Hushpuppies

These are so yummy!

• 1 c. self-rising yellow cornmeal mix (I use Tenda Bake or Martha White)
• 1/2 c. sifted self-rising flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4-1 c. milk (start with less)
• 2 Tbs. bacon grease*
• 1/2 c. finely chopped onion
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1½ quarts or more of cooking oil

*You may not have bacon grease on hand, and a lot of recipes don't use it.  After cooking bacon, when the grease cools I sometimes pour it into a jar for making gravy any time we want.  This way, the next time I cook bacon, I don't have to wait until the bacon is done to start the gravy.

►Mix together flour and cornmeal.  Beat egg and add in the rest of the ingredients.

►Heat about 2 inches of oil on medium-high, and drop in by spoonfuls.  The batter is a little thick, so I use another spoon to scrape it off into the oil.  Turn until medium golden-brown on all sides.  It takes me about 6-8 minutes for the size hushpuppies I make.

►Lift hushpuppies from oil with a slotted spoon, and place on paper towels.
The mix ends up being about 2 cups, and makes about 2 dozen golfball-sized hushpuppies.  I prefer them smaller, but my family likes them large, and I don't have to tend to as many that way, either.  =)

--Maybe you already know this, but you can save your cooking oil in a large jar.  Just pour cooled oil through a strainer and funnel back into the jar.
This may seem odd, but I used to have a Fry Daddy (plugs in, has a lid for storage).  I could deep fry things and save the oil for later use.  I think it got lost when we moved 7 years ago.

Cinnamon Biscuits

Rebekah made these for breakfast this morning.  Oh, so good!

Biscuits:

• 2 c. self-rising flour
• ¼ c. butter
• about 1 c. buttermilk (we used whole milk)
• 1 Tbs. cinnamon
• ½ c. brown sugar

Put flour and butter in mixing bowl and cut in the butter.  Add milk and stir.  On floured surface, knead until smooth, adding in a sprinkle of flour as needed to keep it from being too sticky.
Flatten out the dough and sprinkle on the sugar and cinnamon.  Fold over and knead together just a little.  Do this several times.  You can cut the biscuits w/ a cutter, or pinch them off.  My daughter just pinched them off.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 450º for about 10 minutes or so.


Glaze:

• 2 c. confectionery sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
• ¼ c. butter (Rebekah always leaves this out)
• milk

If using butter, you'll need to melt first.  If not, just put sugar and vanilla in a small mixing bowl and add in milk a little at a time.  Rebekah said she doesn't know exactly how much she uses; she does not like to measure.  =)  So next time, I'll watch her and estimate.  It is a small amount, so just add a little at a time until you get it the consistency you want.  A couple of Tablespoons?  I really don't know.
But it is yummy!

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Fast and delicious!

• two 15-oz cans of sweet potatoes
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 2 Tbs. self-rising flour

Pour the liquid into a 4 quart microwavable dish.  Add sugar and flour and whisk thoroughly.
Add in sweet potatoes and mix it up.
Heat 5 minutes in the microwave, then stir gently.  Heat 5 more minutes.  Mixture will thicken.
Optional:  Spread mini marshmallows over the top between heatings.

~beth~