Thanksgiving is right around the corner and it’s time for favorite side dishes and, of course, requested choice desserts. With bountiful fall vegetables, pecans and other seasonal ingredients, aromas are sure to lure family to the kitchen! Best of all, they are simple and quick, allowing the chef to enjoy family time, too!

Pecan Chewy Squares by Louella Moreau

2 Cups Pioneer Baking Mix
2 Cups Chopped Pecans
1 Pound Brown Sugar
4 Eggs, Beaten
1 Tablespoon Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Mix eggs and brown sugar in 2-quart dish. Add baking mix; stir well. Add pecans, vanilla, and milk. Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and dust with powdered sugar. Cool before cutting into squares.

Broccoli Salad by Josie D. Poret

1 Head Broccoli, Cut Into Small Flourets
1/2 Cup Raisins
1 Apple, Chopped
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, Cut In Small Cubes
1/2 Purple Onion, Finely Chopped’
Bacon Bits, To Taste

Dressing

1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1/2 Cup Plain Yogurt
1/4 to 1/3 Cup Sugar
Salt and Pepper

In a large bowl, blend together ingredients for sauce. Drop chopped apple into sauce and stir well to stop apple from turning brown. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Special Occasion Vegetables by Mary Coco

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrots
1 Pound Velveeta Cheese
1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 Onion, Chopped
1 Small Bell Pepper, Chopped
1 Small Can Mushrooms or Fresh Sliced Mushrooms
Salt and Pepper or Tony’s Seasoning, To Taste

Wash and cut broccoli, cauliflower and carrots into small pieces. Steam until tender. (Frozen vegetables may be used but must be defrosted and well drained.) Place in a shallow baking dish. Place butter and all other seasonings (not the soup and cheese) in a medium saucepan and cook until tender. Add soup and cheese. Stir slowly until mixture is melted and well blended. Pour over steamed vegetables. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly and beginning to brown on top. (Cooked, chopped chicken or sautéed shrimp may be layered in this recipe to create a casserole meal.)

Bonne appetite! Avoyelles Parish cookbooks, compiled by several organizations, are available in our gift shop located at the ACT Office, 8592 Hwy 1, Suite 3 in Mansura. These selected recipes are from “Sew What’s Cooking?”, compiled by the quilters at the Cottonport Museum. We ship books for cost of book plus $5.00 for postage and handling. Call (800) 833-4195 or email [email protected] for details.