MM's Stuffed Meatloaf

Al, this one is for YOU!!

1 1/4 lb. ground beef
1 egg
A palmful of panko bread crumbs
Mild chopped green chiles (optional)
Bacon (I use Hormel real bacon pieces and bits) (optional)
A little A-1
String cheese (I usually use 3 - 2 pepper jack, and 1 regular)
1/3 cup milk
Chopped sweet white onions
Johnny's Garlic Spread
Freshly ground pepper

Place burger in a large bowl. Add egg, milk, breadcrumbs, A-1, chiles, onion, and bacon. Mix thoroughly. Spread half lengthwise in a meatloaf pan. Lay the string cheeses side by side down the middle. Cover with rest of mixture, and tuck in sides and ends with a wooden spoon. Top generously with Johnny's Garlic Spread and pepper. Bake at 325-350 for about an hour. Let sit (very important) for at least 10 mins. (covered with foil) before cutting. YUMOLA.

Have FUN today.

Love,

MM

Tuscan Parmesan Pork Chops

Let's do "the other white meat" today:

3/4 cup zesty Italian dressing
2 T. Dijon mustard
4 bone-in pork loin chops (7oz. each)
1/2 t. sea salt
1/4 freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
A couple of stems of Lemon Thyme*
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh oregano*
1/2 cup finely chopped hazelnuts

Combine dressing and mustard in a large resealable bag. Add the pork; seal the bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Drain and discard marinade. Sprinkle pork with S&P. Combine cheese, thyme, oregano, and hazelnuts in a small bowl. Coat chops with cheese mixture. Place on greased 15x10 baking pan. Bake at 400 for 14-18 mins. or until internal temp. is 145. Bon Appetit.

How Wonderful that the SUN is out. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!
Have fun in it.

Love,

MM

Creamy Caper Sauce

Here's one to accompany fish, chicken or pork:

2 cloves (or more) of minced garlic
3 shallots chopped
1 -2 T. EVOO
1 t. lemon juice*
1 cup dry white wine
1 T. capers (again, or more)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup Dijon style mustard
Chopped parsley - a palm full

Saute garlic and shallots in oil. Add wine and lemon juice, and simmer til reduced by half. Add parsley. Whisk in Dijon. Remove from heat and whisk in sour cream. Use immediately. YUMOLA!!

What a SPECTACULAR day!! Get outside NOW.

Love,

MM

2-fer!!

In case I don't have a chance to post tomorrow morning, here are two in honor of Cinco de Mayo and The Kentucky Derby:

Chorizo, Refried Black Beans, Cheese, and Green Chiles Enchiladas

1 lb chorizo
1 can refried black beans
1 small can mild chopped green chiles
Small sweet white onion - finely chopped
A cup or more of 4 shredded Mexican cheeses
Medium flour tortillas
A big can of Green Enchilada Sauce
One small can red enchilada sauce
Salsa Verde
Sour Cream
Black Olives

Brown chorizo, and onions in a non stick pan. Drain. Mix chiles into refried beans. Spread on one half of each of the tortillas. Add chorizo and onions. Roll. Pour enough of the red Enchilada sauce to cover the bottom of a glass 9x13 baking pan. Place enchiladas - seam side down - side by side in pan. Cover with green sauce and salsa verde. Sprinkle with cheese, and bake at 350 til cheese has melted, and is bubbly. Garnish with sour cream, black olives, and a Margarita!!

Mint Julep

1/3 cup water
2/3 cup sugar, plus more for garnish
3 bunches mint
1 bottle Southern Whisky
1 egg white
Mint or lavender sprigs for garnish

Make a mint flavored simple syrup by boiling water and sugar with two bunches of roughly torn and bruised mint in a large sauce pot. Boil just until the sugar dissolves completely. Cool and strain the mint out of the mixture. Add bottle of whisky to the infusion. Stuff the empty bottle with the last bunch of fresh mint leaves, and fill with the simple syrup/whisky mixture. Cap and put in freezer overnight. It will freeze to a slushy consistency for serving. Glasses: dip the rim of each glass in egg white, then in sugar for a frosted appearance, and chill. Fill with mint julep mixture straight from the frozen bottle, garnish with a mint or lavender sprig, and hope your horse comes in first!!!

Have Fun, I know I will tonight!!!

Love,

MM

Shrimp Remoulade

I think all this RAIN has got me thinking about fish!!

3/4 cup minced parsley
3/4 cup minced shallots
3/4 cup minced celery
3/4 cup dill pickle relish*
1 T. minced garlic
3/4 cup Creole hot mustard (or more)
2 T. creamed horseradish
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup canola oil
6 large cooked shrimp (in Old Bay seasoning*)
Shredded ice burg lettuce
Lemon wedges

Mix all ingredients together and chill. This sauce will keep for many weeks - the more it stands, the better it tastes. Marinate the shrimp in 1/2 cup of sauce for each sering. Present on a bed of the shredded lettuce garnished with lemon wedges.

It's impossible to wring your hands when they are folded before God in prayer!!

Love,

MM

Fish and Spinach Roll-ups

I read the word - SPINACH, and I'm in!!

1 package 10 oz. frozen spinach in butter sauce
1 lb. fresh thin fish fillets (your choice at the seafood counter)
3 eggs, beaten
1& 1/2 cups herb seasoned Panko bread crumbs*
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan
1 can condensed cream of shrimp soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup chopped fresh garlic chives*
1 T. lemon juice
1/4 t. sea salt
1/4 t. dill*

Microwave spinach. Divide fish fillets into 6 or 7 serving pieces. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, bread crumbs, cheese, chives, and spinach. Wrap each fillet around evenly divided portions of the mixture. Place seam side down in a 2 quart glass baking dish. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients, and pour over fish. Bake at 350 til fish is done. Serve with lemon crowns.

My, Oh, MY what a RAIN storm last night!!

Happy May 2nd, and HOPE the sun shines on YOU today!!

Love,

MM

Caramel Apple Fondue

I am waggin' my tail just thinking about this:

A 12 oz. jar of caramel ice cream topping
A couple of those butterscotch puddings that come in a 6 pack
1/3 cup rum
Apple wedges (sprinkle with lemon to avoid them turning brown)
Hersey's Chocolate Candy Bar sections*

Combine topping, pudding and rum. Cover, and nuke on high for 6 mins., stirring every 2. Transfer to fondue pot, set on burner, dip and savor!!

I see patches of blue sky. That bodes well. May you all be Blessed with a fab. day!! Bon Chance to Jeremy.

Love,

MM