Pecan Pie Recipe

For this week’s Soul Food Sunday, I am sharing a recipe for pecan pie. I really like pecan pie, but it is not something that my family or my husband’s family makes, so I rarely eat it. With that said, I had never made pecan pie before I made this recipe. My first time!

The recipe is a combination of a few that I found on the internet. I pieced them together and voila, here it is and I must say it is awesome! Even my husband who admitted that he doesn’t like pecan pie said it was a good pie and my two co-workers who love pecan pie gave this two thumbs up. I hope you like it too!

Delish Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

1 cup light syrup

1 cup packed light brown sugar

3eggs

½ cup unsalted butter melted

1 tablespoon flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon butter extract

¼ teaspoon rum extract

¼  teaspoon salt

1 deep dish pie shell

1 ¼ cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roast pecans: Place on a microwave safe plate and cook for 1.5 minutes. Remove and stir. Microwave for an additional 45 seconds. You should be able to smell the roasted nuts.

Mix all ingredients except nuts and pie shell. Stir until fully mixed and no lumps appear. Stir in nuts. 

Pour mixture into pie shell and arrange nuts evenly (nuts will rise to the top). Cover sides of pie crust with foil to prevent burning.

Place on cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes. Pie should be set and not overly jiggly in the center.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE

Visit the sites below in this linky for more delicious pecan pie recipes that I found on the web! Got one of your own, add it!

To join the Soul Food Sunday Linky: (1) add your soul food recipe post to your blog, (2) add your post (and delicious photo) to the linky (3) add the linky code to your post! It would also be great if you would link back to The Soul Mom blog.

Make sure to check out the entire schedule of upcoming Soul Food Sunday recipes.

Wordless Wednesday... Camel Ride

Yep, that's a camel.

Ranch Oven Fried Chicken Recipe

This week for Soul Food Sunday I am sharing a recipe for oven fried chicken. I wanted to share my husband’s fried chicken recipe (we all love it so much), but I hate frying food in the house. Everything gets so greasy. So I tried a recipe for oven fried chicken. Much healthier and no messy grease.

I adapted this recipe from one I found on the internet. I added ranch for little extra tang. The recipe was very easy to make and pretty good. My biggest issue was the fact that the crust on the bottom stuck to the baking rack a tad. But the chicken was still fine, since there was plenty of crust on the top. I hope you enjoy it!

Ranch Oven Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken (I used boneless breasts)

1 cup ranch dressing

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp seasoning salt

Olive oil cooking spray

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 packet ranch mix (powder)

2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Prep chicken (wash and pat dry). Mix ½  tsp pepper and with ranch dressing. Put chicken and ranch dressing in a plastic zipper bag to marinate 30 minutes to overnight.

Preheat oven to 450.  Line a cookie sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of the cookie sheet. Spray cookie sheet with olive oil spray.

Mix flour, ranch mix, baking powder, seasoning salt and remaining ½ tsp in a plastic zipper bag. Remove chicken from plastic bag. Shake off excess and place in flour bag. Shake until coated and place on wire rack. Discard flour and ranch mixtures once done.

Spray chicken lightly olive oil spray (chicken should be moist) and place in oven. Bake until golden brown and thermometer reads 170 degrees, which should be 50-60 minutes.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE

Visit the sites below in this linky for more delicious baked or fried chicken recipes that I found on the web! Got one of your own, add it!

To join the Soul Food Sunday Linky: (1) add your soul food recipe post to your blog, (2) add your post (and delicious photo) to the linky (3) add the linky code to your post! It would also be great if you would link back to The Soul Mom blog.

Next week’s Soul Food Sunday (9/16) will feature pecan pie recipes so come on back!

Make sure to check out the entire schedule of upcoming Soul Food Sunday recipes.

Sparkle Remake Movie Review

The other week I went with friends and family to see Sparkle. I was excited to see the movie as I am an avid fan of the 1970s original. In my 8/24 blog post I wrote about all my excitement for the new movie, but most of all, I shared all the reasons why I love the original.

