Nana's Homemade Peanut Buttercups

Homecroft, IN (April 13, 2025) - When Nana made these heavenly treats, they were always everyone's favorite. Growing up, we spent a lot of time at Nana's house on the Southside of Indianapolis and we always asked her to make these for us.

Several days ago, while getting stuff prepared for supper, I ran across Nana's recipe and made some for my self and it was so easy. I love this recipe and that you don’t need to bake them, all you need to do is to place them inside the fridge until set.

Nana's peanut buttercups have the same creamy, sweet peanut butter layer and melty chocolate coating you love without all the extra oils or preservatives you get in store-bought candy. Making candy with Nana always tasted so much better, plus you get to control the ingredients. 

 Ingredients: 

•  1 cup butter, melted 
•  2 cup graham crackers, crushed 
•  2 cups confectioner’s sugar 
•  1 cup peanut butter 
•  1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 
•  4 Tablespoon peanut butter 

 Directions: 

1. Apply cooking spray or line with paper liners muffin tins. 
2. In a medium mixing bowl, add 1 cup of peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar, butter, and graham crackers. Beat until well mixed and creamy. 
3. Transfer 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture into the prepared muffin tins. 
4. Press them lightly in each muffin tin. Place 4 tablespoons of peanut butter and chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. 
5. Place the bowl inside the microwave and turn the setting to medium. Allow the mixture to melt completely. 
6. Spoon the mixture and drop them on top of each filled muffin tins. Place inside the fridge to chill and set. 
7. Serve and enjoy! 

SOURCE: Nana

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White Castle Stuffing Recipe

Beech Grove, IN (November 21, 2020) - If you're still in search of one final dish that will really take your meal to the next level, consider White Castle's burger-stuffed turkey recipe.

To celebrate the biggest food holiday of the year, the chain famous for it's little burgers recently re-released its stuffing recipe and it's a pretty fun take on the traditional dish. 

The White Castle's original burger stuffing recipe actually dates all the way back to 1991 when, as the story goes, a White Castle team member used a sack of burgers to beef up her grandmother’s stuffing recipe.

“As a family-owned business, we’re happy to have the Original Slider and the Turkey Stuffing recipe a Thanksgiving staple for so many families across the country" Jamie Richardson, vice president of White Castle, said in a statement.

If you like burgers, this recipe might just be a big home run since you can use it to stuff your bird or bake it off in a casserole dish.

Ingredients:

• 10-12 White Castle Sliders without pickles 
• 1 ½ cups diced celery 
• 1 ¼ teaspoons ground thyme 
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground sage 
• ¾ teaspoons coarse ground black pepper 
• ¼ cup chicken broth or 1 cup for casserole version

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, tear the sliders into pieces and add the celery, thyme, sage, and black pepper.
2.  Add ¼ cup chicken broth and toss well. Stuff the ingredients into the cavity of the turkey before roasting and then simply cook the turkey for several hours, based on the size of your bird. 
3. Or, place into casserole dish; add an additional ¾ cup of chicken broth, toss, and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. The recipe makes about 9 cups of stuffing (enough for a 10-12 pound turkey). 
4. Note: Allow one slider for each pound of turkey, which will be the equivalent of ¾ cup of stuffing per pound.

While the recipe is pretty out there, it’s not that weird. Those soft, doughy slider buns are a great stand in for any type of bread and a lot of people add sausage or bacon to their stuffing ... so why not beef?

Since some variation of the recipe has been around for over 25 years now, plenty on social media have shared their (mixed) results and reactions.

SOURCE: White Castle

Southport Salisbury Steak

Southport, IN (September 25, 2020) - Served with mashed potatoes and gravy, there's nothing that says comfort food and home cooking like Nana's delicious Southport Salisbury Steak. We suggest a nice serving of southern style green beans on the side.

We have listed all the ingredients and steps for you to follow. Feel free to add more ingredients though if you feel that you can make this even better.

Prep time: 15 mins | Cook: 25 mins | Total: 40 mins | Servings: 4 | Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1-pound lean ground beef 
• ⅓ cup dry bread crumbs 
• ¼ cup chopped onions 
• 1 egg, beaten 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 
• 2 cups beef broth 
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced 
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms 
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch 
• 3 tablespoons water

Directions:


Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl, add in the ground beef, chopped onion, bread crumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed.
Step 2: Make 4 patties, 3/4-inch thick out of the mixture.
Step 3: Place a large skillet on the stove and turn the heat to medium.
Step 4: Pan-fry the burger patties for 10 minutes on both sides or until the color turns brown.
Step 5: Add in the broth, mushrooms, and onion. Allow it to boil and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the patties are cooked through.
Step 6: Place the cooked patties on a clean plate. Let it sit at room temperature to cool.
Step 7: Allow the onion mix to boil.
Step 8: In a small bowl, add in the cornstarch and water. Stir until well mixed then pour the mixture into the onion mixture.
Step 9: Cook for 1 minute or until the sauce becomes thick.
Step 10: Spread the sauce over the patties.
Step 11: Serve and enjoy..

SOURCE: Nana

Greenwood Green Beans, Ham and Potatoes

Greenwood, IN (September 24, 2020) - Green beans and potatoes and ham is one of my favorite all time dishes. I remember when Nana cooked fresh green beans and potatoes straight from the garden seasoned with a ham hock and all us kids could not get enough, they were just that good.

