Memory Baker

I love handwritten recipes. I am currently in the process of handwriting all of our family recipes for all four of our children. I'm starting with my two oldest sons, Ryan an Matthew, since they are both out of the house living like adults. Like most of you, I grew up learning that feeding others is another way of saying "I love you." Food celebrates, it shows your love, gratitude, welcome and sorrow {They call it comfort food for a reason}. Anytime there is something big happening in our lives, food is a part of it.

{My recipe card box and recipe books I'm making for my oldest sons}

But what happens when we lose those people that made those recipes for all those moments? They are gone and we are left with only the memories of how much we miss them and miss their food.

Food impacts our lives just like people do.

{My daughter, Mary Kate, learning all of Mama's recipes}

That's why I write it all down: the recipe, the year I received the recipe, who gave it to me and some recipes even contain a story. For example, the recipe that I'm sharing with you today, Pumpkin Crunch. Written on the recipe card I have, "this recipe is a fall favorite of mine. Given to me by my Mom when I was in my 20's living out on my own for the first time." You see, recipes don't have to be passed down because you're married or have children. Recipes should be passed down because you saw how it touched someone else.

{A treasure of family recipes}

These days, when I see people make over something I made, I write the recipe down on one of my own recipe cards and send it their way with a little note. It's the cheapest gift you can give, along with one of the most personal gifts you can give.

{Share you next recipe on a recipe card, not in an email}

Recipes are a part of family history and family tradition. Sharing recipes with family and friends, written in your hand, connects us in a way an email, text, blog or even a cookbook can't. So next time you go to a gathering and as you lovingly prepare your food for others, bring a piece of paper and pen, and make note of who complimented you on your recipe. When you get home write that recipe down for them with a little note and mail it as soon as possible. I promise you, you'll make someone feel loved. And there is no better way to say "I love you," when we run out of words, than to say it with food.

{Pumpkin Crunch}

Pumpkin Crunch

1 box yellow cake mix

3 large eggs

1 can {15oz}pumpkin

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 can {12oz}evaporated milk

1 cup melted butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

whipped topping

1/2 cup chopped pecans or chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of a 9x13 baking dish

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and salt

Mix well and pour into baking dish

Sprinkle evenly with dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture

Top with chopped pecans or chopped walnuts

Drizzle melted butter over nuts and cake

Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown

Let cool and serve chilled

Top with whipped topping and sprinkle with remaining nuts

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Sugar Coffee Cake

Cinnamon Sugar Coffee Cake

Ingredients

1-10 inch metal Bunt pan

Non-stick spray

1 Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe yellow cake mix

1 (3.4oz) box Jello-O instant vanilla pudding

3/4 cup coconut oil for cooking and baking

3/4 cup water

4 eggs

1 tsp butter extract

1 tsp pure vanilla

Filling

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup walnut, chopped

7 tsp cinnamon

Almond Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp almond extract

Preheat oven to 350

Spray Bunt pan with non-stick cooking spray, set aside

In large bowl mix together the cake mix and the vanilla pudding

Add the oil, water, eggs, butter extract and vanilla. Stir by hand until ingredients are blended. Pour half of the batter into the pan.

Make the filling. Mix together the sugar, walnuts and cinnamon. On top of batter, add the filling mixture and swirl into the cake batter.

Bake 1 hour. Cake is done when it springs back with a light touch from the top. Remove and let it sit 5 minutes.

Loosen the cake by gently running a knife around the side of the pan. Gently invert onto a cake plate and let it cool until slightly warm. Make glaze by mixing together the powder sugar, milk and almond extract.
Pour glaze over top and sides of cake. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

{This recipe comes from my go-to cookbook, "Rosalie Serving Country"}

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

My guilty pleasure is buying magazines at the grocery store. It can be anything from Southern Living, At Home Arkansas, Women's World, People...you name it, I've probably thumbed through it and took it home because I just had to have it! This new magazine from Taste of Home is great for fall cooking and busy schedules "Casseroles, Slow Cooker & Soups".  I'm so glad I picked up this little gem  because I'm already loving all the food & drink recipes that I see. And I don't know about y'all, but I am so ready and excited for fall!! I am itching at decorating our home with pumpkins and leaves and lighting candles and sipping cider....I'm ready, are you?! 

