What Would Martha Cook?

Too Busy to Be Unprepared

Archives for June 2009

Fried Okra

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16 pods okra
2 c. yellow cornmeal
2 T. flour
3 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/4 c. cold water in a spray bottle
1 1/2 c. bacon drippings

Slice okra into 1/4 inch slices. Sprinkle okra with cold water. Mix together corn meal, salt and pepper. Coat okra thoroughly with mixture. Remove from mixture and deep fry in large stock pot or deep fryer in 2 inches bacon drippings until golden brown. Serves 8. From “Big Mama’s Old Black Pot” cookbook–doubled the recipe for folks who eat okra like we do!

Grocery List
bacon (for drippings)–use bacon for this recipe, it’s great!
okra
cornmeal
salt
pepper

Approximate Cost: $3.83

Peanut Butter Pie

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1 c. crunchy peanut butter
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
2 T. butter, melted
1 c. whipped topping
1 T. vanilla
1 graham cracker crust, 9 inch
Hershey’s chocolate fudge topping to garnish

In a large bowl, mix together peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar, butter, whipped topping and vanilla. Pour into graham cracker crust. Refrigerate overnight. Top with hot fudge (Hershey’s that is heated for about 1-2 minutes in the microwave–stop often and stir). Very, very rich! From “Lone Star Legacy,” my very favorite cookbook ever.

Grocery List
crunchy peanut butter
cream cheese
sugar
butter
whipped topping
vanilla
graham cracker crust
Hershey’s chocolate fudge

Approximate Cost: $4.78

Grilled Stuffed Bantams

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8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (flattened in a butterfly shape)
1 1/2 t. salt, separated
1/2 t. MSG (opt.)
1 egg, beaten
1 c. Stove Top stuffing mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can crab meat, drained
1/2 c. canola oil
1 t. Kitchen Bouquet
1/4 c. green pepper, chopped
1 T. lemon juice
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. prepared mustard
1/2 medium onion, very finely chopped
1/8 t. ground black pepper

Sprinkle inside of chicken breasts with 1 1/4 t. salt and MSG In a large bowl mix together 1 egg, 1 c. Stove Top stuffing mix, 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can crab meat,1/4 c. green pepper, 1 T. lemon juice, 2 t. Worcestershire sauce,1 t. prepared mustard and 1/4 t. salt. Top half of each breast with 1/8 of the filling mixture. Skewer each breast closed (fold in half).

Basting Sauce:
Combine 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup, 1/4 c. oil, 1 t. Kitchen Bouquet, 1/2 medium onion and 1/8 t. black pepper.

Broil chicken over hot coals for 30 minutes or until tender, turning frequently. During the last 15 minutes, brush with basting sauce. From “Lone Star Legacy”

Grocery List
chicken breasts
salt
MSG
egg
Stove Top stuffing mix
cream of mushroom soup
crab meat
canola oil
Kitchen Bouquet
green pepper
lemon juice
Worcestershire sauce
prepared mustard
onion
black pepper

Approximate Cost: $10.98

Grilled Tomatoes

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10 large firm ripe tomatoes
4 c. finely grated dry French bread crumbs
4-6 T butter, melted
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 green onions, minced
2 t. dried oregano, crushed
1 t. salt
1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Cut tops off tomatoes and scoop out pulp, save for another recipe (like MaryAnn’s Hot Sauce!). Combine remaining ingredients. Fill the tomato shells and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Sprinkle Parmesan evenly on top of each and then place under broiler just until golden on top. Serves 10. From “Lone Star Legacy”

Grocery List
tomatoes
French bread
butter
garlic
green onions
dried oregano
salt
black pepper
Parmesan cheese

Approximate Cost: $8.42

Flour Tortillas From Scratch

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3 c. flour plus scant amount for hands and surface

2 t. salt
2 T. baking powder
1/3 c. butter, melted
1 c. hot water

In a large bowl, add flour, salt, baking powder and butter. Stir together thoroughly, until the mixture is crumbly. Slowly add hot water, stirring together. Flour hands and knead mixture for 2 minutes. Divide into 8 balls. Cover with damp paper towel for 30 minutes.

Flour surface and roll out each ball. Cook over medium high heat in iron skillet that is cured. Brown on both sides and set aside in a warmed plate.

Grocery List
flour
salt
baking powder
butter

Approximate Cost: $2.13

Rice Cakes

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1 c. rice, cooked
2 c. heavy cream
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 T sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 egg
1 T. shortening (melted)
2 T. canola oil

Cover cooked rice with 1 c. cream and let sit in refrigerator. Sift dry ingredients. Mix egg, 1 c. cream and shortening in a separate container. Alternating, add small amounts of dry ingredients and liquid mixture into rice and cream. Drop from spoon into a skillet heated to medium high with 2 T. canola oil. Allow to brown on both sides. Serve warm syrup over cakes. From Big Mama’s Old Black Pot.

Grocery List
rice
heavy cream
flour
salt
sugar
baking powder
egg
shortening
canola oil

Approximate Cost: $4.79