Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year: Week 49

Having so enjoyed the Bacon Tomato Sweet Drip Jam from week 27, I was very excited to try Joanna Gaines Jalapeno Drip Jam.  Sweet, savory and slightly spicy, this drip jam is tremendous! As recommended, I served this drip jam over a block of cream cheese and together, they made a fabulous dip. Perfect for the holidays, this recipe is very reminiscent of a pepper jelly and is delicious served with crackers. If you are looking for a simple dip for any remaining holiday parties, I most definitely recommend trying this one out!  

Crowd Average Rating:

Coming in with a crowd average rating of 7.5, this Jalapeno Drip Jam is stunning. With ratings ranging from a 5 to a 10, most who tried this dish thoroughly enjoyed it. We did have a few around our table who were not a huge fan of it being served over a block of straight cream cheese (hence the lower rating above), however I thought that the cream cheese provided a wonderful balance of flavor, texture and acted as a solid base. If you do enjoy cream cheese and sweet, savory, spicy dips, then you must add this recipe to your list.

Creamed Corn Spoonbread. Softer than a cornbread but much more substantial than grits, this Creamed Corn Spoonbread is wonderful. Growing up, my mom had a very similar recipe and I always thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was very excited to try this version. Thankfully, it was just as delicious as I had remembered and pairs wonderfully with any Chili or Tex-Mex dish. We paired this dish with the Gaines Family Chili below and it was a huge hit. Whether you eat it as a side dish or add it straight to your chili bowl, the sweet flavor of the spoonbread is tremendous. 

Crowd Average Rating: 

Also coming in with a 7.5, this Creamed Corn Spoonbread was well liked around the table. For those that are big on a drier cornbread texture, the soft creamy texture of this spoonbread wasn’t necessarily their favorite, however on the flip side, others loved how it soaked up the juice in their chili bowl and became a wonderful soft addition instead of Fritos, so I believe it largely is personal preference as far as texture goes. Regardless, the flavor of this dish is wonderful.

Having made this recipe in the past, I knew that we were in for a treat. Savory, flavorful and full of meat, this Gaines Family Chili is simply wonderful. Unfortunately, I have never been able to find the Ranch style brand Southwestern beans recommended, however, Bush’s Southwestern beans make a wonderful substitute. Serve with Fritos or the Creamed Corn Spoonbread above, cheddar cheese and sour cream and you are good to go!  Overall, this recipe is wonderful, so be sure to check it out if you don’t already have a go-to chili recipe. 

Crowd Average Rating: 

With the highest rating of the week, the Gaines Family Chili gained a crowd average rating of 8!  While I typically try to make the recipe exactly as is, I do absolutely love corn in my chili, so I did add a can of corn and it provided the perfect texture change. I imagine you could add chopped bell peppers as well if you enjoy those in your chili, however the recipe is fabulous as is, so feel free to experiment or just proceed with the original!  

• Black pepper
• Kosher salt
• Elephant garlic
• Butter
• French bread
• Kalamata olives
• Chives
• Bacon

• Onion
• Butter
• Wild rice
• Cream of onion soup
• Sour cream
• Chicken broth
• Garlic powder
• Chicken tenders

• Light brown sugar
• Light corn syrup
• Eggs
• Cinnamon
• Ancho chile powder
• Pecans
• Pie crust
• Whipped cream