EGGNOG TRUFFLES my WOW Cookie for Christmas

Oh Boy Truffles!

But not just any truffles, these are the now legendary Christmas Truffles (although, as Scrooge, after he changed, proclaimed that he would keep Christmas in his heart all year round... And he was as good as his word, so maybe he had his housekeeper make up a batch in the middle of summer just to inspire a little Christmas magic in July... But I digress).

These are now my GOTO Christmas Cookie.  Soft center (think fudge), with a thin coating of white chocolate.  But best of all, this has the unmistakable tastes of that seasonal beverage... EGG NOG.

Please note, the photos are of chocolates made in a chocolate mold.  Not very difficult to do, but I usually make these in a round truffle shape.  The day I made a dozen "fancy" chocolates I also made 3 dozen small half golf ball sized and shaped truffles.  Unfortunately, I did not get any photos of them.  So you will just need to imagine the molded chocolates as round easier to make truffles.

I took these to an after church event and they flew off the shelf.  By far the most popular of the holiday chocolates I made.

And really, Yo Ho Ho and a Tablespoon of RUM... What's not to love.

Easy to make, no bake and delicious!

Enjoy Indeed!

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

EggNog White Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

• 1/3 Cup EggNog
• 1/4 Cup (1/2 a Stick) Butter
• 1 TBS Rum (Clear Rum so that the Rum Does not Affect Color)
  Note: Can substitute 1 tsp Rum Flavoring
• A large Pinch Netmeg
• 1 Bag (12 Ounces) White Chocolate Chips
• 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
• 12 Ounces White Chocolate Candy melt
  Note: I LOVE Ghirardelli brandy Candy Melts for this, or
  Can substitute White Almond Bark 

Cooking Directions

1. Line large baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside.
2. Combine eggnog, butter, rum and nutmeg in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat 4-5 minutes or until butter is melted. Add white chocolate chips; continue cooking, stirring constantly, 2-3 minutes or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.
3. Dust hands with powdered sugar. Shape mixture, working quickly, into 1-inch balls. Truffle mixture will be soft. Repeat dusting hands with powdered sugar to make shaping easier, if necessary. Place balls onto prepared baking sheet; refrigerate at least 1 hour until firm.
4. Melt candy coating in deep 1-quart saucepan over low heat; stir 8-10 minutes or until smooth. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes.
5. One ball at a time, Skewer Half way into a ball with a Toothpick.  Dip 4/5ths of the balls into the white chocolate (Just a little bit not covered).  Hold out of the melt for 15 seconds until the melt starts to harden a little.  Place on the waxed paper and remove toothpick.  Just a bit of the chocolate will run forming a "foot" circle of chocolate under the ball.  Repeat with  remaining Balls,  
6. By the time you finish the balls, reatrting at the first ball you did, holding the ball by it's "Foot", dip the top (the 1/5th of the ball not covered in white chocolate) in the candy melt.  Return to the waxed paper, foot side down.  Repeat with remaining balls
7. Let cool 30 minutes. 
8. Store refrigerated in container with tight-fitting lid up to 2 weeks.
9. Serve Room temperature and ENJOY!

Italian Lemon Cake A Favorite Bundt Cake

Oh Boy Cake!

But not just any cake, this is the legendary star of any 1950's housewife's afternoon tea,  After all, 1950;s TV Sit-Coms inspired an entire generation of women.

But, more than the shape, this Bundt is also deliciously filled with citrus flavors.

I made this for an after church social hour.  The ladies of the church were very complimentary.  This is a very grown up cake.  Not too sweet yet loaded with flavors.  It's not a cake for kids, but with the right group, this will be the hot of the party!

Keep scrolling down for this easy to follow recipe and of course...

ENJOY!!

  OK... Here's what I did...

