EASTER RECIPES



Pineapple-Stuffed Pork with Apricot Glaze

4 boneless pork loin chops
½ c. dry white wine
2 T Worcestershire
1 tsp. garlic powder

Pineapple Stuffing:
2 c. herb-seasoned stuffing
¾ c. defatted chicken broth
1 8-oz. can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 stalk celery, minced
2 T chopped onions
2 T minced green bell pepper
1 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. shredded orange zest
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
¼ tsp. nutmeg
2 T golden raisins

Glaze:
½ c. apricot preserves
2 T Dijon mustard
1 T butter
1 c. chopped green onions

Rub pepper into pork and place pork in a large plastic zipper bag (such as Ziploc). Whisk together wine, Worcestershire, and garlic powder and pour over pork. Seal the bag and place in the refrigerator to marinate 2-24 hours, turning the bag occasionally to coat.

Preheat oven to 375º.

Combine all stuffing ingredients but raisins in microwave and cook 3 minutes. Stir in raisins, return to microwave and cook 1 minute. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut a slit in the side of each pork chop to form a pocket; divide stuffing and stuff pork pockets. Secure with a toothpick. Place chops in a shallow roasting pan and bake 40-50 minutes or until no pink remains. Remove toothpicks and place on serving platter. Meanwhile, heat butter in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add green onions and sauté until wilted. Add apricot preserves and Dijon mustard; cook and stir until preserves are melted, about 10 minutes. Spoon over stuffed chops and serve.

Serves 4

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Creamed Peas and Pearl Onions

1 10-oz. package frozen peas
1 10-oz. package frozen pearl onions
1 c. plain nonfat yogurt
3 T defatted chicken broth
2 T light cream cheese, softened
1 2-oz. jar diced pimientos, well drained
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper

Cook peas and onions according to package directions. Combine remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Heat through and stir in peas and onions. Serve.

Serves 4

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Mushroom Stuffing Balls

2½ c. herb-seasoned stuffing
2 c. chopped fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ c. minced celery
½ c. grated Parmesan
½ c. defatted chicken broth
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. dried parsley
½ tsp. garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350º.

Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Bring broth to a boil and pour over stuffing. Stir in mushrooms, onion, celery, Parmesan, eggs, parsley, and garlic. Shape into 2" diameter balls and place on baking sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Serves 4

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Polish Easter Bread

½ c. butter, softened
½ c. sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 package active dry yeast
¼ c. warm water
2 tsp. grated orange peel
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. hot milk
1 c. golden raisins
powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350º.

Coat a Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Beat butter and sugar in large mixing bowl until creamed; add eggs until well blended. Set aside.

Meanwhile, dissolve yeast in warm water and let stand 10 minutes or until foamy. Whisk together yeast mixture, orange and lemon peels, cinnamon, and salt; stir into butter mixture. Stir in flour alternately with milk, beating well, until a soft dough forms; stir in raisins. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1½ hours. Punch down dough. Cover and let rise again until doubled, about 1 hour. Shape into prepared Bundt pan and bake 35-40 minutes or until bread is golden. Cool in pan 5 minutes, then remove bread from pan and cool completely before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar.

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Italian Easter Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup warm milk -- 120-130 degrees
2 Tablespoons butter -- softened
7 eggs
1/2 cup mixed candied fruit -- chopped
1/4 cup blanched almonds -- chopped
1/2 teaspoon anise seed
Vegetable oil

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add milk and butter; beat 2 minutes on med. Add 2 eggs and 1/2 cup flour; beat 2 minutes on high. Stir in fruit, nuts and aniseed; mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured board; knead until smooth, 6-8 min. Place in a greased bowl; turn once. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled; about 1 hour. If desired, dye remaining eggs (Leave the uncooked); lightly rub with oil. Punch dough down. Divide in half; roll each piece into a 24" rope. Loosely twist ropes together; place on a greased baking sheet and form into a ring. Pinch ends together. Gently split ropes and tuck eggs into openings. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 min.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan; cool on a wire rack.

