Saturday, March 21, 2026

HOT REUBEN CASSEROLE

For those of you who don't know, I also write a health blog about how foods and eating affects our health.  I have posted a few times about how sauerkraut is a healthy food.  If you don't like sauerkraut or you are just starting to try it, give this recipe a try.  Sometimes it is easier to learn to like a food when you aren't eating it by itself.

2 cans (10-oz each) chopped sauerkraut, drained
1 lb thinly sliced corned beef, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup Thousand Island salad dressing
1/2 lb thinly sliced Swiss cheese
5 1/2 cups coarsely crumbled rye bread
1/4 cup butter, melted

In a greased 8 x 11 1/2-inch baking dish or pan, layer the sauerkraut, corned beef, dressing, cheese, and breadcrumbs in the order listed.  Drizzle the butter overall.

Bake casserole uncovered in 375-degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the casserole is heated through and the breadcrumbs are lightly browned.


Note:  I first found this recipe in an old Leisure Arts book of foods good for gifting. If you choose to take this casserole to someone for them to bake later, all you need to give them for directions is the last paragraph of baking instructions above.  Thus the 10-minute variation in cooking time.  When making at home for a family meal the 30 minutes should be long enough.  If made ahead and refrigerated, it may take 40 minutes.

Friday, March 20, 2026

CHRISSY'S TANGY SEAFOOD DIP

I have no idea who Chrissy is, (Teigen probably) but I got this recipe from allrecipes a couple years ago. It is supposedly reminiscent of a dip served at Olive Garden several years ago. I don't eat seafood, so I wouldn't know. I do know, however, that many of you love seafood so perhaps you will enjoy this recipe.

1 cup marinara sauce

1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese, softened

4-oz (1 cup) white cheddar cheese, shredded

3/4 cup frozen cooked, peeled, deveined, tail-off shrimp (61-70 count), thawed and coarsely chopped

1 can (6-oz) crabmeat, drained and flaked

2 tsp Old Bay seasoning

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp black pepper

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Desired dippers. such as crostini, crackers, and/or mini bell pepper halves

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. 

Spread marinara in an even layer in bottom of an 8 or 9-inch baking dish.

In a bowl, stir together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, shrimp, crabmeat, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire and pepper. Spoon the mixture over the marinara and spread into an even layer.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes until the top is a golden brown. Remove from oven and let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley and serve with the desired dippers.

Yield: 8 servings

file photo 




Thursday, March 19, 2026

FRIED CORN AND ONIONS

This is an old recipe from the 1960s.

1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 medium onions, sliced thin
2 12-ounce cans Mexican-style whole kernel corn, drained

Melt butter in skillet.  Add onion; sprinkle with some salt and a dash of pepper.  Cover; cook over low heat 5 minutes, shaking skillet often.  Add the corn; mix.  Heat uncovered 5 minutes, stir often.  Season to taste. Serves 6 to 8.
recipe from this book

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

QUICK AND EASY PEANUT BUTTER & FUDGE PIE FROM KEEBLERS

This recipe is a recipe from a Keebler's magazine ad that I cut out several years ago.  It is a great make-ahead dessert since he has to freeze overnight but only takes a few minutes to make.

 

Click on photo to enlarge for easier reading.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

HEARTY CHICKEN SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

8 oz uncooked spaghetti, broken into 3-inch pieces

3 cups cubed rotisserie chicken

1 can (10 1/4-oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 cup 2% milk

1 med onion, chopped

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup Swiss cheese divided

1 can (4-oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1/2 cup chopped roasted sweet red peppers

3 tbsp mayonnaise

1 1/2 tsp steak seasoning

1/2 tsp dried basil

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine chicken, soup, milk, onion, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, mushrooms, peppers, mayonnaise, steak seasoning and basil.

Drain spaghetti and add to the chicken mixture, toss to coat. Transfer to a greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Cover and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes longer.

Yield: 6 servings

file photo of this recipe

Friday, March 13, 2026

CREAMY SEAFOOD PASTA

This recipe is from the Pillsbury Bake-Off contest in 2004.

16-oz uncooked linguine

1 can (18.5-oz) Progresso Traditional New England clam chowder

1 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2-lb uncooked deveined peeled large shrimp, tail shells removed

1 package (8-oz) sliced fresh mushrooms

4 medium green onions, chopped

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired

In a 5 to 6-quart Dutch oven, cook linguine as directed on package. Drain well and return to the Dutch oven, cover to keep warm.

Meanwhile, in a blender, place clam chowder, milk, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and the garlic. Cover, blend on medium speed until the mixture is smooth. Set aside.

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook shrimp, mushrooms and onion in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until shrimp turn pink.

Stir in pepper flakes and soup mixture; cook until hot. Stir in parsley, salt and pepper.

Pour over cooked linguine in Dutch oven, tossing gently to coat. Top individual servings with shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

file photo

 

Thursday, March 12, 2026

TORTELLINI SALAD

1 lb fresh broccoli florets*
2 cups tightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup diced red bell pepper
2 pkgs (9-oz each) small cheese-filled tortellini, cooked, drained, cooled
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic salt

Steam broccoli until crisp tender.

Steam spinach until just wilted.

In a large bowl combine broccoli, spinach, red pepper and tortellini; toss well.

In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oil, lemon juice, sugar, and garlic salt; blend well.

