Need a meatless meal idea or maybe just a new idea for a side dish?
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon canola oil
1-1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 garlic clove, minced
1-1/4 cups uncooked long grain rice
2-1/2 cups water
1-1/2 teaspoons rubbed sage
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
In a large nonstick saucepan, saute the onion, peppers and celery in oil for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic; saute 3 minutes longer or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in the rice, water and seasonings; bring to a boil.
Carefully transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until rice is tender.
Make approximately 7 servings.
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This cake is a traditional Mardi Gras treat but can be made and enjoyed at any time!
2 envelopes active dry yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup warm milk (about 110 degrees F)
5 large egg yolks, at room temperature
4 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 plastic king cake baby or a pecan half
5 tablespoons milk, at room temperature
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Purple-, green-, and gold-tinted sugar sprinkles
Combine the yeast and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the melted butter and warm milk. Beat at low speed for 1 minute. With the mixer running, add the egg yolks, then beat for 1 minute at medium-low speed. Add the flour, salt, nutmeg, and lemon zest and beat until everything is incorporated. Increase the speed to high and
beat until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, forms a ball, and starts to climb up the dough hook.
Remove the dough from the bowl. Using your hands, form the dough into a smooth ball. Lightly oil a bowl with the vegetable oil. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it to oil all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Meanwhile, make the filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1 cup of the confectioner's sugar. Blend by hand or with an electric mixer on low speed. Set aside.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using your fingers, pat it out into a rectangle about 30 inches long and 6 inches wide.
Spread the filling lengthwise over the bottom half of the dough, then flip the top half of the dough over the filling. Seal the edges, pinching the dough together. Shape the dough into a cylinder and place it on the prepared baking sheet seam side
down. Shape the dough into a ring and pinch the ends together so there isn't a seam. Insert the king cake baby or pecan half
into the ring from the bottom so that it is completely hidden by the dough.
Cover the ring with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm, draft-free place. Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Brush the top of the risen cake with 2 tablespoons of the milk. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the icing. Combine the remaining 3 tablespoons milk, the lemon juice, and the remaining 3 cups confectioner's sugar in
medium-size mixing bowl. Stir to blend well. With a rubber spatula, spread the icing evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle with the sugar crystals, alternating colors around the cake.
The cake is traditionally cut into 2-inch-thick slices with] all the guests in attendance.
Yield: 20 to 22 servings
From Chef Emeril Lagasse as published on MomsMenu.com
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Stuck on what to make for dinner tonight? Try these juicy stuffed pork chops!
4 1"-1 1/2" thick loin pork
1 box stuffing mix (any type) or prepared stuffing of your choosing
salt
pepper
dried rosemary
2 tb olive oil
1/4 c white wine
1/4 c (or less) water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut a deep pocket in each pork chop.
Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions. Cool slightly. Remove about 3/4 of the stuffing from cooking pan to a work bowl to avoid contamination. Using only the stuffing in the work bowl and a separate spoon. Stuff 1/4 of the stuffing into each chop, secure with tooth picks.
Season chops on both sides with salt, pepper and rosemary. Heat oil in a large ovenproof saute pan and brown chops carefully on both sides. Lower heat slightly and add wine and water to pan. Simmer 1 - 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Cover pan tightly and bake about one hour. Serve with reheated remaining stuffing.
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