Home Cooking With Trisha Yearwood: Stories and Recipes to Share With Family and Friends (23 page)

Never-Fail Divinity

In a large saucepan, stir the sugar, water, syrup, and salt together until the sugar dissolves. Cook on medium heat to 260°F, or until the mixture spins a long thread. Pour one third of the boiling syrup over the beaten egg whites, beating continuously. Add the vanilla. Cook the remaining syrup over medium heat until it reaches the hard boil stage, 300°F. Pour this syrup over the egg-white mixture and continue beating until the candy holds a soft shape. Stir in the nuts and drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper or pour into an 8 × 8 × 2-inch pan. Allow the candy to harden.

FROM BETH:
Double beaters are a must when making this candy.
FROM MAMA:
Dorothy Cliett, from Grandma Lizzie’s side of the family, cooks the syrup twice to ensure that the candy will be firm.

I’ll never be able to thank everyone who helped make this second collaboration possible!
So many people rose to the occasion to make this cookbook come alive. Thanks to everyone at Clarkson Potter, especially Emily Takoudes for tackling the editing job on the heels of having a new baby! Thank you to Jenny Beal Davis for designing a beautiful book … again! Thanks to Lauren Shakely, Doris Cooper, Kate Tyler, and Peggy Paul. Special thanks to Ken Levitan, Michelle Owens, and Vector Management for continuing to bring me fun opportunities like this one.

When something works the first time, you stick with it. Ben Fink, your talents continue to amaze me. Thank you for photographing our food and for taking such care to make sure it was absolutely perfect. Special thanks to Jeff Kavanaugh, Jamie Kimm, Barb Fritz, Ruby Guidara, and Cynthia Winn for photographing, styling, and preparing everything necessary for the photo shoots in New York and Nashville. Thank you to Russ Harrington for shooting the cover and to Eli McFadden,
Joel Hood, and Brent Harrington for assisting. Thanks to Matt Harrington and Luellyn Latocki for PhotoShop Botox! Sorry about the mosquitos! Thank you Bev Parker for capturing the love I feel for my cowboy.

Thanks to the crew in Nashville: Gary Birdwell, Lark Foster, Steve Gibson, Tracy Greenwood, Jarrah Herter, Terri McGee, and Steve McLellan. You made it all work! Thank you, Hope Baldwin, for driving down to Willacoochee, Georgia, to take pictures at the Paulk family reunion. The crockpot mac and cheese is in the mail! Melissa Perry, thanks for coming to the party a second time and preparing all of these recipes. I think your being seven months pregnant during this process made you enjoy the food even more! Thanks to Earl Cox, Mary Beth Felts, Claudia Fowler, and Amanda Kaye West, for hair, makeup, and wardrobe for all of the Yearwood women!

Thank you to the family and friends who contributed recipes and photos for this cookbook. You all really came through for us! Thank you for your love and generosity:

Faye Abercrombie, Louise Aiken, Margaret Akins, Betty Alexander, Frank and Loretta Bruce, Linda Buchanan, Charlene Burton, Larue Camp, Colleen Cates, Nellie Chaires, Lydia Clements, Melba Clements, Dorothy Cliett, Mandy Smith Corley, Elizabeth Davis, Shirley Davis, Lynn Deraney, Shirley Durden, Pat Foster, Paula Funderburke, Shirley Anne Gilliam, Cordelia Goodman, Rita Goodman, Clarice Hamby, Lynn Hamby, Mary Cam Harding, Sissy Hayes, Pam Helm, Patti Helm, Nancy Hinds, Sissy Tillman Hulsey, Geraldine Johnson, Mary Lou Jordan, Iris Kicklighter, Diane Knight, Hope Kozma, Sydney Lane, Peggy Leach, Cynthia Lee, Kim
LeFlore, Bess London, Leona Lucine, Vicki Martin, Pat McCormack, Ruth McCormick, Joann Mosley, Karen Oakes, Bobbie Jean Ozburn, Donna Paulk, Emily Paulk, Fred and Dorothy Sue Paulk, Michele Paulk, Warren and Linda Paulk, Wilson and Beth Paulk, Julianne Perry, Phyllis Pritchett, Amanda Richey, Jodi Roberts, Lindsey Rundorff, Terry Rundorff, Kate Sandifer, Mark and Venita Sandifer, Kathryn Sauls, Gail Sealy, Mae Sears, Gail Shoup, Medea Shuman, Donna Smith, Eryn Smith, Stan and Mari Smith, Vicki Smith, Angela Spivey, Tricia Stafford, Howard Stamper, Angela Stewart, Mandy Stewart, Brian and Becky Tankersley, Lynne Tanner, Ben Tillman, Aletha Tyler, Sandy Vandegrift, Jennifer Vincent, Chrystal Vining, Vicki Walker, Margaret Watson, Tana Weber, Amanda Paulk Wildes, Nona Wilson, Susan Winslett, Stone Workman, Dianne Yearwood, Pete Yearwood, and SuSan Yearwood.

