In Honor of the Release of G is for Grits: A Southern Alphabet . . .

10/19/2012

Our lemons are just getting ripe enough to pick. (We only have a couple lemon trees as we live in North Florida and they are difficult to keep alive during our few cold snaps.) As I was digging through my recipe box, hunting for my son's favorite lemon pie recipe, it crossed my mind that I had used "Lemons" in the "L" verse of my new children's ABC book - G is for Grits: A Southern Alphabet. As I flip back through the book, I realize that I actually used several foods to define the South. I guess that is because (and let's face it)  much of our Southern culture revolves around  food.  Family gatherings revolve around food. Church gatherings revolve around food.  Even our Saturday football gatherings revolve around food - as much as the football. Food is what makes Southern Culture so "Southern." Fried catfish, hushpuppies, cheese grits, chicken-n-dumplin's, boiled peanuts, fried okra, pecan pralines or divinity, and red velvet cake - these are a few of the foods that make the South proud.

As Southern Hospitality would have it, we'll all need to prepare a favorite dish to take somewhere soon. In honor of the release of G is for Grits: A Southern Alphabet, I'd love to hear some of your favorite recipes. Please comment below.    I'll start it off with our favorite lemon pie recipe:

Lemon Pie
Large graham cracker pie crust
1/2 block cream cheese (softened)
1 cup cool whip (defrosted)
2 cans condensed milk (i.e. Eagle Brand)
Juice from 3 squeezed lemons (about 1/2 cup)
*Cream softened cream cheese. Blend in cool whip. Add milk and mix till creamy.
Stir in lemon juice. Pour into pie crust and chill overnight. Y'all enjoy!
(Note: I also like to pour pie into the miniature, individual-size graham pie crusts for a special treat.)

2 Comments

Ashley Brasington

10/19/2012 09:15:58 am

A tried and true Southern Recipe: A recipe for the popular Coca-Cola cake, made with Coca-Cola and buttermilk and mini marshmallows. I first learned this as a child from my grandmothers recipe. The first cake I ever cooked was a Coca-Cola Cake.

Ingredients:
•2 cups self-rising flour
•2 cups sugar
•3 tablespoons cocoa
•1 cup Coca-Cola
•1 cup butter
•1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
•2 eggs, beaten
•1/2 cup buttermilk
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•.
•Frosting:
•1/2 cup butter
•1 tablespoon cocoa
•6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
•1 box confectioner's sugar, (1pound)
•1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation:

Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan and set aside.
In a large bowl combine flour and sugar. In a saucpan combine the cocoa, Coca-Cola, butter, and marshmallows; bring to a boil. Combine the boiled mixture with the flour and sugar mixture.

In a separate bowl mix eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla; add to the first mixture. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes, until cake tests done.

Frosting: In a saucepan, bring butter, cocoa, and Coca-Cola to a boil. Stir in the sugar and mix well. Stir in nuts. Spread over the cake while both cake and frosting are still warm.
Serves about 16.

Nikki link

10/20/2012 10:04:46 am

Ashley, this sounds wonderful. I don't actually think I've ever tried Coca Cola cake - as much as I've heard about it. I think this is a "must try" for the Fall!

In Honor of the Release of G is for Grits: A Southern Alphabet . . .

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