Pour the dressing over the tortellini and vegetables in the large bowl and toss to coat well.
*May substitute asparagus for broccoli.
Yield 4 servings

file photo

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

LOUISE FRANKS' DEVILED EGGS (from Fannie Flagg's Can't Wait to Get to Heaven)

1 dozen hard-cooked eggs

1 5-oz jar pasteurized Neufchatel cheese spread with olives, or pimiento-flavored

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons minced sweet pickles

2 tablespoons minced sweet onion

1/2 tsp salt

Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Mash yolks; blend with cheese spread and mayonnaise. Stir in remaining ingredients. Fill egg whites. Yield: 3 dozen

clipart photo


Tuesday, March 10, 2026

TROPICAL LAYERED PUDDING

2 packages vanilla pudding mix

3 cups milk

2 regular cans pineapple chunks (drained, saving 1 cup of juice + juice to coat the bananas)

4 bananas, sliced and dipped in the pineapple juice to retain color

1 cup pineapple juice (saved from the pineapple chunks0

1 package vanilla wafers

Prepare pudding as directed using the 3 cups of milk and the 1 cup of pineapple juice as a substitute for the 4th cup of milk. Layer as follows: Vanilla wafers, bananas, pineapple chunks, pudding.

I suggest garnishing the pudding with some vanilla wafers around the edges and/or sprinkling a bit of coconut over the top.

clipart - I do not have a photo of this recipe



Monday, March 9, 2026

S0-SIMPLE LEMONY CHICKEN SOUP

1 cup diced celery

1 cup diced carrot

1 quart chicken broth

2 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts

1 1/2 cups cooked orzo

1/4 tsp cracked black pepper

2 eggs

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp chopped parsley

Sliced lemon for garnish, optional

Coat a large with nonstick cooking spray. Add the celery and carrot and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 2 minutes.

Stir the chicken, orzo and pepper into the pot and heat through.

In a bowl, whisk the eggs and lemon juice together. While whisking constantly, add broth mixture to the egg mixture. Stir back into pot and add parsley and lemon, if using.

Yield: 4 servings

recipe and photo Woman's World 26

 

Friday, March 6, 2026

PORK BURGERS WITH PEPPERS AND MUSHROOMS

2 small red and/or green bell peppers
1 banana or jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 lb ground pork (not sausage)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp fresh ground pepper
8-oz fresh sliced mushrooms
4 flat breads
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Slice half the peppers into rings and set aside. Chop the remaining peppers.

In a bowl, combine the chopped peppers, pork, 2 teaspoons of the Worcestershire sauce, and 2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper. Shape mixture into 4 equal patties.

In a large hot skillet that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, cook the patties over medium high heat for about 12 minutes, turning once. (Internal temperature should reach 160 degrees.) Transfer to a plate and cover.

In the same skillet patties were cooked in, cook the pepper rings and mushrooms for 3 minutes. Lightly sprinkle with salt, if desired.

Wrap breads (your choice, I prefer sandwich thins) in paper towels and cook in the microwave on high for about 30 seconds. For the sauce, combine the mayonnaise, the remaining Worcestershire sauce, and some black pepper, if desired. Place the burgers on the breads top with the pepper mushroom mixture. Pass the sauce for individuals to add the amount they prefer.

file photo

Thursday, March 5, 2026

CUBE STEAK HAYSTACKS

This is a recipe I got from Betty Crocker in 1971.

1 package hash browns with onions, cooked according to package directions

2 tablespoons shortening, melted in a large skillet.

6 beef cubed steaks, cook in the melted shortening for 3 to 5 minutes per side over medium heat; remove from skillet.  Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt to season.

Spread 2 teaspoons catsup over the top of each steak.

Top each steak with 1/2 cup of the prepared hash brown potatoes and top each with 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar cheese.

Return the skillet to the heat, cover and cook over low heat for a couple of minutes until cheese melts.
Yield: 6 servings
file photo for reference only



Wednesday, March 4, 2026

ONE POT CHICKEN SAUSAGE, SPINACH AND RICE

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional

2 tbsp olive oil

12-oz fully cooked chicken sausage, sliced into 1/8-inch rounds

1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine rice, rinsed

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

3 cups roughly chopped baby spinach

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

In a small bowl, mix garlic, oregano, salt and peppers. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large, lidded sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until browned and crisp, 2 to 3minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

In the same pan, add rice. Cook, stirring, until golden and fragrant, about a minute. Stir in the spices and broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice is fluffy, 14 to 16 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking to prevent sticking.

Add spinach, lemon juice and soy sauce and stir until spinach is wilted, about a minute. Turn off heat and return sausage to the pan. Mix well and spoon into 4 bowls for serving.

Yield: 4 servings

recipe idea and photo Woman's World '26



Monday, March 2, 2026

PORK MILANESE

1 (1 to 1 1/2) lb pork tenderloin, cut crosswise into 4 pieces

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice + lemon wedges for serving

Kosher salt and pepper

1 large egg + 1 large egg white

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup panko 

6 tbsp olive oil, divided

2 tbsp unsalted butter, divided

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 small shallot, thinly sliced

1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cups baby arugula

1/4 cup small basil leaves

Wrap a meat mallet or heavy can in plastic wrap. Working with one piece at a time, pound pork in sliding motion, from center outward, until evenly 1/4-inch thick. Rub surface with lemon juice, then season with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.

In a shallow bowl, beat egg and egg white together. Place flour and panko in separate shallow bowls. Working with one piece at a time, coat pork in flour, then egg, then panko, pressing gently to help crumbs adhere.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet on medium heat. Add 2 pork cutlets and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer pork to plates and repeat with 2 tablespoons oil, remaining butter and pork.

In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, remaining oil and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stir in shallot, thin toss with tomatoes. Fold in arugula and basil. Serve spooned over the pork with lemon wedges.

Yield: 4 servings

file photo