Mom's Salad Dressing

My Mom always called this her Mexican salad dressing. 

 I don't know why she called it that or where she got the recipe but it was and still is

 a favourite with the family. 

 I'd forgotten about it until my daughter in law served it to us a few weeks ago. 

I mixed up a batch and we've been enjoying it again.

It's wonderful on any green salad - especially those with fresh fruit added.

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tsp celery seeds
• 1 tbsp dry mustard
• ½ cup oil
• 1 medium onion (finely chopped or grated)
• ½ cup vinegar

1. Combine all ingredients in a bottle with a tight lid.  
2. Shake well.
3. Store extra dressing in the refrigerator.  It will keep for several weeks.

Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes

Pancakes are a good way to start your morning, at least once in awhile and these did not disappoint. Loved the 'cornmeal crunchiness'  in the texture of the pancakes. They are a special treat when topped with a dollop of whipped cream, blueberries or Saskatoon berries, and maple syrup drizzled over the top.

• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Saskatoon berries or blueberries

1. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. In separate bowl whisk together buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and lemon juice.
3. Pour buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients, stirring just until combined, it should look a little lumpy.
4. Heat griddle to 350º or a frying pan on medium heat. Coat griddle with a little butter, just to cover surface.
5. Scoop 1/4 cup batter for each pancake on the griddle. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of berries.
6. Cook for 3 minutes or until golden on the bottom, flip over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Serve hot with your choice of toppings. Leftover pancakes can be frozen and toasted another day.
8. Yield: 12 pancakes

Chinese Fried Rice

My aunt Mary makes thee best Fried Rice I have ever had. She is always asked to bring it to our family gathering potlucks. Even though I make her recipe, it just doesn't taste quite like hers. Isn't it true that when someone else makes something it always tastes better.

• 6 cups of cooked rice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cups celery, sliced thinly at a diagonal
• 1 cup green onions, sliced at a diagonal
• 1 small green or red pepper, julienned
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 tablespoon soya sauce
• 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 small can of sliced water chestnuts
• pepper to taste
• She always adds a tiny sprinkle of sugar to hers,maybe that is why it tastes so good. But I omit it.

1. In a large frying pan or wok, heat the oil.
2. Add all the veggies EXCEPT tomato and water chestnuts and stir fry for 3 minutes. 
3. Add the cooked rice, Soya sauce, pepper, tomato and water chestnuts. 
4. Stir fry for another minute or two until everything is heated through.

Bread for the Journey

BECAUSE HE LIVES!

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus

He came to love, heal and forgive,

He lived and died to buy my pardon, 

and empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because His lives, all fear is gone:

Because I know He holds the future,

and life is worth the living, just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby

And feel the pride and joy he gives:

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain:

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

On this Sunday after Easter, I can't help but think of this old song by Bill Gaither, reminding us that no matter what we face, we can face with the assurance that nothing is too hard God. The tomb had no power over the Creator of Life and this world has no power over His plans for a future and a hope for those who put their trust in Him.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,

plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Dear Lord, I ask that You would help us to believe what You promise. On this day and in this coming week, when we don't understand, help us to tell you that we trust Your heart and believe that You love us.

So Shiny - A New Learning Curve !

**Note added ---     I would like to thank you for your comments.  I found them very helpful and I'm sure our readers did as well !!  

We recently purchased a pressure cooker.  Having never owned one before, I  was  a little afraid of it , but was quite relieved to find pressure cookers are not scary at all !
So now I am learning to use it !
I have made soup,   rice pudding and a gluten free bread loaf  --- all in a fraction of the time conventional cooking would take!

If you have a pressure cooker,   what are your favourite ways to use it ?
What do you like about it , or what do you not like about it ?

Bruschetta with Blue Cheese and Balsamic Drizzle

• 4 medium firm tomatoes (I used red and yellow cherry tomatoes)
• 2 oz. fresh basil
• 4 cloves fresh garlic minced
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 2/3 cup olive oil

1 rustic loaf of bread (like a crusty Italian or Ciabatta)

• 4 oz. Danish blue cheese or a soft cheese like Boursin
• 1/4-1/3 cup milk or light cream
• ½ tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
•  
•  Bottled Balsamic reduction (It should be thick like a syrup)

1. Dice tomatoes into ¼ inch pieces and place in medium size mixing bowl.
2. Remove basil leaves from stems and dice finely.  Add to tomatoes
3. Add minced garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.
4. Allow to rest for 30 minutes so that the flavours meld.
5. Cut loaf in half horizontally and place both halves on baking sheet.
6. Spread bruschetta mixture evenly over both halves.  Drizzle remaining oil from mixture evenly over bread.
7. Place baking sheet in preheated oven (350º) and bake for 15 minutes.
8. Blend blue cheese and milk with a hand blender until smooth.  Add lemon juice and mix until consistency is that of a creamy dressing
9. Place  mixture in piping bag or small Ziploc bag and cut a small hole (1/8”) in one corner.
10. Drizzle blue cheese mixture back and forth across bruschetta.
11. Repeat with the Balsamic reduction.
12. Slice and serve and watch it disappear!

