Brad

Squash Dressing

This is a classic southern dish to be enjoyed year round, not just for the holidays!Ingredients 2 cups cooked squash, (about 4 crook neck yellow squash or 4 zucchini) 2 cups crumbled cornbread 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 small onion, chopped 1/2 cup melted butter 3 eggs, lightly beaten Method Spray a 2…

Lorraine’s Sherry Cake

My neighbor Lorraine made this cake for a neighborhood picnic years ago. We’ve been making it ever since!Ingredients Cake 1 package yellow cake mix 1 package instant vanilla pudding 1 tablespoon nutmeg 4 eg 3/4 cup oil 3/4 cup sherry Blend 5 minutes at medium speed. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan, Bake at…

Quick No-Knead White Bread

This forgiving recipe can easily be made without using an electric mixer!Ingredients 4 cups bread flour 2½ teaspoons instant yeast 2 teaspoons sugar 2 teaspoons salt ½ cup sour cream 1 cup water, divided 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cubed vegetable oil for kneading Instructions Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in the…

White Pullman Sandwich Loaf

This makes a perfect loaf for sandwiches and toast.

Ingredients

6 cups bread flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
2 Tablespoons olive oil or other neutral oil
4 1/2 teaspoons regular or quick active dry yeast
2 cups warm water (more water may be needed if the dough is too dry. Add water by tablespoons up to 4 additional tablespoons.)

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mix 4 cups of flour, the sugar, salt, and yeast in the large bowl of the mixer fitted with the dough hook. Add warm water (no more than 110 degrees) and olive oil. Beat on low speed, scraping the sides of the bowl, until a wet dough forms, about 3 minutes. Add remaining flour and mix slowly until the flour is incorporated into a soft dough. Mix for 5-7 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic and slightly tacky to the touch. Kneading the dough for this length of time is important to ensure the flour is fully hydrated and so that the gluten forms properly.
2. Place dough in a large bowl wiped with olive oil. Allow 1 hour (more if needed) to rise so that dough is doubled in size.
3. Grease bottoms and sides of a 9X13 Pullman loaf pan. (I generally use a piece of parchment in the bottom of the pan, which I spray with vegetable spray.)
4. Turn dough onto counter which you’ve sprinkled lightly with flour. (you can also use neutral oil instead of flour. This will result in a loaf with a thicker crust) Gently pat dough into a (roughly) 8×13″ rectangle. Roll up lengthwise, pinching the end of the dough to seal it. Fold and tuck the ends of the loaf so the dough fits snugly into the Pullman pan. Place in the loaf pan.
5. Allow loaves to rise an additional 45 minutes, until the loaf rises about 3/4″ above the side of the Pullman pan. This will ensure that your bread is light.
6. Preheat oven to 375° F and bake loaves 40 minutes. After a out 20 minutes, check to be sure the top of the loaf is not browning too quickly. If so, tent the loaf with foil for the rest of the bake. The loaf is done when your stick thermometer reads around 205 degrees.
Be sure to remove loaves from their pans quickly after baking so they don’t become soggy on bottom. Cool loaf completely before slicing.

Tortellini and Feta Salad

This pasta salad makes a great supper on a warm evening.Ingredients 1 16 oz package cheese tortellini 1 1/2 cups chopped grape tomatoes 1 1/2 cups chopped cucumbers 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped 1/3 cup diced red onions 1/3 cup kalamata olives, sliced 6 oz feta, crumbled 1 cup Greek salad dressing* (see note…

Chickpea and Pepper Curry

A fantastic option for Meatless Monday meals!Ingredients 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 green bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces Salt and pepper 1 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 1 tablespoon curry powder 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes…

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

This satisfying soup will transport you to the Aegean!Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 1 medium carrot, diced 2-3 celery stalks, diced 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 bay leaves 2 chicken breasts 6 cups chicken stock ¾ cup orzo Juice of 1 lemon 2 egg yolks A handful fresh dill Salt…

