By Andy Bedwell
My heart is so thankful for being raised in the South and for all the life lessons my precious family and my God has taught me. Have you ever heard the expressions, “Eat it and hush” or “Lord, what is this?” My chicken pot pie dish was one of the “Eat it and hush” recipes. After the first sample of the mystery dish, they discovered that it was delicious and gobbled it right up. My daughter Mary Virginia makes this dish for her family at least every two weeks.
Chicken Pot Pie
3 chicken breasts (cooked and shredded)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups chicken broth
Enough cornstarch to thicken a little
Small English peas (as many as you prefer)
Shred chicken and put in the bottom of a two-quart Pyrex dish. Pour all other ingredients over chicken. I add a few English peas and carrots. I sometimes even add a few cooked onions and small cubed potatoes.
Topping:
1 stick margarine, melted
1 cup self-rising flour
¾ cup milk
Whisk together and spoon on top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Raise temperature to 400 degrees and bake until brown.
Andy’s Note: This is a quick and easy dish to fix. Be sure and save the broth from the cooked chicken. Cranberry sauce is a must to serve with this dish. Every time that I make this dish, I immediately think of my brother-in-law June Bedwell and my cousin Bob Smith. They both loved this chicken pot pie!
Cajun Cabbage
1 pound ground chuck
1 pound cabbage
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can sliced potatoes, drained
Brown ground chuck, onions and garlic. Drain. Boil cabbage. Add meat, diced tomatoes, Rotel tomatoes and potatoes. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Andy’s Note: This dish is different and so easy. I am always looking for new recipes that include cabbage. A big iron skillet of cornbread is wonderful with this recipe.
Orange Sherbet Cake
1 box Duncan Hines Orange cake mix
1 small box of orange Jell-o
Mix together and bake as directed on box. Cool and split layers with a knife.
Filling:
1 cup sour cream
2 cups sugar
1 (12-oz.) package of coconut
3 tablespoons orange juice
Mix together and save one cup for icing.
Icing:
1 cup filling
1 small Cool Whip
Mix together and put on cake. Keep refrigerated.
Andy’s Note: This is delicious. I throw this cake in a 9×13-inch pan and cover it with the filling. Top with the icing and stick it in the refrigerator. After it has cooled and been refrigerated, I cut into squares.
Happy Cooking!
Andy
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” can be purchased at Alabama Gift Company in downtown Gadsden and The Messenger on Rainbow Drive.