Italian Lemon Pound Cake

Ingredients 

• 3 Cups Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• Large Pinch of Salt
• 1 Cup Butter, softened to room temperature.
• 2 Cups Sugar
• 3 Large Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Buttermilk
• 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
• Juice and Zest of 1 Lemon
  Additional Zest of 2 more Lemons
  Note: Save these 2 Lemons, you will need to juice them for the Glaze
• 1 tsp Ground Ginger
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• FOR THE LEMON GLAZE
  4 OZ Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
• Zest of 1 Lemon
  Juice from 3 Lemons
• 2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a Large mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients; Flour, Baking Powder, Salt.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the Butter and the sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  With the mixer running, add the eggs one at a time.  Add the Lemon Juice and the Lemon Zest to the mixer as well as the ground ginger.  And finally, still with the mixer running, add the Sour Cream and the buttermilk.
4. Fold the Wet ingredients into the dry.  Use a folding motion, digging to the bottom and fold the bottom mix to the top.  Repeat folding until the dry ingredients have fully incorporated.  Do not over mix or your cake will be very dense.
5. Pour the cake batter into a bundt pan that has been generously sprayed with baking spray.
6. Bake for 80 minutes until the cake has fully baked and a toothpick can be inserted deep into the middle of the cake but still comes out clean.  Any bit of wet on the toothpick, return to oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.  Check again, repeat as needed.
7. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Turn the cake over on a cake platter or, I like to serve cakes on a cutting board for presentation.
8. While the cake is cooling, make the glaze... Mix the all the ingredients (Cream Cheese Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice and  Powdered Sugar) together until smooth and creamy.
9. Drizzle this over the Cake while still warm.  Let the cake cool to room temperature.
10. Serve Room Temp and ENJOY!

Almond Meltaways Santa Cookies

 Oh Boy Christmas Cookies...

But not just any Christmas cookies, these have a deep Almond Flavoring that just melts in your mouth... Literally,  That's why they are called meltaways!

The Santa look is very easy to make.  M&Ms for the nose, Red Sugar sprinkles for the hat and chocolate chips for eyes.  All topped off with  a mini marshmallow for the tassel of the hat and shredded coconut for the beard.

BTW, take a look at the photo below,,, You can use the same recipe a variety of ways... Don't ice them, bake as a ball to get a half dome look.  Lots of Almond flavor but less sugar, less sweet.

or

Just Ice them... Add a little Almond Extract to the icing for even more Almond flavor.

or

Before baking, roll the balls in Decorator Sugar Crystals , flatten with a cup and bake normally.

One recipe... 4 TERRIFIC COOKIES!

 OK... Here's what I did...

Almond Meltaways
Santa Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 Cups Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 TBS Mayonnaise
• Pinch Sea Salt
• 1 Cup (2 Sticks) Butter, Softened to room temperature
• 1-1/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 Large Eggs
• 3 tsp Almond Extract
• FOR THE SANTA FACE
  Red Sugar Sprinkles
• Buttercream Frosting (I used canned)
• Chocolate Chips
• Sweet Shredded Coconut
• Red MandMs
• Mini Marshmallows

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees,  Prepare a cookie sheet with nonstick parchment paper
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients... Flour, Salt and Baking Powder
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, creamy together the butter and the sugar.  When light and fluffy, add the eggs and the Almond Extract
4. Fold in the wet ingredients with the dry and continue to fold until fully combined into a dough.
5. Working in batches, Roll the dough into 1 TBS Balls.  Arrange on the cookie sheet.  Flatten each into thin discs.
6. Bake for 8 minutes. The cookies will not look browned or cooked, but they are! Remove from oven and let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
7. Ice each cookie
8. Decorate to form the face...  Shredded coconut for the beard, Red Sugar sprinkles for the hat, Chocolate Chips for the eyes and a red button nose made from MandMs
9. Store in air tight container
10. Serve with a Cold Mug of Milk and ENJOY!

BTW, take a look at the photo below,,, You can use the same recipe a variety of ways... Don't ice them, bake as a ball to get a half dome look.  Lots of Almond flavor but less sugar, less sweet.

or

Just Ice them... Add a little Almond Extract to the icing for even more Almond flavor.

or

Before baking, roll the balls in Decorator Sugar Crystals , flatten with a cup and bake normally.

One recipe... 4 TERRIFIC COOKIES!

Cloink Balls (Chicken and BACON) for a Pass a Plate Appetizer Party

 CLOINK... CLuck (Chicken) PLUS OINK (Pig) Equals CLOINK

This is a bit of a new presentation for a great little appetizer.

More commonly these beauties are made with a frozen meatball and wrapped in bacon.  Grillmasters love to serve these as appetizers at a back yard BBQ in the summer.  Here's a presentation idea that almost makes them classy enough for a Party!  Dig out your Grandmother's Deviled Egg Presentation plate.  The divots are a great way to add an individual dipping sauce without the need for a dipping bowl.  It may not be dinner at the Vanderbilt's, but it is just a tad classy looking.