Berry Cobbler

I was going to wait till summer time to post this berry cobbler, but with frozen berries most likely still in your freezer or easily found in the freezer section where you shop, I decided it was time for a dessert. It's prepared in no time if you have the biscuit mix on hand. If you don't - mix your favorite recipe and measure off the dry amount before liquids are added.

Ingredients

• 4 cups berries ( a mix of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
• 6 Tbsp sugar
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups large biscuit mix
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk ( a little more if preferred for easy spreading)
• coarse sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Method:

1. Combine frozen or fresh berries with sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a medium pot and cook, stirring as needed, until boiling and liquid is clear. This takes about 5 -10 minutes.
2. Pour into small Pyrex, stone or glass bake-ware to serve about six. 
3. Combine biscuit mix, sugar and milk and stir until combined. 
4. Scoop onto fruit by large spoonfuls. Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
5. Bake at 400 F for about 25 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Let cool about 15 minutes.

Serve warm as is

or a la mode

Bread for The Journey

Easter Blessings

I serve a risen Saviour,
He's in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives 
today!
He walks with me and He talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He live, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And tho my heart grows weary
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading
Thro' all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him,
The help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.

Bread For The Journey

This week I've been listening to Handel's Messiah.  The familiar scriptures set to extraordinarily beautiful music reveals God's plan to redeem mankind by the coming of the Messiah.

As I listen to the different portions of scripture set to music I am brought to tears by the beauty, the hope of salvation and the love of our God eternal.

Two hundred and seventy-two years ago, on April 13, 1742 seven hundred people attended the premier performance of Handel's Messiah in Dublin.

Today is Palm Sunday!

The people of Israel had waited for their Messiah to come.

When Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey the people lined the streets with palm branches and sang praises to him. 

Are you ready for Easter?  It is so much more than colouring Easter eggs, baking Paska and setting a beautiful table. For those of us who believe that Jesus came to redeem us, there is a preparing of our hearts and minds as we remember the sacrifice God made when he sent his son.

Go into this week with joy. Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost.  Spend time reading God's word and thank him for the Messiah, his gift of salvation we celebrate not only at Easter and Christmas but everyday.  

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29 ESV

Puff Pastry Savoury Easter 'Carrots'

Peter Rabbit would be ever so delighted to find this little carrot patch.

Puff pastry wrapped around horn molds turn into delicate 'pastry carrots'. A delicious filling of egg salad fills the pastry carrots and for the carrot tops......sprigs of baby dill. These are very light and dainty making them a perfect little appetizer or sandwich alternative at a baby or bridal shower.
(For an alternative to this Easter theme just leave the pastry the colour it is and fill with chicken or tuna salad and garnish with a little sprinkle of parsley or other creative garnish.)

Supplies:

1. Set of cream horn molds. (I bought Fox Run brand at $2.99 for 6 molds)
2. Parchment paper.
3. Small paint or pastry brush.

To make puff pastry shaped carrot cones: (this makes approximately 16 filled carrots)

• 1 397gram package puff pastry (there are 2 blocks of puff pasty in a box of Tender flake brand)
• 1 egg 
• 1 tsp water
• 1-2 drops orange food colouring

Method:

1. Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured pastry mat, 10"x12". **roll out one block of pastry at a time***
2. Whisk together egg and water. Brush pastry sheet lightly with this mixture. (you won't nearly use  all the egg wash)
3. Cut the square of pastry into long 1/2" strips.
4. Cut parchment into triangles and wrap around the metal molds. 
5. Pick up a strip of pastry and starting at the bottom of the molds wrap, just overlapping until you reach the top of the mold. You want the egg washed side on the outside.
6. Place each mold on a baking sheet lined with parchment. *** I only have 6 molds so I make and bake 6 at a time, remove from molds and quickly make more cones until they are all baked***
7. Brush wrapped pastry lightly with orange food colouring, to resemble carrots.
8. Bake in 375º oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. 
9. Remove from oven and pull carrot cones off of molds. They will slide off well because of the parchment. They are very delicate and crisp so handle with care. Remove to a cooling rack.
10. You can store these once cooled in loosely covered container at room temperature for a day before filling, but the sooner you use them once cooled the flakier they will be. The baked shells will not loose their shape but the long they sit the less crispy they will be...but still tasty.

