like mama made it

Today is the last day of the BLOGtober Fest challenge with the Arkansas Women Bloggers. And, today is all about fall recipes.

I’ve really wrestled with which ones to include. So, I’ll go with a variety of things from my memory, mom’s recipes, must haves and my new found Pinterest loves.

1. The one thing that I absolutely must make every year is Pumpkin Dump Cake (yes you can use pumpkin pie spice instead of all those individual spices). Its my signature dish if I ever had one. And, the one thing that makes it better than anything is sharing it in the floor of JPAC with my favorite buddies during Tiger Tunes (I’m having withdrawals can you tell?) Also, you must serve it with French Vanilla Cool Whip if you can find it!

2. My best friend, Heather, makes the most amazing Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread this time of year. Its the kind of stuff you just cant stay out of!

3. For Thanksgiving, we get a Greenburg turkey. They are the most amazing things. Slow cooked and smoked with Cajun spices- goodness from Texas! So, my mom saves the carcass after my Uncle Ray carves it on Thanksgiving morning and boils it down in the crock pot when we get home to make broth for Tortilla soup. When I say its amazing, I mean you cant get that smoky flavor in the broth any other way. This is a fall and winter staple at our house.

Tortilla Soup

2 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
1 lg onion, chopped
4 C cooked, chopped chicken or turkey
2 14.5 oz. cans stewed tomatoes 1 10 oz. can Rotel
1 16 oz. jar salsa 1 10 oz. cream of chicken soup
1 tsp cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder
1 med zucchini, chopped 2 C shredded cheese
1/2 C chopped cilantro

Cook chicken or turkey. Bring to a boil, onion and broth; boil for 5 minutes. Stir in turkey or chicken and next 5 ingredients. Simmer 30 minutes; add zucchini and cilantro and cook 10 minutes more. Top with tortilla chips and cheese.

Mom used 2 cans rotel and more salsa. Also cook chicken with seasonings and wait to add zucchini and cilantro to each serving instead of main pot.

4. With deer season upon us, I know you guys are always looking for something new. This is my favorite way to eat deer at home. Its perfect served with green beans and yellow rice.

Spicy Deer

1 pkg. Taco Seasoning 1 lb. deer fillet
11 oz jar salsa ½ C peach preserves
2 T oil

Place taco seasoning in large Zip-loc. Add deer. Shake around until all the meat is covered. Fry in oil. Blend together salsa and peach preserves. Place deer in baking dish and pour over salsa mixture. Heat thoroughly.

5. Corn Dip – while we are carving the turkey on Thanksgiving morning, mom always sets out snacks. Yes, this is after we’ve had waffles for breakfast and before we dive in for lunch, but if there ever was a day for eating, its THANKSGIVING! Its not always corn dip, but its usually some sort of dip or cheese ball and crackers or chips. And, sometimes its more than one!

(cant do a food post without this little beggar being involved!)

Pretty much anything on this board or this board also serve as perfect fall recipes!!!

My favorite memories involve gathering around a table. Usually food is involved, but I love the discussion that comes from just sharing time together. And, the older I get, I’ve learned to love the kids table even more!!

2 Comments

Amanda on October 19, 2012 at 7:21 pm

We receive a Greenberg turkey every year, too! The turkey cheeseball recipe on the package insert is to die for! I usually make a couple bc it is so addictive!

Visiting from Blogtober Fest.
Amanda

Debbie on October 19, 2012 at 9:11 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the turkey. I will have to give that a try. My mom always made dump cake but not with pumpkin. Looking forward to that as well. Thanks for all of your sharing.

Amanda on October 19, 2012 at 7:21 pm

We receive a Greenberg turkey every year, too! The turkey cheeseball recipe on the package insert is to die for! I usually make a couple bc it is so addictive!

Visiting from Blogtober Fest.
Amanda
Debbie on October 19, 2012 at 9:11 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the turkey. I will have to give that a try. My mom always made dump cake but not with pumpkin. Looking forward to that as well. Thanks for all of your sharing.