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Bunny Patch Dessert

10 ozs Fat-Free Pound Cake
cut into 10 slices
21 ozs strawberry pie filling
12 ozs Cool Whip Lite®
1 c coconut
1 tsp green food coloring
1 c jelly beans
4 Marshmallow Bunnies®

Line bottom of 12 x 8" baking pan with cake slices. Top with strawberry pie filling and all of the whipped topping. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve. Tint coconut pale green with food coloring. Sprinkle over center of whipped topping. Decorate with jelly beans and Marshmallow Bunnies®.

Per serving: 210 Calories; 4g Fat (17% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 41g Carbohydrate; 1mg Cholesterol; 66mg Sodium

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Easter Kulick with Paska
(BREAD)

2 pk Active Dry Yeast
1/2 c Warm Water
1/2 c Warm Milk
1/2 c Sugar
1 ts Salt (opt)
2 Eggs
1/2 c Shortening
6 Flour
1/2 c Raisins
1/4 c Blanched Almonds, chopped
1/2 ts Vanilla

FROSTING

1/2 c Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 ts Warm Water
1/2 ts Grated Lemon Peel
1/2 ts Lemon Juice

PASKA

1/4 lb Sweet Butter, unsalted
1/2 lb Powdered Sugar
4 Egg Yolks
3 lb Farmer Cheese
1/4 lb Raisins
1/2 lb Nuts, chopped
1 ts Vanilla
1/2 pt Cream
2 c Cherries, chopped

Bread

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in milk, sugar, eggs, shortening, 2/ cups flour, raisins, almonds and vanilla. Beat until smooth with electric mixer. Mix in enough flour remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn out on a lightly floured board and knead adding remaining flour until smooth and elestic, about 5 minutes. Cover with saran wrap and let rest 20 minutes. Divide in half and let rise about 1/ hours until double. Place each half in a well greased 1-lb coffee can. Let rise to top of cans (about 40 minutes).

Preheat oven to 375oF. Bake 40-45 minutes or until brown. Remove and drizzle with frosting mixture while still warm and serve with Paska.

Frosting

Mix all ingredients together.

Paska

Mix the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add remaining ingredients, mixing well. Put in a cheese cloth to drain out liquid (about 3 hours), using a weight. Remove from cloth and refrigerate.

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Coconut Cream Easter Eggs

1 med. potato -- cooked and mashed
1 (16oz.) bag coconut
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3 lb. confectioners' sugar
1 lb. melted chocolate

Preparation : Thoroughly mix potato, coconut, salt and vanilla. Gradually add sugar and mix until thoroughly blended. Shape into eggs on cookie sheet and let ripen overnight. Next day, dip into chocolate. Set eggs onto waxed paper to harden. Enjoy.

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Hareless Potpies

With all the ingredients of a square meal packaged secretly in a round bowl, this tiny potpie is a kid favorite. And because we don't share the food preferences of Old England (where the traditional meal was Easter hare), it's also a favorite of the Easter Bunny.

PIECRUST

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup frozen sweet butter, cut in small chunks
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
7 to 8 tbsp. ice water

FILLING

2 medium onions, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
2 cups frozen baby peas
2 1/2 cups carrots, peeled, chopped and cooked (about 4 carrots)
2 medium potatoes, peeled, cubed and cooked
4 cups diced cooked chicken, turkey or ham
5 tbsp. sweet butter
5 tbsp. all-purpose flour
4 1/2 cups chicken, vegetable or turkey stock
1/2 tsp. pepper
Salt to taste
1 egg, lightly beaten

TO MAKE THE PIECRUST:

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse the flour, salt, butter and vegetable shortening until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Sprinkle with the ice water and pulse until the dough starts to come together, being careful not to let the dough form a ball. Remove the dough and press it into two disks. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate while you make the filling.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:

In a large saucepan, sauté the onions and celery in the olive oil over medium heat until soft. Add all the vegetables, and the chicken, turkey or ham, and set aside.

In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in the stock until the sauce is smooth. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the pepper and salt. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables. Then pour the mixture into 10 individual ovenproof bowls or two 9-inch pie pans.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out the piecrust on a lightly floured surface. Cover the 10 (or two) pies with the dough. Use a cookie cutter to cut bunnies out of scraps of piecrust. Lightly brush the egg onto the piecrusts and place a bunny on top. Bake for 20 to 40 minutes, or until the crust is browned and the filling bubbles. It's a good idea to place a cookie sheet below the pies to catch any drips. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

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