email this pageFast forward to 2006 for a frolicking festival that spans nine days and draws close to 200,000 visitors. The festival features peanuts in every shape and form—especially during the recipe contest, whose prize-winning entry last year was a Boiled Peanut Cake with Sweet Potatoes and Satsuma Tangerine Slices (go to www.relishmag.com for the recipe).
Everybody’s favorite event, according to Carrie Cavender, a festival organizer, is the grand finale parade. A large, revolving concrete mixer—modified by a local company “so it wouldn’t smash the peanuts”—litters the street with the roasted legumes before the procession begins. “Everybody brings a bag,” she says. “And the kids can run out and pick up all the peanuts they want and then eat ’em while they watch the parade.”
The people of Dothan have every right to go nuts. According to the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, more than half of the nation’s peanuts are grown within a 100-mile radius of Dothan. And many of the state’s 1,800 peanut farmers live here, too.
Carver, no doubt, would be proud.
Thai-Style Peanut-Cabbage Salad
Everyone loves peanuts. In fact, they play an integral role in Thai dishes, such as this crunchy, sprightly salad.
Ingredients
Ingredients
Dressing:
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped (not pressed)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
¼ teaspoon salt
Salad:
¼ pound blanched green beans
4 cups baby spinach
2 cups slivered green cabbage
3 green onions, sliced
½ red pepper, slivered
2/3 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
¼ cup chopped basil or mint (optional)
1 (1-ounce) package roasted vegetable chips or sweet potato chips (such as Terra), lightly crushed
Instructions
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped (not pressed)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
¼ teaspoon salt
Salad:
¼ pound blanched green beans
4 cups baby spinach
2 cups slivered green cabbage
3 green onions, sliced
½ red pepper, slivered
2/3 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
¼ cup chopped basil or mint (optional)
1 (1-ounce) package roasted vegetable chips or sweet potato chips (such as Terra), lightly crushed
1. To make the dressing, combine brown sugar, water, garlic and pepper flakes in a jar with a lid. Add remaining dressing ingredients. Shake well.
2. To make the salad, toss together all salad ingredients except peanuts, basil or mint, and vegetable chips.
3. Immediately before serving, drizzle about two-thirds of dressing over salad. Toss well. Sprinkle with roasted peanuts, herbs and vegetable chips. Pass remaining dressing at the table. Serves 4 to 6.
Nutritional Information
2. To make the salad, toss together all salad ingredients except peanuts, basil or mint, and vegetable chips.
3. Immediately before serving, drizzle about two-thirds of dressing over salad. Toss well. Sprinkle with roasted peanuts, herbs and vegetable chips. Pass remaining dressing at the table. Serves 4 to 6.
Per serving: 360 calories, 23g fat, 11g prot., 33g carbs., 7g fiber, 930mg sodium.
Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
Cake:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
Frosting:
5 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups, plus 2 tablespoons, confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup smooth peanut butter
2 to 5 tablespoons 2 percent low-fat milk
Instructions
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
Frosting:
5 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups, plus 2 tablespoons, confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup smooth peanut butter
2 to 5 tablespoons 2 percent low-fat milk
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
2. To make cake, combine sugars, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; whisk vigorously until smooth. Stir in boiling water. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.
3. To make the frosting, mix butter, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla with a mixer; beat well. Add peanut butter. Add 2 tablespoons milk slowly, beating until very creamy. Add up to 3 additional tablespoons milk if necessary to achieve desired consistency. When cake has cooled, frost top. Serves 20.
Nutritional Information
2. To make cake, combine sugars, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; whisk vigorously until smooth. Stir in boiling water. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.
3. To make the frosting, mix butter, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla with a mixer; beat well. Add peanut butter. Add 2 tablespoons milk slowly, beating until very creamy. Add up to 3 additional tablespoons milk if necessary to achieve desired consistency. When cake has cooled, frost top. Serves 20.
Per serving: 300 calories, 16g fat, 6g prot., 36g carbs., 2g fiber, 350mg sodium.
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