January 3: The Best Little Ham Sandwiches

My sister, Robyn, came to my home last year for a visit and made these for dinner. They are so delicious and everyone loves them. 

2 dozen King Hawaiian Rolls
1/2 lb shaved ham
1/2 lb baby Swiss or reg Swiss cheese
To make the sandwiches,slice rolls in half. Place 1 slice ham and 1/2 slice cheese on each roll. Place sandwiches in a baking dish (24 rolls will fit snugly in a 9x13 pan). 


Melt 1/4 cup butter
Add 2 TB Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp garlic salt
Mix together.
Pour the sauce over sandwiches. Place foil over pan and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. (In the photo poppy seeds are sprinkled on top before baking.)

January 2; Layered Ground Beef Casserole (Shepherd's Pie)

Vivian, a woman from my church, brought this to our family at the birth of one of my children. It is delicious and   as you will note, it can be used for 2 different meals. 

2 ½ lbs extra lean ground beef

2 tsp salt and pepper, or to taste

1 ½ TB Worcestershire sauce

1 onions, chopped

1 ½ cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 c finely chopped carrots

1 c ketchup

1 c hot ketchup

1 16 oz can French cut green beans, drained

2 c mashed potatoes

1 c grated cheese

Melt 2 TB shortening in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, celery, and carrots. Sauté until onions are golden brown. Add ground beef. Stir and cook until meat is browned. Add salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and ketchups. Cover and simmer until meat is cooked. Only use half of the meat mixture for the casserole. Use the other half for barbeque beef sandwiches. Layer the meat, green beans, potatoes and then cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

January 1: Lentil Pasta Sauce

Good luck foods for New Year's Day. Around the world, people eat certain foods on New Year's Day that are thought to be symbolic. Noodles are eaten to bring long life, black-eyed peas for prosperity, cabbage for luck and fortune, and lentils also for good fortune, pomegranate for abundance and fertility and fish represent moving forward in the new year. Today I will post a favorite dish using one of these food items.  This recipe comes from "Good Morning America". 

Saute:
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 onion
1 clove garlic
1/2 green pepper, opt


Add:
15 oz tomato sauce
1/2 c tomato, chopped
1 c water
1/4 c dry lentil


Add:
1/4 tsp oregano
1/3 tsp basil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp thyme
dash Tabasco sauce


Bring to a boil. Cover. Simmer on low for 45 minutes. 


Serve over pasta. Top with Mozzarella and/or Parmesan cheese.  

December 31: Egg Rolls

New Year's Eve! In celebrating this day, we often have Chinese food so I am sharing my favorite egg roll recipe.

2 lbs ground pork
3 1/2 c diced carrots
4 c shredded cabbage
3 c diced mushrooms
3 c diced celery
1 medium diced onion
4 1/2 c bean sprouts
60 lumpia wrappers
2 or more TB soy sauce

Cook in order of ingredients. Brown pork. Drain fat from pork before adding vegetables. Add carrots, cook 3 minutes. Add celery and onions, cook 3 more minutes. Add cabbage and mushrooms, cook 3 more minutes. Add bean sprouts and soy sauce. Cook 1 minute. Spoon 1 TB mixture into each wrapper (follow directions on package of lumpia to fold.) Deep-fry 4 to 6 minutes til golden brown and heated all the way through. 

Serve with sweet and sour sauce.

December 30: Cream Cheese Appetizer

Are you preparing for New Year's eve parties? Try this recipe my sister Robyn gave me.

8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 jar jalapeno jelly


Place cream cheese on plate. Spoon jelly over cream cheese. Serve with Wheat Thins or Club Crackers.


Variation:
Use cocktail sauce instead of jelly and put imitation Krab on top.

December 29: Brown Sugar Muffins

Love these muffins. Thanks Becky for the recipe.

½ c butter 

1 c brown sugar 

1 egg

1 c milk

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp soda

2 c flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg. Add other ingredients alternating flour with milk. Mix. Bake in muffin tins at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

December 28: Quiche

From the kitchen of my friend, Liz comes this wonderful recipe.

1 unbaked 9” pastry shell

8 slices bacon, fried, crumbled, spread in bottom of pastry shell

Onion and parsley, opt. spread over bacon

2 c. grated Swiss cheese

4 beaten eggs, mixed with 1 can evaporated milk, salt and pepper to taste

Pour over cheese.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until done. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Variation:

Use Cheddar cheese instead of Swiss cheese and add a layer or two of fresh spinach. Or omit the bacon for a vegetarian dish.