By Andy Bedwell
One-dish wonders can save time and money by serving hot and hearty all-in-one meals. Basically, what I love to do is take my Southern food roots and kind of combine them with local ingredients and put a different twist on them.
Mexican Pizza
1 package crescent rolls
1 teaspoon garlic
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
1 (8-oz.) sour cream
1 cup finely
chopped broccoli
1 cup finely
chopped cauliflower
3 Roma tomatoes
(cut into small pieces)
1 cup Dorito chips, crushed
1 cup grated cheese
Roll out crescent rolls into a 9×13-inch pan. Sprinkle garlic over the crescent roll. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool completely. Mix taco seasoning and sour cream. Spread over rolls. Then add, in order, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, Doritos, and cheese. Chill and cut into squares.
Andy’s Note: This pizza is so good and really very healthy. I sometimes add a few finely chopped green onions. What would we do without crescent rolls? These are real attractive squares served on a beautiful tray!
Vegetable Casserole
One large bag frozen
vegetables or two
cans mixed vegetables
1 cup extra-sharp
cheese, grated
1 cup mayonnaise
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 stick margarine, melted
1 roll Ritz crackers, crushed
Cook vegetables until tender. Mix first 5 ingredients and pour into a casserole dish. Top with crackers mixed with margarine. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
Andy’s Note: This is the wonderful vegetable casserole that was served in the lunchroom at Gaston School for years. It was a favorite of teachers and students! Delicious!
Sybil Money’s German Apple Cake
5 chopped apples
(I use Granny Smith)
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
Toss and set aside!
In a large bowl, mix:
3 cups plain flour
2 ½ cups sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon
baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons soda
Mix, and add:
1 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup orange juice
4 eggs
Mix well and layer apples with batter. Bake at 350 degrees for one and one-half hours. Bake in a tube pan.
Andy’s Note: After one hour, begin to check with a toothpick because my oven didn’t take that long to cook the cake. As you can see in the picture, I added a cinnamon glaze which I mostly did for appearance. It is definitely not needed.
I feel so honored to share this fabulous recipe from such a wonderful Southern cook as Sybil Money. Her devotion to her church and her community will never be forgotten. This cake is delicious!
Happy Cooking, Andy
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” can be purchased at the Messenger on Rainbow Drive.