116. Hey Y'all! Can you tell I've been watching Paula Deen? Isn't she a doll! I rarely have the opportunity to watch all my favorite cooking shows on Food Network, so today was a real treat. While doing my chores, I flipped on the television and there was beautiful Paula Deen making "Pecan Chicken", "Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter", "Pumpkin Cheesecake" and "Pear Fritters". It was her Fall Harvest Episode. Each recipe was so easy to follow and when she served each dish, I just had to know what they tasted like. So tonight is a "Paula Deen" night!
I started first with the "Pecan Chicken". Cut up fryer parts of chicken were easy to come by. I eliminated some of the fat in the preparation by using 2 percent milk, less skin, less pecans and a small amount of sesame seeds. I did have acorn squash, the yellow variety, which worked beautifully! And the Pear Fritters were simply easy. The only recipe I did not make was the Cheesecake...I think I will wait till next week and whip it up for Thanksgiving.
The recipes are available on the Food Network website and the picture is included as well!
Here are the links to each for your convenience.
I added a chopped apple to the recipe by peeling and coring the apple and then cutting it into small cubes. Then placing the apple in the center of each squash and placing a dollop of the brown sugar butter on top. And I added a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
The squash baked so well and all you needed to do was scrape your fork along the inside edge and the tender flesh came away from the skin very easily. We mixed it in with the apples and juices that collected in the center. YUMMY!
The batter was thick like pancake batter and tasted like pancake batter.
Everything tasted so delicious, was simple to prepare and came together nicely for a fall meal.
The Pear Fritters were not my most favorite...my family loved them...I thought they tasted more like a pancake than a fritter. But we drizzled sugar free maple syrup over and Cool Whip with cinnamon and sugar.
Paula Deen inspired me! Are you inspired now? Then go cook something!
"I think no matter what the occasion may be,
you can never go wrong
by showing up at the dinner table with a hot plate of fried chicken."
~Paula Deen
"Cooking has always brought me a happiness that I didn't think was available.
I just fire up the stove, and things start to fade away."
~Paula Deen
