Friday

It’s been a rather quiet week – only babysitting today for a few hours (or so I thought . . . ). I’m due at 2 today (until around 6) but got a text asking if I can do it again tomorrow from around 10:30 – 3/4/6? Oldest son (the chef) is in the middle of launching another Hilton restaurant in Lansing so he’s drawn to working lots of extra hours (it’s a 1 1/2 hr. drive from his house to Lansing). Looks like I’ll be taking a LOT of knitting with me both days . . . sigh. Am nearing the end of the yellow baby blanket and am STILL vacillating over my next blanket/project. I have lots of different colors of baby yarns – one minute I want to do a various granny squares blanket, the next something different – who knows? (Not even ME at this point!)

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No-Bake Choc. Chip Cannoli Cheesecake

1 (4 oz) pkg. cannoli shells
1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/3 C. butter, melted

Filling:

2 (8 oz, ea) pkgs. cream cheese,
softened
1 C. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. grated orange zest
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 C. ricotta cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. rum extract
1/2 C. miniature semisweet chocolate
chips (can use regular chips, coarsely
chopped)
chopped pistachios, optional
–
Spray a 9 inch pie plate with
nonstick cooking spray.
Place cannoli shells in food processor &
pulse until coarse crumbs form. Add sugar,
cracker crumbs & melted butter – pulse
just until combined. Press mixture onto
bottom & sides of prepared plate –
refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
–
Filling:

Beat first 4 ingredients in a bowl until
blended. Beat in ricotta cheese & extracts.
Stir in chocolate chips & spread into crust.
Refrigerate, covered, until set – about 4
hours. (if desired, top with chopped
pistachios). Serves 8

NOTE: Pistachios are classic in cannoli but
if you don’t have them you can still top
pie with additional crumbled cannoli
shells or chocolate shavings.

(recipe: tasteofhome.com)
—————————-

Orzo w/Spinach, Mushrooms &
Peppers

1 C. uncooked orzo pasta (about
8 oz)
1 T. olive oil
1 medium sweet orange pepper,
seeded/chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper,
seeded/chopped
1 medium sweet yellow pepper,
seeded/chopped
1 C. sliced fresh mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 C. fresh baby spinach
1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese
–
Cook orzo accordg. to pkg.
directions; drain. In large
skillet, heat oil over medium-high
heat. Saute peppers & mushrooms
until tender. Add garlic & seasonings;
cook & stir 1 minute. Stir in spinach
until wilted. Stir in cooked orzo &
cheese; heat through. Serves 6

(recipe: tasteofhome.com)
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Backwoods Pork Chops & River Gravy

1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 (4 oz) boneless center-cut pork chops
1/2 C. flour
1/4 C. buttermilk
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 T. vegetable oil
3/4 C. milk
–
In small bowl combine garlic & onion
powders, 1/2 tsp. salt & pepper. Rub
seasoning mixture evenly on both
sides of chops. Reserve 1 T. flour &
set aside. Place remaining flour in a
shallow dish. In another shallow dish
combine buttermilk & cayenne pepper.
Dip chops in buttermilk then coat
both sides in flour. In large skillet over
medium heat, heat oil. Add chops &
cook 5 minutes on each side until
golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk
reserved flour into milk; add remaining
salt & cook in skillet until thickened &
bubbly, stirring constantly. Serve
immediately with chops. Serves 4

(recipe: mrfood.com)
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Chicken & Swiss Casserole

