Friday, July 11, 2014

Cowboy Cornbread Trifle - A Savory BACON Side Dish! - 52 Church Potluck Side Dishes (And BBQ Side)

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MAN UP...

Well, Cowboy up at least!  You've heard of those British fancy layered desserts (Trifle)?  Well, here's the Cowboy version... Cornbread, Spicy Beans, a Vegetable Salsa, Creamy Ranch flavored Mayo and BACON, BACON, BACON!!!

I just love this side.  It is perfect for any back yard BBQ... I best when made a day in advance, so all the flavors have a chance to mix and mingle.  And by making this a day ahead of time, it frees you up to "be the king (or queen) of your own back yard and concentrate on your grilling.

Of course this also shines for any big gathering, like a Church PotLuck meal, family Holiday meal or any big event.

It has a spectacular look, all those layers.

It has a spectacular flavor, spicy chili beans, fresh savory vegetables, Ranch Dressing, and let's not forget BACON, BACON, BACON!

All wrapped around a Panzanella Corn Bread Salad.

And it's about as easy as you can imagine.  Except for the corn bread, no cooking involved, a little dicing and mixing and you are done!

Destined to be a star at your next BBQ (and will make that Sister-in-law green with envy)!



OK... Here's what I did...


Cowboy Cornbread Trifle - A Savory
BACON Loaded Side Dish



Ingredients
  • 1 Batch Cornbread (I used a Box of Jiffy Cornbread mix)
  • BUT Let's dress the simple box up a bit... Replace the suggested milk with Sour Cream (for Creamier bread)
  • THEN... Add 4 TBS Milk
  • THEN... Add 2 Medium Jalapeno Peppers to the batter, cored, stems, seeds and white membrane removed and minced
  • FOR THE BACON LAYER... 1 Pound Thick Slice Bacon, cut into 1 inch squares, divided, save 1/4 cup, dice finer for garnish on the top
  • FOR THE WHITE CREAMY LAYER...
  • 1-1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 Cup Ranch Salad Dressing
  • FOR THE COWBOY SALSA
  • 1 Cup Chopped Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Cup Green Bell Peppers, Chopped
  • 1/2 Cup Sweet Vidaia Onion
  • 2 - 16 Ounce Cans Spicy Chili Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 - 15-1/2 Once Whole Kernal Sweet Corn
  • FOR A CHEESE LAYER, I used 8 ounces Smoked Cheddar Cheese, freshly shredded
  • FOR GARNISH, 4 Green Onions, thin sliced
Cooking Directions
  1. This is a simple layered salad, first, prep all the different layers...
  2. Bake the cornbread according to the directions on the package, except substitute Sour Cream for the milk and add minced Jalapeno to the batter.
  3. Cook the bacon, crispy as you like. It is easiest for me to cut the bacon before cooking. Drain grease and set aside.
  4. Meanwhile, mix the Mayo and Ranch Dressing
  5. When that is done, mix the ingredients for the Cowboy Salsa
  6. Finally, grate the cheese. and sliced the Green Onions.
  7. And now... Assemble... Layer of bread on the bottom
  8. Layer of Cowboy Salsa
  9. Layer of Cheese
  10. Layer of Ranch mixed Mayo
  11. Repeat
  12. Once you have reached the top, garnish with chopped Bacon and Green Onions.
  13. Serve Chilled and ENJOY!

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This recipe has been added to my growing list of "52 Church PotLuck Dishes"!

A list of something NEW worthy of being shown off at a neighborhood BYODish (Bring Your Own Dish) Party, a Family special occasion dinner, Any Big Holiday Gathering or of course that glorious day when you bring a dish to share with your Church family...

Ages ago, literally almost a half century ago I was listening to our pastor talking about a PotLuck Dinner. It happened to be scheduled around a church work day when we were expected to weed, polish and do general cleaning and maintenance around the church (you know, back in the day when there were no no-wax floors and church pews smelled of Old English furniture polish). I am of course paraphrasing, but as I recall the pastor said,

"A potluck, like a church requires work. At a potluck everyone is expected to contribute.. At a church no one should come empty handed and no one should leave unfed".
I will confess that in my youth I brought more store bought plastic spoons and forks than I ever brought covered dishes and crock pots of fresh made love and caring delights. But now that I have become a hobbyist cook, I occasionally am reminded of those days and people from my youth. I reminded and I do wish that I could drop a dish of some new creation on those old tables at my fondly remembered Liberty Baptist Church.  Tables covered with newspapers and loaded with God's bounty prepared with love and caring... Enjoy

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So,  I am pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of  "52 Grilling Time Secret Extras" or "52 Ways to Cook BBQ and Grilling Recipes"!!!

Well over 52 recipes actually as I just can't stop... Over 100 in one grilling season (I love to grill!). But not just leat... Drinks, Condiments (LOTS of different BBQ sauces), Drinks, Desserts... even specialty items like GRILLED Pizza, and fun shaped Watermelons.  Easy and these ideas will make you the MASTER of your Backyard Domain!

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So,  I am pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of  "52 Specialty Salad Recipes"!!!

Sometimes they are the main course, sometimes a lunch and sometimes they are the side dish... And if you count Jell-o salad you can even make a dessert of a salad.  Here are a few of my favorite salads that get far more Ooohs and Aaahs than that simple chopped head of lettuce.

Links include Potato Salads, Cole Slaws, and Plenty of greens and fixins' Salads... And more than a few matching FRESH MADE Jam Jar make it yourself Salad Dressings!

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