Spring is here, but the lion seems to be hanging around. Instead of little icy streams, when I look out my window I see snowbanks. Gigantic snowbanks that the kids are building cities in, not just forts.
They are having a riot. When they come in they are tired and wet, which means a dryer run, a warm blanket and a good snack.
Usually all I hear is “please hurry with the food,” but on occasion they take the time to help me prepare the menu. That means teaching them a bit about cooking, but perhaps they will get so good that they will take over my job and I can yell orders from the couch.
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Many weary mothers have been “dishing out the slop” for a long time without a wage increase. Perhaps there should be a mothers union. In all seriousness, it is fun watching children create in the kitchen as they acquire life skills. The pride that shows on their faces when they successfully finish a recipe is worth it all. And yes, we lick the beaters, scrape the bowl with fingers and eat cookie dough. That is the reward.
Here are some recipes that my children have enjoyed over the
winter months.
Lunchbox pizza
1 tube refrigerated 340 g
biscuits
1/4 cup pasta or pizza 60 mL
sauce
10 slices of pepperoni or
ham, chopped
1 cup grated cheddar or
mozzarella cheese 250 mL
Flatten each biscuit into a circle and press into a greased muffin tin. Spoon one teaspoon (5 mL) pasta sauce into each cup. Top with chopped pepperoni or ham and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 425 F (220 C) for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden. Makes eight mini pizzas.
Note: I always double or triple the recipe. Store in the refrigerator.
Chicken and noodles
After a roast chicken dinner, try this recipe to use leftover chicken.
8 oz. fettucine noodles 250 g
21/2 quarts boiling water 2.5 L
1 tablespoon oil 15 mL
2 teaspoons salt 10 mL
4 cups cooked chicken 1 L
1 can (10 oz.) cream 284 mL
of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream 250 mL
1/4 cup chopped onion 60 mL
3 tablespoons white 45 mL
wine or apple juice
1 teaspoon salt 5 mL
1 cup grated cheddar 250 mL
cheese
Cook fettucine in boiling water, cooking oil and first amount of salt for seven to nine minutes in a large saucepan. Drain and place in a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle chicken over the pasta.
Mix soup, sour cream, onion, wine and second amount of salt, and spread over the chicken. Sprinkle with cheese.
Cover and bake at 350 F (180 C) oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 minutes until browned slightly.
Adapted from Company’s Coming Pasta.
Quickie pineapple pie
Don’t tell me that you don’t like pineapple. Try this easy pie that I recently had at a curling banquet. There were rave reviews from anyone who had a taste.
14 oz. crushed 398 mL
pineapple with juice
1 cup sour cream 250 mL
1 instant vanilla pudding,
(4 serving size)
1 baked pie shell or
graham cracker crust
1 cup whipping cream 250 mL
2 teaspoons sugar 10 mL
1/2 teaspoon vanilla 2 mL
Mix the first three ingredients in a bowl, pour into the pie shell and chill.
Beat cream, sugar and vanilla
until stiff. Top pie with spoonfuls. Smooth out if you wish. Spread
with whipped cream. Indulge.
A grocery type cookie
Dear TEAM: I am looking for a recipe for cowboy cookies, like the ones sold at Sobey’s. – E.M.,
internet.
Dear E.M.: Here is a recipe that can be used as a craft idea or just to bake at home. Please enjoy.
Cowboy cookie mix
11/3 cups quick oats 325 mL
11/3 cups flour 325 mL
1 teaspoon baking 5 mL
powder
1 teaspoon baking soda 5 mL
1/4 teaspoon salt 1 mL
1/2 cup chopped nuts 125 mL
1 cup chocolate chips 250 mL
1/2 cup brown sugar 125 mL
1/2 cup sugar 125 mL
1/2 cup butter or margarine
(measure, then melt) 125 mL
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
Buy some fancy jars or plastic containers. Put the first nine ingredients in the jars in layers.
After layering in your fancy container, include a list of the last three ingredients with the container for the gift recipient to make them.
Mix all ingredients together, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll into one inch (2.5 cm) balls and cook for 11 to 13 minutes at 350 F (180 C).
Ranger cookies
Here is a recipe for Rangers, also common in supermarkets.
1/2 cup butter, softened 125 mL
1/2 cup sugar 125 mL
1/2 cup packed golden 125 mL
brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking 2 mL
powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 mL
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
11/4 cups flour 310 mL
2 cups crisp rice cereal 500 mL
11/3 cups sweetened 325 mL
flaked coconut
1 cup golden raisins 250 mL
Using medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together butter, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and soda until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until blended. Stir in flour. Gently stir in cereal, coconut and raisins just until combined. Drop one tablespoon (15 mL) measures of dough two inches (five cm) apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 F (190 C) for 11 to 12 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown. Let cookies stand for one minute on cookie sheets. Remove from cookie sheets and cool cookies on racks. May be frozen. Makes 31/2 dozen cookies.
Source: Atco Gas Blue Flame Kitchen.
Cleaning glass
Dear TEAM: I would like a solution for cleaning filmed glassware. – G.T., Edam, Sask.
Dear G.T.: Here is something from Linda Cobb’s Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean that you can try if glassware has gotten a milky film from being in the dishwasher.
Fill the dishwasher with glassware, no metal. Do not use detergent, but rather put a bowl in the bottom of the dishwasher and pour in one cup (250 mL) of household bleach. Run through the wash cycle, but do not let it dry. Fill the bowl again, this time with one cup (250 mL) vinegar and put through the entire cycle. Hopefully, your glass is shining.
Do you keep denture cleaning tablets in your home? According to Canadian Living magazine, even if you don’t have dentures, consider them a cleaning staple:
- Drop a tablet into a glass of water to clean diamonds or glass beads. Rinse and shine.
- Submerse stainless steel in a denture tablet solution for quick cleaning.
- Fill a teapot and cups with warm water and drop in a tablet. Rinse.
- Drop a tablet into your toilet bowl, let sit overnight, brush lightly and flush.
Jodie Mirosovsky is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@producer.com.
