Recipes

Cooking Without Photos – Chicken Spaghetti

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This time we travel just a few counties over to Prairie County, Arkansas. Home of the Grand Prairie Rice Festival, which is set to kick off on October 28.

Hazen, Arkansas was founded by Dr. William Cogswell Hazen. Dr. Hazen brought his family from Tennessee in 1854 and convinced others to follow. They began clearing land and raising cotton. Dr. Hazen brought several businesses to town before his death in 1872.

In the 1880’s it was discovered how well rice grew in Prairie county and Hazen’s farmers quickly switched from cotton or timber industry to rice growers.

60 years later, Hazen saw their first paved road. Between 1945 and 1955 indoor plumbing was established. They had a John Deere agency along with both Ford and Chevrolet dealerships. Hazen boasted three grocery stores, a newspaper, two drug stores and many more businesses.

If you’re headed to the Grand Prairie Rice Festival in a couple of weeks, make a stop at the Rock Island Depot. It has been restored and is on the National Historical Register.

While flipping thru, “Feeding The Flock: Hazen First Baptist Church” I came across a recipe for Chicken Spaghetti. This was nothing like the recipe my Mom used. Over the years, I’ve decided my Mom must’ve made up her own because this one sounds like what other folks have described. I had to get over the Rotel part since it wasn’t in my Mom’s concoction. Let’s get into it.

Couple of things:

  1. They don’t make 10oz of cheese anymore. I just used an 8oz bag and added more. You measure cheese with your soul anyway.
  2. Nowhere on here does it say anything about any sort of spices. Come on, Cindy Weddle. Here’s what I did. When boiling the chicken, I added 2 chicken bullion cubes and some salt and pepper. When the chicken was done, I took it out to cool and I used the water to boil the noodles.
  3. I don’t like canned mushrooms so I sautéed fresh mushrooms.
  4. Once I had everything stirred together, I added more salt and pepper.
  5. I put about 1 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese in with the noodles and such. Then added the rest of the cheese on top.

Great flavors and I didn’t even mind the Rotel…even though I still think it’s weird😆

Enjoy!

Cooking Without Photos – Apple Dumplings

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Jumping in, we head to Roland, Oklahoma. Roland began as a small community called Garrison or Garrison Creek. They voted to change their name in 1904. Within a few years, Roland had a population of over 200, postal service, public school, general stores and grocery stores.

The town doubled and then tripled in size over the next 70 or so years. Their main population spike came when the Cherokee Nation built the casino. It was originally called, Cherokee Nation Bingo Outpost.

It’s a sweet little town, full of history and just across the border into Oklahoma from Arkansas.

On to the recipe!

While looking thru, “Taste Of Heaven: Zion Missionary Baptist Church” I came across Apple Dumplings. I’ve actually made these a few times but it’s been probably 10 years or more. Our youngest had never had rhem before, so I decided it was time to get back at it. And he could also help me.

Couple things:
This recipe is pretty spot on.

  1. I used Granny Smith apples
  2. You can also use Sprite if you’d like instead of Mountain Dew.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Cooking Without Photos – Squash Casserole

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Aaaaahhhhh Hot Springs, AR! The Spa City. One of our fave places to visit. Sooo much history surrounds every element of the city. We love driving around and looking at all of the buildings. Okay, I look and my husband drives😆. It’s just beautiful!

One of my fave structures is the Catholic Church of St. John The Baptist. Finished in 1912, St. John’s has seen a few things the past over 100 years of service.

Hot Springs entered a growth spurt and a larger church was needed to accommodate the increase in population. After meeting and discussing plans, St. John’s began construction in 1909. It’s snow white bricks were made on-site with a machine from Ohio with only the whitest of sand.

The walls are 27 inches thick and the bell tower is 33 inches thick. The bells were ordered from the Henry Stucksede company in St. Louis, ring in G, A and D and weigh 2 tons! Three years after construction began, their doors opened on April 14, 1912.

It really is a sight to see❤️❤️❤️

While combing over, “The Catholic Church of St. John The Baptist” I stopped at Squash Casserole. Am I wishing for fall? Maybe🤷🏻‍♀️. It wasn’t like my Mama’s, but reading the ingredients sparked my interest. Anyway, let’s get into it!

Couple of things:

  1. The only way Stove Top ends up on my table is if it’s IN another recipe…it really does have a good flavor but it’s NOT dressing😆. Anyway, they don’t make 8 Oz boxes anymore so just monitor and adjust. I put in less squash🤷🏻‍♀️
  2. I didn’t slack off on the cheese though😆😆

Great flavor! Would be wonderful for a potluck or get together. Enjoy!

Cooking Without Photos – Grandpa’s Peanut Butter Cookies

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This time we head way up in Northwest Arkansas to Boone County. Lead Hill is our destination and if you blink, you’re gonna miss it.

Lead Hill has a population of 271 people. Situated on the shore of Bull Shoals Lake, there is seriously plenty to do to keep yourself entertained.

