Miss Kay's Duck Commander Kitchen (12 page)

Hot Spinach Dip

Makes 6 to 8 servings • Microwave • Microwave-safe bowl • 9-inch square baking pan (glass is prettier, but any will do)

2 packages (9 or 10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1 stick (
¹
/
₄
pound) butter, softened

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1 container (8 ounces) sour cream

1 package (1.4 ounces) Knorr Vegetable Recipe Mix

2 cups freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

Duck Commander Cajun Seasoning (mild or zesty)

Wheat Thins crackers or tortilla chips, for serving

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.

2. Combine the spinach and butter and cook in the microwave until warmed all the way through.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the cream cheese and sour cream until well blended. Add the vegetable mix and 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Fold in the spinach and mix all together. Add Cajun seasoning to taste. Pour into the baking dish. Top with the rest of the cheese and more Cajun seasoning, as desired.

4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese begins to brown.

5. Serve hot with crackers or tortilla chips.

A Note from Missy

We have lots of showers, both bridal and baby, at our large church, and I love to host them in my home. This is a great recipe for a shower or as an appetizer for any dinner party.

4.

When the Grandkids Come Over

Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies.

—Author Unknown

One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.”

—Matthew 19:13–15,
The Message

Recipes for the Grandkids

Homemade Pancakes

Hot Waffles

Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Homemade Mac & Cheese

Willie’s Famous Chicken Strips

Hamburger Steak

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Biscuits

Missy’s Twice-Baked Potatoes

Papaw Phil’s Homemade Ice Cream

Nutty Good Oatmeal Cookies

Biscuits & Cupcakes

As you know by now, I have four boys and, oh, they were rough. Our small house was a maze of baseball gloves, basketballs, footballs, and comic books. As much as I loved raising those boys, I was ready for a little girl when my first granddaughter came along. She was premature and the tiniest thing I had ever seen. She weighed just under two pounds—not much bigger than a little squirrel! I had so much fun buying pink frilly dresses and books with ballerinas on the front.

Alan and Lisa gave me my first two granddaughters, but God must have heard my request for more, as six more granddaughters were added to our family. Plus, now I have two great-granddaughters! That’s ten girls! My two oldest granddaughters are married now, but my house is still filled with feather boas, tiny tea sets, and princess costumes—it’s so much fun!

Now, I love my grandsons, too! It’s great to see them growing up—some of them are already young men—and they make me so proud. Cole, Reed, John Luke, Will, and River love coming over, too; but they’re not as interested in cooking as the little girls are. And cooking with my granddaughters is one of the things I love the most.

Our family goes to the beach every summer. We rent a large house so we can all be together. It’s so much fun. These are all my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I think they’re pretty cute! (2012)

Korie’s mom hosts our big Easter celebration each year. After raising those boys, I sure love being surrounded by pretty little girls in their Easter dresses. (2012)

I want to pass on my love for cooking, so every time they visit we make something. Biscuits are a grandkid favorite and our tiniest, but not the youngest, one, Mia, can eat five at a time! Bella loves biscuits, too, but I tell her she has more butter than biscuit when she finishes stuffing it with a huge pat of butter. Lily asks for hers to be “just like Bella’s,” so the more butter, the better for those two girls. I think they’re onto something.

Biscuits are great, but Merritt loves cupcakes. One day we made a batch of cupcakes and iced them with chocolate frosting. The plan was to wait until after lunch to eat them. But somebody got hungry! I looked at all of the girls and noticed the telltale sign of sneaking a bite on Merritt’s face. I said, “Merritt, did you get hungry and take a bite of a cupcake?” She was only two years old at the time, but she realized she had been caught. All I could do was laugh at her cute face covered in chocolate icing.

Gather up your girls and teach them how to cook, but more important, show them your unconditional love. I know my own kids made mistakes and my grandkids will, too, but I will always love them. When children grow up in an environment where their parents and grandparents love them and lead them, they have a better chance of battling the pressures of the world. Love them and lead them with your example in and out of the kitchen!

Homemade Pancakes

Makes 4 servings • Electric griddle or large cast-iron griddle or skillet

1
¹
/
₄
cups all-purpose flour, sifted

2
¹
/
₂
teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

³
/
₄
teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1
¹
/
₄
cups milk

3 tablespoon butter or other fat, melted, or vegetable oil, plus more for the griddle (optional)

Oil or nonstick cooking spray, for the griddle (optional)

Softened butter, for serving

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together the egg, milk, and melted butter. Combine the wet and dry ingredients (batter will be lumpy).

2. Set an electric griddle to 350°F or heat a cast-iron griddle or skillet on medium heat. Lightly grease the griddle with your choice of fat. The griddle will be hot enough for cooking when water drops dance on it.

3. With a large spoon, measuring cup, or ladle, pour batter on the griddle. (The size you make the pancakes can vary from silver-dollar-size to saucer-size. You decide.) Cook one side until the batter bubbles up, then flip or turn with a spatula. Cook 2 minutes more, until the bottom is golden.