Fresh Tomato Pie and White Shoe Peg Corn Salad
Southerners are some of the best cooks and family traditions run deep in our heritage.
When I browse through both of my grandmothers’ collections of recipes, I wish I knew exactly how they originated. They were written on the back of bank checks, yellowed empty envelopes, chocolate stained paper, and so faded that they were barely legible. My Grandmother Mac had a recipe pinned with a straight pin to the inside of her cookbook. The pin had rusted with age. I feel so close to both grandmothers when I read through their recipes. I love the ones that are handwritten by them. Oh, if these recipes could only talk.
Fresh Tomato Pie
9-inch deep dish pie crust
3 medium tomatoes, peeled and sliced
6 strips bacon, fried and crumbled
1 cup cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack or Swiss) grated
1 cup mayonnaise
Bake frozen pie crust for 5-7 minutes. Place tomato slices in the bottom of the pie crust and top with crumbled bacon. Combine cheese and mayonnaise. Spoon over the tomatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Andy’s Note: This recipe is so good. Be sure and wait on the garden tomatoes. Every time I make this pie, I think of my twin cousins, Corey and Andy Townsend, who live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Cathye Townsend, their mother, says she has to make this pie for every occasion because they really love it. Way to go boys, keep her baking!
White Shoe Peg Corn Salad
3 cans white shoe peg corn, drained
1 bundle of green onions, chopped and stems included black pepper that is very visible
salt to taste
mayonnaise (just enough to hold it together)
Mix this together and chill hours if possible.
Andy’s Note: I also add a garden tomato to this salad in the summer. This salad is so good served with a steak and baked potato. I like to serve this in place of a toss salad. My family loves this and if you have not tried it, please do. Simple and so tasty! It always amazes me that something this easy can be so good. Be sure this is real cold before serving.
I am so excited to think that some of you might send me some of your favorite recipes this week. (hint! hint!) The BEST cooks in the world live in ETOWAH COUNTY!!!
Happy Cooking,
Andy Bedwell
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” can be purchased at Little Faces Doll Shop, Alabama Gift Company, and the Messenger on Broad Street.