Here's the story of the Cloink Ball -

A couple of weeks ago I posted the recipe for the IMPOSSIBLY EASY, INCREDIBLY CHEAP Legendary - MOINK BALLS.  You may remember that MOINK stands for Moo Plus Oink or Beef and Pork.  Beef meatballs wrapped in pork bacon.

When I wrote the post I started speculating about the other combinations...

There are dozens of variations, Chicken Meatballs (Cloinks?), Pork Meatballs (the Oink-Oink), add a piece of pineapple for the Hawaiian Moink or even Turkey Bacon with Vegetarian Meatballs (The Veggie Gobbler).
Sprinkle a spice rub on them for spicey balls, brush with the dipping sauce as a glaze during the last 10 minutes of cooking for that glowing wet look ball.

You can bake them, grill them or even use that toaster oven!

Here's the basic recipe... now just imagine your interpretation!

Well, here you go.  I was wandering around the store looking for bargains the other day.  I found a package of beautiful Artisan chicken brats.  They were fresh made a few days ago but the shelf life had dropped to "Must Cook within 2 Days"... So I did.

These taste much different than the Moink Ball.  While I love the Moink Ball, they do have a processed taste (remember, we used frozen pre-cooked meatballs).

These have a much more premium taste with the artisan sausage.  Definitely an upgrade.

 OK... Here's what I did...

CLOINK Balls
Bacon (Oink) Wrapped Chicken Sausage (Cluck)
Cluck and Oink - Cloink

Ingredients

• 6 Chicken Sausage Brats each brat cut into 4 pieces, each piece the width of a Bacon Slice (24 total "Balls"
• 12 Slices Bacon (Cut in Half)
• 24 Wooden Toothpicks
• FOR THE SAUCE
• 1/4 Cup of your favorite BBQ Sauce
• 1/4 Cup Grape Jelly

Cooking Directions

1. Prepare the CLoink Balls, Wrap each Piece of Chicken Brat (hereafter, called a Meatball) in a Half piece of Bacon. 
2. Arrange on a wire rack on a rimmed cookie sheet (line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up)  The wire rack keeps the balls from sitting in the bacon drippings while cooking
3. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 Minutes (25 minutes if using thick sliced bacon).
4. Check for doneness.  Balls are done when the bacon is cooked to your likeness.  Continue to bake as needed, but check often to make sure they do not burn
5. While the balls are cooking, make the sauce. Over medium heat in a small sauce pan, mix the Jelly and BBQ sauce. Stir to evenly mix.
6. Serve warm, with a cocktail fork inserted in each, with the dipping sauce on the side OR Dip each arrange on a deviled egg presentation dish.  This way the egg cavity becomes it's own dipping sauce bowl
    and of course, ENJOY!

Fig and Goat Cheese mini Cheese Balls

 Oh Boy Cheese Balls!

But not just any cheese balls, these are a wonderful twist on the classic cheese ball.  Everyone loves food on a stick.

The cheese is a smidgen upscale, goat cheese and figs and all.  But the idea works fine for about any cheese ball you have ever imagined,

Just a base of cream cheese, add another type of cheese (Say a Taco Blend), Some type of filling (say minced bacon and Lettuce), add a Coating (like nuts here, or for the above idea, plop the Taco blended bacon and lettuce cheese ball on top of a half cherry tomato.  Insert stick and Viola...

Bacon Lettuce and Tomato mini cheese balls (You can even come up with a clever way to work a Pretzel Bun into the title since there is a pretzel in the appetizer.

This is a wonderful little idea for a party or when you are asked to bring a plate of Appetizers.

After all, everyone LOVES food on a stick!

 OK... Here's what I did...

Fig and Goat Cheese
Mini Cheese Balls

Ingredients

• 1 (8 Oz) Brick Cream Cheese, Thawed to room temperature
• 4 OZ Creamy Goat Cheese, Thawed to room temperature
• 1 TBS Mayonnaise
• 1/2 Cup Figs, chopped small then minced
• 24 Pretzel Sticks (I like to use the thicker "Dipping Sticks" Style but the skinny ones work fine
• 2 Cups Crushed Pecans

Cooking Directions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cream cheese and goat cheese.  Using the whisk attachment, whisk the cheese until fluffy.  This will take about 5 minutes.  You will need to scrape the sides of the bowl down frequently and tap the sides of the inside of the bowl with the whisk attachment to free up clogged chunks. 
2. You may need to add additional creaminess to the cheeses to get a creamy fluffy texture.  I add a bit of Mayonnaise. 
3. Add the figs and fold by hand to mix.
4. Divide into 24 equal size pieces, roll them into balls.
5. Insert a Pretzel stick
6. Roll the sides and bottoms in the crushed pecans
7. Arrange on a serving platter and transfer to the fridge to chill for at least 3 hours
8. Serve Chilled and ENJOY!