Today's recipe comes from page 100 of the slow cooker section. By the way, the magazine is on news stands until October 10th.  But I must tell you, as we all do, I changed it just a tad bit. My son, Matt, loves pulled pork but with more of sweet sauce. So I added a 1/2 cup brown sugar to the sauce. Feel free to add what you want too, make it your own! If you like it spicy, chop up some jalapenos and add to it! Add whatever your taste buds desire!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients

1 boneless pork loin (4lbs)

1 can (14 1/2oz) beef broth

1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce, divided

1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup Louisiana-style hot sauce, divided

1 cup ketchup

1 cup molasses

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup prepared mustard

10 kaiser rolls, split

Cut roast in half and place in a 5 quart slow cooker.

In a small bowl combine broth, 1/3 Worcestershire sauce and 1/3 cup hot sauce.

Pour over roast

Cook,covered, on low for 8-10 hours, or until tender

Remove roast, discard cooking juices.

Shred pork with 2 forks.

Return pork to slow cooker

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, mustard and remaining Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Pour over pork and mix well. 

Cook, covered, on high 30 minutes or until heated through. 

Serve on split rolls with slaw, pickles and sweet tea!!

Enjoy!

Baked Ziti & The Bread

Baked Ziti, it's a Smith family favorite. Especially for my son, Matt, who runs cross country and track. He's a carb loading man and Mama's baked ziti is the perfect meal for him.  If you like to eat cheese, pasta and meaty sauce you'll fall head over heels for this baked ziti! Oh did I mention the bread?! Oh can you hear the hallelujah choir singing? The bread is crack y'all. I mean, you'll be addicted once you eat it. Great for any Italian dinner or to slop up your next soup!
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Baked Ziti

Preheat oven to 350

Ingredients

12oz uncooked ziti
1lb ground turkey meat
1lb ground Italian mild sausage
1-28oz jar spaghetti sauce
2 eggs
1 carton Ricotta Cheese
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Boil pasta, cook and drain ground turkey and Italian sausage, and stir in spaghetti sauce.
In a large bowl combine eggs, ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Drain pasta and add to cheese mixture and toss to coat. Spoon a third of the meat sauce into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Top with half of the pasta mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining meat sauce. Cover and bake for 40 minutes
Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 5-10 minutes longer
Let stand 15 minutes

Enjoy!

The Bread
(from the Pioneer Woman)

Preheat oven to 325

Ingredients
1 loaf French or Italian bread, any variety
1 cup (2 sticks) of butter, softened

Put an oven rack on the lower level an preheat the oven.
Slice the bread you want in half and lay the halves cut side up on a rimmed  baking sheet.
Smear 1 stick of butter on each half. {I'm not kidding.}
Then use a knife to smear it over the entire surface of the bread, covering every inch.
Bake for 5-10 minutes, until the butter melts and the bread has to chance to warm up.
Then turn up the broiler, return the pan to the oven, and let it broil until the butter turns a beautiful deep golden brown and almost starts to blacken.

{Be sure to watch the bread the entire time during this process. Because if you are anything like me, if you turn your back for a moment, it'll burn!}

Immediately cut The Bread into strips.

**serve with soups, salads, pastas**

Enjoy!

S'mores Rice Krispie Treats

Need an idea or two for camping with the kids?  These are so good you'll have to give them away to prevent yourself from eating the whole batch! Y'all, these are that amazing!!

S'mores Rice Krispie Treats 

Ingredients

• 4 cups mini marshmallows
• 4 tablespoons butter
• pinch of salt
• 4 cup rice krispies cereal 
• 3/4 bag chocolate chips
• 4 graham cracker sheets
• 18 large marshmallows
• 
  
• In a large pot, combine the mini marshmallows, butter, and salt. 
• Warm over medium heat until everything melts together. Stir often.
• Stir in the rice krispies, and remove from the heat.
• In a large baking pan or dish, line the bottom with the graham cracker sheets
• Press the rice krispie mixture flat onto the graham crackers
• Top the rice krispie mixture with the chocolate chips and gently press down.
•  Next, cut the large marshmallows in half and add them over the top.
• Broil the marshmallows until brown (about 4 minutes, as you can see I went a tad over that-keeping it real people:)

Enjoy!

