Get Cookin’ with Paula Deen

Hey - I’ve joined Paula Deen’s new Get Cookin’ Interactive Community Blog. Folks are posting recipes, sharing stories, and videos. Check out this really funny Behind The Scenes Video of Paula and her Peeps heading to the Good Morning America Show.

The Get Cookin’ Blog is brand new to Miss Paula’s Website. If you enjoy her shows and some great recipes you should sign up.

Y’all have some fun today! I’m busy at work and will post a new recipe as soon as I can catch my breath.

Update:  Sometimes I can’t go to lunch exactly when I want to because of conference calls or like today, I have a CC at 1:00, but my co-worker had a dentist appointment and not sure when he’d make it back.  Well – look-a here at what one of my bosses brought me for lunch.  Way to win a girl over, Man! 

I know it isn’t southern food, but I loves me some Sushi.  I’m stuffed!

Love ya – Starwoodgal

Recipe: Broccoli Salad

This is a family favorite. Partly due to the fact it contains bacon and buttermilk ranch dressing. I mean, come’on, who doesn’t love some bacon and buttermilk ranch dressing? Those two ingredients are like Peanut Butter & Jelly, Coffee and Cream, Oreos and Milk. Especially when it comes to making salads. But, I get bored with the same ol’ same ol’ summer salad. Or sum’ma – as my Aunt Nez would say.

I adore this salad. And, men don’t turn their noses up at it because it doesn’t look like a girly phoo-phoo salad because it has bacon in it. Light, creamy, crunchy, salty, and flavorful. Go on – you know you want to try it.

Broccoli Salad

3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 bunches fresh broccoli (florets only)
1 small can sliced black olives, drained
1/2 bottle real bacon bits
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix – mixed with mayonnaise as directed on the package
Dash paprika

Tear broccoli florets into bits-size pieces. Add olives, cheese, bacon bits and onion. Add dressing and stir to mix. Marinate in refrigerator for two or three hours before serving. Place on a layer of lettuce leaves and garnish with paprika.

Now, if you do want a sweeter, more girly phoo-phoo salad: Replace the olives with raisins and put sugar in the Mayo instead of ranch dressing mix. Yes, be’be’ – it is wonderful stuff!

Y’all Enjoy!

Oh! And, just so you know – I purchased this book yesterday. I’m in BIG trouble. I’ll be spending the summer cooking everything in this book and posting reviews. I swanee, she makes me homesick for my Mama’s cooking. Lawsie! Lawsie! Lawsie! Help me Rhonda.

Recipe: Hash Brown Potato Casserole

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get really bored with potatoes. Boiled. Fried. Baked. Baked twice. Au Gratin. Smashed. A girl needs some variety. You know what I mean?

I skimmed through Mimi’s Cook Book (Bible that I cook by) and what do you know – a potato recipe that I haven’t cooked in a decade. Give or take a few years. This is so ridiculously easy and tasty. I’ve cooked it to go with breakfast, with supper, for church pot luck dinners, for picnics, etc. If you’re looking for a potato recipe that is out of the ordinary, easy, delicious, and filling – this is it. Make it for your next meal. It goes with everything. Sort of like a great pair of black heels. It just works!

Mimi’s Hash Brown Potato Casserole

1 (32 oz.) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped onion (I use white onions)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. carton sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 cups corn flakes, crushed (this is regular corn flakes – not sugar frosted)
Lemon twist and parsley flakes

Combine potatoes, 1/2 cup butter, onion, soup, sour cream, cheese, salt and pepper. Stir until well blended. Spoon into a greased 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Crush corn flakes and stir in the remaining butter. Sprinkle over the potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Garnish with a lemon twist and parsley sprig if desired. Makes 10 servings.

And, check this out – Paula Deen is living in my dream home! Click here to watch CMT Cribs video.

Y’all Enjoy!