HOOTERS Owl Deviled Eggs

 OH BOY... Deviled Eggs!

But not just any deviled eggs... We call 'em HOOTERS, Owl Deviled Eggs1

Especially if you have kids for your event, these will move like hotcakes... better actually.

The star of this recipe is the look.  Very easy to make.  Just cut the pickles to the right size, thin slice the olives for the eyes and pie wedge shaped tiny carrot pieces for the nose.

The actual recipe for the yellow deviled goo is my version of the classic Grandma's Dill Pickle version.

Tastes classically great...
Looks fantastic and fun for the kids...

WHOot Wouldn't Love these!

ENJOY!!!

 OK... Here's what I did...

Hooters Owl
Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

• 18 Large Eggs (NOTE: you will need extra yolks for this look, lots of yellow goo for center body and two side strips to hold wings and eyes at the head... 18 whole eggs will only make 24 deviled eggs halves), Hard-Boiled and Peeled (I always make at least 14-15 eggs just in case some do not peel well... Then I make Egg Salad from the leftovers).  Follow the Blue Letter Link for an Easy to Follow Photo Essay on how to peel a dozen eggs beautifully!
• 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
• 1/4 Cup Minced Dill pickle
• 2 TBS Yellow Mustard
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 2 tsp Fresh Ground Black pepper
• 24 Sweet Gherkin Pickles Cut in half, trimmed to look like wings 
• 1 Carrot, thin sliced, cut into 24 small pie shapes to work as noses
• 12 Large Black olives, each cut into 4 slices to look like eyes, 48 total eyes

Cooking Directions

1. First to make the Eggs... Place the eggs in a LARGE Saucepan (or two), single layer. Fill the saucepan with cold water a couple of inches above the eggs. Place the pan uncovered under medium high heat and bring to boil. Cover the pan and remove from heat. Let the eggs sit covered in the water for 15 minutes.
2. Drain the water from the pan, immediately fill with cold water. Gently tap each egg on a counter to crack and put them back in the cold water. Peel eggs under cold running water.
3. Once all eggs are peeled, slice each lengthwise. Remove the yolks and place them in a small bowl. Arrange the white parts attractively, ready to fill.
4. In that small bowl, Add the Mayo, Pickle , Mustard, Salt and Pepper to the Egg Yolks and mix until creamy. You will need to smash the egg yolks to get the mix creamy. Add additional Pickle relish liquid or Lemon Juice if the mixture needs to be smoother.  Add carefully, the yolk goo gets too wet and the piping look will not hold.
5. Transfer the yolk mixture into a piping bag with a large star tip. NOTE: the piped look only works if the yolks are very creamy (you may want to transfer to a food processor to get best results). Otherwise the piping tips will clog. And be sure to use that large star tip.
6. Fill the hollow of each egg just to the edge of the crater.  Then make three strips of filling across the top of the egg the two sides hold the wings and the center makes the body of the owl.
7. And now, make the owls... Two Pickle pieces for the wings, two Olive slices for the eyes and a carrot nose.   Store loosely covered with cling wrap.
8. Serve chilled and ENJOY!

'Ole! Tex-Mex Mini Meatball Sliders

 OH BOY MEATBALL SLIDERS!

But not just any meatball sliders.  these little gens are a perfect year round  party food, perfect for the "Big game", Cinco de Mayo party or just because.  They are incredibly fast and easy to assemble since they only use store bought ingredients.  Yeap, this is a "Bag of Frozen Meatballs" upgrade.

Just add a couple of Tex-Mex ingredients...

Taco Spiced cheese
Chunky Salsa

A Little toasting and an extra brush of butter and Viola... I mean 'OLE!

Keep scrolling down for this easy to follow recipe and plenty of photo tips to insure success and of course you will all...

ENJOY!

