have been raised in Memphis by a country cook who knew what she was doing. Good cooking was just a way of life in our household and among our extended family. My mother prepared the best fried chicken in Tipton County (We grew up in Memphis, but our reunions were in Tipton County.) according to my aunts, uncles, cousins, and great aunts & uncles; I have no reason to doubt their words of praise. I saw at every family reunion whose chicken was the first to go.
And my mother wasn’t the only good cook in our house. My daddy was a master at the grill and could throw together a variety of tasty snacks inside as well. He specialized in oyster stew & Bleu Cheese Dressing; and sitting down with Daddy as we built snacks of smoked oysters, cheeses, crackers, olives, and anything else he could scrape together was a banquet in itself.
The blog entries below come from recipes we enjoy around our household; from recipes I’ve yet to try; from recipes given me by friends and family, and things I’ve read about on line or in real print. Yes, I do still subscribe to magazines that come in the mail. Also there are posts about cooking equipment, techniques, sources for more information, etc. I hope you find something of interest. By all means, feel free to write (rbyrd@rbyrd.net).
Schema Chicken
Ingredients 8 chicken thighs or legs; skinned 1 onion; diced 3 cloves garlic; minced 8 ounces fresh mushrooms; chopped 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes with juice 12 ounce beer or a cup of wine oregano thyme basil cayenne black pepper cooking oil
Tamale Pie
Ingredients 12 ounces ground round burger1 onion ; chopped1 1/4 cups salsa1/2 cup black olive ; sliced1 cup frozen corn ; whole kernel, thawed1/2 teaspoon cumin4 cups cornbread ; crumbled1 1/2 cups...
Baked Apple Pancake
Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter1 cup peeled, sliced tart apples1/3 cup chopped pecans1/4 cup sugar1/2 teaspoon cinnamon2 large eggs1 cup flour3/4 cup milk1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon baking powderPinch of salt Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt...
Apple Date Bread
I got this one off a package of dates. Ingredients: 1 cup chopped apples 1/2 cup chopped nuts 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup chopped dates 1/2 cup butter 1 egg, beaten 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon...
Hoison Chicken
Ingredients 1/2 cup hoisin sauce1 teaspoon ginger ; minced1/2 teaspoon red pepper4 cloves garlic ; minced1/2 teaspoon sesame oil1 tablespoon soy sauce1 tablespoon rice vinegar8 chicken thighs ; skinned Instructions Preheat oven to 500°F. Whisk together all ingredients...
Chinese Pork Ribs
I picked up some "Chinese" pork ribs at the Foodarama with the intention of cooking them in the crockpot. Just about every recipe I've seen calls for pork ribs to cook for 8 hours or so. I cooked these on low, and they were done in four hours. Ingredients 3 pounds...
Carnitas
Found this interesting approach to Carnitas. Tried it on Jan. 24th with country style ribs rather than a roast. I put most in a 2 liter corningware, and the rest in a small cast iron skillet. I covered both with foil. After 3 hours in a 250 F oven, the ribs in the...
Ribbon Apple Strudel
Here’s a charming twist on classic apple strudel—Ribbon Bowtie Apple Strudel 🎀🍎🥧. It’s visually playful and surprisingly easy, using puff pastry and apple rings to create a bowtie effect. Here’s how it’s done: 🎀 Ribbon Bowtie Apple Strudel Recipe 🧂 Ingredients: 1...
Chef’s Advice on Salmon
From AARP's Daily Newsletter (A chef advises on Salmon) AARP recently shared this article about what NOT to order at restaurants. (https://shorturl.at/2vu0r). Marcus Mooney, executive chef of Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating, offers the following about salmon. ...
About the Episcopal Church
A few resources I find handy. The Episcopal Church: https://www.episcopalchurch.org What We Believe (Short Version): https://www.episcopalchurch.org/what-we-believe/ What We Believe (Long Version): https://www.bookofcommonprayer.net/catechism (From the Book of Common...
Sweet Potato and Sausage Casserole
Ingredients 3 pounds medium sweet potatoes 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 cup whole milk, heated A few light grates orange zest...
Baked Kraut and Sausage
They say kraut—specifically sauerkraut—is good for us because it’s a nutritional powerhouse wrapped in a tangy, fermented punch 🥬⚡. Here’s why it earns its health halo: Healthline offers a comprehensive breakdown of sauerkraut’s nutritional profile and probiotic...
About the Episcopal Church
A Few Handy Resources The Episcopal Church: https://www.episcopalchurch.org What We Believe (Short Version): https://www.episcopalchurch.org/what-we-believe/ What We Believe (Long Version): https://www.bookofcommonprayer.net/catechism (From the Book of Common Prayer)...
Tamale Pie
Ingredients 12 ounces ground round burger1 onion ; chopped1 1/4 cups salsa1/2 cup black olive ; sliced1 cup frozen corn ; whole kernel, thawed1/2 teaspoon cumin4 cups cornbread ; crumbled1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese ; grated1/2 cup Light sour cream ...
Gullah Sweet Tea Brined Chicken
Ingredients 4 cups strongly brewed sweet tea, cooled 1/2 cup kosher salt 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, lightly crushed 2 bay leaves 4 pounds pasture-raised chicken pieces, skin-on 2 tablespoons clarified butter...