Lead Hill was named because of the lead deposits that were mined there in the early 1900s. Actually the original town of Lead Hill is now located under water. When Bull Shoals was built, the people of Lead Hill uprooted the whole town and moved to higher ground. Yes😳

On to the recipe!

While flipping thru, “Tasty Temptations: Monarch Tabernacle Church Of God” I immediately noticed that there was a paper clip marking a recipe. I took that as a sign that we needed to try Grandpa’s Peanut Butter Cookies.

Couple things:

Actually only one🤔. It says to cook for 10 minutes and I cooked mine for 12. “Monitor and adjust”, that’s what my Mama always says.

These are the best! Super fluffy and taste wonderful! Thanks, Earl T. Johnson! May you RIP knowing your recipe is being shared still today❤️❤️❤️

Cooking Without Photos – Banana Cake

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Cooking Without Photos – Week 35

I know right where this week’s cookbook came from! My pal Debbie gave this one to me when she found out that I would be sharing recipes this way.

Ohhhhh Memphis! I’ve been to Memphis only once. I went there as a teen to tour the Titanic exhibit. It was spectacular! I remember coming out of there in tears.

Memphis, Tennessee founded in 1819 and named after Egypt’s Capitol of Memphis. Makes sense that they have a pyramid🤔. Cotton was a huge part their economic growth and in surrounding areas, it still is today.

Many notable musicians grew up in Memphis and upper Mississippi. Big names included in this roster are: B.B. King, Isaac Hayes and Elvis Presley.

Memphis is just as famous for their bbq as they are their Blues musicians. They are home to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Mmmmmm! Tasty!

On to the recipe!!

While flipping thru, “The Memphis Cookbook: Junior League Of Memphis” I came across a recipe for Banana Cake with “Never Fail Creamy Caramel Icing”. Yes please!

Couple things:

  1. I didn’t have an 8 x 12 1/2 inch pan. I’ve never even heard of a pan that size. I just used two round layer pans. Boom! Done!
  2. I didn’t put nuts in mine and I didn’t sift the flour. Sue me🤷🏻‍♀️
  3. Sour Milk = Buttermilk. I had to look it up.
  4. Ya know how they say, “Never say never”? Welp, I failed the ”never fail” icing. I mean FAILED!! I threw it all out and thankfully had a can of frosting. Maybe someone could look at the recipe and tell me what I did wrong. The first part of the recipe ended up being a huge ball of hard candy and it went downhill from there.

Other than the icing being a disaster, the cake turned out perfect and it is super moist and tasty!!! Enjoy❤️❤️❤️

Cooking Without Photos – Festive Lemon Bread

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Hello all! I’ve been focusing on trying not to melt. It’s been sooooo stinkin’ hot here. I haven’t even turned the oven on in 4 days. My family was starting to revolt so I figured I’d make more than one thing since the oven was on anyway. So, we had dinner and I made some dessert too. Score!

This week we travel to good ol’ Dickinson, North Dakota. Have I ever been there? Nope. I picked up this cookbook in Conway, AR at a thrift store. Whooop! Maybe someday I’ll get out west. There’s a lot out that way that I’d like to see. It’s just that..well, the beach isn’t that way…unless I drive super far!

I digress, Dickinson, ND. Dickinson was founded by a New Yorker named W. S. Dickinson in 1881. In just one short year, there were 100 buildings in Dickinson. Growth was helped out immensely by the railroad.

I had no idea, but a HUGE population of folks from the Ukraine settled there. They even have a Ukrainian Cultural Institute there. I’d love to see that!

On the total opposite end of the tourist spectrum is the Dickinson Dinosaur Museum. I know a little boy that would probably trade some Pokémon cards to get into that museum.

Now I read down the list of notable people from Dickinson and I only recognized one name and it was the actor who played Emmett Cullen from the Twilight movies 😬. Maybe some of you sports freaks will find their list more interesting.

On to the recipe!

This is a pretty big cookbook. I didn’t get too far at all thru, “ A Harvest Of Recipes: St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church Dickinson, North Dakota” and stumbled across Festive Lemon Bread. Puddin in bread?! Let’s do it!

Couple things:

  1. Salad oil = Vegetable oil
  2. I thought 1/4 cup of poppy seeds was too much. Turns out that it was a fine amount.

Perfect! Y’all enjoy!!

Cooking Without Photos – Glorified Chicken With Mushrooms

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Totally forgot about this one! Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about putting too much cayenne pepper in the zucchini with garbanzo beans? Then I said I figured out how to fix it by using part of this recipe. Let’s get into it!

Picture it. The early 90’s. You’re watching tv and a commercial comes on for “Chicken Tonight”. Then, before you know it, you start singing the jingle and flapping your arms up and down like a chicken. I can still hear it now, 🎶🎵I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight. CHICKEN TONIGHT!!!🎵🎶

My mom used to make this for us and of course they stopped making it. Annoying! I’ve thought about this recipe on and off FOREVER!!! I remembered that the chicken was browned before the liquid was added and that my fave was mushroom flavored…I know you’re shocked.