5 1/2 C. uncooked egg noodles
(about 1/2 lb)
3 T. olive oil
3 shallots, chopped
3 small cloves garlic, minced
1/3 C. flour
2 C. chicken broth
3/4 C. milk
1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
3/4 tsp. grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. black pepper
5 C. cooked,cubed rotisserie chicken
1 1/2 C. frozen peas
2 C. shredded Swiss cheese
3/4 C. dry bread crumbs
2 T. butter, melted
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Spray a 9 X 13″ baking dish with
nonstick cooking spray.
Cook noodles accordg. to pkg.
directions; drain. In large skillet
heat oil over medium heat. Cook
shallots & garlic, stirring, 45 seconds.
Stir in flour – cook & stir 1 minute.
Add broth, milk, thyme, lemon zest,
salt, nutmeg & pepper. Stir in chicken
& peas -heat through. Stir in noodles &
cheese. Transfer mixture to prepared
dish. In small bowl mix bread crumbs &
butter; sprinkle over top & bake 8-10
minutes until top is browned. Serves 8

(recipe: tasteofhome.com)
————————————-

Crockpot Sweet & Sour Shrimp

1 (6 oz) pkg. frozen Chinese pea pods
1 (14 oz) can pineapple tidbits or chunks*
2 T. cornstarch
3 T. sugar
1 C. chicken stock
*1/2 C. reserved pineapple juice
1 T. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 (16 oz) bag frozen cooked shrimp
(medium or large)
2 T. cider vinegar or rice vinegar
=
1 C. cooked rice, for serving
=
Place pea pods in a colander & run cold
water over them until thawed enough
to easily separate. Drain pineapple juice
& reserve 1/2 C. of juice. Place pea pods
& drained pineapple into crockpot. In a
small saucepan combine cornstarch &
sugar-stir to blend. Add chicken stock,
reserved pineapple juice, soy sauce &
ginger – bring to a boil over high heat.
Cook about 1 minute, stirring constantly;
sauce should be thick & clear. Pour sauce
over pea pods & pineapple – stir gently
to blend. Cover & cook on Low 3-4 hours.
Add thawed, cooked shrimp & cook 15-20
minutes longer until hot. Add vinegar &
stir gently. Serve with hot cooked rice.
Serves 3-4

(recipe: thespruceeats.com)
———————————

Crockpot Crustless Pizza

2 lb. ground beef
garlic salt – to taste
black pepper – to taste
dried minced onion – to taste
2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (14 oz) jar pizza sauce
2 C. shredded pizza-blend cheese
–
your favorite pizza toppings
–
In a skillet brown beef & seasonings
over medium-high heat; drain. Place
cooked meat & mozzarella in a bowl &
mix well. Spray insides of crockpot with
nonstick cooking spray. Evenly spread
meat mixture in crockpot & pour pizza
sauce over top – spread evenly. Top with
pizza-blend cheese & any toppings you
may want. Cover & cook on Low 4 hours.
Serves 10

(adapted from Gooseberrypatch recipe)

(recipe: recipesthatcrock.com)
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Blueberry Breakfast Bundt Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
3/4 C. vegetable oil
3/4 C. sour cream
1 C. fresh or frozen blueberries
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Spray a bundt pan liberally with
nonstick cooking spray. In a bowl
mix all ingredients except berries –
add berries last, fold in gently.
Pour batter into prepared pan &
spread to even top. Bake 55
minutes or until center is firm.
Let cool 10 minutes then turn
onto a platter. Glaze if desired.

Glaze:
2 T. melted butter
1 C. powdered sugar
1 T. orange juice

Mix glaze ingredients in a bowl &
drizzle glaze across top of cake.

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You can tell we FINALLY have Spring in Michigan-
they are selling flowers for planting! I bought a
really nice, big hanging basket geranium today
at Krogers – it’s a multi-color: bright pink with
a darker pink center – very nice. It’s in the 50’s
today & overcast/sprinkling – looking at the
upcoming week – highest temp. is 62 degrees F.
Oh well . . . and mostly raining.

Mother’s Day is Sunday so hope you have something
planned. I never know, year to year, what’s up. Usually
my oldest son decides to take me (and his girlfriend/
mother of our youngest grandson) out to lunch so
I have that to look forward to sometime soon.

Hope you are in good health and able to see
some SUNSHINE to cheer you up!

Hugs;

Pammie

 

PS: Gas prices jumping back & forth from $2.69/9 & $2.79/9 lately