Brine for a 10 lb. turkey

Great brining liquid for Thanksgiving!2 cups apple cider (DO NOT USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR) 2 gallons cold water 1 1/2 cup kosher salt 1 cup brown sugar 5 cloves garlic, smashed 2 tablespoons peppercorns 2 oranges, thinly sliced 2 lemons, thinly sliced 5 sprigs rosemary 3 bay leaves combine the apple cider, cold water, salt…

Basic Ice Cream (for an ice cream maker)

You’ll never shop the ice cream aisle again!Ingredients 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup whole milk 14 ounces (1 cam) nonfat sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions Note: This recipe works best when the three milks are cold. I generally put the condensed milk into the fridge for at least 2 hours before…

Creamy Chicken Pasta Alfredo

This one pot casserole is a crowd-pleasing quick dinner.Ingredients 2 Tablespoons butter 1 clove garlic minced 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes* 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 tsp salt or to taste 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/4 cup sun dried tomato drained and chopped 3 cups baby spinach** 8…

Sweet Potato Whip

Sweet Potato Whip will be the hit of any meal!Ingredients For the potatoes: 3 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes* 1 cup white sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs well beaten 1/2 cup butter melted For the topping:1 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped pecans 1/3 cup…

Coronation Chicken

Coronation Chicken was made to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953, but it remains a hit today!Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons white onion, grated 3 small bay leaves 2 teaspoon mild curry powder 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1/3 cup water ¼ teaspoon brown sugar 1 cup mayonnaise…

Liptauer Cheese Spread

I first had this at one of the famous Viennese Heurigens, a tavern where local winemakers serve their new wine under a special licence in alternate months during the growing season. A terrific appetizer that is best served with Gruner Veltliner, one of Austria’s most well known white wines.Ingredients 8 oz. farmer’s cheese (at room…

Dixon Charles’ North Carolina Brunswick Stew

Dixon’s hearty Brunswick Stew is great comfort food for a cool evening!Ingredients 3 lbs. chicken 1 lb. beef 3 med. onions 4 28oz. cans tomatoes 5 Tbls. worchestershire sauce 1 20oz. bottle ketchup 1 Tbls. Tobasco 2 bay leaves 1/2 bottle chili sauce 1 tsp. dry mustard 1/2 stick butter 2 cans butter beans 2…

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi

This easy and tasty dish will quickly become part of your weekly rotation!Ingredients 4 cups (2 pints) cherry tomatoes, washed and halved 1 pound potato gnocchi 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt A few grinds of black pepper 8 ounces mozzarella cheese (either one large ball cut into 1/2 chunks or cherry-sized balls) Shaved…

Banana Bread

Baked at a lower temperature, this bread is moist and delicious.Ingredients 1 stick butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 3 bananas, mashed 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup pecans, chopped Method Preheat oven to 300F. Prepare a loaf pan using vegetable spray. If you wish, you can sprinkle…

Finnish Cardamom Bread (Pulla)

This bread is a delightful snack when served warmed or toasted with butter and any warm drink!Ingredients 2 teaspoons ground cardamom* 2 cups whole milk 3 teaspoons active dry yeast (or instant yeast) ½ cup sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp salt 6 –7 cups all-purpose flour, more for the counter 1/2 cup soft butter 1…

Cajun Spice Mix

This versatile spice mix will quickly become your “go to” spice mix! You can increase/decrease the salt and heat to adjust it precisely to your taste!Ingredients 1/2 Cup Kosher Salt 1/3 Cup Paprika 1/4 Cup Granulated Garlic 4 Tbsp Onion Powder 1/3 Cup Freshly Ground Black Pepper 3 Tbsp White Pepper 2 Tbsp Cayenne Pepper…

Spicy Chicken Boulettes

These versatile meatballs can be made with either ground chicken or turkey. They can be prepared ahead of time and frozen. They can be added to any spicy tomato sauce and served with pasta or they can be served with a spicy cream sauce (recipe below). They make a great addition to a buffet when…

Pickled Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients 2 lbs Brussels sprouts 1 1/3 cup white vinegar 1/2 cup water 2/3 cup sugar 1 tbls mustard seed 1/2 tbls celery seed 1/3 tsp turmeric Directions Wash Brussels sprouts, remove root and outer leaves. Larger sprouts can be halved. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and tip the sprouts into…