Egg salad:

• 5 eggs, hard boiled
• 1/4 mayonnaise
• 2 tsp mustard 
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp capers, chopped fine, optional
• 1 dill pickle, diced very fine
• 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped fine
• fresh dill for making carrot tops

Method:

1. Boil eggs, peel and cool.
2. Mash eggs, adding remaining ingredients and mix well. 
3. This mixture can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator.

To Assemble: (best assembled just before serving so that the cones do not get soft) 

1. You can fill a pastry bag with the egg salad and pipe it into the pastry cones, or use a regular dinner knife and fill the cones. 
2. Top with a sprig of fresh dill.

Molds and unfilled baked cones. Wrapping the molds in parchment before wrapping the pastry around will insure that the pastry never sticks to the molds. 

Broccoli with Bacon and Veggie Topping

Broccoli is one of those vegetables that is fun to dress up.

What is your favourite flavour boost for this bright green vegetable?

 I had some finely diced carrot and peppers leftover from another meal.

Added to bacon and onions, it made a very tasty topping for broccoli.

• 2 slices of bacon, very finely sliced
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red and yellow peppers
• 1 bunch fresh broccoli
• 1-2 tablespoons butter if desired

1. Fry bacon until it is crisp.
2. Drain off most of the bacon drippings.
3. In about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings, saute onions, carrots and peppers until they start to brown and caramelize.
4. Add  bacon and mix well.  Set aside.
5. Steam broccoli or microwave it until it is crisp tender.
6. Toss broccoli with butter if desired and arrange on a serving platter.
7. Spoon the vegetables over the broccoli  (I like to spoon them in a strip across the middle of the platter).
8. Serve immediately.

Easter Bread..for Children

I remember baking this colorful bread around Easter time for our young children and then later for our grandchildren. At the time I didn't have these vibrant food colors and so the bread was more pastel in color. This is a fun bread to put together and a good project to do with your children. Can you imagine their smiles when eating a slice of this bread?

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 3/4 cups flour
• food coloring of your choice

1. Whisk together warm water, yeast, sugar, and oil.
2. Stir in flour and salt to the liquid mixture, knead until well combined, approximately 5 minutes.
3. Separate dough into balls, as many as the colors you have chosen. I had 6 colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
4. Add each of the colors to each of the balls of dough for desired color.
5. It takes awhile to evenly knead in each color, be patient, it does come together. Be sure to wash your hands and the surface you are working on between each color.
6. Place each ball of dough into it's own bowl, cover and allow to rise until doubled.
7. Once doubled, take each ball and roll out in a rectangle to fit a 9" x 5" loaf pan.
8. Stack them and place in a well greased loaf pan.
9. Cover and allow to rise until almost double in bulk.
10. Bake in a 350º oven for 30 minutes.
11. Remove bread from pan to cool on cooling rack.
12. Slice, slather on your favorite spread and enjoy.
13. Yield: 1 loaf

Vegetable Noodle Soup

Here is a quick and delicious noodle soup which is perfectly delicious as a vegetarian dish. But if you happen to have cooked chicken handy...that is also a good addition.  It started with a vegetable soup recipe on the back of a 'fine egg noodle' package and evolved from there.  Since we like things zippy around here...I add Sambal Oelek (a chili paste) but a hot sauce of any kind would do the trick as well.

• 1 Tablespoon oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2-3 cups chopped cabbage
• 8 cups chicken stock or vegetable broth
• 1 cup fine noodles, uncooked
• 1 cup green peas (small)
• 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Sambal Oelek (hot chili paste), optional
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley

1. Heat oil; cook onion, carrots and cabbage for 5-6 minutes.
2. Stir in chicken stock.  Bring to a boil; then simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add noodles, peas, soy sauce and salt (along with hot sauce, if desired).  Simmer for about 5 minutes, or until noodles are tender.
4. Stir in the parsley and serve.

Serves six.

 

Boiled Raisin Cookies

Grandma's Cookie Jar

This cookie jar always had a prominent place in Ella Klassen's kitchen. She was my mother-in-law and very dear friend. Her boys, Harv and Jim, and later, her grandchildren, knew that the jar was always full of cookies baked by a loving woman who would urge them to "take 2 or 3 - they're small!".

The cookies I remember her baking most often were these Boiled Raisin Cookies - they were soft and moist, full of raisins, walnuts and aromatic spices.

