Saturday, December 31, 2011

Tea Sandwich Saturday #53 - Cornbread Madeleines with Black-eyed Pea Hummus & Hot Collard Dip

Having grown up in the South, I am of course accustomed to eating traditional New Year's foods such as greens and black-eyed peas. Legend has it you're supposed to eat lots of greens to represent the "greenbacks" (dollars) you will see in the new year, and the peas represent the coins—so make sure you eat many more greens than peas! Ideally you should have some of both, so I have incorporated these foods into my final tea sandwiches of the year.

First, I made a small batch of cornbread mix that I spooned into my madeleine pan. Whatever cornbread recipe you have will be fine, just make sure there's enough milk added so the mixture isn't too stiff.

Then, I made my version of a recipe I found in Southern Living a few years ago for this Hot Collard Dip. I substituted collards for the turnip greens they used, and it is quite amusing to me to watch people who declare they *hate* greens scarf this down because they think they're eating spinach dip and not collards. If you add enough cheese and bacon to anything, it has to be good, I suppose!

And this isn't the first time I've made a tea sandwich with hummus this year, but it is the first time I've used a Black-eyed Pea Hummus. These "spreads" are both, obviously, designed to be dips, so if they don't find a place on your tea table, perhaps they are something you might want to try for a New Year's buffet. Here are the recipes.


Hot Collard Dip

5 bacon slices
1 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup apple juice
1 (16-ounce) bag frozen chopped collards, thawed
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, cut into squares
1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook bacon in a large pot oven over medium-high heat until crisp; remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving a tablespoon or so of drippings in pot. Sauté onion and garlic in drippings for 3 to 4 minutes, then add apple juice and cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring well. Add collards, cream cheese, sour cream, pepper flakes, salt and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Cook, stirring often, until cream cheese is melted and mixture is thoroughly heated. Garnish with crumbled bacon and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese before serving. You can also keep this in a crock pot on low if you'd like to keep it warm for a party!



Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2-1 teaspoon cumin seed
3 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste)

Pour drained black-eyed peas into the food processor along with the garlic, lemon juice, salt and olive oil and process until well-blended. Add the cumin seed and tahini and process until combined. If the mixture is too thick, add a few tablespoons of water and process until it reaches desired consistency. Serve on tea sandwiches or with chips, pretzels, etc.

And finally, I wanted to say thank you for reading along this year and for your encouragement with this particular project! You friends are an adventurous bunch, I'll sure say that. Also, some readers have asked if I might consider publishing these recipes together in a printed form. I'm trying to find an affordable way to do that (without printing a full-fledged book), and I'll let you know once that's done. Meanwhile, please drop by next weekend to find out what my "Saturday tea project" for 2012 is going to be. It's something I've been eager to try for a while now, and I think you just may approve! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

25 comments:

  1. Happy New year! your recipe sounds wonderful!

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  2. Thank you, Angela, for sharing your tea discoveries, recipes, and travels with us. Sending you wishes for a Happy New Year filled with many great adventures and many cups of tea with friends.

    Mary Jane

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  3. These look fun.... in PA Dutch country we eat Pork and Sauerkraut for New Year's Day for good luck. Guess that could be turned into a tea sandwich too! BTW, love the plate! Happy New Year Angela!

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  4. These look fun.... in PA Dutch country we eat Pork and Sauerkraut for New Year's Day for good luck. Guess that could be turned into a tea sandwich too! BTW, love the plate! Happy New Year Angela!

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  5. Cornbread Madeleines are a great idea and they look very pretty as tea sandwiches. The dip and hummus both sound delicious.

    Wishing you all the best for 2012.

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  6. Wishing you and yours a happy and health 2012. Thanks for sharing all your fun stuff, your giveaways and hints and history.

    The cornbread madeleines sound just yummy. Thanks for the idea.

    Happy sipping.

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  7. More recipes to try! I'm also looking forward to your new Saturday postings in 2012.

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  8. Thank you for your blog.
    I have enjoyed it all year.
    Happy & blessed 2012 to you & your family.

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  9. This may be my favorite yet! Happy New Year! We're having greens still growing in our garden!

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  10. Another stellar Saturday sandwich post! Looking forward to seeing your Saturday tea project for 2012! Happy New Year! :)

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  11. Hello Angela
    You can tell I'm from the extreme north - I've never had black eyed peas.
    I did make cornbread with my madeleine pans once which weren't bad but I've never thought of filling them.
    Your recipes look tasty.
    Happy New Year
    Judith

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  12. Wow! I have a new series to look forward to. What a perfect ending to your sandwich Saturday's. I am one of those that is not a veggie fan, but like you said I do like spinach dip so might like the collard spread/dip. I like the idea of the cornbread madeleine's for sandwiches.

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  13. I just love your creativity! I can't wait to make these goodies :) Happy 2012 and beyond!

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  14. Angela, you win the prize for creativity on this one!! You GO girl!

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  15. These mini bites look yummy and sounds tasty. Thanks for sharing this treat.

    Uplifting blessings for 2012.

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  16. Happy New Year! These recipes sound great. And since I received a madeleine pan for Christmas, I should give it a try.

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  17. Happy New Year Angela and followers.
    You make my day. I also love all of the readers comments.

    Do you think that maybe you could use one of those cookbook printers and solicit advertisers of tea related products to help with cost ?

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  18. Happy and blessed new year. I love visiting your blog! You are so clever. I always learn something new and look forward to each post. Great ideas for sandwiches and I love your book reviews. Where did you get that adorable plate?! What does it say on the back? Looking forward to more and thank you in advance.

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  19. Happy and blessed new year. I love visiting your blog! You are so clever. I always learn something new and look forward to each post. Great ideas for sandwiches and I love your book reviews. Where did you get that adorable plate?! What does it say on the back? Looking forward to more and thank you in advance.

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  20. Happy New Year, Angela!
    These recipes look so good, I am going to try them. I think your recipes would make for a great book and Kiffer makes a great suggestion:
    maybe there could be some sponsorships by the makers of tea products? That's a wonderful suggestion. Hope the new year is full of blessings for you and your family, Joanie

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  21. Hi Ruthie! I hope this isn't too late to be of help, but the plate was a gift from a friend (who probably got it at a yard sale or estate sale), and the back says Made in China, Danica. Hope that helps!

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  22. Thanks Angela. One more fun thing to be on the look out for.

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  23. Hi Angela...having a fun day catching up posts -- this sandwich idea looks wonderful! THanks for sharing!!

    Donna

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  24. Absolutely charming. What a perfect New Year party food.

    I've done the Madeleines, but just with slices of cherry tomato, a crumble of bacon, and a little slick of Blue Plate or Duke's. And if you're all REALLY GOOD friends at the party, a paper-thin slice of Vidalia on the Duke's is QUITE popular. As is smoked catfish spread---my, my.

    I've tried in vain to click on the topics on your header, and nothing happens. Is there another index I'm missing? I'd so like to delve into all the lovely treasures you offer.

    rachel

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  25. Rachel, the topics in the header aren't clickable, but if you look under "Labels" down the right hand side of the page, it lists categories -- and I AM trying to get better about labeling things! Thanks!

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Thanks so much for taking time to leave a comment! It makes my day to hear from readers!