Every family has favorites, even if they come from a delivery boy in a large flat cardboard box. I found a couple from my grandmother’s family, and this definitely shows the housewife in heels and pearls, Southern charm and the incredible tasty creations that the women of my family can whip up in a kitchen. Hint: when you see the word “Southern,” think creamy, high fat and high comfort. Just a warning. Here are a few charms…

Adjusttotaste.com

CHICKEN FOR COMPANY
from Aunt Ouida

Ingredients:
12 boneless chicken breast halves
12 oz cream of mushroom soup
12 oz cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
3 oz cooked beef slices, diced (roast beef from the deli works)
6 slices bacon, sliced in halves

Directions:
1. Layer beef in bottom of 9X13 casserole dish.
2. Wrap each breast in half a slice of bacon. Place chicken on top of beef in pan.
3. Combine soups and sour cream and pour over chicken.
4. Sprinkle with black pepper to taste and bake at 275 for 3 hours. Serve over brown or dirty rice.

not my pic (Hubpages)

SEVEN (7!) LAYER SALAD

from Karol’s Kitchen.com

(adapted from Mama & Aunt Sherry)

Ingredients:
1 head lettuce (bibb, romaine)
1/2 cup each, chopped: celery, chives, green/red/yellow peppers (any)
10 oz snow peas (frozen is fine, but thawed)
6 sliced, boiled eggs (I prefer no yolks, so 9 eggs)
8 oz grated sharp cheddar
8 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Topping:
1 pt lite mayo
2 TB sugar (up to 2 more TB to taste)
1 1/2 c lite sour cream

Directions:
1. Layer the top ingredients in the order above (start with lettuce, end with bacon)
2. Mix topping ingredients. Use a spatula to spread evenly over the top of the salad.
Indulgent, creamy, a little sneaky (really? does this count as salad?). Reminds me of holidays.

NEW ORLEANS PRALINES
from Mom

Ingredients:
3 c sugar
1 c buttermilk
1 t baking soda
2 sticks butter/margarine
1 1/2 c pecans
1 t vanilla extract
pinch salt
2 TB white corn syrup (or Agave)

Directions:
1. Mix sugar, buttermilk (w/soda), butter, salt, and syrup.
2. Cook on med-low heat over stove until it forms a rather hard ball when a drop is dropped in water.
3. Add vanilla and pecans. Stir for 30 seconds.
4. Cool rapidly, beating it with whisk as it cools. Once it gets to a warm (but not scalding) temp, it is ready to drop.

Kingking cakes in Nawlins–oh, the cakes are good, too!

5. Using a tablespoon (sprayed with non-stick spray), drop spoonfuls on wax paper or a non-stick baking liner. Oo, delicious! Now soak that pot in warm soapy water and go eat a praline.