Swap Shop: New dishes for a new year
December 27, 2011 8:40PM
Apple-Broccoli Salad
Updated: February 20, 2012 8:02AM
Swap Shop requests for recipes for New Year’s Day get-togethers — specifically for Apple-Broccoli Salad (from P.W. of Michigan City), Creamy Banana Pudding (from I.A. of Chicago), and Hoppin’ John without ham or sausage (from J.M. of Evanston) — brought inspired results from Oxmoor House’s just-published Gooseberry Patch Big Book of Home Cooking and Paula Deen, the Food Network’s reigning queen of Southern cooking.
Red Delicious apples add crispness and flavor to the broccoli salad, which also includes pecans, raisins, onion and bacon. Cream cheese makes for a thicker, richer banana pudding, which — when made in a casserole with a lid — is perfect to accommodate I.A.’s request for a banana pudding capable of being transported to a friend’s potluck.
And there’s Deen’s meat-free Hoppin’ John for those who believe eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day brings good luck throughout the new year: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add 1 small onion (chopped), 1 small red pepper (chopped), and garlic powder (to taste); cook for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas and 2 cups cooked rice (follow box or bag instructions for cooking both peas and rice); cook an additional 10 to 15 minutes being careful not to overcook. This dish is best if bell pepper and onion still have a crunch to them. Add House Seasoning (recipe follows) to taste. Garnish each serving with sprig of parsley.
To make Deen’s House Seasoning: Combine 1 cup salt, ¼ cup black pepper and ¼ cup garlic powder. Store in airtight container for up to 6 months.
Requests
I’m looking for the version of monkey bread that includes cream cheese. Help!
A.T., Kankakee
Please ask if a reader has a recipe for a Southern spoonbread that is like cornbread and includes ham.
G.K., Chicago
A former co-worker used to make an addictive coffee mix that included crushed hard peppermint candies. Does anyone have a similar recipe?
D.S., Chicago
Send recipes and requests to: Swap Shop, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans St., 9th Floor, Chicago 60654 or by e-mail, swapshop@suntimes.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.