So, with high hopes and thoughts of Sparkle ad Stix I marched into a crowded movie theater with a bubbling group of women. After only 2 minutes, I immediately realized that I approached the Sparkle remake with the wrong spirit and wrong set of expectations. Having just watched the original Sparkle on Centric 2 days prior, I was expecting the same movie with better cinematography and new talent. What I got was a movie with the same characters (kind of) and similar story line.

I must say, my initial feeling upon leaving the theater not only did I not love it, I was actually a bit disappointment. So many of the things that I really loved about the original Sparkle were gone. I missed feeling like Stix really loved Sparkle from the beginning and had this deep, deep love, dedication and protection. Sister going to jail, just was not the same as Sister dying. I wanted to see Stix sing to Sparkle and lift her confidence. I missed my old choreography, it was simple, but I knew it. Sister was strong, but she was old and she tried so hard to be sexy, while Lonetta just had it. Where were all of my favorites?

So.. that was sad. My favorites weren't there, but all was not lost. There were definitely some high points for me. The cinematography was great. Beautifully shot. It looked great. The music was good. They picked the best songs to bring into the movie. (But I was disappointed that we didn't get a full "Look Into Your Heart.") The wardrobe was AMAZING. I was in love with nearly every outfit I saw. The talent was good and I enjoyed their performances. The choreography was good, just more complicated than the original.

The wardrobe was AMAZING!

As for the characters, I was split on which ones I liked better in the remake:

Sparkle- I liked the original Sparkle best. Jordan Sparks did a great job and has this innocent way about her, but she wasn't as innocent and naive as Irene Cara. She was savvy, she was a songwriter, she was tenacious and I liked it, but I loved the super innocence of the original Sparkle much more. This Sparkle was sophisticated and I yearned for naivete. I truly felt like I saw Sparkle become a woman in the original, but I didn't get that with the remake. She did grow, but she already had some strength.

Jordin Sparks is a sophisticated Sparkle in the remake

Stix- I liked the original Stix best. Both Stixs were hard workers, but in the original he had this love and dedication for Sparkle that was evident from the beginning. In the remake, I didn't like how Stix seemed to be using Sparkle for the music. I was always skeptical if he really loved her or if he loved her talent. Derick Luke is a great actor and I think he did a great job, but Phillip Micheal Thomas is a hard act to follow. Plus it was evident Derrick can't sing. I think he tried one note of "Look into Your Heart," and even I could tell that was all that should be allowed.

Sister- Lonette nailed it. She was just a sexy, pretty girl that with a little effort was a bombshell. In the remake, Sister felt old and used. She tried very hard to be sexy. Too hard for my taste. And while incarceration is like death, it's not death and it didn't have the same impact. I hate to say this, but I wasn't all that fond of Sister in the remake.

The Mother- The original mom took the cake. She didn't say much, but nearly everything she said had meaning and depth. He story was not as glamorous as in the remake, but you respected her. Whitney's character didn't connect with me.

Whitney Houston as the ex-singer/devoted church-goer in Sparkle

Dee- liked Dee much better in the remake. Her character had wings and depth and I liked her. In the original, I didn't even remember her name and she just seemed angry. In the remake, I actually wanted to see more of Dee.

Satin- I I liked Satin better in the remake. This Satin was more interesting and entertaining and Mike Epps brought the character to life. Not as gritty and slimy as a drug dealer, but he still had grit, slime and you pretty much hated him. But unlike the original, I looked forward to seeing him on screen.

Mike Epps rocks as Satin Struthers in Sparkle

Levi- I am on the fence with Levi. I actually like them both. This a draw for me.

And in the end, I realize that I need to see the movie again, with fresh eyes and an open attitude. I expected too much and spent most of my time wondering why it was't like the original instead of trying to enjoy what was in front of me. That's the Sparkle purist in me. So, I will give it some time and I'll go back to see the Sparkle remake again, and I actually think that with fresh eyes and an open attitude I'll enjoy it much more.

