Recipes by Johnny Cash: Fudge Cake; "Old Iron Pot" Family-Style Chili; Pan-Fried Okra

Johnny Cash's Fudge Cake

1/2 cup margarine
1 cup water
1/2 cup shortening
4 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bring to a boil the margarine, water, shortening and cocoa; set aside to cool.

In another bowl, combine flour and sugar.

When chocolate mixture has cooled, add the eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, buttermilk and vanilla.

Bake in greased and floured pan in 350 degrees F. oven until done (try 15 minutes).

Johnny Cash's "Old Iron Pot" Family-Style Chili

5 pounds sirloin steak
3 packages McCormick, Lawry's, Schilling or any good chili seasoning mix
Mexene chili powder
Spice Island's chili con carne seasoning
Cumin
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Thyme
Sage leaves
Chopped raw onions
Chopped chile peppers
3 or 4 cans red kidney beans
3 or 4 cans whole tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
Garlic and onion powder
Salt to taste

Chop steak and cook until medium with a little shortening. Add packages of chili seasoning mix and cook 5 minutes. Add chili powder, chili con carne seasoning, cumin, sugar, thyme, sage leaves, onions, chile peppers, beans, and tomatoes. Taste. If too hot for children or ladies, add 1 or 2 cans of tomatoes. Add tomato paste. If it gets too thick, add water. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Serve with soda crackers or oyster crackers. Yields 36 servings.

Johnny Cash's Pan-Fried Okra

2 pounds okra
1 large yellow onion
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Bacon drippings or vegetable oil for frying

Wash and dry okra. Cut off stems. If pods are small, leave them whole; otherwise, cut into 1-inch pieces. Peel and chop onion. Place cornmeal, flour, salt and pepper in brown paper bag. Shake to blend ingredients. Heat bacon drippings or vegetable oil in heavy skillet. Put okra and onion in the paper bag with the seasoned cornmeal mixture; shake vigorously until vegetables are well coated. Fry vegetables in hot fat for several minutes until slightly brown, stirring to brown evenly. Do not overcook. Serves 4.