Delicious Miss Brown Birthday Dinner Food

SWEET AND SPICY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix the meats, panko, egg, garlic, onion, paprika, salt and pepper in a large bowl with your hands until completely combined. Scoop mixture into heaping tablespoons, then roll into neat balls. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake until cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Add pepper jelly, orange juice and soy sauce to a small pan. Cook over medium-high heat until it simmers, then remove from the heat. Pour jelly sauce over the meatballs and toss to coat.

SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Place lima beans and 1 slice bacon in a medium saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn the heat to medium-low and simmer until the beans are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the beans and set aside. Discard the bacon.
• Meanwhile, add the remaining bacon to a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, turning occasionally, until crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove the bacon to a plate or bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in the skillet with the bacon fat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the corn and the garlic and season with salt and pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon of each). Cook until the corn is just barely cooked, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the okra and cook until tender, another couple of minutes. Add the tomatoes and drained beans and continue to cook until the corn is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice, then taste for seasoning.
• Chop the reserved bacon and sprinkle on top along with the chopped parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

LOW COUNTRY CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Mix together the egg, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and seafood seasoning in a bowl. Fold in the cracker crumbs and crabmeat until just combined, being careful not to break up the crab too much. Shape the mixture into six 2- to 2 1/2-inch patties, trying to make straight sides and flat bottoms. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add cakes in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove the crab cakes to a plate or platter and repeat with the remaining crab cakes, adding more oil if needed. Hold in the warm oven until ready to serve. Serve warm with remoulade.
• Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, horseradish, lemon juice and chives in a bowl until combined.

TOASTED COCONUT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch cake pans, then fit each with a parchment round. Butter and flour the parchment.
• Separate the eggs into whites and yolks. Set the yolks aside. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks, then set aside until ready to use.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the granulated sugar, butter and coconut oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer or with a stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg yolks, coconut cream and vanilla and beat until just combined. Alternate adding the buttermilk and flour mixture to the butter mixture, being careful not to overmix. Gently fold in the beaten whites until completely incorporated, but keeping the volume!
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool for about 5 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• For the coconut cream cheese frosting: Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer or in a bowl with a hand mixer until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the coconut extract and salt, then slowly start to add the powdered sugar, beating it in a little at a time. Beat until all the sugar is combined and the frosting is stiff but still light and fluffy. Add more sugar if it is too loose, or a little milk if it is too thick. Set aside at room temperature until you are ready to decorate.
• If the cakes have domed at all, shave down any uneven parts to make the tops of the cakes flat and smooth.
• Spread 1 tablespoon frosting on a cake plate or stand; this will help keep the cake in place while you decorate. Place one cake cut-side up on the plate. Dollop about 1 cup frosting on top of the cake and spread it in an even layer using a spatula, knife or spoon. Place the second cake on top of the first. Add another 2 cups frosting to the top of the cake and smooth it over the top and down the sides. Repeat with any remaining frosting until the outside of the cake is frosted and smooth. Using your hands, press the toasted coconut into the sides of the cake and sprinkle it on the top, so that the entire cake is covered in toasted coconut.
• Slice and serve, or refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve at room temperature or chilled.