A diner classic and a long-held family favorite, Salisbury steaks made from ground beef and a few seasonings, takes a shortcut with mushroom soup for gravy.

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Salisbury steak is another one of those classic, old fashioned, dishes that we Southerners love and is comfort food at it's best. This recipe is one that has been around my kitchen for a very long time.

Yes, y'all. It utilizes our good old southern béchamel {that's Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup for those of y'all with a more sophisticated palate}, but of course, if you like, simply substitute a gravy mix, onion soup mix, or make up your own homemade version of cream soup or gravy - with or without the mushrooms - just please quit yakking about it to those of us who are endeared to our cream soups, alright?

Braising beef, cut into meaty chunks, slow cooked in a well-seasoned gravy and served over rice or egg noodles.

Crockpot Beef Tips and Rice

If you have a meat eater in your family, they will love these beef tips and so will you since the slow cooker does the cooking.

You may recall that earlier this summer after some prompting by the Facebook family, I invested in a newer slow cooker hoping to put together some easy meals.

Well, so far I've still not experimented enough to become a big fan of chicken in a crockpot, but there's one thing for sure, besides an excellent way to make a cheater pulled pork for sandwiches, it sure does come in handy for beef roasts doesn't it?

O'Brien Style Cast Iron Skillet Fried Potatoes

Red skin potatoes are fried up in a cast iron skillet with sweet Vidalia onion and bell pepper and nicely seasoned for a take on Potatoes O'Brien. Great for any meal - add bacon, ham, sausage, fresh herbs and mushrooms if you like!

Potatoes O'Brien - Skillet Fried Potatoes

Skillet fried potatoes, also known as home fries and cottage fries in the north, are such an easy side dish, that goes well with breakfast, but also as a dinner side dish. For my classic skillet potatoes I use peeled russets, some onion and that's about it other than the delicious fat used to cook them in - for me, I love using bacon drippings for the extra richness it provides - and the very specific method.

For this version of skillet potato, I prefer to use the smaller, unpeeled red-skinned or new potatoes. The skin is tender, and to me tasty, and they cook up nicely without the steaming process that is necessary for our beloved fried taters and onion. If you prefer to use a russet, rather than a red skinned potato, you certainly can, though I'd click over to that other recipe, because I think that method works best with russets.

A tender quick bread made with sweet potatoes, raisins, orange juice, cinnamon and pecans, with an oatmeal crumble topping. Serve with my whipped honey butter with cinnamon.

Southern Sweet Potato Bread

So, the calendar says that we've reached the Autumnal Equinox, meaning summer is now officially over and that it's finally fall.

Somebody needs to tell Mama Nature to hurry on up and turn on the air conditioning down in this part of the good ole U.S. of A. because the heat is definitely still on.

That's typical though, while a lot of y'all are enjoying nice, crisp seasonal changes, we're still in beach weather for awhile. We're pretty accustomed to it being this way, but at least it's a good excuse to start featuring a few fall dishes.

Oven baked hot wings made with a buttery Louisiana hot sauce and garnished with sliced green onion and chopped jalapenos.

Oven Baked Louisiana Hot Wings

This hot wing recipe came about when I happened to have a couple pounds of wings to use but wanted to do something different.

I remembered back around St. Patrick's Day flipping through my copy of Food Network Magazine and seeing a St. Patrick's Day wing recipe. I know ... Wings? St. Patrick's Day?

Not exactly associated with one another in my opinion, but in my opinion, wings are great anytime, and though their wings were done with a green hot sauce for the upcoming holiday, I thought why can't I do a hot wing in the oven with regular ole Louisiana hot sauce? This was the result!

A very simple salad made with cooked shrimp, iceberg lettuce, fresh tomatoes and dressed with mayonnaise.

Shrimp and Iceberg Lettuce Salad

This is my version of what my mother and father-in-law and The Cajun call shrimp salad and I absolutely love it, even though I struggled with what to call it myself, since when I think of shrimp salad, I think of the shrimp and egg salad I grew up with and love so much.

Pappy's Jalapeño Pepper Spread Review

The giveaway is closed. The winner of the Pappy's Pepper Spread and T-Shirt is Nan, whose email addy starts with nono at gmail.  I've sent an email to you Nan. Respond to that email within 48 hours and let me know your mailing info. 
Thanks everybody for participating!

I recently had the opportunity to try a new-to-me product that originated right here in my home state in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It's called Pappy's Jalapeño Pepper Spread and it's a great versatile spread to use as a mayonnaise substitute in just about anything, or as a dip straight out of the jar for corn chips, potato chips, tortilla chips, and even for raw vegetables.  If you love the addition of jalapenos to your recipes like I do, you are gonna absolutely love this product!

The story behind Pappy's Jalapeño Pepper Spread is classic. A hot mayo recipe that was born out of a grandpa's kitchen and a well loved family favorite, it was soon passed down to the grandchildren, who then shared it with friends who also loved it and encouraged that it be produced for the masses.  Soon the company behind Pappy's Jalapeño Pepper Spread, Mile Post 16 LLC, was born. You'll even love the story of how the company name came to be.

My meatloaf standard, made with lean ground beef and finely minced veggies. Shown here baked with slices of bacon on top and finished with a brown sugar and tomato glaze.

Basic Meatloaf

Don't believe for a minute that you cannot get a nice, moist meatloaf without using a high fat ground beef like ground chuck. I love ground chuck and use it exclusively in burgers for the best flavor, or in recipes where I can drain off the excess fat. Is it tasty and delicious? Yes! But, let's face it.

