Amazing Potato Cakes ~ The Easiest and Best Way to Use Leftover Mashed Potatoes

I always make more mashed potatoes than I need just to enjoy these satisfying and delectable potato cakes!

Great as a side dish, as an appetizer or snack, or for breakfast, you'll look forward to having leftover mashed potatoes just so you can enjoy these amazing potato cakes! 

                          How Many of Those Fabulous Cakes...

 

                                                    Can I Have?

Quick and Easy, Crunchy and Cheesy Hash Browns Snack or Appetizer

When I first saw my daughter make this simple snack for my grandson, it looked so scrumptious, I just had to sneak a pinch.  Hmmm, was I ever right...crunchy with gooey melted cheese...sooo good! 

You're gonna love this simple, delectable crunchy and cheesy snack as much as my grandson and I do...especially since it's so quick and easy!

 

                                            That Looks Sooo Good...   

                                          I Just Gotta Have A Pinch!

 

Amazingly Flavorful and Easy Spanish Rice

My daughter found this fantastic recipe recently and asked me to make it for dinner.  I fell in love with how super easy, moist and incredibly flavorful it is, and proclaimed "I gotta post this!"

One of my adaptations is toasting the spices a little along with the rice before adding the liquids, making this fabulous rice even more flavorsome!  It's a real family pleaser and would go well with so many entrees.  We enjoyed it that night with fajitas.

                                                   It's Sooo Good...

                                       May I Have Some More, Please!

A Collection of 10 of My Delicious, Quick and Easy Recipes

We all often want delicious, quick and easy recipes these days; so I thought I'd give you a collection of some of mine.  I find these particularly good right now, since I'm a little under the weather...

Hearty and Crunchy Golden Panini Turkey Sandwich with Gooey Melted Pimento Cheese

Fall Harvest Kale Salad with Slivers of Apple, Toasted Walnuts and A Unique Blue Cheese Dressing!

Swing open your doors and welcome Fall's colorful bounty with this simple, scrumptious and satisfying salad! 

You and yours are gonna love this crunchy salad as a wonderful side for entrees, or as a topping for sandwiches made with a hearty bread like those used for panini or flatbread sandwiches.

Read on to discover the ingredient in my blue cheese dressing that gives it such a special twist...

                         Colorful, Crunchy, Scrumptious and Satisfying...

                                               Fall is Truly Here!

Remarkable Roasted Green Cabbage Wedges with Lemon ~ Simple and Superb!

The first time I prepared these surprisingly delectable cabbage wedges, one diner raved that she loved, loved, loved them and requested the recipe!

A well-known side to corned beef, these incredibly delicious cabbage wedges are an ideal accompaniment to many meat dishes.  I marvel each time I make them how easy, inexpensive and fantastic they are!

                           I Never Knew I Could Love Cabbage So Much...   

                                    Until I Savored These Tangy Babies!

Blistered Haricot Verts (Extra Fine Green Beans) with Golden Mushrooms

Green beans are my favorite green vegetable!  Plus, they just seem to go with most entrees.  We enjoy these scrumptious blistered haricot verts frequently, with or without the mushrooms.  However, the golden mushrooms are so fabulous, they do add a special dimension to the recipe!

Versatile and easy, you'll never have to think twice about what your side dish will be with these fantastic blistered green beans and golden mushrooms in your repertoire!

Oh, These Beans And Mushrooms Are So Good...

                                   I Could Just Eat Them By Themselves!                                                           

Grapes In Cheesecake Cream with Toasted Pecans and Gingersnap Crumb Topping!

Envision succulent grapes enrobed in a luscious cheesecake cream with the added texture of lightly toasted, chopped pecans and crowned with a crunchy gingersnap crumb topping.

Is it a side dish or a dessert...I'll let you decide.  You know we Southerners love our sweet side dishes...so, naturally, we would serve it as a side...or, a dessert.  If I take it to a gathering, I'm just gonna put it on the table with all the other sides.  I tell you what, I'm just going to call it a dessert.  All I know is that it's absolutely delicious and satisfying...so much for that!

I was intrigued when I saw Trisha Yearwood making her grape salad on the Food Network.  She said everyone looked forward to it at get-togethers.  I'd never heard of a grape salad before.  When I made it; though good as it was, I decided it needed more complexity in texture.  After much thought, I decided to use more pecans (and toast them), all in the filling.  Then, I crowned the dish with a gingersnap crumb topping.  Va-va-voom...right on spot!!  It was perfect!  Now, I love it, along with everyone else!

        Grapes Smothered In Cheesecake Cream, Who Wouldn't Love That!

         But, Add Toasted Pecans and A Gingersnap Crumb Topping...Wow! 
                            

Remarkable Warm Fried Okra Salad with Field Greens

I wish I could say that I remember what inspired this remarkable creation, but I can't.  Probably because I wanted a salad and I wanted fried okra, so I figured why not combine them...well, WOW!   I can only tell you that the unexpected combination of these traditional, simple ingredients creates a delightfully unique palate experience!

Change it up a little and surprise your family and guests with this out-of-the-ordinary, incredibly delectable salad...perfect for Autumn!

                                 What An Intriguing Combination Of....

                                          Scrumptious Ingredients!

