Side Dish

Cooking Without Photos – Pork Chops With Potatoes

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Adona, Arkansas home of Adona Fest. Do they still have Adona Fest? I have a feeling they don’t. Maybe I’m wrong. I’ll do more research and fill y’all in.

Back in the day, Adona was settled by John Howell after buying Franklin Russell’s land claim. Settlers quickly began constructing homes along Cypress Creek and the area became known as Cypress Valley.

In 1893 the post office was established and Cypress Valley was renamed Adona after Adona Howell. Adona was a descendant of John Howell. Just a few years later in 1900, the railroad came to town and was completed in 1901.

By 1906, Adona had a population of 500, a school was established and the Methodist church was built. The telephone made an appearance in 1912. Around the same time, a sawmill, gristmill, cotton gin and several other businesses began operation.

If you drive thru Adona today, you’ll still see the Methodist church still in use and it hasn’t lost its small community charm.

On to the recipe!!!

This week I picked, “Adona Fest Cookbook 1998”. I knew I had to try Ms. Dorsie Hubbard’s recipe for Pork Chops With Potatoes. Let’s get to it!

Couple things:

  1. Besides salt and pepper, I also added garlic powder and onion powder. It for sure needs more seasoning. Sorry, Ms. Dorsie😬
  2. Instead of water, I added some milk.
  3. I also poured my mushroom soup mixture over the top of the potatoes and then put the pork chops on. Oops, I didn’t follow directions😬
  4. I also put salt and cracked pepper on top of the pork chops.
  5. You can also cook this on 410° for about an hour and 10 minutes. It’s much more tender if you cover it and cook it slow though.

Very tasty and easy! Y’all enjoy!

Cooking Without Photos – Famous Baked Beans

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Bringing it back home with this one. This week I chose a recipe out of the cookbook, “Burnt Offerings: Silver Anniversary – Cherry Hill Volunteer Fire Department”. I haven’t came across a better name for a cookbook yet😆

While looking thru this book and recognizing the majority of the names, there were lots of folks that have passed away. Their recipes will continue to live on.

I stopped in my tracks at Famous Baked Beans from my pal Shirley Caudell. Shirley was one of a kind with a heart of pure gold. She was everyone’s friend and always had such a positive outlook. We all miss her like crazy. By sharing her recipe, I hope to bring comfort on this day especially.

Couple of things:

  1. I used 3 cans of beans I can see how an additional can would be a good thing too.
  2. I love how she said to add “2 squirts” of mustard. Spoken like a true southern cook.

These were fabulous! Quick and easy too. Thanks Shirl! Give Tonia a hug from me❤️

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 – 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😆😆

Cooking Without Photos – Squash Dressing

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Shoooooo it’s hot! I don’t know about y’all but there’s only so long I can go without some comfort food, no matter how boiling it is. I had to break down and let my husband make me a meatloaf😆. Hey, I made the sides to go with it. We’re a team after all!

Since meatloaf was on the menu, I decided to try something new with it. I found this week’s recipe in, “Recipes From The Flock: Third Assembly Of God Women’s Ministries” from Malvern, Arkansas.

Malvern was founded in 1870 by the Cairo and Fulton Railroad. Then in 1878, Malvern became the county seat of Hot Spring County.

Two neat things about Malvern.

  1. Grapette International calls Malvern home, maker of Grapette soda.
  2. Malvern is the brick capital of the world! What? Yes! They even have Brickfest each year. Brickfest, where there are brick throwing contests, a brick car derby and even a best dressed brick contest! Too bad we missed it this year. It’s always the last weekend in June. Bummer man!

This week I chose Squash Dressing. I’ve seen this several times and especially in southern cookbooks. I’ve never actually had it before though. Y’all, put this in your belly!! Seriously!!

One thing, it says to add 2 cups of milk. I judged my consistency by comparing this dressing to regular cornbread dressing. I ended up using 1 1/2 cup milk. Use your own judgement. Other than that. Go for it! You’re gonna love it!!

Enjoy and share with your friends! ❤️❤️❤️

Cooking Without Photos – Zucchini Patties

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Guess what? I’m late. Are y’all surprised😆

When I first discovered, “Butter ‘N Love Recipes”, I quickly discovered that it was different. The front says it’s from Montana and the inside says Kansas. Then I saw references to “sample” pages and decided that it was a marketing tool. The cookbook looked fairly older and I started to really think about the history of community cookbooks. So, here’s something you probably didn’t know.

The first cookbook of this kind was made by Maria J. Moss in 1864 and was used to raise money for injured Union Soldiers. Many communities learned of her success and began similar cookbook campaigns of their own. In fact, between 1864 and 1922 over 3000 community cookbooks were published.

At first mainly religious groups used this tool as a fundraiser. Soon many groups began to profit from this and it still continues today. Thank you, Maria J. Moss! We salute you!

