oh, elaine...i love you so.

my grandmother is the shit.

she's only 5'1", but behind her petite little frame she packs a punch.  and makes a hell of a casserole.

after catching up with her over lunch the other day, i thought it would be fitting to theme this next post with some of my favorite dishes that she makes.  we're talking good old, eastern sho' style home cooking.  lots of butter, sugar, cream, etc.  (which probably explains my family's sky-high cholesterol levels... but how else is food supposed to taste this good?) 

elaine t. laws, you are the best.

black walnut cookies

i learned this recipe from her last christmas, and i love love love these cookies.  so so simple!  the walnut flavor is strong...and you must use black walnuts, or else they won't taste the same.  and make sure you butter the hell out of the cookie sheet.

ingredients

2 eggs

3/4 c. flour

3/4 c. sugar

pinch salt

1 c. black walnuts, chopped

method

using an electric mixer, beat the eggs for 7 minutes.  combine dry ingredients, then add to eggs.  butter an aluminum baking sheet.  drop batter onto sheets and bake at 350 for 10 minutes, until the edges brown slightly.

remove from sheet immediately and transfer to rack to cool.

baked pineapple

if you're looking for a culinary time-warp back to 1963 suburbia with ed sullivan being broadcast in the background and herb alpert playing on the hi-fi... this is it.  i always ask for this at my birthday dinner.

ingredients

3 large eggs

1/2 c. sugar

2 tbsp. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 can Dole #2 crushed pineapple

1/2 c. (one stick) butter

4 slices white bread

method

beat eggs.  combine sugar, flour, and salt and add to the eggs.  add pineapple (drained).  mix well and pour into buttered casserole dish.

melt butter in a saucepan.  tear the bread slices and saute in the butter until just moistened (make sure they aren't browned).  spread over pineapple mixture in casserole dish.

bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

chicken casserole

classic.

ingredients

2 cups diced chicken breast, cooked

1 cup cooked white rice

1 cup celery, diced

1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup (love it!)

2 tbsp. minced onion

3/4 c. mayonnaise

1 can sliced water chestnuts

1/2 c. slivered almonds

1 c. Corn Flakes cereal

butter.  lots of butter.

method

crush corn flakes and combine with 1/3 stick of melted butter.  combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl.  pour into casserole dish and top with corn flakes.  bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until the top is crispy and bubbly.

oh my god.