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

'Ole Tex-Mex Mini Meatball Sliders Appetizers

Ingredients

• 48 Hawaiian Rolls
• 4 Cups Shredded Taco Spiced Cheese
• 48 Frozen Meatballs.  I always use the All Beef, Italian Style
• 1 (24 Ounce) jar Pace Picante Chunky Salsa
• 1/2 Stick (4 TBS) Butter, Melted
• Sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese

Cooking Directions

1. Thaw the meatballs according to package directions.
2. Set your oven to broil
3. Carefully slice the Hawaiian Rolls in half.  Be careful to not mush them with too much force.  use a good bread knife and let the knife do the cutting.
4. Separate each bun.  Arrange tops and bottoms, cut side up on separate cookie trays (remember to arrange so you know which top goes with which bottom) on a cookie sheet, toast both sides, the cut side up.  I set the oven to broil and toast for just 3-4 minutes.  Watch them so they do not burn, just a nice toast (See first photo in the collage).
   CHANGE OVEN SETTING TO 350 DEGREES
5. Spread a layer of Taco Spiced Cheese on the toasted side of the bottoms (Second Photo)
6. Add a Meatball on each cheese lined bun bottom (Third Photo)
7. Add a 1/2 TBS of Picante Chunky Salsa on top of each Meatball (Third Photo)
8. Add the tops.  Brush with melted butter and generously sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
9. Cover the cookie sheets loosely with foil and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.  Arrange in a casserole dish
10. Serve Warm and ENJOY!

Sweet Creamy Spicy Ranch Pinwheel Appetizers

 Oh Boy Pinwheel Appetizers...

But not just any Pinwheels, this is a GREAT idea for a Holiday Party with the colors.  Anything red and green accented becomes a holiday appetizer.  But it is also a great way to use up a few leftovers from Holiday cooking.

Got a few extra Green Onions... Here you go.
Only need to use half a Red bell Pepper... Here you go again.
Got a few Black Olives left../ Well, you get the idea.

Hunt down bricks of cream cheese on sale.  Two weeks before Thanksgiving many store put cream cheese on sale for about a dollar a brick.  Go ahead, buy a dozen.  Cheesecakes, pinwheels, Cheese Balls. Dips... All sorts of ideas.  Betcha you can use up all dozen before the holidays are over.  Suddenly these Beautiful Tasty Appetizers become not just affordable but actually cheap... About a quarter apiece.  What a deal!

Love the Ranch spice mix.  I fund a spicy Ranch spice mix to mix into the cream cheese base.  Added a fantastic surprise flavor.  If you have sensitive palates that you want to please with less spicy foods, feel free to use the Original version of the ranch mix (and probably want to avoid the Olives as well).

The How To's of this recipe are pretty easy.  Spread the mix on a tortilla, gently but firmly roll the tortillas (you will know if you are using too much firmness, the goo oozes out the sides).  Roll up and stor in the fridge until the cream cheese re-firms up.  Slice and enjoy.  Here's a photo that gives you an idea of what I mean...

And as Always... ENJOY!

 OK... Here's what I did...

Sweet Creamy Spicy Ranch Pinwheel Appetizers

Ingredients

• 2 Bricks (8 OZ each) Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 Package Spicy Ranch Dressing Mix (The spice mix package, NOT the bottled Dressing)
• 6 Green onions, thin sliced, white and green parts
• 1/2 Red Pepper, chopped and minced small (Same size as the sliced green onions)
• 10 Large Ripe Black Olives, chopped and minced (Same size as the green onions)
• 5 (12 inch) Flour tortillas
• Sprinkle of Sweet Paprika

Cooking Directions

1. First, Make the Goo...
   In the bowl of a Stand Mixer (KitchenAid), Add the cream Cheese and the ranch spice mix together and mix until creamy.  I use the whisk attachment and scrape down the bowl frequently.  This will take about 5 minutes to get the whipped texture.
2. Add the 'Fixins, the Red Bell Peppers, the Green onions and the Black Olives and fold until well combined and evenly mixed.  I do this by hand.
3. Spread your tortillas out and evenly distribute cream cheese mixture among tortillas and spread just shy of the edges.
4. Roll up the Tortillas.  Not too tightly or the goo will seep out the ends.  Wrap in plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
5. Unwrap and Slice into 1/2 inch Pieces, Arrange attractively on a platter.  Sprinkle a little Smoked Paprika for extra flavor and color presentation.  Wrap the platter and return to the fridge until ready to serve.
6. Serve Chilled and ENJOY!

