To accompany the release of the Blu-ray and DVD editions of the movie The Help, several Southern recipes were created and supplied to journalists to disperse to their readers. Below you will find some mouth-watering Southern treats.
SPINACH-STUFFED SQUASH
Squash:
- 4 yellow crookneck squash
- Melted butter
- Salt and pepper
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Spinach stuffing:
- ½ cup chopped onion
- ½ cup butter
- 2 (10 oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, cooked and drained
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp. red wine vinegar
- Bread crumbs (garnish)
Directions:
- Cook whole squash in boiling, salted water for about 10 minutes until tender
- Very carefully cut into halves and scoop out the seeds.
- Sprinkle each shell with butter, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese.
Spinach Stuffing:
- Sauté onions in butter until tender.
- Add spinach, salt, sour cream, and vinegar and blend well.
- Stuff each squash shell with spinach mixture. Sprinkle each with Additional Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.
- Dot with butter.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated to serve.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is a great holiday favorite and easy to make.
Ingredients: Casserole
- 3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
- 1 cup sugar
- cup melted butter
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
Directions:
Mix well and pour into a butter casserole.
Ingredients: Topping:
- 1 (15 oz.) pkg. refrigerated pie crusts
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
- 4 large eggs, divide
- ¾ cup sugar, divided
- 2 tsp. vanilla, divided
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup light corn syrup
Directions:
- Unfold and stack 2 piecrust together. Gently roll or press together and fit into a 9 inch pie plate according to directions; fold edges under and crimp.
- Beat cream cheese, 1 egg, ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and salt at medium speed with a mixer until smooth.
- Pour into piecrust and sprinkle with pecans.
- Stir together corn syrup, 3 eggs, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and remaining 1 tsp. vanilla and pour mixture over pecans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes until set.
Note: For a more homemade flavor, try Lee Ann’s Homemade Pie Crust recipe below:
Homemade Pie Crust
Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups plain flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup shortening (butter flavor shortening is great, too)
- 4-5 tbsp. cold ice water
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, stir flour and salt together.
- Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-size.
- Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of water over part of the flour mixture; gently toss with a fork.
- Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat using 1 tbsp. of water at a time, until all the flour mixture is moistened.
- Form dough into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle about 12 inches in diameter.
- To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin.
- Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate without stretching it.
- Trim pastry to ½ inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edges as desired.
MAMAW’S HOMEMADE ROLLS
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 eggs
- 2 pkg. dry yeast
- 1 cup dry yeast
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 6 cups sifted flour
Directions:
- Soak yeast in the lukewarm water.
- Pour boiling water over the shortening, sugar, and slat. Allow this mixture to cool to lukewarm.
- Add yeast to this mixture.
- Add eggs and flour. Stir and mix well.
- Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 3-4 hours). Note: The mixture will keep for a week in the refrigerator.
- Remove the portion you wish to use and knead on a floured board.
- Roll thin and cut with a biscuit cutter.
- Dip half in melted butter and fold over for pocket rolls. Place in a greased pan and allow to rise 2-3 hours.
- Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
This recipe can easily be cut in half.
MRS. WALTERS’ FRUIT SALAD
Ingredients:
- 1 can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 can pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 can flaked coconut
- 1 small jar red Maraschino cherries, drained
- 1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
Directions:
- Mix and refrigerate. Note: Save the drained juice from oranges and pineapples.
- Add to orange juice to enhance your morning beverage.
THE HELP is available on Blu-ray and DVD on December 6, 2011.
Lee Ann Flemming lives in Mississippi. Lee Ann worked with DreamWorks for the production of the movie, The Help,. She was their food stylist and pie maker for Minny’s famous chocolate pie in the film. Food was an important element in the movie, and with these recipes Ms. Flemming shares some of her favorite Southern holiday dishes.