Here are more fun S'mores recipes for you to try! Add the rice krispies for an even more delicious treat!

Homemade Italian Meatballs

Eating meatballs in this family is like eating your veggies. It's a must. We have meatballs at least a few times a month and its pretty much my go to when I have to feed a crowd.

These are great served in crock pot full of spaghetti sauce or on their own. Put them in a zip lock baggie for a quick high protein treat, or eat them on a sub smothered in sauce and mozzarella cheese, or even served them on top a pizza and wash down with a cold beer! These are simply delicious and you can't go wrong any way you choose to eat them! 

Enjoy!

Homemade Italian Meatballs

Ingredients

2 slices sourdough bread

8 oz ground turkey

3-4 Italian sausage links (casings removed)

1 cup minced onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 TBSP milk

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

4 cloves minced garlic

1 large egg

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parcment paper

Process bread in a food processor

Combine crumbs, turkey, sausage, onion, basil, Parmesan cheese, milk, salt, pepper, garlic and egg.

Mix well, go on, get your hands in there and get dirty! 

Use a small spoon to shape turkey mixture into meatballs, dropping them on the lined baking sheet. 

Bake 20-25 minutes or until browned and cooked through.

Homemade Brown Sugar-N-Cinnamon Pop Tarts with Candied Maple Bacon

Every now and then I get the urge to go completely outside of my comfort zone and try something new. This morning was one of those urge days. Over the weekend I bought a new cookbook and it has so many delicious recipes, y'all. So far I've tried 3 recipes in this cookbook and all have been very successful! The cook book is "The Southern Pantry Cookbook" and I can already tell it'll be a staple go to in my kitchen. I bought my locally, but you can order one at Amazon by clicking on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Pantry-Cookbook-Recipes-Already/dp/1401605214/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462978259&sr=8-1&keywords=the+southern+pantry+cookbook

 

This morning I made the homemade pop tarts and candied bacon, however, I used maple bacon. I had already made pie crust in my freezer I needed to use. So my crust is not from scratch but if you have the time, by all means shoot for the stars and make your own homemade pie crust. I hope you enjoy these as much as me and my family did! 

Homemade Brown Sugar-N-Cinnamon Pop Tarts

Ingredients for Brown Sugar Filling:

1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 teaspoons all-purpose flour

Ingredients for Icing:

1 cup confectioner's sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for Toaster Tarts:

2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

Ingredients for Egg Wash:

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon water

 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper

2. To make brown sugar-n-cinnamon filling: In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon and flour.

3. To make icing: In a small bowl whisk together the confectioners sugar, milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Drizzle over pop tarts, serve warm.

4. To make egg wash: lightly beat one egg with 1 tablespoon of water

5. To make the pop tarts: Roll out the dough and stack on top of each other and cut into even squares, making sure to keep matching tops and bottoms together. 

6. Separate the top and bottom of each pastry and brush matching sides with egg wash.

7. Spoon one pastry with about 1 heaping tablespoon of the brown sugar-n-cinnamon filling

8. Place matching pastry on top and seal edges using the tines of a fork around all the edges to crimp the dough.

9. Bake until lightly golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and place the baking sheet on cooling rack. Drizzle with icing and Enjoy!!

Candied Maple Bacon

Ingredients: 

Non Stick cooking spray

1/2 cup finely packed light brown sugar

12 slices center cut  maple bacon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Generously spray a wire baking rack with cooking spray and then place on top of a lined rimmed baking pan. {I used parchment paper for easy clean up.}

3. Place the brown sugar in a shallow baking dish and evenly dredge both sides of the maple bacon

4. Placed bacon on to the wire rack in a single layer with no overlapping pieces.

5. Bake until the bacon is crispy, 20-25 minutes.

6. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Etsy

For the last few years I've had an Etsy shop. I used to make homemade hair bows, and well, I wasn't that great at it...for a beginner I wasn't terrible, but I wasn't great either. {I still can't figure out how to make them just right.}

Then I started to see all these melamine plates and platters all over Etsy and started looking into how to make them. After a lot of trial and error I figured it out and now that's what I've been selling for the past 3 years. My work is nothing fancy or brilliant, it's just fun and different. I recently started to make dish towels and mugs as well {from a printing source, I don't personally make them}.