On to the recipe! Since the rain we were gifted the last week, our garden is thriving. Zucchini Patties it is!

Couple of things:

  1. I didn’t have any “soft bread crumbs” so I used Italian.
  2. I used 2 Tbs butter and it was plenty.
  3. Fern didn’t tell us how big to make the patties. I made them a little bigger than a half dollar.

Y’all, these are great! I baked mine but I can totally see how these would be great fried too❤️❤️❤️

Enjoy and y’all share with your friends ❤️

Cooking Without Photos – Pasta Salad

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Mountain Fork, AR in Polk County. Never heard of it? Neither had I🤔🤔. There’s just not a whole lot written about Mountain Fork. Seems to be just a tucked away place in Polk County, very near the Oklahoma border.

I’ve added a photo (not mine) of their Mountain Fork Bridge. This bridge is on the historical register and celebrates 100 years this year❤️

This week’s cookbook, “Heart & Soul Cookbook”, was compiled by the members of Christ’s Church at Mountain Fork. The community first began hosting Sunday school in 1954 at the school house. Construction of the church began the following year and the doors opened April 1958. They are still holding services today.

Since summer is upon us, I chose to make Pasta Salad. This was very tasty!

Couple of things:

  1. Kraft stopped making Seven Seas dressing in 2012. I chose to go with straight Kraft.
  2. I used Roma tomatoes because they just make sense as a pasta tomato. Not too much juice and I cut out the seeds.
  3. I also put the cheese in last because to me it gets too soggy if you put it in and leave it.

Enjoy❤️❤️❤️

Cooking Without Photos – Quartered Baked Potatoes

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El Dorado, Arkansas! County seat of Union County! Did y’all know that El Dorado was once called the “Queen City Of South Arkansas” and was the center for oil production and refining? It’s a fact, Jack!

Founded in 1843 by Matthew Rainey, El Dorado started plainly as a single retail store and a pine pole cabin with a dirt floor. The city began with the incorporation of a duck pond at its center and expanded from there.

Cotton farms were prevalent in the area, but by the late 1800’s the railroad arrived and with it the timber industry began to climb. In the early 20’s, El Dorado boomed with oil production. In fact, there were 59 oil contracting companies, 13 oil distributors and 22 oil production companies. Population went from 4,000 to 30,000 in just 5 years. Whoa!

In the years that followed, population went up and down. Folks didn’t give up on their small city. In 2004 the downtown area was declared a historical district. Thanks to a $100 million dollar renovation project, the city is completing projects that include an outdoor amphitheater and renovation of their Rialto Theater.

While flipping through, “The Old Fashioned Way: A Collection Of Old And New Recipes” Compiled by the 1989 Ladies Fellowship Marrable Hill Chapel, I came across a recipe for Quartered Baked Potatoes. Have I made them before? Yes🤷🏻‍♀️ Have I thought to put Parmesan cheese on them before? no🧐

Let’s get into it. Nothing about this recipe is hard! Just do it and you won’t be disappointed❤️.

One thing: I didn’t use nearly as much oil as it said. I used about 1/4 of a cup and I doubled the recipe. Use your own judgement though. 

Enjoy!!!

Cooking Without Photos – Spinach Casserole

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This week we make a trip north to Bloomington, Illinois.

After a couple of name changes, Bloomington became the county seat of McLean County in 1830. Farmers quickly arrived and the town began to thrive. Abraham Lincoln even frequented Bloomington as he was a lawyer in neighboring Springfield.

Sadly, in 1900 a fire swept thru downtown and destroyed most of the structures. Almost immediately citizens began to rebuild and Bloomington thrived yet again.

This time I chose a recipe from the cookbook, “Favorite Recipes: Park United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women Bloomington, Illinois 1975”. While flipping thru pages, Spinach Casserole caught my eye.

Couple things about this recipe: While it has a great flavor, I think it needs an egg or two. It doesn’t hold together well at all…probably because there’s nothing to hold it together😆 It doesn’t take the best photo either. It doesn’t really say what to do with the cream cheese. After cooking and draining the spinach, i cubed up the cream cheese and it melted really well. Also, I used Italian bread crumbs. It was interesting🤔

Tasty nonetheless! Kinda think it needs to be a holiday side. Reminds me of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner🤔

Cooking Without Photos – Marinated Macaroni Salad

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Here’s a midweek recipe from the previously shared cookbook, “Reflections of Beary Good Cooking: From England First Baptist Youth Group”.

If you like boxed Suddenly Salad, you’ll never make it again after trying this side. One thing with this Marinated Macaroni Salad. If you think you’ll have leftovers, put your cheese to the side and add in as you plate. That way your cheese won’t get soggy when you re-refrigerate. If you’re taking it to a pot luck, go ahead and add that cheese in. There’s not going to be any left❤️