Candy Bacon Tater Tots Appetizers

 OH BOY Bacon wrapped ANYTHING!

But these little gems are not just anything, these have that wonderful combination of Heat (I used a sprinkle of Cajun Spice mix) with the sweat of Candy Bacon.  All that heat/sweet flavor wrapped inside a savory piece of grated potato and BACON!

These beauties will become the most popular and talked about appetizer for your party, pass a plate event, potluck or any big family gathering.  Put out a plate and bang they are gone, leaving that frou frou Foie Gras appetizer your sister-in-law spent hours making in the leftover pile.

May not be fancy, may not be pretty, but flavorful, delicious and at teh end of the night... Gone

Only 4 ingredients, easy and fast to assemble and popular!

ENJOY!

 OK... Here's what I did...

Candy Bacon
Tater Tots
Appetizers

Ingredients

• 36 Frozen Tater Tots
• 12 slices Bacon
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar
• Sprinkle of Cajun Spices (can use Taco Spice, Chili Powder or your favorite BBQ Rub)

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut each bacon strip into 3 equal size pieces.
3. Line a cookie sheet with foil and place a cooling rack on top of the pan. This will allow the bacon to crisp on all sides.
4. Wrap each frozen tater tot in one of the cut bacon pieces.  Bacon will overlap by a fraction of an inch.
5. Roll the wrapped tot in the brown sugar coating all around.
6. Place the tot seam side down on the wire rack.  Repeat with remaining bacon and tots.
7. Sprinkle the Spice mix on top of the bacon wrapped tots.
8. Bake for 20 minutes, check the crispiness of the bacon (I check the color).  Continue to bake at 5 minute intervals until the bacon is a beautiful crispy cooked bacon color.
9. Serve warm and ENJOY!

Cornbread Fried Catfish

 Oh Boy CATFISH!

But not just any catfish.  This has the classic very very Old School crispy crunchy cornmeal coating.  Jiffy Mix already contains baking powder and just a bit of lard to hold the coating together,

Cornbread fried Catfish was a weekly (or more) dish from my youth.  For a while, mu grandfather ran a bait shop on the St Francis river where it meets the  Lake Wappapella dam in hillbilly country of the eastern Ozarks.  Whenever I visited I read up on my 'Lil Abner comics so I would fit in.

My Grandmother passed when I was young, but I can still picture her standing at her stove with her can of lard beside her and these gems frying up in her cast iron.  'Course the best tasting version of this recipe came from out back along the river when family, friends and neighbors of my grandfather would set their skillet over an open fire, fillet their catch of the day and fry em up right there.  Grandpa had that box of cornmeal and lard handy for just those folks.

My version has been citified a bot.  I fry in Canola Oil and use the pre-mixed Cornbread Jiffy Mix but the tastes are there to always bring back those memories of family passed and good times.

This particular Catfish was the centerpiece for one of my very favorite meals I have made in a long time.  Fried Cajun Jalapeno and Cheddar Corn Fritters and an incredible Cowboy Bacon Creamed Peas side.  Just a fantastic meal!

Enjoy and think of 'Lil Abner (or my Grandfather)

 OK... Here's what I did...

Cornbread Fried Catfish

Ingredients

• 1 Box Jiffy Mix Cornbread
• 3 Pounds Catfish fillets
• 1 Cup Flour
• 2 Large Eggs, whipped
• 2 TBS Old Bay Seasoning Mix
• 1/2 Cup Tartar Sauce for Garnish
• Canola Oil for frying.  Enough to cover the bottom of the pan, only about 1/2 inch

Cooking Directions

1. Heat oil in a large heavy bottomed frying pan, Cast Iron works great.  Oil needs to splatter when a drop or two of water is added.  But not too violent of a splatter,
2. VERY IMPORTANT... "Dry" each of the fillets with paper towels to prevent a gummy coating.
3. Set up three stations, a plate with the flour... A bowl with the whipped eggs... A plate with the Jiffy Mix combined with the Old Bay seasonings.
4. Dredge the fish fillets in the flour, well coating both sides.  Immediately, Dip the floured fillets into the eggs coating both sides, Immediately dip the egg coated fillets into the cornmeal well coating all sides and finally, immediately fry in the hot oil.  If needed, work in batches so the fish does not overlap in the oil.  No crowding. 
5. Fry until golden brown on each side for 3-4 minutes. Drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
6. Serve warm with a dollop of Tartar Sauce and ENJOY!