Pan-Steamed Yukon Gold Potatoes Finished with a Golden Crust

Pan steamed and finished with a golden crust, this is an incredibly easy way to prepare and enjoy the buttery taste and velvety texture of Yukon gold potatoes.

I developed this recipe as an accompaniment to a wonderful dish which I plan on posting soon.  In the meantime, I know you'll find these versatile and beloved potatoes a gratifying side for many entrees.

                                           So Delicious and Satisfying...

                                        This Could Easily Be My Lunch!

Crunchy Naked Southern Pan-Fried Okra ~ Guilt Free!

The craving for fried okra overwhelms you, but the guilt holds you back.  Well no more...now you can enjoy crunchy Southern fried okra guilt free with this super easy naked pan-fried okra!

This is a challenging time of year with my birthday and all the holidays; and this year was a big milestone for me, as I entered a new decade!  I feel the same...I refuse to age!   We enjoyed a wonderful celebration with family and friends.  Then my computer crashed...guess that's what a big birthday does!  As usual, with my son to the rescue, I'm back in business with only a few details to be completed (by him, of course)!

During the crazy holiday season, we need simple dishes like this scrumptious fried okra...great for family dinners or as a holiday side.  Why wait, let's satisfy that craving...

                                 I Think I Could Eat The Whole Pan...                                            

                                           This May Be My Dinner!

Retro Pineapple and Cream Cheese Congealed Lime Salad with Toasted Pecans

Congealed salads are back, and Southerners love their gelatin salads!  One of my favorite dishes at a Southern cafeteria is a creamy congealed salad...somewhat like a dessert, but served as a side dish, you know we Southerners like our sweets, y'all!

Cool and creamy with a little crunch, this pineapple salad is perfect for summer and very versatile.  Traditionally, it would be served as a side; however, with its beautiful layers, it would make a stunning presentation as an appetizer and served as a spread with buttery crackers.  Also, it would make a wonderful light dessert served with a dollop of homemade whipped cream. 

                                           However You Serve It...

                                              They'll Love It!

Light and Refreshing Orange Salad Enhanced with Pomegranate and Tossed with Toasted Pecans

Add a little zing to your entrees with this super easy, light and zesty side salad.  This salad is made with a savory spring mix and tossed with juicy, bright orange slices, tangy pomegranate dried cranberries, and crunchy toasted pecan halves.  A sprinkling of shaved Parmesan cheese adds a surprise piquancy and the orange flavor is intensified with a scattering of orange zest.  A drizzling of raspberry-pomegranate dressing perfectly completes the salad.

Delightfully refreshing, this salad is an ideal accompaniment to your summer meals.  Add chicken or turkey for a complete light lunch or dinner.  Also, this dish especially complements spicy entrees.  It was a big hit at our Fourth get-together, and I know you'll enjoy enjoy it as much as we did...make it for your next take-along! 

                                          Bright, Light and Refreshing...

                                               Just What I Want!

Chunky Cranberry Applesauce In The Slow Cooker

My daughter wanted to serve a cranberry applesauce for Thanksgivukkah.  Since I normally bring the homemade cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, I volunteered to add this to my contributions for this year's very special holiday.

When I discovered Dawdling Darlings' easy, chunky cranberry applesauce, I knew this was ideal for our celebration.  I made twice as much as the original recipe, so I altered the other ingredients as well and omitted the water.  To achieve a chunky applesauce, it was not pureed.

The festive red color of this sauce makes it an ideal condiment or side dish for your Christmas meals. 

                                                 Tart, Tangy and ....

                                                   Sophisticated!

Pineapple Casserole with Triple Cheddar Cheese

If you want a little different side for Turkey Day this year that still seems "Thanksgivinish", this is such a super easy and super good dish!  More like a dessert, Southerners generally serve pineapple casserole as a side dish, much like a sweet potato casserole is served.  It also makes an awesome take-along dish!

I've tried other pineapple casseroles, but they were swimming in butter and the cheese didn't melt.  My recipe calls for half the butter typically used in a pineapple casserole.  I used finely shredded triple Cheddar cheese for a better melt and flavor variation than the plain shredded Cheddar that is generally used in this casserole.

I also experimented with using fresh pineapple; however, the canned pineapple just works better in this recipe.

This pineapple casserole is great warm or cold.  I've had it for breakfast...speaking of which, it would be fabulous for brunch!  And you know me...I also like it with whipped cream!

                                             Would You Like A Little...

                                          Whipped Cream with That?

Carrot "Souffle" Casserole ~ Adapted From The Famed Piccadilly Southern Cafeteria!

This "souffle" has been floating around my recipes-to-be-made file for a while.  Shame on me, because all this time we've been missing out of this fantastic dish!  It's an excellent imitation of a very popular side dish from the famed Piccadilly Southern cafeteria.  I think it's actually a little lighter than the restaurant's version; and, naturally, I've done my "spin" on it.

Delightfully sweet, it's similar to a sweet potato "souffle"...making it a wonderful addition to your holiday meals.  We all love our leftovers on Thanksgiving, and this is a good one for sneaking a little cold from the fridge.  (Don't tell anyone, but I love it, warm or cold, with a nice dollop of whipped cream...you know me and my cream toppings!)

                               Have Your Dessert Before Your Entree?...

                                               Why Not with It!