Cold Oven Pound Cake Recipe

For this week’s Soul Food Sunday I am sharing a recipe for cold oven pound cake. I love a good pound cake, but I find that it is hard to get a good pound cake recipe. When I do run a across a good cake, the baker usually doesn’t share the recipe (boo!). So I am forced to scrounge around for a recipe to make!

The recipe below is a combination of a recipe I found on the web (Aunt Laurie’s cold oven poundcake) and a recipe that my friend shared. It’s a wonderful recipe that make a moist, sweet, dense cake that is perfect with a tall glass of milk.

Cold Oven Pound Cake

Ingredients:

1.5 sticks unsalted butter
1.5 cups sugar
3 eggs (cold)
1.5 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (no salted needed if you use salted butter)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (cold)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon butter extract

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

*eggs and whipping cream should/ be cold right out of the refrigerator (not room temperature)

Note, this makes enough batter for a loaf pan, if you would like to use a large tube pan, double the recipe.

Directions:

Prepare loaf pan. You can spray with bakers spray or grease with crisco & dust with flour, but, personally, I prefer to use Wilton’s cake release which works wonderfully! Also, I line the bottom of my pans with waxed paper, which avoids the bottom sticking. Set prepared pan aside.

Mix dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt) set aside. Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in flour mixture, ½ cup at a time, alternating with whipping cream.

Add extracts (vanilla, butter, lemon and almond).Beat on medium-high to high speed of hand mixer for two minutes, scrapping down sides of bowl. Carefully pour batter evenly into pan.

Place on middle rack in COLD oven and bake at 300F for 1.5 hours. Check it towards the end in case your oven cooks fast or slow. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cake rack on the counter for about four minutes.

 Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE

Visit the sites below in this linky for more delicious pound cake recipes that I found on the web! Got one of your own, add it!

To join the Soul Food Sunday Linky: (1) add your soul food recipe post to your blog, (2) add your post (and delicious photo) to the linky (3) add the linky code to your post! It would also be great if you would link back to The Soul Mom blog.

Next week’s Soul Food Sunday (9/9) will feature baked and fried chicken recipes so come on back!

Make sure to check out the entire schedule of upcoming Soul Food Sunday recipes.

Red Velvet Cake Recipe- Cupcake Style!

Yum! Red Velvet Cupcake

This week for Soul Food Sunday I am sharing a recipe for red velvet cake that comes in the bite-size variety. My good old friend the red velvet cupcake. I never had a bite of red velvet cake until I was well into my adult years and it wasn’t because I did think I’d like it (I have a huge sweet tooth and will try nearly any cake), it was because no one made it in my family. But after my first bite I was in love and try red velvet cake everywhere I go.  Every time I visit a bakery I try a red velvet cupcake. And not everyone gets it right. The biggest area of possible failure in red velvet cake is moistness.

In all honesty, my favorite red velvet cake recipe (for me to make) comes straight from the box courtesy of Duncan Hines. It’s absolutely perfect. I pair it with a homemade cream cheese frosting (never scrimp on this) and it always gets rave reviews. I happened upon it on a lazy day when I needed to take cupcakes to a BBQ. What a find! But for this post, I made it from scratch, no box mix involved!

I read through a lot of recipes online and even dusted off some cookbooks to find the perfect red velvet cake recipe. All the recipes were so very similar it was hard to choose. The recipe below was adapted from the crumbly cookie blog where she did a comparison of red velvet recipes and decided on the best. Since all the research had been done, I decided to go with that winner. I only made a few adjustments to accommodate for what I had on hand.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Everything you need to make yummy red velvet cake or red velvet cupcakes

Ingredients
2½ cups cake flour
1½   cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 TBS cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs at room temperature
1¼ cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk at room temperature (or 1 TBS vinegar plus enough milk to make one cup at room...ala buttermilk substitute)
1 tsp red gel food coloring (or 2 TBS [1 oz.] liquid red food coloring)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp white distilled vinegar
Cream cheese icing (see below)

Makes 30 cupcakes (at ½ liner fill)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.

Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and salt into a medium bowl.

Beat eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add dry ingredients and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Line cupcake tin with liners. Fill each liner ½ full (you can fill to ¾ max, which will have a very domed cupcake that comes over the edge, I like mine a little more controlled so I go for ½ fill). I use an ice cream scoop to fill my cupcakes. It allows a lot more control, consistency and less mess.

Bake cupcakes for 15 minutes. Take out promptly and check doneness with toothpick. If the cupcakes are not done, return at 2-3 minute intervals. The last thing you want to do is overcook the cupcakes. That’s a sure fire way to guarantee red-tinted sawdust.

Remove cupcakes from tin as soon as you can making sure not to burn yourself. The longer you leave the cupcakes in the tin, the more the chance that your liners will pull away from your cupcakes. So be quick, but be careful! I usually take my cupcakes out within 3 minutes of removing them from the oven.

While the cupcakes are cooling, make with cream cheese icing.

Ingredients
1 stick butter softened
1 8oz pack cream cheese softened
4-6 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Directions
In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time until smooth and creamy and it is the consistency you like. Beat in the vanilla.


Frost cupcakes with cream cheese icing.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE

Visit the sites below in this linky for more delicious red velvet cake recipes that I found on the web! Got one of your own, add it!

To join the Soul Food Sunday Linky: (1) add your soul food recipe post to your blog, (2) add your post (and delicious photo) to the linky (3) add the linky code to your post! It would also be great if you would link back to The Soul Mom blog.

Next week’s Soul Food Sunday (9/2) will feature pound cake recipes so come on back!

Make sure to check out the entire schedule of upcoming Soul Food Sunday recipes.

Sparkle Remake...I Think I'll Love It

I admit it, I missed opening weekend of Sparkle and honestly, that is a shameful confession for me. Why you ask? Well, because I am a self-proclaimed Sparkle super-fan. I love, love, love the original movie. It is my all time favorite and as a bit of proof, my last cat bore that very name. I hate that I did not contribute the very important opening weekend sales, but I am still going so that has to count for something!

I still own the VHS of the movie, although I have not watched it in years... I don't even think our VHS works anymore. I can still sing nearly every song and still know most of the moves. I have fond memories of being in my basement apartment in graduate school watching Sparkle on a 19" TV singing the songs and dancing along. I own the soundtrack (I was appaled that it was not the original score, but eventually got used to and loved Aretha Fanklin's soulful redentions). Ahh... what great memories!

All of this excitement about the Sparkle remake got me to thinking... why do I love Sparkle so much? Why is it my favorite movie? Well....
-I love the music. Thank you Curtis Mayfield. This is bar none, the number one reason I love the movie. What great songs. I can sing nearly each one and they all have a rich soul and tell a great story. The lyrics are amazing.
-I love the talent. Sparkle (Irene Cara), Sister (Lonette McKee) and Stix (Phillip Michael Thomas) stuck with me like glue. Sparkle's innocence and growth; Sister's sultry sexiness and street-smart wit; and Stix's determination and dedication to Sparkle kept me glued to the screen.
-I love the story. Well, stories, because there are a few in the movie. There is a sprinkle of saddness and ugliness, but there is also determination and happiness and love and triumph. You take the ups and downs with the characters, you root them on, you cry when the fall and you cheer when they rise and at the end you feel like you watched Sparkle become a woman.

My Sparkle Favorites
My favorite character- Sister. Lonette Mckee is absolutely amazing. I love Sister's street smart comments and uber sexiness. She always sells it and always tells it like it is.
My favorite scene- My heart melted into liquid and evaporated when Stix helped Sparkle through her recording of "Look Into Your Heart." Stix calmed her, reassured her, he sang to her and when he was finished she sang heart out with a newfound confidence.
My favorite song- "Look Into Your Heart." I loved the scene, but also loved the song. The lyrics make me pause, think and "take self-inventory of [my] woman and my glory, leave the bad things behind."
My favorite dance: "Hooked on Your Love." I'm best at following these moves especially those two swings in the air (boom boom). I don't have a super tight red dress with matching long red gloves, but I can still get it.
My favorite line: Stix to Satin "I didn't drop a dime on you. But I wished I had." I don't know why this is my favorite line. There are are waaaaaay more inspiring lines in the movie, but somehow this one stuck with me.

