New south: the casual Southern buffet supper evolves into a fresh, contemporary affair.Casual Southern entertaining has come a long way since the days of fried chicken Fried chicken is chicken which is dipped in a breading mixture and then deep fried, pan fried or pressure fried. The breading seals in the juices but also absorbs the fat of the fryer, which is sometimes seen as unhealthy. on paper plates with red checkered check·ered adj. 1. Divided into squares. 2. Marked by light and dark patches; diversified in color. 3. Marked by great changes or shifts in fortune: a checkered career. tablecloths. While that kind of downhome get-together still invokes memories of happy times with family and friends, more and more people are interested in presenting some of their favorite regional foods with a contemporary flair. For a modern take on the Southern buffet supper, surprise guests by presenting classic home-cooked dishes infused with a few new flavors New Flavors - An object-oriented Lisp from Symbolics, the successor to Flavors, it led to CLOS. ["Reference Guide to Symbolics-Lisp", Symbolics, March 1985]. and ingredients, as with this casual menu by Renee Davis and Leigh Ann Randall of Pretty Presentations Catering in Newton. "Lifestyles have changed, and so has the way we are entertaining," says Davis, who offers a spread fit for downhome royalty: extra-crispy buttermilk buttermilk residual fluid after removal of fat from milk in butter manufacture; a protein-rich supplement fed to pigs. fried chicken, cornbread muffins with a secret Southern ingredient, a tart made with sweet Vidalia onions and served with an unusual black-eyed pea salsa, and sweet potato sweet potato, trailing perennial plant (Ipomoea batatas) of the family Convolvulaceae (morning glory family), native to the New World tropics. Cultivated from ancient times by the Aztecs for its edible tubers, it was introduced into Europe in the 16th cent. casserole that might just be better than grandma's. And what casual American meal is complete without the perfect apple pie apple pie typical, wholesome American dessert. [Am. Culture: Flexner, 68] See : America ? This one is made extra-special with a sweet glaze topping. Continue the contemporary casual theme with decorations that incorporate whimsical colors and patterns for a light-hearted mood. Here, Lynn Myers with Ann Carter Ann Carter (born June 16 1936) is a former American child actress. Child actress Ann Carter was born in Syracuse, New York in 1936, but at an early age her family moved to Los Angeles because of her mother's health. Her father became an executive with Dodge. Inc. in Jackson combines bold pink and white striped tablecloths, dotted lime green placemats, and smaller multi-striped napkins tied with raffia raffia (răf`ēə) or raphia (rā`fēə), fiber obtained from the raffia palm of Madagascar, exported for various uses, such as tying up plants that require support, binding together vegetables . The scrumptious Southern dinner is served on informal floral-patterned plates, which are paired with formal silver flatware for an eclectically elegant look. Centerpieces are kept simple with low arrangements of vibrant pink lilies in clear glass vases. "Keep it familiar, but with outstanding taste," says Davis. While borrowing from the culinary classics, don't be afraid to add your own signature by throwing in something new--something that reflects a fresh approach to Southern hospitality. BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN 1/2 cap sugar 1/2 cup salt 1 gallon water 6 to 8 chicken pieces 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme 1/2 teaspoon marjoram 3/4 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 2 cups buttermilk Vegetable oil Dissolve sugar and 1/2 cup salt in water. Pour over chicken pieces, and refrigerate re·frig·er·ate tr.v. re·frig·er·at·ed, re·frig·er·at·ing, re·frig·er·ates 1. To cool or chill (a substance). 2. To preserve (food) by chilling. overnight. This is a brining process that is optional but makes all the difference in the flavor and tenderness of the chicken. Drain liquid off the chicken the next day, and pat semi-dry. Combine flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and seasonings; stir well. Dip each piece of chicken in buttermilk; dredge in flour mixture. Make sure each piece of chicken is coated well. Repeat process if desired to make a heavier crust. Heat oil in a black skillet, and fry over medium heat for 20 minutes of until golden brown. The key to great fried chicken with a crunchy crust is to fry each side until golden brown, turning as little as possible. CRACKLIN' CORNBREAD MUFFINS 1/2 cup cracklins 1 egg, beaten 2 cups buttermilk 3 cups all-purpose yellow cornmeal 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup vegetable oil Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drop cracklins in boiling water, and boil 3 minutes. Drain well. Mix in remaining ingredients, and spoon into muffin fins that have been coated with additional vegetable oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until cornbread tests done and is golden brown. VIDALIA ONION TART & BLACK-EYED PEA SALSA 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 sticks chilled butte6 chopped 1/4 cup ice water 2 large Vidalia onions, chopped 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup heavy cream 1 egg 1 egg yolk Salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a food processor, pulse flour, salt, and butter until crumbly crum·bly adj. crum·bli·er, crum·bli·est Easily crumbled; friable. crum  bli·ness n.Adj. 1. . Add ice water, and pulse until dough ball is formed. Chill for 1 hour or longer. Roll dough on a floured surface until it forms a circle large enough for a pie plate. Once fitted into the pie plate, prick with a fork and set aside. Saute onions in butter until tender. Add heavy cream, and cook until slightly thickened thick·en tr. & intr.v. thick·ened, thick·en·ing, thick·ens 1. To make or become thick or thicker: Thicken the sauce with cornstarch. The crowd thickened near the doorway. 2. . In a small bowl, mix the egg and egg yolk yolk (yok) the stored nutrient of an oocyte or ovum. yolk n. The portion of the egg of an animal that consists of protein and fat from which the early embryo gets its main nourishment and of together, then stir into the onion mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg nutmeg, name applied to members of the family Myristicaceae. The true nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is an evergreen tree native to the Moluccas but now cultivated elsewhere in the tropics and to a limited extent in S Florida. to taste. Spoon into pie plate, and bake for 20-25 minutes of until set. Serve at room temperature or slightly warm with Black-Eyed Pea Salsa. BLACK-EYED PEA SALSA: 2 cans black-eyed peas, cooked and drained 1 can whole-kernel corn, drained 3 tomatoes, chopped 1 green bell pepper; chopped 1 small Vidalia onion, chopped 3 green onions, sliced 3 tablespoons sugar Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar Juice of 2 lemons Juice of 1 lime Mix all ingredients together. Season to taste. Refrigerate at least 24 hours. Keeps up to 1 week, and flavor is better over time! SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE 3 cups sweet potatoes 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup milk 1 stick butter 1 teaspoon vanilla Bake sweet potatoes in a medium oven until tender. Cool, peel, and mash until fluffy. Add sugar, eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla. Spoon into casserole dish, top with Pecan pecan: see hickory. pecan Nut and tree (Carya illinoinensis) of the walnut family, native to temperate North America. Occasionally reaching a height of about 160 ft (50 m), the tree has deeply furrowed bark and feather-shaped leaves. Topping, and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. PECAN TOPPING: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/3 cup flour 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup pecans, chopped Mix together all ingredients until crumbly. GLENDA TAYLOR'S APPLE PIE 1 can sliced apples (not pie filling) 2 frozen pie crusts (regular, not deep-dish) 1 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup self-rising flour 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 to 4 tablespoons butter of margarine Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour entire contents of canned apples into one unbaked un·baked adj. Not having been baked or cooked, especially in an oven: unbaked bricks; an unbaked pie crust. pie crust. Mix sugar, flour, and cinnamon together, and pour over apples. Carefully use a fork to push some of the sugar mixture down into the apples. Dot with small pieces of butter. Take the remaining unbaked pie crust, and invert in·vert v. 1. To turn inside out or upside down. 2. To reverse the position, order, or condition of. 3. To subject to inversion. n. Something inverted. over the apples to form the top crust. Use a fork to seal the edges of the crust. Bake until crusts are golden brown. Remove from oven, and glaze with Topping. TOPPING: 1 cup powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavoring, Milk Mix together all ingredients. RESOURCES Food, Pretty Presentations Catering, 105 Third St., Newton; 601/683-3941. Decorations, Ann Carter, Inc., 11 East Hill, Jackson; 601/981-5820. Tablecloths, Scalamandre, through Ann Carter, Inc. Flowers, Saxon's, 4818 North Park Dr., Meridian; 601/693-6734. |
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