• 2 cups sultana raisins (the light brown raisins, not the dark ones)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon each, cloves, nutmeg and ground star anise (if you have it)
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans 

1. In a small saucepan, pour boiling water over raisins, bring to a boil again and cook for 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and cool raisins (do not drain!) to to room temperature.
3. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions.
5. In another bowl, stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices until well mixed.
6. Add cooled raisin mixture to butter and egg mixture, mixing well.
7. Add flour mixture, a little at a time until well mixed.
8. Stir in nuts.
9. Using a cookie scoop or two teaspoons, drop dough on to greased or parchment lined cookie sheets.
10. Bake in a 350ºF oven for 16 minutes or until lightly browned.
11. Makes 5-6 dozen cookies.

Bread For The Journey

 Downtown Abbey Photos

The door squeaks, and I know it's her.
And the door squeaks...and she's gone.
She's completed her legal paperwork to become the bride of a young American.
She had one more border crossing, in hopes of having the custom officials accept and recognize her K-1 Visa.
I remember pacing and praying during my gym class, listening for the tiny notification alert on my IPhone. Her final text to me read... "Made it!! Phew, no issues!! Here we go!!"

I was overwhelmed with tears and peace in my heart.  It was at this point that I realized how many times I let myself become anxious over the detailed paper work, border crossings and the wedding plans.

But as I continued reading through Ann Voskamp's writings, I was inspired as I realized that I could embrace a lifestyle of radical gratitude rather than thinking about the daily deadlines, budgets and daily tasks that had often taken priority.

This past week I have taken the verse from Psalm 37:4 and started to intentionally write down the moments that I claimed to be "the desires of your heart"  Before long I had a list of experiences that that were teaching me about gratitude.  It's about learning to be content in everyday experiences and sharing the happiness with others. True contentment is not about finding impressive careers or exciting travels.  It's about seeing your grandson's face light up,  after he has asked if he could wear a suit jacket, rather than shirt and pants to the wedding and finding the right jacket at a bargain price.  It's about sitting outside with my spouse, discussing wedding plans and feeling the sun's ray on our faces as we think about God's design for marriage. It's about phoning a friend who's all excited about sharing her granddaughter's wedding plans.  It's about helping your daughter prepare for the stagette, feeling her excitement and being thankful that you are included in 'some' of the plans.   It's about asking God to direct you through those last minute details and feeling the satisfaction as you hunt down some more bargain prices.

Taking a pencil and writing these moments down, has become meaningful and valuable, because I can look back and see how God has intervened in some of the difficult tasks, and yet I can see beauty in those moments.
 It's about focusing on the day to day things and realizing that I 'get to do life' with so many family and friends.  Let's wake up and discover God's everyday blessings, rather than letting stress and anxiety control our lives.
Why not start thinking about some of your moments and let God's joy transform your life.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart". Psalm. 37:4

Julie shared a beautiful devotional for us last week called, My Beloved.  We are entering the season for weddings and there will be many brides/grooms and families working through their plans.  Let's encourage these young brides, and share examples of gratitude rather than negativity.  We want to pray that we can model and help our newlyweds understand the new meaning about committing themselves to God and receiving "the desires of your heart."

It won't take long now and I'll hear the door squeak again, hearing the laughter and joy in their voices together, knowing that the border crossings have little meaning anymore.

Eggs plain and simple

Get Cracking!

Did you know that the best quality eggs are usually those sized Small in stores?

The reason for that is because when a hen begins to lay eggs they are small and the eggs get larger as the hen matures. 

If you are going to make eggs the centrepiece of your breakfast,  consider small or medium eggs. The white will stand nice and high with the yolk on a fresh egg so watch for that as well. 

When you crack an egg and the white spreads all over the pan, it is usually a better idea to scramble the egg.

When we bring eggs into the house from those first few days of a hen laying there is nothing better for breakfast than a fresh and tender egg.

Whether I am making eggs benedict or soft boiling them or even just simply cracking them into the pan...

eggs for breakfast are always a nutritious choice.

Check here for all the facts!

Happy Saturday!

