(Published Jan. 13) – Limestone County residents submitted recipes during December to offer to fellow chefs around the county. The News Courier regularly features local cooks. Anyone who would like to submit recipes or nominate a cook of the week should contact Jennifer R. Hill by email at jennifer@athensnews-courier.com or call (256) 232-2720 ext. 113.

The recipes below are great for entertaining guests. The out-of-this-world salad and strawberry cake would be wonderful for a wedding or baby shower. The sausage and cheese toppers, and the hot cheese squares would be great to scarf down while watching sporting events such as the upcoming Super Bowl.



Out-of-this-World Salad

Submitted by Sara Corder Lipham



2 small packages lime jello

1 cup boiling water

8 oz. miniature marshmallows

1 c. chopped pecans

1 small can crushed pineapple

1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries

1/2 pint whipping cream



Dissolve jello in boiling water. Add marshmallows and stir until partially dissolved. Next, add pineapple and refrigerate until it begins to thicken. Add nuts and cherries and fold in stiffly beaten cream. Refrigerate until firm.



Strawberry Cake

Submitted by Vicki Curtis

1 box white cake mix

1 3oz. pkg. strawberry Jello

1 cup thawed sliced strawberries

4 eggs

2/3 cup oil



Thaw strawberries and mash. Mix Jello with cake mix and add strawberries

and juice.

Add eggs, oil. Mix well and pout into 2 or 3 greased and floured 8 inch

pans. Bake

at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until done.



Icing:

1 box confectioners sugar

1/2 cup. strawberries

1/2 cup margarine or butter.



Let butter or margarine soften and add box of sugar and strawberries. Mix and frost cake. Refrigerate cake until an hour before serving.



Hot Cheese Squares

Submitted by Sue Scarbel

8 oz. Cheddar Cheese

8 oz. Monterey jack with jalapeno peppers.

5 eggs

Grate cheese into 13 x 9 pyrex pan and pat down. Beat eggs and pour cheese.

May decorate with thinly sliced jalapenos or Olives. Refrigerate over night.

Bake for 30 minutes at 300 degrees. Cut into squares. Serve hot or cold.



Sausage and Cheese Toppers

Submitted by Sue Scarbel



1 lb. sausage “Hot”

1 lb. Velveeta

1 lb. Hamburger

Party Rye

1 tsp. Red Pepper flakes

Saute sausage and hamburger; add pepper and velveeta. Cook until cheese melts, put mixture on party rye slices. Cover and freeze. Must be frozen. Then bake about 15 minutes in 400 degree oven.