So naturally, given all my Sparkle love, I am excited to see the remake. I had been dying for a remake of Sparkle (and the Wiz... when is that coming?). Although I loved the movie, the story, the talent and the music, I longed for better cinematography, heck just a little more light in some scenes would have done the trick! I have purposely NOT read any reviews, tried to refuse to talk to anyone who has already seen the movie (someone already told me it was good and they changed some things, but that's all) and don't even want to view the trailer. I want it all to be a surprise.

So this weekend, I am off to see Sparkle with the ladies in my family (make it a girl thing). I am looking forward to seeing how well my favorite movie comes to life with modern technology and contemporary actors. I can't wait to hear the new renditions of the songs and see how the choreography has changed (I want my boom boom). I hope it's all that I expect and more!

Book Review: Sleepyhead

Recently, my girls and I happened upon a very, very cute bedtime book, Sleepyhead by Karma Wilson and John Segal. The small paperback book came free in box of Cheerios (the all around-favorite in my home) and what a pleasant little surprise.

The story is simple and all-too-familiar to most moms. Bedtime time is delayed by requests of one more… everything. One more book, one more hug, one more drink, one more teddy… etc. Sleepyhead, a cute round teddy-looking bear with a mom who is surely feline, just keeps asking until he falls asleep.

The illustrations are precious and simple with watery colors and lots of cute animals. My littlest one (3-years-old) loves to point out all of the animals as we read and my 5-year-old likes to read the book herself.

What I love most about the book is its simple rhyme and rhythm. I love rhyming books, so nearly any rhyming book has the upper hand with me. And the story is so familiar. By the time we’ve gotten to reading Sleepyhead, my own sleepyheads have already probably been through 2 books!

My favorite line… “One more teddy, one more snuggle. One more comfy, cozy cuddle.” Love it!

If you happen upon this book, I’d advise you to pick it up (or at least give it a good read through while in the store). Great bedtime reading and you’ll be happy that you did!

Enjoy!

Mixed Greens Recipe- Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens

A delish bowl of greens with smoked turkey

For this week’s Soul Food Sunday I am sharing a recipe for greens. This particular recipe is for mixed greens, a combination of mustard and turnip at equal proportion made with smoked turkey. Growing up I was NOT a fan of greens. My great grandmother made greens and I never ate them. Ever. Then somewhere along the line, in my adult years, I decided to actually give greens a try and I loved them. Boy, had I been missing out. Although I don’t make greens myself, I happen to be very particular about the kind of greens I like. (Yes, I got nerve!) I don’t like my greens spicy and they have to have little tang. When I come across a good pot of greens I am always estatic.


The recipe I am sharing below is a combination recipe with input from a friend (thanks Li), a friend’s dad (thanks Anika) and I also did some nosing around the web. This was only the second time that I have made greens in my life, but I must say I did it like a pro. So delish! Being that I am not an expert greens maker, I decided to go the route of pre-washed and cut greens as you’ll see below in the recipe. More expensive, but worth it! And... we don't eat pork in my house, so I used smoked turkey meat. Yum!

Mixed Greens Recipe- Turnip and Mustard

Ingredients:

1 16oz lb of turnip greens
1 16 oz bag of mustard greens
~2lbs of smoked turkey meat (wings are probably best)
½ a medium white onion chopped and divided (1/4^thcup and 1/4^th cup)
2 green onions chopped (should have 2-3 stems in the bulb) green part only, discard the blub
2 TBS apple cider vinegar
1 TBS Lawry’s seasoning salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
One dash cayenne pepper
1 tsp of sugar

Directions:
Add smoked turkey, 1/4^th of chopped white onion and 1 bulb chopped green onion to pot. Sprinkle with Lawry’s (1 tsp) black pepper (1/2 tsp) and garlic powder (1/2 tsp). Add water to cover meat completely.