A classic ham and pasta salad that begins with your favorite pasta, ham, shredded or cubed cheese, celery, onion, and a Ranch dressing. From there you should make it your own!

Ham Pasta Salad

This pasta salad made with ham is a southern classic for sure and great for a potluck or church supper any time of year. Very simple, but a true favorite of mine.

A southern favorite, okra is sliced and cooked in bacon drippings and Vidalia onion, garden or canned tomatoes and a can of Rotel tomatoes for a little extra kick.

Smothered Okra with Bacon and Tomatoes

Definitely another southern favorite for us veggie lovers that's made in a variety of ways depending on the household - though I'll betcha a dollar that soon as I post this link over on the Facebook page I'll get a few proverbial and unfortunate "yucks."

There's always at least one person who feels a need to express their dislike of okra, one of those veggies folks seem to either love or hate. Seems there's not much of an in-between. Me? I happen to be a lover.

Another fabulous dip made with cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, ham, green onion, jalapenos and green chilies.

Mississippi Sin Dip

As far as I know, this Mississippi Sin Dip recipe got its start just being called plain ole Mississippi Sin because of it's cheesy richness, but along the way, it apparently became a tailgate favorite of the fans of Mississippi State Bulldogs and has since become known as Mississippi State Sin.

I notice a few other states seem to have picked it up over time and renamed it as their own, but as far as I know it originated right here in some kitchen in my home state. Far as I know, this is pretty true to the original recipe with the exception of jalapenos, which I added.

A rich seafood stock is made easy with shrimp shells and a few aromatics.

How to Make Homemade Shrimp Stock

Homemade shrimp stock adds amazing flavor to so many seafood dishes and it is super easy to make. I've included instructions on how to make a homemade stock from shrimp shells in many of my recipes here, but I figured it was time to give it a spot of its own for the how to tip section of my site.

A spicy marinade of chili sauce, hot sauce, citrus vodka, horseradish, celery, garlic, sweet onion, and Cajun seasoning, tossed with shrimp for a fantastic appetizer.

Spicy Marinated Shrimp Appetizer

This Spicy Marinated Shrimp Appetizer recipe is another great adult appetizer for a party, where you can serve it in tall shooter glasses, on a bed of lettuce in martini glasses as pictured above, or simply scoop it over crackers for yourself.  If you tailgate with it, or serve it at a party, just be sure that you are clear with your guests that it contains vodka! As always, consume responsibly.

Layers of mozzarella and provolone cheese, pepperoni, and a bit of marinara sauce and fresh basil are tucked into an artisan bread and grilled. Shown here with my fresh homemade tomato soup for a classic supper.

Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese

Now, I'm the first to admit I love a good grilled cheese, made on white bread slathered with butter, sandwiched around plain ole American cheese and browned in a skillet. Serve it with a bowl of good ole Campbell's tomato soup {and I like to drop a slice of American cheese into that soup as it's warming} and you got yourself a mighty fine meal there. 

But every once in awhile I like a nice change too.

Homemade Fresh Tomato Soup

Tomato soup made from fresh garden tomatoes and sweet Vidalia onions. It's a light meal even on a hot summer day.

Fresh Tomato Soup

I threw this Homemade Fresh Tomato Soup together recently and was just thrilled with the results.

I'm not one to knock the red and white can of Campbell's tomato soup, because that is what I grew up on and have fond memories of - and it'll always have a place in my pantry.

This version is sure a nice change of pace when you want something a little more homemade however, and the flavor is just outstanding because it comes from fresh tomatoes.

Cookout and Party Food Menu Ideas

Your favorite menu ideas, cookout and BBQ recipes from Deep South Dish for Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July or for any day, all in one place!

Here's my collection of Best of the Best from Deep South Dish cookout and party food recipes, all tried and true, just in case you're still looking for some menu ideas. Some of these are outdoor recipes, some are "cheater" style crockpot and some are for the oven. There are beverages & cocktails, appetizers and dips, salads of all kinds, chicken, pork, a little seafood and even steaks, and of course there's always room for dessert. I hope you find some inspiration here - enjoy!

My classic barbecue menu - get all the recipes right here on the blog - just click on the links! Grilled ribs, classic southern potato salad, southern baked beans, corn on the cob, marinated tomatoes and old fashioned macaroni salad. Yum y'all!

Cookout Recipes

Beverages

Southern Sweet Iced Tea

No Calorie (Milo's Copycat) Diet Iced Tea

Southern Fruit Iced Tea

Chuck roast, slow cooked in beef stock, onion soup mix, onions, mushrooms, Rotel tomatoes, served over rice.

Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast

On my last trip to the grocery store I found myself in the mood for beef apparently, because beef cuts were all that I picked up that trip. Guess after all the chicken and shrimp lately, my body was looking for some meat!

Texas Caviar, done up my way, Mississippi style. Sort of a take on a bean salad really, it's simply a mixture of your favorite canned beans, usually the addition of corn, and a variety of chopped raw vegetables, all tossed in a vinaigrette.

Texas Caviar Salsa - Mississippi Style

There are loads of "caviar" recipes out there, most of them simply called Texas Caviar, though quite a few recipes hail from Mississippi too. Even though I can claim roots in both territories, I'm staying out of that debate.

Sort of a take on a bean salad really, it's simply a mixture of canned beans, usually corn, and a variety of chopped raw vegetables, all tossed in some kind of vinaigrette.

Mine is different from the classic Texas style version because I like to play around with the beans a bit.