I don't sell on Etsy necessarily for the money, cause lets face it, you can't rely on that much for income. I kind of do it for a hobby and kind of for a what if dream. What if my work was loved by someone like Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray? And then they put it in a magazine? The what ifs are fun and give me good ol' day dreams that we all need.

Here are some of my works and if you are ever interested in purchasing, please contact me and I'd be happy to design a platter or plate for you....or even a mug or dish towel:)

Blessings!

Biscuits and Gravy dish towel and coffee mug

BBQ Platter

Harvest Personalized Platter

A Best Seller, BBQ Personalized Platter

To order any of my work, please check out my Etsy site: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernSweetys

Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've never been a cookie maker....or real baker for that matter. Although those are my passions, my favorites, I've always been much better at savory dishes. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, meatballs, sauce, gravy~I've got those down. But baking has always been my Achilles heel. And that's been heartbreaking for me. Homemade bread....never rises. Home baked cookies, flat and crunchy. Pie Crust, from a box because I still can't make it (did I mention I have a giant "How to Make the Perfect Pie Crust" print on my kitchen wall and I still can't get it right!). Cakes....lets not go there. {sigh}

So, I have a glass cookie jar. I've had it for nearly 20 years, before I ever of became mom. I always fill the cookie jar with home baked cookies. However, my cookies ALWAYS turned out flat, crunchy, crumbly and far from what I had hoped they'd turn out to be. Y'All it was embarrassing...

Until today....

The dear Lord has blessed me, yet again, with my saving grace of chocolate chip cookie recipes. These are the BEST cookies hands down, I'll never try another chocolate chip cookie recipe again, these will be my go to for the rest of my life and I'll pass this recipe down to my children and grandchildren....and sadly I've eaten like 6 so far; they are that good. So if you like soft batch cookies, the kind of cookies where the chocolate seems to melt with each bite, then you must give these a try!

But I have to say before you try this recipe, just know for the wanna be bakers like me out there, it isn't always our fault. I follow directions to the exact, but sometimes all it takes is a tiny tweak to make it work for me. There are so many ways people make recipes with their own little secrets and they have that secret to make it taste heavenly and flawless....so just know, the recipe books are not always 100%. So please don't give up, have fun trying and learning! 

Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

14 TBSP unsalted butter, room temperature

{notice how its not 2 sticks...don't use the whole 2 sticks!}

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white granulated sugar

{this is not a typo, I promise}

2 eggs, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour 

2 tsp flour

{again, not a typo, trust me}

1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
(if you are using salted butter, omit adding salt)

1 bag chocolate chips, any kind you like

Preheat your oven to 350

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and both sugars until creamy

Add eggs one at a time until well blended

Add vanilla and mix well

Add 2 1/2 cups flour, baking soda and salt all at once

Mix until well blended

Add your 2 TBSP flour and mix well

Fold in your chocolate chips

Using a cookie scoop or teaspoon, make a ball out of your chocolate chip cookie dough and place on your cookie sheet. Allow some room for the cookie to spread. The smaller the cookie
 (1 round tsp), the more airy and soft it'll be. The larger the cookie, the more it'll spread and you run the risk of crispy cookies!

Bake for 10 minutes, or longer if you need to. 

{all ovens vary, do what works best for you}

I hope you enjoy these as much as we have!

Happy Baking, Y'All!!!

This recipe was found and adapted from this link: 

http://www.thebakingchocolatess.com/omg-soft-batch-chocolate-chip-cookies-pure-nirvana/

S'Mores Teacher Valentine's Day Gift

I absolutely love homemade and handmade gifts. I found a pin on Pinterest that allowed me to do both for my daughters teachers this Valentines Day. Instead of a card and chocolates we made these super cute "I Love You S'More" jars for her teachers.