Boil, then simmer on med low flame until meat is very tender and falling off the bone. If water boils down too low, add more. I boiled my smoked turkey for 2 hours. After boiling, reserve water (do not throw out), take out meat and cut into chunks. You can do your meat the night before, if you want. That’s what I did and put everything in the fridge overnight.
Put your greens remaining onions and chopped meat in the smoked turkey water. Add additional water if needed. Add remaining spices, sugar and vinegar.

Bring to boil and simmer partially covered for 1 hour or until greens are tender.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE

Visit the sites below in this linky for more delicious greens recipes that I found on the web! Got one of your own, add it!

To join the Soul Food Sunday Linky: (1) add your soul food recipe post to your blog, (2) add your post (and delicious photo) to the linky (3) add the linky code to your post! It would also be great if you would link back to The Soul Mom blog.

Next week’s Soul Food Sunday (8/26) will feature red velvet cake recipes (I'm making cupcakes) so come on back!

Make sure to check out the entire schedule of upcoming Soul Food Sunday recipes

African American Kid's TV Characters- Representing with More Soul

In March of 2010 I created a post, “TV Kid’s Characters Represent with Soul,” which has been one of my most popular posts over time. I shared a little background of some of my favorite African American kids TV characters. This included Orange Blossom of the Strawberry Shortcake crew; Iridessa, one of Tinker Bell’s fairy friends; spelling extraordinaire Princess Presto of Super Why; and super smart and musical Quincy of the Little Einsteins.

Well, I am happy to update my list with two new African American kids TV characters that have also helped to bring a little soul to my children’s TV time.

Doc McStuffins

Dottie, Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins, star of her very own Disney Junior TV show, has got to be the crown jewel of our soul TV stars. Crowned by many (including myself) as an inspiring role model for our African American children, Dottie McStuffins aspires to be a physician, like her mom and plays doctor to her dolls and toys.  She smart, kind and sweet… who doesn’t just love her! The show premiered on March 23^rd and is set to run its second series in 2013. We don’t own any Doc McStuffins merchandise, but I do have my eye on the sparkly doctor’s bag playset. Maybe Santa is reading this blog and we’ll find one under our Christmas tree.

Goby

Goby of the Bubble Guppies

Goby, of the Bubble Guppies,  is a cute guppy (half fish half boy) with a short blue afro. He’s known for his great imagination and is known as the “make-believer.” Though only 6, Goby has a love interest, Deema. His favorite color is green and he likes to collect rocks.  

While my kids spend more time in front of the TV than I’d like, it’s good to know while they are watching, they are seeing themselves represented on the animated screen.

Potato Salad Recipe

Delicious Potato Salad

Welcome to Soul Food Sunday! Today I am sharing a delicious and easy potato salad recipe (with pictures!) Potato salad is one of my favorite things about summer. As bad as I know it is for any weight loss goals, I can’t pass it up, especially if it is good. And there is nothing better than good potato salad, than a good potato salad recipe so you can whip it up whenever you get the craving

From the first bite, I loved, loved, loved my mother-in-law’s potato salad and immediately asked for the recipe. It is tangy and delicious, perfect for a nice summer BBQ, a baby or bridal shower, or actually just any event! It’s so good.

She graciously shared her recipe, which I am sharing with you today. I did take a whirl at it and did a decent job (see my photos). Even though I have the recipe, however, I still prefer it when she makes it! Thanks Geri!

 Geri's Potato Salad



Everything you'll need to make delish potato salad

Ingredients

 5 lbs red potatoes

18 eggs

3 TBS garlic powder

3 TBS onion powder

1.5 TBS black pepper

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 TBS relish

2 cups Miracle Whip

2.5 TBS vinegar

Paprika (optional, for sprinkling)

(recipe is easily halved)

Directions:

Boil potatoes (skin-on) until fork inserts easily. It took approximately 1 hour for me. Pour off water and let cool, preferably overnight. Boil eggs and let cool.

