Reader recipes: Dumplings, sweet potato casserole, and broccoli casserole
With ice on the roads and a chill in the air, it's nice to have a
couple of comfort-food recipes in your file that can be made without a
lot of fuss. A couple weeks ago, when I asked you to send in such
recipes, I got some great responses. I've included their recipes at
the end, and I encourage you to keep sending in your favorite recipes,
cold-weather or not!
Janet Wright sent along her moher-in-law's recipe for dumplings, which
she says her kids ask for even in the summer.
"We like very little meat in it. Sometimes I'll add shredded carrots
and/or some frozen peas. Also, I use canned broth. This will keep you
warm for hours. Maybe even days!" Janet says.
Janet even provided a doubled and tripled recipe because she says one
batch is never enough.
Susannah Turner-Harvell of Greensboro passed along some of her
favorite recipes, which were given to her at her wedding shower by her
closest family and friends as their best and favorite recipes. "Mae
Simpkin's Sweet Potato Casserole" is her 89-year-old grandmother's
recipe. "This recipe is to die for!! Never fails! And is easily
varied for people's tastes -- easy to double or split -- I have also
put the mix into ramekins and baked individual ones," Susannah says.
"Children love it and it is super nutritious."
Susannah also passed along "Easy Easy Broccoli Casserole" from her
sister-in-law's mother, Jeanne B. Coffron.
Recipes:
GRANDMOTHER WRIGHT'S NEVER FAIL DUMPLINGS
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons Crisco
5 tablespoons water (about 1/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
Mill all ingredients to make a soft dough. Roll very thin on floured board and let dry 20 minutes. Cut into strips or 2-inch squares and drop into simmering chicken broth. Cook until done, about 15 minutes.
Doubled:
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons Crisco
1/2 cup water
2 eggs, beaten
Tripled:
4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
9 tablespoons Crisco
3/4 cup water
3 eggs, beaten
MAE SIMPKIN'S SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1/3 stick margarine (or butter)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup evaporated milk (or condensed milk)
2 eggs
Cook and mash potatoes -- this can be done in advance. Combine all ingredients. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or longer if wanted. Add topping and heat for another several minutes until melted.
Toppings vary. One example: Mix together 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup chopped nuts. You can leave off the topping for babies, or add marshmallows near the end.
It's easily baked in advance, refrigerated and reheated with everything else.
EASY EASY BROCCOLI CASSEROLE
2 frozen packages of chopped broccoli
1 12-ounce container of cottage cheese
1/4 pound of grated cheese (1 cup)
3 eggs
1/2 cup butter (one stick)
2 tablespoons of flour
Mix it all together and bake covered for one hour at 350 degrees. Add cheese at the end if desired. Ground-up crackers mixed with the cheese also make a great crust. Put the topping on during the last 5-10 minutes.
