Taste of Tradition

Attending gatherings in the south, crowds gather while the tempting aroma of fresh baking mixes with the giddy anticipation and lively chatter fill the air. Hospitality is always on the menu. Growing up in Alabama, I ate really good food. I fondly remember homegrown vegetables. Lasagna was never served. Instead, I ate butter beans with cornbread, fried chicken, country ham, pork chops, macaroni and cheese, vegetables (fried okra, green tomatoes, fresh corn, cucumbers, peas, squash, green beans, zucchini, sweet potatoes), biscuits, sweet tea, and homemade desserts (chess pie, banana pudding, cobbler).

I've included a much requested family recipe:

Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients:

3 cups sweet potatoes

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cube butter/margarine

1/3 cup milk

Crust:

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup melted butter

Directions:

Grease 10" baking dish.

Mix all "filling" ingredients in bowl and pour in casserole dish.

Mix all "crust" ingredients in bowl and pour on top of "filling."

Bake 35-45 minutes at 350 degrees.

This is particularly appropriate for the Thanksgiving holiday meal.

PS: This recipe is especially for my sister-in-law Maribeth.

Enjoy!

I hope you all have a great summer and take a little time to enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. I hope you get a chance to take a vacation, even if it's just a few days.