Cheddar Biscuits (Twisted Biscuit Home Version)

 Ingredients:

• 12 count bag frozen Pillsbury Grands Buttermilk Biscuits
• 2 sticks melted butter
• 8 oz. mild or sharp shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 packet powder Ranch seasoning
• 1 bag real bacon bits
• green onion, chopped (you choose the amount)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Lay biscuits in a single layer in 9"x13" dish.
3. Evenly pour melted butter on top of biscuits.
4. Evenly sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
5. Evenly sprinkle Ranch seasoning on top.
6. Evenly sprinkle real bacon bits on top.
7. Evenly sprinkle chopped green onion on top.
8. Bake for 30 minutes in 375° oven.

Sylvia's Rice Dish

My new friend in The Villages, Evelyn, shared some recipes from her church's recipe book. Here's one that is similar to my dear friend, Suzie's, recipe. It's yummy!

• 3/4 stick margarine
• 1 large onion, chopped.

Saute the chopped onion for 10 minutes in a covered casserole dish.

ADD:

• 1 can mushrooms, drained
• 1 cup rice (uncooked)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 can beef consomme
• 1/2 cup water
• dash of pepper

Stir & bake at 325° in covered dish for 1 hour.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

(Prep time: 40 minutes ~ Baking time: 30-45 minutes)

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds russet or baking potatoes
• 1 stick salted butter
• 1 cup sour cream
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions:

1. Peel and rinse potatoes.
2. Cut potatoes into 2-inch pieces.
3. Put cut up potatoes in a large stock pot and cover with water.
4. Boil potatoes until they are fork tender (approximately 18-20 minutes)
5. Drain potatoes and add remaining ingredients.
6. Thoroughly mix all ingredients with a mixer.
7. Taste and adjust amount of salt if necessary.
8. Transfer mashed potatoes to a shallow baking dish (9x13) and cover with foil.
9. Right before baking, I usually drizzle melted butter on top of potatoes.
10. Bake at 350° for 30 - 45 minutes or until hot.

*** This delicious recipe was borrowed from www.makedinnereasy.com.

Low Carb Coleslaw

 Ingredients:

• 10 oz. bag coleslaw

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• 1/4 cup Swerve powdered sugar substitute

• 3 tbsp. White vinegar

Directions:

1. Empty bag of coleslaw into a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, powdered sugar substitute & vinegar until well blended.

3. Pour mixture over coleslaw and stir until all coleslaw is wet.

4. Refrigerate until it is served.

Black Eyed Peas

Ingredients:

• 2 cans black-eyed peas
• 1/4 lb. deli ham, diced
• 4 green onions, diced ~or~ small yellow onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• salt & pepper to taste
• may add chopped jalapeno for a kick

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in pan and simmer on top of stove at least 20 minutes.

Mashed Potato Casserole

The beauty of this recipe is that it can be prepared a day ahead...I love being able to prep early!!! Just cover the pan of mashed potatoes with foil and keep in the refrigerator. Baking time will take longer because the casserole is cold, maybe 30-40 minutes. Then add toppings.

 

Ingredients:

4 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed to be boiled

about 3/4 cup milk

1/2- 3/4 cups sour cream

4 tablespoons butter

2 cups shredded cheddar

1/4 cup plus 2-4 tablespoons freshly snipped chives

2.8 oz. bag Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Recipe Pieces

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the potatoes in salted, boiling water until they are tender. Drain well.
2. Butter 9x13 glass baking dish. 
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees while preparing the casserole.
4. Add butter and mash into the potatoes.
5. Add 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup sour cream and beat until incorporated.
6. Stir in 1 cup of cheese and 1/4 cup chives.
7. Add more milk or sour cream if needed. Potatoes should be very creamy.
8. Taste potatoes and season with salt and pepper.
9. Spoon potatoes into baking pan; evenly smooth potatoes.
10. Cover with foil and bake in oven for 15-20 minutes until they are hot.
11. Remove dish from oven and remove foil.
12. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheese over the potatoes and return them to the oven.
13. Bake for about 10 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and casserole is hot.
14. Remove casserole from oven. Sprinkle with all the crumbled bacon and 2 teaspoons of fresh snipped chives.
15. Enjoy!
 

