Lately, I have had an intense craving to eat pigs in blankets…I haven’t the slightest idea why. But, today, I gave in and made some. I feel much better now.
Also, my sister recently gave me a fantabulous birthday gift: 2 baskets full of whole food goodness including boysenberry tea, spaghetti squash, marinara sauce, artichoke, wine grapes, greens, tomatoes, sweet baby peppers, chevre goat cheese, and zucchini flowers (you CAN eat flowers!). Oh my!
Lets put these things to use before they go all bad and foul-smelling…
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| Fun, fiber-ful fuel |
Altogether, this meal took less than 1-hour to make. It served 3 easily, with leftovers…probably enough for 4 average-sized appetites.
- Artichoke
-Bring 2-3 cups water to simmer along with: 3 whole cloves of garlic, 1 halved lemon, 1/4 cup fresh parsley, sprinkle of salt and pepper, 1 T. olive oil.
-Add one whole artichoke, rinsed and with top inch cut off, bottom-side-up.
-Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until knife inserted through bottom goes in without resistance.
-Serve leaves and heart with melted butter mixed with lemon juice.
2. Pigs in Blankets (or Sheep in Wool)
-Preheat oven to 400degrees F.
-Mix together in medium bowl: 1c. wheat flour, 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, 1 T. baking powder, 1 t. salt, 1/2 c. butter (cut in), and gradually pour in 2/3 c. milk. (optional: 1/4 c. fresh chopped rosemary, 1/4 c. grated cheese).
-Wrap dough around 8 cooked hot dog/sausage halves (4 whole dogs/sausages cut in half), pinching to stick ends of dough together. (I used Hebrew National franks and some chicken-apple sausages).-Place wrapped sausages onto baking pan (pre-greased), and bake until golden brown and slightly stiff (check every 5 minutes) on middle oven rack.
-Serve with ketchup, mustard, relish, applesauce, etc.
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| Don’t they look like cute little wool-y sheeps? |
3. Stuffed Zucchini Flowers
-Rinse Flowers and remove stamen/pistil.
-Stuff with small amount of goat cheese, and diced sweet bell peppers and cherry tomatoes.
-Close up flower petals around stuffing, and lay flat on baking sheet.
-Bake in oven at 400 (can put on top rack above pigs in blankets) until zucchini stem is softened, cheese is melted, and veggies are lightly roasted (about 10 minutes).