When I think of carrying a dish to a “pot luck” or a family function, Cathye’s Chicken Tetrazzini is usually at the top of my list.
This recipe comes from a dear cousin of mine who lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and is a huge Bama fan.
Cathye’s Chicken Tetrazzini
4-6 chicken breasts
8 ounce extra-sharp cheese, grated (I always grate my own cheese)
8 ounce cream cheese
4 ounce jar of pimentos
1 small can chopped black olives
2 bell peppers, chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
1 can mushrooms
slivered almonds
1 can water chestnuts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
7 ounce thin spaghetti
Boil chicken until tender. Remove chicken from broth. Cook your noodles in the chicken broth for a few minutes. Drain if any liquid is left. Saute’ bell peppers, onions and celery until tender. Melt your cream cheese in hot mixture. Shred chicken and add to cream cheese mixture. Add all other ingredients and bake at 325 degrees for one hour. This makes two casseroles.
Andy’s Note: If this seems a little dry just add some broth or some water before baking. As I said before, this makes two large casseroles. Bake one and freeze the other. This is also a real attractive dish. Cathye Carr Townsend thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Banana Cobbler Pastry:
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1/3 cup milk
2 1/2 cups sliced bananas (about 2 inches long)
1 stick margarine (I use Parkay)
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Slice bananas and sprinkle with fruit fresh. Mix Crisco, flour and milk together for your pastry. Roll out on a floured surface in a rectangle shape.
Mix water and sugar and heat until sugar has melted. Spoon bananas on one end of pastry and then start rolling in a cylinder shape. Use a 9×13 inch pan. Cut your roll in about 9 or 10 slices and place in your pan. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon. Bananas will be falling out everywhere but that is OK. Then pour heated sugar and water over bananas and pastry.
Slice your stick of margarine all over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.
Andy’s Note: I had so much fun and used so many bananas trying to accomplish my goal of an outstanding cobbler for the Knights of Columbus Cobbler Contest last year. I came in second place and was thrilled and honored to even be recognized. This turns out to be a very attractive cobbler and so very YUMMY! This has to be a must try for all of you.
Happy Cooking to all of you.– Andy Bedwell
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” can be purchased at Alabama Gift Shop, Little Faces Doll Shop and The Messenger newspaper on Broad Street.