Crash Hot Potatoes

These Crash Hot Potatoes are a nice change from the hum-drum potatoes I always make as a side dish. I didn't want to buy scallions just for this recipe, so I topped them with sour cream and shredded cheddar. They are quite tasty!

Ingredients:

•12-15 baby red potatoes
•1 tbsp olive oil
•Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (PW said 450 but I used 400).
2. Boil the potatoes for 10-15 minutes or until fork tender.
3. Place on a cooking sheet coated with cooking spray or drizzled with olive oil.
4. Place the potatoes on the baking sheet and with a potato masher, gently smash each potato.
5. Drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and pepper (add a bit of your favorite dry herbs if you like).
6. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.
7. Eat plain or top with a little sour cream and green onions.

Oyster Dressing

I'm posting this recipe in honor of my dear mom. She used to make oyster dressing for Thanksgiving. It was one of her favorites. I don't have her specific recipe, but this is a good one.

Cornbread Ingredients ~
1 cup self-rising cornmeal
1/2 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 TBSP. vegetable oil

Cornbread Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. To make the cornbread, combine all ingredients and pour into a greased shallow baking dish.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and let cool.

Dressing Ingredients ~
7 slices white bread, dried in warm oven
Cornbread
1 sleeve saltine crackers
2 cups chopped celery
1 large onion, chopped
8 TBSP. butter
7 cups chicken stock
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. dried sage
1 TBSP. poultry seasoning
5 eggs, beaten
2 pints or 1 quart oysters, drained

Dressing Directions ~
1. Crumble dried white bread slices, cornbread and crackers.
2. Mix together and set aside.
3. Saute chopped celery and onion in butter until transparent, 5-10 minutes.
4. Pour over cornbread mixture.
5. Add stock; mix well.
6. Add salt, pepper, sage and poultry seasoning.
7. Add beaten eggs and mix well.
8. Add oysters and mix.
9. Pour into a greased pan.
10. Bake for about 45 minutes.

Mama Sherri's Mac 'n Cheese

I don't claim to be good at making mac 'n cheese, but I blended some recipes I already had and made this recipe. I hope you like it as much as Papa Dukes and I like it! ☺

Ingredients:

16 oz. (4 cups) uncooked elbow macaroni
3/4 stick butter (or margarine) + 2 Tbsp.
6 Tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
salt to taste
white pepper to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar (I like to mix mild and sharp.)
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1. Cook macaroni per box instructions.
2. While macaroni is cooking, melt 3/4 stick butter (or margarine) in sauce pan.
3. Mix flour with melted butter. Let it begin to brown.
4. Slowly add milk, salt & white pepper. This will thicken to make a roux.
5. Slowly add shredded cheddar and stir until it is completely blended.
6. Stir cheesy roux and cooked/drained macaroni.
7. Pour mac 'n cheese mixture into dish sprayed with Pam.
8. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter (or margarine) in microwave.
9. Stir seasoned bread crumbs with melted butter, and then sprinkle on top of mac 'n cheese.
10. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Suzie's Rice Casserole

A dear friend from Kentucky shared this recipe with me many years ago. It's a nice complement in place of potatoes...EASY AND YUMMY!!!

Ingredients:

2 cans chicken broth
2 cups instant rice
1 green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
2 jars sliced mushrooms
1 stick butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bring broth to boil, stir in rice and set aside.
3. Saute pepper, onion and mushrooms (do not drain) in stick of melted butter.
4. Mix vegetables and rice in large casserole dish.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Garlic Cheese Grits

Ingredients:
2 cups grits
2 rolls garlic cheese (I can't find this in the Northeast, so I add garlic powder with 4 oz. Velveeta
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese
worcestershire sauce to taste
salt to taste
8 cups water
2 sticks margarine
2 eggs, slightly beaten
cayenne pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Cook grits in 8 cups water.
2. When done, add all other ingredients while grits are hot. Mix well.
3. Bake in 9x13 dish at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Grits will begin to brown on top.

Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
16 oz. Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
16 oz. pasta (rotini or shells)
1/2 bottle McCormick Salad Supreme
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 green pepper, diced

Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to directions on box.
2. Prepare vegetables.
3. Mix all ingredients and chill.