Farmhouse Kitchen, April 2024
Welcome back, family! Spring has sprung, and it’s time to celebrate being on our way to sunshiny skies and warmer temperatures. I’ve got all the flavors of a spring celebration for you this month, so make your grocery lists, and let’s get cooking.
First up is a fresh new take on a Southern classic, Pineapple Chicken Salad. This recipe takes your standard chicken salad and elevates it to new levels with the addition of juicy tidbits of pineapple. We’re also jazzing it up with the richness of toasted pecans. It may sound hard to imagine, but once you take that first bite, you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life.
Next up are Cheese Straw Cookies. Alabama is known for cheese straws, which is something I didn’t realize until I began giving them to friends from out of state. However, anyone who has made them knows cheese straws can be a bit on the fussy side. A cheese straw cookie, however, offers up the same taste and texture but in a fraction of the time.
Last, but not least, Alabama Farmers Federation member Carolyn Hill of Talladega County is sharing her must-make recipe for Frozen Strawberry Salad. This recipe was originally shared in the March 2006 Neighbors, and it’s just as delicious nearly 20 years later. You can make this in one 9-inch-by-13-inch pan or make individual salads in little muffin tins. This fruit salad is convenient for popping in the freezer in case you have a last-minute event — and it’s budget-friendly.
With the onset of spring, I always find myself grateful for new beginnings and another year of getting to do what I love alongside my friends and family at the Farmers Federation. May we never forget to count our blessings, and may they always be too numerous for us to reach a final tally!
Stacey Little