A huge thank-you to our immediate families, John, Ashley, Kyle, and Bret Bernard and Garth, Taylor, August, and Allie Brooks: Thank you for trying anything we put on the table and for being patient while we spent hours in front of the computer. We love you all.

Finally, thank you to Mama (Gwen) and Beth, for taking this journey with me again. You cooked, tested, counseled, laughed, and cried with me! I am so lucky you’re my family. I love you.

a
iken, Louise

Akins, Margaret Ann

almond(s):

bark, in Crockpot Chocolate Candy,
9.1
,
9.2

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole,
5.1
,
5.2

Chicken Poppy Seed Salad,
3.1
,
3.2

Strawberry Salad,
3.1
,
3.2

Ambrosia, Apple, Betty’s,
9.1
,
9.2

American cheese, in Rainy Day Chicken and Rice Soup

appetizers,
see
snacks and appetizers

apple(s):

Ambrosia, Betty’s,
9.1
,
9.2

Dumplings,
1.1
,
1.2

Fresh, Cake,
8.1
,
8.2

Red Candy,
2.1
,
2.2

Asparagus Bundles,
6.1
,
6.2

b
acon:

adding to waffles

Asparagus Bundles,
6.1
,
6.2

Breakfast Bowl, Garth’s,
1.1
,
1.2

Charleston Cheese Dip,
2.1
,
2.2

Chicken Bites, Warren’s,
2.1
,
2.2

Cornbread Salad with French Dressing,
3.1
,
3.2

Potato Casserole

Twice-Baked Potatoes,
6.1
,
6.2

Baked Bean Casserole

Barbecued Pork Ribs, Fred’s,
4.1
,
4.2

Bass, Saucy

bean(s):

Baked, Casserole

black, in Fancy Chili,
3.1
,
3.2

black, in Tennessee Jambalaya

Beater Blade

beef

Baked Bean Casserole

Baked Spaghetti,
4.1
,
4.2

Cabbage Rolls, Colleen’s,
4.1
,
4.2

corned, in Cheese Boat

Cowboy Lasagne,
4.1
,
4.2

Fancy Chili,
3.1
,
3.2

Meatballs

Roast, Cordelia’s,
4.1
,
4.2

Roast, Hash

Stuffed Bell Peppers, Uncle Wilson’s,
4.1
,
4.2

Beignets,
1.1
,
1.2

Bernard, Ashley

Bernard, Beth Yearwood,
1.1
,
1.2
,
1.3
,
3.1
,
3.2
,
3.3
,
4.1
,
5.1
,
5.2
,
5.3
,
5.4
,
6.1
,
6.2
,
7.1
,
7.2
,
7.3
,
7.4
,
8.1
,
8.2
,
8.3
,
8.4
,
9.1
,
9.2
,
9.3
,
9.4
,
9.5
,
9.6

Bernard, Blanche

Bernard, Bret,
1.1
,
7.1
,
9.1

Bernard, John

Bernard, Kyle,
1.1
,
6.1

Bess London’s Pecan Tassies,
9.1
,
9.2

Betty’s Apple Ambrosia,
9.1
,
9.2

biscuits:

buttermilk canned, in Apple Dumplings,
1.1
,
1.2

canned, in Monkey Bread Muffins,
1.1
,
1.2

drop: Easiest Muffins,
7.1
,
7.2

Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake,
8.1
,
8.2

black beans:

Fancy Chili,
3.1
,
3.2

Tennessee Jambalaya

Blanche’s Miniature Cherry Muffins

Blueberry Pancakes,
1.1
,
1.2

Blue Cheese Dressing,
3.1
,
3.2

bread(s)

Broccoli Cornbread,
7.1
,
7.2

Cheese Boat

Cherry Muffins, Miniature, Blanche’s

Cranberry,
7.1
,
7.2

Jalapeño Hushpuppies

Monkey

Monkey, Muffins,
1.1
,
1.2

Muffins, Easiest,
7.1
,
7.2

Pumpkin, Pat’s

Raisin, Margaret’s

Sour Cream Cornbread

Spoon Rolls,
7.1
,
7.2

Zucchini

breakfast

Apple Dumplings,
1.1
,
1.2

Beignets,
1.1
,
1.2

Blueberry Pancakes,
1.1
,
1.2

Bowl, Garth’s,
1.1
,
1.2

Cinnamon Rolls,
1.1
,
1.2

Country Quiche,
1.1
,
1.2

Hawaiian Fresh Fruit Salad,
1.1
,
1.2

Monkey Bread Muffins,
1.1
,
1.2

for supper

Waffles with Hot Maple Syrup, Mama’s Homemade,
1.1
,
1.2
,
1.3

broccoli:

Casserole,
6.1
,
6.2