Anyway, fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was flipping thru the previously shared cookbook, “What Would Zoo Like For Dinner” and came across Glorified Chicken With Mushrooms. JACKPOT!!! This was it! This was the dish straight from my childhood.

Couple Things:

  1. I used real mushrooms because we like them better.
  2. I used a big can of cream of chicken. It just made sense.
  3. Even when you pour the liquid over your chicken to serve, you will have a lot left over.
  4. This is where the zucchini and garbanzo bean recipe comes in.

I took the leftover zucchini dish and chopped it all up. Then, I took the left over chicken and deboned that. Next, I added all of that back into the liquid that was leftover from the chicken. Finally, I added a carton of chicken stock and it made the most delicious soup! Laws!!! It was delicious!

Y’all need to try it allllll!

Cooking Without Photos – Tomato Black Bean and Corn Salsa

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Here’s another recipe from the previously shared cookbook, “Petit Jean Mountain Tomato Cookbook”.

Couple things:

  1. 3/4 cup cilantro…that’s a lot and I like cilantro. You do you.
  2. I’ve learned to really rinse black beans or they have a chalk taste.

Very tasty indeed❤️❤️❤️

Cooking Without Photos – Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes

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Oh Petit Jean, home of Petit Jean State Park and Arkansas’ first state park. Petit Jean State Park is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.…we won’t talk about how Petit Jean was once in Perry County and the county lines were redrawn just before it became a state park. No. We aren’t bitter over here.

Petit Jean was first settled by Native Americans and evidence of them dates back 10,000 years. Legend has it that Petit Jean was named after a young French lady who followed her beloved to the New World. Disguised as a cabin boy, she had said her name was Jean and because of her petite stature, the crew of the ship called her Petit Jean.

Apparently after her arrival, she had gotten sick either contracting swamp fever or some other illness and she was found out to be a woman. She eventually died and she was buried atop Petit Jean. Her gravesite is visited by thousands each year. I always thought she jumped off…learn something new every day!

Anywho, one of the first settlers of the area was Owen West. He and his family arrived in the 1850’s. The West family is still in the area today, all these years later.

If you’ve never visited Petit Jean, you’re really missing out! They have tons of hiking trails and most are fairly easy. You can have dinner at Mather Lodge, coffee at the Petit Jean Coffeehouse, take in the Museum of Automobiles, go on a trail ride and so much more!

On to the recipe! While flipping thru, “Petit Jean Mountain Tomato Cookbook, Compiled By Petit Jean Extension Homemakers Club”, I decided one thing really quick…I’m gonna have to make everything in this cookbook. So many good recipes…or maybe it’s because we have too many tomatoes and I don’t know what to do with them. At any rate, this book is going to get a workout.

The first one we tried was Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes. Such a good summertime recipe. Especially for times when you don’t want to heat up the oven.

Couple of things:

  1. I know…apples in tuna salad. Believe it or not, when they are shredded up, you only get the sweetness.
  2. I didn’t put any onion in. 1 Tbsp of onion? Might as well leave it out. Did they mean onion flakes? I just didn’t have enough brain power to deal with that.
  3. It called for sweet relish, I used dill…because I don’t like sweet, that’s why.
  4. I only assume they wanted those two eggs boiled before dicing. I mean I figured they weren’t scrambled, poached or fried.

This is really refreshing on a hot day. One that you could for sure make ahead and grab when you’re ready.

Enjoy!!!

Cooking Without Photos – Zucchini and Garbanzos Oregano

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This week we travel out west to Payson, AZ. First things first though, I’ve never been to Arizona. This cookbook somehow made its way to Hot Springs Village, AR where I picked it up. Oh the tales these books could tell.

Payson, AZ was established in 1882 and was originally named Green Valley. A post office arrived in 1884 with the help of Illinois Representative Levi Joseph Payson. The town’s name was changed in his honor.

Payson is home to the World’s Oldest And Continuous Rodeo. The Rodeo began in 1884 and has continued to be held each year since. Das a long time!

Western author Zane Grey wrote several of his books with Payson as the setting. He loved the area so much that he bought some land of his own.

Each year Payson holds the Old Time Fiddlin’ Arizona State Championship. Now that’s something I’d like to see!

On to the recipe!

This week I chose a dish out of the book, “The Versatile Zucchini Cookbook: Compiled by Anglican Church Women, Church Of The Holy Nativity”. First of all, how fitting that a cookbook be dedicated to one vegetable! Somebody was living zucchini every night when they thought this idea up😆

While flipping thru the cookbook, I stopped at Zucchini And Garbanzos Oregano. Garbanzo beans and zucchini together? Let’s do it!

Couple things:

  1. This calls for a ”dash” of cayenne pepper. Apparently my “dash” was too big and I made it entirely too hot for us. Fun fact about me, if I don’t know there is cayenne pepper in a dish then I will go into a coughing fit. I’ll just leave it out next time.
  2. I fixed my blunder by combining it with another dish that I’ll share in a few days. Y’all stay tuned.

Try this! It’s tasty…just lose the cayenne pepper😆😆