Grandma's Kitchen

With Valentine's Day over, we now have some time before the next Holiday meal - Easter.

Well, there is St Patrick's Day; but I just add green food coloring to 7up for our beverage, and make Pistachio Salad for that.

Maybe you don't have your recipe for that handy; I will give it here, and also a Hot Dish I came up with on Sunday that John and I loved.

PISTACHIO SALAD

1 can crushed pineapple AND the juice (I think 20 oz)

1 box instant pistachio pudding

1 cup miniature marshmallows

2/3 of a carton of Cool Whip (don't substitute cheap brands)

In a bowl, mix the pineapple with its juice, and the pudding. Stir until pudding is starting to thicken.

Add marshmallows and stir. Then, put in Cool Whip and stir well; you should have a nice light green salad.

Cover and chill till ready to serve.

Linda's Note: We do usually double this recipe, and do use pineapple in its own juice.

LINDA'S LATEST HOTDISH

***This was created from things I had in my pantry, and some frozen meat.

4 pork chops, unthawed

1 can little Irish potatoes, whole

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1/2 soup can milk

2 cups Stove Top Dressing, made up with:

1 cup hot water

2 tablespoons butter

I dipped the pork chops in flour that I had already seasoned with salt and pepper. I browned the chops in vegetable oil till browned on both sides.

Then, transfer chops to a large flat casserole (I used na Au Gratin dish I had bought at a garage sale last summer for $3).

Open and drain the potatoes. Rinse 2 or 3 times with water. Then cut each potato the long-way in 3 or 4 slices. Distribute the slices in the places in the casserole among the chops, but try not to put them on top of the chops.

Mix the soup and milk till smooth and pour over all.

Put foil over all. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven. Evenly distribute the already-prepared dressing mix over the entire casserole - if your dressing seems on the dry side, that is fine, it will absorb some of the soup liquid.

Return to oven, uncovered, for 20 to 25 more minutes. The Hot Dish should be bubbly, and pork chops done.

APPLE OATMEAL COFFEE CAKE

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup sugar

1 cup oats

1/2 cup oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup apples, peeled and chopped

1/3 cup nuts, chopped

Heat oven to 350°F.

Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl.

Add remaining ingredients; mixture will be quite thick.

Pour into greased utility or 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake for 35 minutes, or till cake tests done.

STRAWBERRY BANANA SUNDAE PIZZA

18 ounce package refrigerated sugar cookie dough

8 ounce cream cheese, softened

8 ounce Cool Whip, thawed

1/4 cup peanuts, chopped finely

2 Hershey's candy bars, full size ones, chopped coarsely

2 medium bananas, sliced

8 ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained

1/2 cup strawberry ice cream topping

Heat oven to 350°F.

Spray a round pizza pan.

Shape cookie dough into a ball in center of baking pan. Using your fingers, pat out dough to a 14-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick.

Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 10 minutes.

Carefully loosen cookie from the pan; cool completely on the pan so it stays firm.

Microwave the cream cheese for 30 seconds till softened. Add Cool Whip, and stir well till all is mixed well. Then spread the mixture over the large cookie.

Sprinkle chopped candy bars and nuts over the Cool Whip; then arrange bananas and pineapple over all.

Last, spoon strawberry topping evenly over fruit.

Slice "pizza" into 14 to 16 wedges. Serve.

Linda's Note: I did not have a heavy pizza pan with vent holes in it, so I used a jelly roll pan. It all came out OK.

QUESADILLAS

1 tablespoon butter or oil

4 flour tortillas

1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Heat the butter or oil in the saucepan.

Spread out a tortilla in the pan, sprinkle 1/4 of the cheese over one half, and fold the other half over.

Repeat with another tortilla so that you have two folded tortillas side by side in the pan.

Toast in pan for 30-45 seconds, turn both, toast for another 30-45 seconds, remove. Now for the other 2 tortillas, repeat the procedure, and serve.

Linda's Note: I like to add sliced black olives, and John likes crumbled, cooked bacon.