December 7, 2024

Something to Cheer About!

The Holidays call for something special in your glass for many seasonal cheers.  Here is a recipe for a traditional favorite with a little twist.

1  ounce Vanilla Vodka

1 1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream

desired amount of Half and Half

Frozen Coffee ice cubes

Mix well and enjoy!

 

 

Halloween Finger Cookies

This recipe comes from one of our very creative friends, and all around good cooks!

Thank you Karen, and Happy Halloween!

Soften 1 stick of butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg yolk, save egg white for finger

1 tsp. grated orange peel

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp. Baking powder

2 tablespoons Fresh orange juice

cream butter and sugar, add egg yolk and orange peel.

beat well, and add sifted dry ingredients, alternating with orange juice

Roll pieces of dough into fingers. Dip one side into small amount of granulated sugar, and place sugar side up on greased cookie sheet. Dip one slivered almond in egg white, and stick on finger like a nail. Bake in pre heated 350 degree oven for  10-15 minutes. Coll, and dip end of finger in red icing. Enjoy!

Green Chili Black Bean Soup with Avocado, Orange, and Lime Juice

Black Bean soup is healthy and hearty..

Here is a recipe with a delicious little twist..

3 cups chicken broth

2 cans black beans (drained)

1 onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 can green chilies

pinch of cumin

1 cup of cooked yellow rice

1 cubed  avocado

juice of 1 lime

1 peeled chopped orange

1/2 Peeled chopped cucumber

1/4 cup feta cheese

in a large pot heat oil, and sautee onion

add broth, beans, chilies and rice.

Bring to a boil,. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes

mix avocado, lime juice, oranges, cucumber, and feta cheese in a bowl

serve soup, with tortillas chips,  and top with avocado mixture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arugula Bean Salad

Arugula is a wonderful green, and can add flavor, and color to so many things. This is a favorite summer to fall  salad, and we hope you enjoy!

1 can green b1 can wax beans

1 can light red kidney beans

1 tomato

1 bunch scallions

pinch of crushed garlic

tablespoon brown mustard

juice from one fresh lemon

splash of cider vinager

teaspoon olive oil

dill

celery seed

salt and pepper

grated sharp cheddar cheese

drain all three cans of beans and place in bowl.

Mix lemon, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, celery seed, salt, pepper, and dill.

stir in cut tomato, and scallions

pour mix over beans, and add arugula and shredded cheese.

toss and serve with crackers, pita chips etc…

Also great with a few pieces if kielbasa

Enjoy your fall weekends!

Andi Bartruff

Photo courtesy of Edible Charlotte

 

 

 

 

The Tale of a Cocktail

Southern Smarts loves a good drink and a good story. We don’t know if there is a better combination of the two than a Midnight Moon cocktail, and the tale of its owner Junior Johnson. Johnson is the father of NASCAR, and was recently inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. Midnight Moon is a Johnson family recipe of perfected homemade moonshine, infused with your choice of seven different fruits.

For those of you who might have dabbled in NASCAR, and watched today’s stars race around a fancy track and enjoy all the glitz and glitter of today’s sports celebrities, it may intrigue you to know that NASCAR roots are in bootlegging. Junior Johnson and his family made moonshine to subsidize their farm, and a fast car outran a lawman every time. Junior began running liquor for the family at the age of 14, and tweaked his cars to keep him out of trouble. That didn’t always work, but it was the birth of racing and chasing.

We hope you click the link below for more details.  If you choose, try one of their recipe suggestions.  Do not sip before you explore the history.  You can then enjoy a delicious cocktail, and the taste of this intriguing  adventure.

http://www.juniorsmidnightmoon.com/

 

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Hot Wings for your Fall Weekend

Southern Smarts knows it is time for fall activities .

Here is a recipe to warm up your autumn  gatherings…

1 1/2. Lbs. chicken drumettes or wings

1 tablespoon crushed garlic

1 bunch chopped scallions

1/4 cup of soy sauce

1/4 cup of teriyaki sauce

2 cups molasses

srircaha , or hot chili sauce to taste

Coat wings, and marinate as long as possible

Baste and cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes turning occasionally.  Turn oven to 425 and cook 10 more minutes.  Also good for the grill.

This is a great reward for your leaf rakers, pumpkin carvers, and excited football fans!

Andi Bartruff

I’m Screaming for Ice Cream!

To waste fresh produce is a bit of a sin.. So when you have a mound of delicious end of summer peaches, you have to get creative.. I’m thinking ice cream…( and if you have strawberries, blueberries, or other fruit, do the same!)

5 fresh peaches

1 can peach nectar

1/4 cup water

1 cup of sugar

4oz.  sour cream

1 pint heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

squeeze of fresh lemon

Peel and cook peaches in nectar and water for about ten minutes.

Drain and add sugar. Let cool.

In a food processor or blender, Blend sour cream, heavy cream, vanilla, and lemon with cooled peaches.

Pour mixture into cooled ice cream freezer container, and let your ice cream freezer do the rest!

Finally, pick your favorite people, and share this special treat!

Andi Bartruff.

Southern Smarts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salmon Pizza? Heck Yeah!

This is a delicious and healthy economic recipe for anytime of year!      

Baboli pizza crust

1 pkg. smoked Salmon

1 container chive and onion cream cheese

purple onion

cubed cucumber

capers

dijon mustard

dill

Cook Baboli Pizza Crust.. Spread Cream Cheese, and Dijon Mustard on warm crust. Sprinkle Dill. Spread Salmon, Capers, Onion, and Cucumber. Sprinkle with a little Lemon juice.  Delicious warm, or cold.

 

 

 

 

 

Better than Sex Cake.

If you are in the mood to really treat yourself,  and I mean really treat yourself, this is the recipe for you. I would say you could share it, but more than likely you won’t want to…
1 yellow box cake mix
2 cans condensed milk
2 package frozen strawberries (or your favorite frozen fruit)
Cool Whip
Fresh strawberries to slice
Bake yellow cake
Use the end of a wooden spoon, and poke several holes in the cake.
Pour the two cans of condensed milk evenly over the cake and into the holes.
Place the bags of frozen fruit on the cake
Frost cake with Cool Whip
Slice Fresh Strawberries and arrange on cake
Sprinkle crushed Peanuts across the top.
Don’t even bother getting a plate….Just grab a fork and take it to the bedroom.

The Coconut Miracle Pie!

Here’s another great easy dessert recipe. The prep is no time and no mess, but the result is a “big ole pie” that everyone will love!

First, get out your blender and dump in 1 cup of sugar, 4 eggs, 2 cups of milk, 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1/2 cup of plain all purpose flour, 1 running over teaspoon of vanilla, 1 cup flaked coconut, and a dash of salt. Blend well, then pour into 10 inch pie pan. Bake it a 300′ for 1 hour. The miracle of the pie is that it makes its own crust. The video below will walk you through all the steps and show you the wonderful results. You are sure to impress your friends, family, and even yourself with its taste and ease!   Stephen