S'Mores Jar

16oz latch jar or mason jar for gifting

1- 11.4oz bag Valentine's M&M's

1- 10oz Honey Teddy Grahams

1- 160z bag mini Marshmallows

Construction Paper, Ribbon

In a large mixing bowl add M&M's, Teddy Grahams and Mini Marshmallows

Let your child mix ingredients together with a scoop or large wide mouth spoon

Let your child scoop combined mixture into latch jars or mason jars. 

**Mixture obviously makes a lot. We made double the recipe and it filled 3 jars

 and had plenty left over for our cookie jar to snack on.**

Cut hearts with construction paper and let your child write "Love You S'More"

 and their name on the heart.

{I love the idea of handwritten cards for the jars instead of printing or typing something. It shows that your child played a part in crafting this gift for them. My daughter is in Pre-K and I find her handwriting makes me smile...shows just how small she is}

Punch hole in corner and tie heart on jar with the ribbon.

And there you have it. And easy and fairly cheap Valentine's Day Teacher Gift.

Have a blessed Valentine's Day!

This idea came from the blog and link found on Pinterest. See original recipe here!

http://www.anightowlblog.com/2013/02/smores-mason-jar-valentines.html/

Country Sausage Gravy

 Delicious Biscuits and Gravy....I don't think you can wrong with a biscuit smothered in a country sausage gravy. I've always loved country gravy. Put a bunch on a chicken fried steak, cover your mashed potatoes with it, dip your french fries in them and don't forget to use your bread to wipe your plate clean...get every last bit of goodness in your belly, cause this stuff 

is delicious.

Country Sausage Gravy

1 roll pork sausage

1/3 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

*4 cups whole milk

salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large skillet or dutch oven, {I don't have a large enough skillet, so I use my dutch oven} fry sausage on medium heat until no longer pink and cooked through.

2. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper all at once. Slowly add your milk about 1 cup at a time. Stir until your gravy starts to thicken and gets hot and bubbly. *If you like thick gravy, use a little less milk. Boil for a few more minutes and add salt and pepper to taste.

See, its that easy!

Enjoy!

Southern Style Spice Rack

I used to have all my spices in a drawer and like most people, most of my spices had long since expired and were just piling up. Just an FYI, as with your medicine cabinet, you should check your expatriation dates on your spices. Fresh spices help bring flavor to your favorite dishes, and spices that are in clearly marked, wide-mouth jars make it even easier to use. Cause, let's face it y'all, things shoved in drawers and in the back of cabinets get lost and before you know it, you have 4 of the same spice! 

Awhile back, I had seen this imagine of a mason jar spice rack in the background of someone's kitchen and just loved it. I searched and searched on-line for that mason jar spice rack and nothing. Recently, while shopping at Wal-Mart, I saw a little spice rack and turned my head to find half pint mason jars....this was the mason jar spice rack I had been searching for! Seriously, right under my nose the whole time. It's a put together southern style spice rack and I love, love, love it!!  That day I bought what I needed, assembled my spice rack and I have mine on the kitchen counter instead of putting it away. It's just too cute to hide!

I also searched for labels and ordered some on Etsy. These labels not only fit the half pint mason jar tops but also they fit my style. Look for what you like and 

what fits your style/kitchen theme best. I don't own a color printer, or else I probably would have just made my own. Do what works best for you. 

So here is how I put together my southern style spice rack; the cost and the link for the labels if you want the same as mine. 

Enjoy y'all!!!

Southern Style Spice Rack

1-Better Homes & Garden Bamboo 3-Tier Cabinet Organizer ($5.74)

1-12 pack Anchorglass Half Pint/8oz Mason Jars ($6.97)

**Both of these were found at my local Wal-Mart in the canning section/kitchen**

Labels were purchased through Etsy at this link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/250890978/printed-all-purpose-label-stickers-set?ref=shop_home_active_14

The labels cost me $12.99 total for 24 blue label stickers. Expensive, yes, however the labels themselves were only $2.99 but they were shipped from India. Shipping from India is what made them expensive. But I splurged a little for them.
Again, you could easily make your own, if you want. 

Pour your unexpired spices into each jar and label with sticker. 

The spice rack holds 9 mason jars, so you'll have a few left to use for other spices or for things like push pins and such. 

I hope you enjoy making your Southern Style Spice Rack!