Once potatoes are completely cooled - peel and cube the potatoes. As you cube potatoes and place in bowl, season each layer of cubed potatoes in bowl with garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. Stir to mix. Reserve 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and onion powder and 1 teaspoon of pepper.

Add salt and sugar. Stir to mix.

Separate egg yellows from whites. Mash yellows finely with a fork in a bowl.

Add to cubed potatoes and season with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.

Chop whites to small chunks. Add to potatoes. Add remaining 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir to mix.

Add one tablespoon of relish. Stir to mix.

Add Miracle Whip and vinegar.  Stir to mix. Sprinkle paprika on top, if desired.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE

Visit the sites below in this linky for more delicious potato salad recipes that I found on the web! Got one of your own, add it!

To join the Soul Food Sunday Linky: (1) add your soul food recipe post to your blog, (2) add your post (and delicious photo) to the linky (3) add the linky code to your post! It would also be great if you would link back to The Soul Mom blog.

Next week’s Soul Food Sunday (8/19) will feature greens recipes (collard, mustard,  turnip, mixed, you name it) so come on back!

Make sure to check out the entire schedule of upcoming Soul Food Sunday recipes.

Wordless Wednesday- Loving Venice Beach

Chilling with Great Granddad (Papa)

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

For our first Soul Food Sunday I am sharing a recipe (with pictures) for baked macaroni and cheese (some call it macaroni and cheese casserole). Boy, oh boy, oh boy do I LOVE macaroni and cheese. My absolute favorite macaroni and cheese recipe, of all time, is my great grandmother’s. She made it in glass Pyrex dishes, topped with loads of cheese ontop of a cheesy-tasting, creamy white mixture that was to die for. Later in life, I realized the creamy white goodness was a béchamel sauce, and I also realized that very few people take the time and effort to make it.

I would love to say that I am sharing my great grandmother’s mac and cheese recipe today complete with bechamel sauce (oh boy would I), but I am not. It was a recipe that was never written down before she passed.

My recipe is what I call a “cheater.” Primarily because I use a jar of alfredo sauce and it just doesn’t feel like it’s made from scratch when you do that. But never the less, it is quite yummy and I get loads of compliments every time I make it.

Dyani’s Cheater Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Everything you'll need to make cheesy goodness

Ingredients

Half a pound of elbow macaroni boiled and drained

One jar of your favorite alfredo sauce

1/4 cup of milk

1 16 oz. package of mild cheddar cheese shredded divided (1 cup and ½ cup)

1 16 oz. package of casserole cheese* (or a colby/jack mix) shredded divided (1 cup and ½ cup)

¼ tsp Pepper

Butter (for greasing dish)

*the only brand I have ever found to have “casserole cheese” is Kroger. It is a mixture of American, cheddar, colby and mozzarella cheeses.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use butter to grease 9” x 9” glass baking dish. Set aside.

In large bowl mix boiled macaroni, alfredo sauce, 1 cup of casserole cheese, 1 cup of cheddar cheese and stir. Although tempting, do not add more cheese as this can make the inside dry.  Trust me, the inside will be cheesy and delish!

Mixing it all up in the bowl

Pour milk in alfredo jar and swirl around.  Add milk and pepper and stir again. Spoon mixture in prepared dish and flatten with spoon. Top with ½ cup casserole cheese and ½ cup cheddar cheese. The top should be completely covered. If it is not, add more.

All set to go into the oven

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until entire mixture is bubbly and top cheese is all melted and starting to turn brown. Enjoy!

Finally... cheesy goodness!

Visit the sites below in this linky for more delicious macaroni and cheese recipes that I found on the web! Got one of your own, add it!

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Next week’s Soul Food Sunday (8/12) will feature potato salad recipes so come on back!

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