Stuffed Baby Bok Choy

When I passed by this baby bok choy at the grocery store I suddenly had a thought of how they might taste if stuffed like cabbage rolls. They went into my cart and we were not disappointed.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb baby bok choy (about 20)
• 1/2 to 3/4 lb lean ground beef
• 1 cup cooked white or brown rice (1/2 cup raw)
• 3 Tbsp sour cream
• 3/4 tsp salt
• pepper

Sauce

• 2 Tbsp oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped fine
• 1/2 yellow sweet pepper, chopped fine
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 single serving (200 ml) tomato vegetable cocktail
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 cup broth (or 1 tsp better-than-bouillon and 1 cup water)
• 2 Tbsp flour and 1/2 cup water for thickening

Method:

1. Mix meat stuffing ingredients
2. Cook onion and sweet pepper until soft, then add garlic.
3. Add tomato cocktail, soy sauce and broth and bring to boil.
4. Thicken with flour by shaking flour and 1/2 cup water before adding to sauce. Simmer 10 minutes.
5. In the meantime, open up bok choy babies and fill with prepared meat stuffing. Lay or stand up in small roaster and cover with sauce.
6. Bake at 350 F for 1 1/2 hours. Halfway through, gently turn stuffed bok choy so that more of the top gets covered with the sauce. 

We had the first go with mashed potatoes and the left overs with a Waldorf salad and a roll. Tasted even better the second round.

Three Berry Apple Crumble Pie

It's time to start thinking about using up the berries in your freezer and your family will thank you for thinking about pie!  I keep discs of frozen pastry in my freezer and with frozen berries and a few apples, this pie is almost as quick as making a berry crumble. 

Pastry enough to make 5 discs

• 5 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pound lard
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• water

1. Measure the flour, brown sugar, salt and baking powder into a large bowl.
2. Cut in the lard with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture is like large oatmeal.
3. Put the egg into a 1 cup measuring cup. .beat it to break it up.
4. Add the vinegar to the cup and then fill with water to the 1 cup line.
5. Slowly stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture with a fork until just combined.
6. Turn out onto a floured counter and knead a few times to bring it together into a ball.
7. Divide into five portions, shape into flat discs, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze in a freezer bag. 

Three Berry Apple Crumble Pie

Filling

• 1 pastry disc, thawed at room temperature
• 2 - 3 apples, peeled, cored and diced enough to make 2 cups 
• 4 cups mixed frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup sugar

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Roll out pastry to fit over the edge of a 9 inch deep pie plate.  Roll pastry under around the edge.
3. Mix apples and berries and place in pie shell. 
4. Mix together cornstarch and sugar and sprinkle over fruit and tap the pan on counter to get the sugar mixed into the fruit.

Crumble

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup oatmeal

1. Melt butter and add remaining ingredients and sprinkle over pie.
2. Cut 4 inch strips of foil to wrap around edge of pastry to prevent it from getting too brown.  
3. Bake for 1/2 hour and then check pie.  If the crumble is beginning to brown too much place foil over pie.  Reduce heat to 375 and continue to bake another 45 minutes and then check to see if the centre of fruit is beginning to bubble. Add additional time if necessary. 

Easy Swiss Chicken Cordon Bleu

This is such an easy dish and can be adapted easily to feed a crowd or just a few. I served this for my mothers birthday and invited my parents siblings so it fed a crowd.  It starts with a sauce at the bottom of a 9x13 pan layered with boneless skinless chicken, ham, swiss cheese and prepared stuffing on top. How easy is that. This amount will serve 6.

Sauce:

• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1-1/2 cups half and half cream or milk
• 1-1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1. Melt the butter in a sauce pan, stir in flour to dissolve and cook a few minutes.
2. Add both the cream, chicken broth and mustard.
3. Cook until thickened. 
4. Pour the sauce in a 9x13 pan.

Layer the following:

• 6 pieces of boneless skinless chicken pieces, browned on each side in a skillet with a little oil.
• 6 slices of thinly sliced ham
• 6 slices of swiss cheese
• 1 package of prepared stuffing

Cover with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes in a 350 oven.

Serve with Wild Rice Pilaf, Glazed Carrots and Coleslaw.

April Fools "Juice"

Good Morning!

You won't be able to have this ready by the time your kids wake up...

but you can have it ready by lunchtime. 

I put this little trick together in minutes and in a few hours it was set and ready to make the grands laugh and maybe even they were a little bit fooled.

The best part is that you will make some smiles and they will enjoy the cranberry/strawberry gelatin for dessert.

• 1 small package flavoured gelatin crystals (2 cup liquid size)  I used strawberry
• 1 envelope unflavoured gelatin powder
• 1 cup boiling water
• 3 cups juice (I used cranberry)

1. Empty both the flavoured and unflavoured gelatin in a medium heat safe bowl.
2. Pour boiling water over the powders and stir until dissolved.
3. Add the juice and divide evenly between 4 -5 glasses.
4. Insert straws (cut them to an appropriate length)
5. Chill until set.
6. Serve to unsuspecting children. =)