Grandchildren’s favorites part four

Hello Middle Georgia! This is Lee…the only one to follow in Mama and Daddy’s footsteps and go in the food business…I do fried chicken, but not as good as Memaw’s. Here are some of her favorites that that I learned to make. 

 Fried Chicken

1 country style chicken or 3 ½ pounds of chicken parts. Salt chicken and in a large plastic or glass container put 2 cups ice water, a layer of ice, a layer of chicken and repeat ice and chicken until all is in container. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Drain off as much of the water as possible, but leave as much of the ice as possible. Let sit while preparing the breading.

Breading mixture:

1 ½ cups self-rising flour

½ cup cornstarch

½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper

Pinch of good red pepper

1 teaspoon sugar

Whisk or sift together to blend well. Take chicken out of ice, making sure that it is wet, and coat with flour mixture. Lay aside on pan while you coat the rest. Heat about 1 ½ inches of oil in a heavy deep cast iron Dutch oven or chicken fryer. Heat oil to correct heat and slowly drop in the chicken. Do not put too much at one time…it will cool the oil too low and cause the chicken to be greasy. Check for doneness and place on a rack or paper to drain. Serve at once.

 Cracker Pie

Crush 20 saltine crackers and add:

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat 2 egg whites until frothy and slowly beat in 1 cup sugar while continuing to beat until stiff. Fold in cracker mixture and pour into a greased pie pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Cool and when ready to serve: beat 1 cup whipping cream and fold in 2 tablespoons of strawberry preserves. Refrigerate leftovers.

 Mushrooms

1 pound fresh button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

¼ cup minced onions

¼ cup butter

2 teaspoons flour

½ cup water

1 teaspoon beef bouillon

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Sauté onions in butter until tender. Add mushrooms and sprinkle with flour. Stir to coat. Add remaining ingredients and gently stir and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes. Serve warm as a side dish with steak or hamburger. I serve it on my

Hamburger.

 Cucumber and Onion Salad

½ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Slice cucumbers and onions

In a bowl mix sour cream, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir in cucumbers and onion, making sure all are coated. Cover until ready to serve.

 Boiled Peanuts

1 pound fresh raw peanuts in the shell

1 ¼ cups canning salt

1 gallon water

Carefully wash peanuts in cold water. Leave in shells. Put in pot and sprinkle in salt. Pour in cold water. Stir to help salt dissolve. Put pot on heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour or until peanuts are soft. Taste to see if the salt is right. If they are not salty enough let set in water for a short while and taste again. If too salty, drain and cover with fresh water and let soak for several hours.

 Again Memaw…this is Lee singing off. The mountains are beautiful…love you and wish you were here…Lee