I think Trisha Yearwood is a country singer (I could google it or you could tell me!). From the article I read about her in Country Living, I know that she grew up in the South and ate cornbread at every meal. I liked the looks of her cornbread salad recipe, and it handily solved the problem of leftover winter cornbread in my freezer. When friends came for lunch today, we made it along with oven sweet potato fries. Should have had some sweet tea too!
Trisha Yearwood's Cornbread Salad with French Dressing
Three hours before serving, layer in a big salad bowl:
6 cups torn salad greens
2 cups crumbled cornbread
3-4 cups chopped vegetables (she uses tomatoes and bell peppers - I would use whatever you think sounds good or have on hand; I used mushrooms and shredded turnips)
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
Fry some bacon (she says 9 slices - I used about 5); chop and set aside.
Combine in a blender until thick and well blended:
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. prepared mustard
2-3 Tbs. finely chopped onion
When ready to serve, toss salad with dressing and bacon pieces.
My observations: the salad you see in the photo is actually doubled because there were three adults and four children eating lunch. I also added some shredded cheese, but that didn't do much. I halved the amount of dressing and next time I will reduce the sugar - boy, them Southerners like SWEET. I do think tomatoes would be great in this salad, and now I'm excited for the first local tomatoes. I could also see using some bits of ham instead of bacon and maybe even a sprinkle of toasted pecans. Maybe even some black beans. . . There is lots of potentional here - thanks to Trisha Yearwood for the great recipe!
Aden patiently waits for lunch as I fiddle with the camera.
Oh, that does sound good... kind of a southern take on panzanella. I'm thinking it would be a great dish to take to a spring or summer picnic (dressing on the side, of course, until right before time to serve).
ReplyDeleteDarling,
ReplyDeleteAfter a quick internet refresher on Trisha Yearwood I was reminded she sings the country song that was my favorite in college "She's in Love with the Boy," so naturally I had to include the lyrics below. That will surely win me the prize for longest comment post yet. (There is a prize for that, right?)
I also learned she's authored a cookbook called "Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen"...Perhaps your next Birthday present?
Katie's sitting on the old front porch
Watching the chickens peck the ground
There ain't a whole lot going on tonight
In this one horse town.
Over yonder, coming up the road
In a beat-up Chevy truck
Her boyfriend Tommy, he's laying on the horn
Splashing through the mud and the muck
Her daddy says, "he ain't worth a lick
When it came to brains, he got the short end of the stick"
But Katie's young and man she just don't care
She'd follow Tommy anywhere
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
And even if they have to run away
She's gonna marry that boy someday
Katie and Tommy at the drive-in movie
Parked in the very last row
They're too busy holding on to one another
To even care about the show
But later on outside the Tastee Freeze,
Tommy slips something on her hand
He says, "my high school ring will have to do
Till I can buy a wedding band"
Her daddy says, "he ain't worth a lick
When it came to brains, he got the short end of the stick"
But Katie's young and man she just don't care
She'd follow Tommy anywhere
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
And even if they have to run away
She's gonna marry that boy someday
Her daddy's waiting up till half past twelve
When they come sneaking up the walk
He says, "young lady get on up to your room
While me and junior have a talk"
But Mama breaks in and says, "don't lose your temper
It wasn't very long ago
When you yourself was just a hay-seed plowboy
Who didn't have a row to hoe"
"My daddy said you wasn't worth a lick
When it came to brains, you had the short end of the stick
But he was wrong and honey you are too
Katie looks at Tommy like I still look at you"
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
What's meant to be will always find a way
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
She's in love with the boy
What's meant to be will always find a way
She's gonna marry that boy someday.
She's in love with the boy....
This looks like a great recipe! I have some leftover cornbread in my freezer (pretty much all the time ;-) too. When I hit the market in the morning, I think I'll be keeping this one in mind. Hallelujah for early spring greens!!
ReplyDeleteGreat shot of Aden - it's funny how fast kids get older! Seems he's grown up a year already since Christmas :-)