Published: August 04, 2008 02:54 pm      

Drucilla's Little Helpers: Corn souffle

My typing is getting faster since my hand surgery. Can you tell? I'm going much faster than I was. I still have the wires sticking out of my hand but those will come out in a couple of weeks.

I had some delicious corn fresh from the garden today. No, not from my garden and no, I didn't steal it. Some friends at church gave me some. It was so good. They also gave me some tomatoes. I had to have a cheese and tomato sandwich.

I love my corn boiled on the cob or cut off and fried. I like corn soufflé or corn pudding as some folks call it. Here's a favorite recipe I use.

Corn Soufflé

1 can creamed corn

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 box Jiffy cornbread mix

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Turn into a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 50 minutes. You may garnish with a scoop of sour cream or grated cheddar cheese. Serves 6. You can use fresh cut off corn instead of canned.

I am beginning to get squash from our garden. We like it fried but did you know you could make patties?

Squash Patties

1 cup mashed cooked squash

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1/2 cup self rising flour

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl; mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls into 1/8-inch hot oil in skillet; flatten patties to 1/4-inch thickness. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Cook squash in season and freeze in 1 cup portions for later use. This makes 6 servings.

My mother-in-law, Auda Ray, was a wonderful cook. She would make pinto bean patties. She would mash the beans (usually leftovers), put in an egg, chopped onion, and tad of cornmeal and a tad of flour and make into a patty and fry. Very good.

I am making a TV appearance on live TV this week but by the time the newspaper comes out I will have already been on. It is a call in show called "House Call " and the topic is nutrition for the brain. I asked George if he wanted me to take him for show and tell and show them what a healthy brain looked like. His answer? "I ain't going nowhere with you." Why would he say a thing like that?

We were saddened this week to hear of my cousin, Oscar Walker, passing away. My sympathy goes out to his family. He will be missed in and around Monterey.

Got to go for now. But if you have a question or recipe we can use or need a speaker or something judged or have a TV show (I won't bring George) just give me a call at (931) 839-2313 or e-mail me at drucilla1@frontiernet.net.