Down-Home and Delicious

Southern Living, Jan 2005 by Sunée, Kim

SWEET POTATO BISCUITS

MAKES ABOUT 3 DOZEN

PREP: 20 MIN., BAKE: 15 MIN.

Depending on the moisture content of sweet potatoes, you may need to adjust the quantity of milk, adding the remaining ¼ cup. Eat these warm out of the oven with butter or jam.

2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes

½ cup butter, melted

1 to 1 ¼ cups milk

4 cups self-rising flour

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons sugar

STIR together sweet potatoes, butter, and 1 cup milk until well blended. Add flour, baking soda, and sugar, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Add remaining ¼ cup milk to moisten dough, if needed.

TURN dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8 to 10 times. Pat or roll dough to a ¾-inch thickness; cut with a 2-inch round cutter. Place biscuits on lightly greased baking sheets.

BAKE at 400° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

COCOA BREAD WITH STEWED YARD PEACHES

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

PREP: 10 MIN., COOK: 30 MIN.

More like a chocolate gingerbread without the ginger, this incredibly light bread is perfect topped with stewed fresh or frozen peaches or apples.

1 cup boiling water

½ cup butter or margarine, melted

½ cup molasses

½ cup sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups self-rising flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Stewed Yard Peaches

WHISK together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; let cool. Whisk in eggs.

SIFT together self-rising flour and next 3 ingredients; whisk into molasses mixture, whisking until smooth. Pour batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square baking pan.

BAKE at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve with warm Stewed Yard Peaches.

Stewed Yard Peaches:

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

PREP: 10 MIN., COOK: 15 MIN.

6 cups sliced, peeled peaches*

¾ cup sugar

½ cup water

BRING all ingredients to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring gently until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.

* 2 (16-ounce) bags frozen sliced peaches, thawed, or 6 cups sliced, peeled apples may be substituted for fresh peaches.

TOMATO CASSEROLE

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

PREP: 10 MIN., BAKE: 40 MIN.

This is a classic Southern flavor combination. The sugar forms a nice caramel crust on the tomatoes.

2 (14 ½-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped

1 ½ cups soft white bread cubes (about 3 slices)

¼ cup butter, melted

¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar

¼ teaspoon pepper

STIR together all ingredients. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch baking dish.

BAKE at 400° for 35 to 40 minutes.

GREAT NORTHERN BEANS WITH TOMATOES

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

PREP: 5 MIN.; COOK: 2 HRS., 10 MIN.

1 pound dried Great Northern beans

7 cups water

¼ pound salt pork

1 teaspoon salt

1 (14 ½-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained

1 tablespoon molasses

RINSE and sort beans. Bring beans, 7 cups water, and salt pork to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 2 hours or until beans are tender, adding more water as needed to keep beans moist. Remove salt pork, and stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, covered, 10 more minutes.