Potato Soup

This is so good in the winter and very filling. I didn't eat it for years after I bit my tongue and had stiches in it because I ate so much then. But I went back to it and it became one of Eric's favorite dishes. I think he makes it year round for his family. Sorry, I never measure. Just give it a try and make adjustments as you go along. You can't mess it up. Ok here's what you need:

4-5 large taters, diced

milk

sour cream couple big glops

green onions 1 whole bunch chopped

garlic 2-3 cloves chopped

ham steak diced (optional)

butter couple spoonfuls

can of cream of celery soup

1 rib celery cut small

salt and pepper to taste

grated cheese

Put your diced taters and celery in a large pot, just covering with water or Chicken Broth, and boil until almost tender. Add ham steak, can of soup, green onions, garlic, butter, sour cream and as much milk as you think you will need. Allow it to simmer for about 15 mins., or celery and taters are tender. To thicken put 2 large spoonfuls of corn starch in a glass with just enough water to get it all wet and stir until no lumps. Add to soup and stir in. If it's not thick enough, do it again. Serve with cheese and warm rolls or bread. Very filling and yummy. varation: add chicken and corn for Chicken Corn chowder. Try adding BROCCOLI. For Clam Chowder--add some canned clams and the juice it's packed in.

Ranch Crackers

This is a simple receipe that has become my favorite snack. Here's what you need:

1 box of wheat saltine crackers

1 envelope Ranch dressing mix

1 1/2 cup vegatable oil

a Tupperware container that is big enough to stand all the crackers up in. You don't want a real tight fit, but they need to stand up and the lid needs to fit tight.

With a mixer or blender, mix the dressing mix into the oil well. Pour over the crackers. Put the lid on the container, and shake gently and flip over every 15 minutes, until all the oil is absorbed. The crackers will stay crisp. Serve with ranch or onion dip. You can add a teaspoon red pepper flakes if you want.

Penny's Gumbo

My mother, Penny, or to her grandkids, Nanny, made the best gumbo. This is alittle unusal, because Mother was a Yankee and had not ever had gumbo until she met my Dad's mother, Mimi. Mimi was from Kentwood LA., and if there's one thing folks from LA can do it is COOK. My mother came south from a dairy farm in Wisconsin when she was 15. Until she met Mimi she was a picky eater. But thanks to Mimi and a couple of black housekeepers we had, she learned to like everything and became a very good cook. One thing she perfected was Seafood Gumbo. Here's what you will need:

4-6 lbs fresh shrimp at least

at least 1 lb crabmeat but 2 would be better

pint of oysters (or quart if you have the money and really like them)

celery whole bunch, 2 bellpeppers, 2 onions, bunch of green onions, 2-3 garlic cloves. All can be chopped the night before.

okra 1 small bag frozen

bay leaves

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can chicken broth

File

flour and oil for roux (or you can cheat and use a mix)

Here's what you do:

put all chopped veggies and bay leaves in a big pot with water to cover them. One mistake is starting with too much water. You will out grow you pot and have lots of liquid to thicken with the roux. Start small--you can always add. Let the veggies boil until done, add the can of maters, bay leaves, chicken broth and the crabmeat. Before you add it you need to pick through it for shell. Bring back to a simmer. You made need to add some water. You can go ahead and add some salt and pepper, some Tony's and some garlic powder. Add the oysters if you are going to use them. Now is the time to make the roux. Put enough oil in a frying pan to cover the bottom and be about 1/8" deep. Heat up on mdeium heat. Start adding flour and wisking it smooth until it is like very thick gravy. You want it as dark as you can get it but not burned. You may have to stir the whole time you are making it. You just have to practgice making roux and you will get it right. Once you have it as dark as you can get it, start adding spoonfuls to the gumbo, stirring in so it won't be lumpy. Let it simmer a few minutes. If it's not thick enough for you, make another batch. Once you have it like you want it, add the shrimp and okra. Let it simmer low, until the okra is done. Be sure to stir so it won't stick to the bottom of the pan. the last thing to add is File. Several times cover the top to the gumgo with it and stir in. about 3 -4 tablespoons. It will help to thicken the gumbo also. Serve over rice with hot sauce and crackers. Here's a few thing you can add if you like. Sausage, Mother would add roast beef if she had some chopped real small or ham. You can make chicken and sausage without any seafood that turns out real good too. Do everything the same, just add cooked chicken and sausage instead of any seafood. Some people like shrimp and sausage. Gumbo is not hard, it just takes practice, and you'll get it right.

World's Best Collard Greens

Collards are always better in cooler weather. The old timers say especially after the frost gets on them. Look for smaller leaves with no worm holes in them. The larger ones can be tough and bitter. Here's what you need:

2 bunches of collards

1 can chicken broth

butter

ham hocks

ham steak

Here's what you do:

Wash greens real well. Nothing worse than gritty greens. Cut up. put the chicken broth in a big pot and start to heat along with 2 big spoonfuls of butter. Start adding greens and letting them cook down until you get them all in the pot. If you think you need water add some but the greens will make liquid as they cook. Add ham hocks, and cut up 1/2 the ham steak and put it in. Add salt, pepper, spoonful of sugar and a dash of vinegar. You can add Tony's or some chopped hot peppers if you like. Now cover and let them simmer until tender. You can take the hocks out and cut all the meat off and give the bones to the puppies. Don't let them cook dry. Best if made one day, and eaten the next, but we usually can't wait.

Homemade Pimiento Cheese

Homemade is way better than any you buy and easy to make. Here's what you need:

1 lb. block sharp Cheddar grated

4 oz. jar Pimientos, drained

mayo

Combine all ingredients, not sure how much mayo, just keep adding spoonfuls til you get it like you want it. Add some black pepper or Tony's for kick. Great for sandwiches or I like it on crackers.