Slow cooked Green Beans, Ham and Potatoes  

This simple recipe is perfect for a great weeknight or anytime family dinner. Slow cookers are the answer to busy evenings, and this easy dish assembles in just minutes. Onions, green beans and ham combine together in the slow cooker with just enough water to cover—three to four hours later, dinner is ready, and because it was all cooked in one pot, cleanup is a snap as well.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 ham hocks
• 1 1/2 pounds new potatoes, quartered
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
• Ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Halve beans if they are large, place in a slow cooker with water to barely cover, and add onion and ham hocks. Cover, and cook on High until simmering. Reduce heat to Low, and cook for 2 to 3 hours, or until beans are crisp but not done.
2. Add potatoes, and cook for another 45 minutes. While potatoes are cooking, remove ham hocks from slow cooker, and remove meat from bones. Chop or shred meat, and return to slow cooker. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, bouillon, and pepper. Cook until potatoes are done, then adjust seasoning to taste.
3. To serve, use a slotted spoon to put beans, potatoes, and ham into a serving dish with a little broth.

SOURCE: Nana

Beech Grove Butterscotch Brownies

Beech Grove, IN (September 18, 2020) - Made with butter and brown sugar, this recipe is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whenever Nana made these brownies they were gone in no time. We have listed all the steps so you just need to follow them. 

Feel free to add more ingredients if you feel that this recipe can do better. Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup butter, melted 
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar 
• 3 large eggs eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 
• 1 cup chopped walnuts 

Coffee Frosting (Optional) 

2 teaspoons instant coffee granules 

2 tablespoons water 

½ cup butter softened 

3 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

Step 1: Prepare the oven and preheat to 180 degrees C or 350 degrees F. 

Step 2: Apply cooking spray in a 11x7x2-inch baking pan. 

Step 3: Place a large saucepan on the stove and turn the heat to medium. Add in the butter and allow it to melt. Add in 2 cups of brown sugar and stir until well mixed and dissolved completely. Remove from the heat and let it cool at room temperature. Add in the vanilla and eggs. Beat until well blended. 

Step 4: In a small mixing bowl, sift baking powder, flour, and salt. 

Step 5: Transfer the dry mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir until well mixed then toss in the walnuts and stir.
Step 6: Transfer the batter into the greased pan. 

Step 7: Place inside the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until cooked through. 

Step 8: Remove from the pan and let it sit on a wire rack to cool at room temperature. 

Step 9: Make the Frosting: In a medium mixing bowl, add in coffee and pour in water. Stir until coffee is dissolved completely. 

Step 10: In another small bowl, add in the confectioners’ sugar and butter. Whisk until well mixed. 

Step 11: Transfer the butter mixture into the dissolved coffee. Stir until well mixed. 

Step 12: Spread the mixture on top of the brownies.
Step 13: Serve and enjoy!

SOURCE: Nana

Bodacious Bourbon Bread Pudding

Southport, IN (June 15, 2020) BGI - Most everyone knew Nana liked taking a nip or two of good bourbon whiskey on special occasions. When asked, she would make this for pot luck dinners and it was always a huge hit. But no worries with this recipe, as the alcohol burns off during the cooking phase.

Ingredients 

• 1 loaf french bread 
• 1 quart milk 
• 3 eggs 
• 1 1/2 cup sugar 
• 1 Ocean Spray craisins 
• 2 Tablespoons vanilla 
• 3 Tablespoons butter

Bourbon Sauce

• 1 stick of real butter 
• 1 cup of sugar 
• 1 egg, beaten 
• 3 Tablespoons bourbon whiskey

Directions

Tear bread in pieces and soak in milk for at least one hour. Beat eggs with sugar and vanilla. Add to bread mixture. Stir in raisins.

Melt 3 Tablespoons butter in oblong baking dish. Pour pudding into dish and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool then cut into serving cubes and place in bowls. Top with Bourbon Sauce.

Bourbon Sauce: In a saucepan, mix 1 Cup Sugar, 1 Stick Butter, 1 egg beaten and 3 Tablespoons Bourbon. Cook on low heat until sugar has dissolved stirring constantly.

Quick Tip: This pudding is even better if the bread you use is a tad stale.

SOURCE: Nana

Recipe: BBQ Bacon Wrapped Volcano Potatoes

In Your Kitchen, Southport, IN (April 15, 2020) - One thing is for sure when it comes to these grilled volcano potatoes. I double-dog dare you to try and take one off my plate. These little tasty potatoes are packed with everything you dream of.

All topped with an incredible sour cream sauce that I have since been using to top everything from regular ole baked potatoes to enchiladas.

Ingredients

For the potatoes

• 6 medium red potatoes rinsed
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt freshly ground black pepper
• 6 slices bacon half cooked (I just toss them in the microwave for a few minutes, but you can also partially cook them when you cook the other 2 slices below)
• 2 slices bacon cooked, crumbled
• 1-2 jalapenos seeded, diced
• 3/4 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2-1 cup barbecue sauce
• Sliced green onions for garnish

For the sour cream topping 

• 1 cup sour cream
• Hot sauce to taste
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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