Lagniappe
BBQ is Not a VerbBourbon Barbecue RibsBuzz Magazines Recipe TroveCajun SeasoningChurch StuffCooking LinksDeep South Dishes (And a link to the Southern Rubin)Dry MilkFool-Proof Boiled EggsFool-Proof Steamed EggsHome-made Breakfast SausageHow Hot Is That...
Casseroles
No-Beer Beer Batter
I've done this with rootbeer and with ginger ale. We like the ginger ale better. We used it for fried green tomatoes and for frying up cod. Very good. I'm sure cola would work too. Ingredients 1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/8 cup cornstarch1/2 tsp baking powder1/4 tsp...
Spicy Hoison Chicken
Ingredients 1/2 cup hoisin sauce1 teaspoon ginger ; minced1/2 teaspoon red pepper4 cloves garlic ; minced1/2 teaspoon sesame oil1 tablespoon soy sauce1 tablespoon rice vinegar8 chicken thighs ; skinned Instructions Preheat oven to 500°F. Whisk together all ingredients...
Medium White Sauce
I found this recipe at Mother's house. It had been clipped from a box of corn starch called "CREAM Corn Starch." I've never heard of it. Argo corn starch offers a very similar method. Ingredients1 1/2 T butter1 T corn starch1 cup milk1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon...
Bourbon Barbecue Ribs
Ingredients 1 (12-oz.) bottle lager beer or ale½ cup apple cider vinegar1½ tsp. kosher salt½ cup bourbon, divided1 cup ketchup½ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce½ cup honey2 garlic cloves, crushed1½ Tbsp. barbecue spice rub½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper ...
The “MIND” Diet
As members of AARP, we read their newsletter which often addresses matters of health, diet, life-style, etc. We've probably all heard of the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, created to lower blood pressure). Now there is the MIND diet (Mediterranean...
Shelia’s Sausage and Egg Casserole
Randal Byrd | December 25, 2016 | Story-tellingOur friend from St. Matthew's, Shelia, shared this recipe with Sherry. She wrote it on a note card. Ingredients 1 lb. pork sausage 6 slices bread 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese 5 eggs 1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp salt...
Bay Scallops on OptiGrill
I got this from the AI Chat Bot, Copilot on Windows. Ingredients: 1 pound bay scallops 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter Salt and pepper (to taste) Optional: minced garlic, lemon juice, fresh herbs like parsley or thyme Preheat the OptiGrill...
Shelia’s Sausage and Egg Casserole
Our friend from St. Matthew's, Shelia, shared this recipe with Sherry. She wrote it on a note card. Ingredients 1 lb. pork sausage 6 slices bread 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese 5 eggs 1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp salt pepper to taste 1 1/2 cups of milk 1 stick of...
Collection of Crawfish Etouffee Recipes
Gather all ingredients. Combine rice and 6 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer until rice is tender and water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. While rice cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over...
Todd’s Creek
I grew up literally on the bank of a bayou in Memphis, Tennessee. Of course, we didn’t call it a “bayou.” We called it “The Ditch.” It’s real name was “Todd’s Creek,” which I sometimes call just “Todd Creek” (leaving out the possessive). Or I sometimes call it by...
Jesus on the Wall
As far back as I can remember, the picture hung on my grandmother’s wall in her living room. Jesus holds a little lamb in one arm, and a shepherd’s crook in the other hand. Sheep gather around, and one looks up at Jesus (Like he knows him and trusts him?). My...
French Onion and Mushroom Casserole
This is some GOOD stuff! I got the idea from Ree Drummond - the Pioneer Woman. I changed it up a bit. For instance, I used home-made chicken stock rather than store-bought beef broth. And we used large sweet onions and probably a pound of fresh white mushrooms which...
Fool-Proof Steamed Eggs
Special thanks to America's Test Kitchen for this take on steaming eggs to a hard-boil. Bring one inch water to a rolling boil in a pot suitable for steaming. Place eggs in steamer basket and the basket into the pot so that the eggs are not touching the water. Cover...
Buzz Magazines Recipe Trove
When we lived in Houston, we got The Bellaire Buzz Magazine once a month. I enjoy flipping through it to see what's going on in the neighborhood. Children, school, pets, etc. I always check out the Chef's Corner feature and the Recipes sections.
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients 1 pound small or medium shrimp; peeled and deveined12 ounces bow tie pasta2 tablespoons olive oil1 tablespoon minced garlic2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning1/3 cup white wine14 cup unsalted butter1 1/2 cups heavy cream1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese; finely grated1...
Easy Yeast Rolls
Ingredients 1 cup warm water 1 pkg. active dry yeast 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 3 Tbsp. softened butter 1 egg, beaten 3 1/2-4 cups flour Directions Mix water, yeast, sugar, salt and butter in a large mixing bowl until well blended. Add 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour and mix...
Turkey Sausage
I made up some turkey sausage yesterday from 85/15 HEB chum ground turkey. I kept the salt at a minimum; but I upped the onion and garlic powders; added a lot of extra black pepper; and bumped the Cayenne. Having enjoyed some success with home-made pork sausage, we...