My family has been in the South since the 1800s. Every southern woman (and man!) should that know the heart of every southern household is nestled in the kitchen. In the days of Pinterest and Crock Pot dump recipes, it seems like some traditional southern recipes are being pushed to the side for something quicker. However, if we stay true to our southern roots, our hearts (and stomachs) will be full.

Lemon Chess Pie

Ingredients

2 cups of sugar, 

2 heaping tablespoons of flour

3 eggs 

Juice from 1 lemon

1 teaspoon of lemon extract

¼ cup of melted butter

10 inch unbaked pie shell

Directions

    • Mix all your ingredients in a bowl

    • Pour into the pie shell

    • Bake at 400 for 15 minutes

    • Reduce heat to 325 for 35-40 minutes (or until firm)

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients 

2 heads of broccoli (washed and cut into small pieces)

1 bag of real bacon bits

1 cup of sunflower seeds

Green onion to taste

1 ¼ cup of mayo

½ cup of white sugar

5 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

Directions

    • Mix the last 3 ingredients together to make the dressing.

    • Pour dressing over the other ingredients

    • Mix well. 

Biscuits

Ingredients

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

⅓ cup of shortening

1 cup of milk

Directions

    • In your mixer (with a dough hook), blend the flower, baking powder, salt and sugar. Add shortening as the mixture gets course. Gradually stir in milk until the dough pulls away from the bowl.

    • Turn your dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it out into ½ to an 1 inch thick. Cut biscuits by using a large cutter or glass dipped in flour. Cut straight down with pressure, and do not twist back and forth as it will cause your biscuits to not rise as much.

    • Put on a baking sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes at 425 degrees. 

Ham Stuffed Potatoes

Ingredients 

4 large baked potatoes

2 cups of chopped ham

1 cup of mayo

½ of cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon of bell pepper

1 tablespoon of chopped onion

Small jar of diced pimentos

½ cup of swiss cheese

Directions

    • Slice the tops off potatoes and scoop out.

    • Mix everything together but the cheese.

    • Refill the shells and bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees.

    • Top with remaining cheese

    • Heat until melted.

Loaded Creamy Ranch Dip

Ingredients

8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese

1 red bell pepper finely diced

A jalapeno finely diced

1 small can of black olives

A can of corn

1 package of ranch dressing mix

Directions

Mix all ingredients and serve with your favorite chips. 

Cheese Grits

Ingredients

1 ½ cup of quick cooking grits

6 ounces of longhorn cheese

1 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon of Tabasco

½ teaspoon of garlic powder

½ stick of butter

1 beaten egg

Paprika 

Directions

    • Cook the grits as directed on the package.

    • While hot, add the remaining ingredients.

    • Pour into a greased 2 quart dish.

    • Sprinkle with paprika

    • Bake for 45 minutes at 300 degrees.

Boiled Custard (don’t try to double this recipe… it does not work)

Ingredients

4 cups of whole milk

6 egg yolks

5 tablespoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Directions

    • Scald the milk.

    • Slightly beat the eggs yolks with sugar and vanilla.

    • Temper egg mixture by adding small amounts of heated milk.

    • Pour into pot.

    • Cook very slowly on low heat until mixture coats the back of your wooden spoon.

    • Refrigerate in an airtight container. 

King Ranch Chicken

Ingredients

1 3 pound chicken boiled and deboned

10-12 corn tortillas cut into 1 inch squares

10 ounces of diced tomatoes with green chili peppers (Rotel)

I can of condensed cream of chicken soup

1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 small onion (chopped)

3 cups of shredded colby jack cheese (set aside one cup)

Directions

    • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

    • Layer cut corn tortillas in the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish.

    • Combine all ingredients but one cup of cheese.

    • Bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes.

    • Top with remaining cheese

    • Bake until the cheese is melted. 

RELATED: 8 Dessert Recipes First Ladies Swear By

Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

4 ounces of frozen hash browns 

16 ounces cubed ham

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese 

12 large eggs

1 cup of milk 

1 of teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper

Directions

    • Add the frozen potatoes, ham, and cheese to a large bowl.

    • Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

    • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk, salt, and pepper.

    • Pour the egg mixture over the hash brown mixture.

    • Pat down the mixture with the back of a spoon.

    • Bake for one hour, uncovered at 350 degrees.

White Peppered Gravy

Ingredients

4 tablespoons of flour

4 tablespoons of butter

2 teaspoons of ground pepper

1 teaspoon of salt

½ teaspoon of garlic salt

2 ½  cups of milk

Directions

    • First, you need to melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan

    • Whisk in the flour, pepper, salt and garlic salt combined

    • Slowly pour in the milk and turn your heat to medium

    • Whisk the mixture occasionally over 5 minutes as it will thicken

    • Remove from heat and serve.

Kallie B
CABINET
When Kallie is not working full time trying to raise money, she is often studying how people process political messages. Powered with 2 undergraduate degrees, 1 graduate degree and now working towards a Ph.D., she has dived into the world of political communication and psychophysiological research. She is a 5th generation Texan, and has been in politics since she was 8 years old.