Brace Friendly Recipes

Baked Ham N’Egg Hash Browns

Ingredients

3 cups frozen shredded hash-brown potatoes, uncooked
¾ shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
1 cup diced cooked ham or shredded deli ham
4 eggs, beaten
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 2-quart casserole. Spoon shredded potatoes on the bottom, top with the cheese and ham. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, evaporated milk and salt. Pour egg mixture over ham mixture in casserole. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350°; if chilled, bake 55-60 minutes. Let stand five minutes before serving. Makes about six servings.

Pigs in a Blanket

Ingredients

2 ¼ cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup shortening
Ice Water
2 dozen cocktail sausages or hot dogs, sliced

Directions

Sift together flour and salt. Cut in shortening and add just enough ice water to hold together. Chill. Roll dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut in squares large enough to cover a sausage (if using hot dogs, slice in 2-inch lengths). Place wrapped sausages or hot dogs on a lightly greased baking sheet; bake at 400° for about 15 to 20 minutes, until pastry coating is browned.

Three-Cheese Macaroni Extravaganza

Ingredients

2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
Water for boiling noodles
(optional: 1 or 2 onions, chopped)
(optional: 1 to 2 Tablespoons margarine for sautéing onions)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (fresh is best, but the canned type works too)
½ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese
1½ cups milk
½ cup bread crumbs or dry stove-top stuffing

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a medium pot, boil macaroni in water until you can just cut it with the side of a fork; drain and set aside. In a medium saucepan, sauté the onions in the margarine until they are clear and tender. In a 3-quart greased casserole, stir together the macaroni and milk. Sprinkle with the cheeses and onion, then stir it all together. Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top. Cover and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Serves six to eight.

Twisty Soft Pretzels

Ingredients

¾ cup warm water
½ envelope yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
Pinches of salt or cinnamon-sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, stir together warm water, yeast and sugar. In a large mixing bowl, mix salt and flour with a large spoon. After 5 minutes, stir yeast mix into flour mix. With well-floured hands, shape dough into 6-inch rods, initials, animals or traditional twisted pretzel shapes. Brush them with the beaten egg and place on a greased cookie sheet. If desired, sprinkle them with extra salt or cinnamon-sugar. Bake for 12 minutes at 425°.

Yogurt Pops

Ingredients

1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup frozen fruit juice
3/4 cup milk

Directions

You can use pureed fresh fruit or frozen fruits instead juice. Use a vessel with a pouring lip to mix the ingredients for this recipe. Combine yogurt, fruit juice concentrate and milk. Pour into popsicle molds or into small paper cups, and insert a popsicle stick in the center of each. Freeze until firm, about 2 - 3 hours. To serve, peel off paper cups

Strawberries and Cream Slush Drink

Ingredients

2 ½ cups (about 1 pound) strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 Tablespoon lime juice
1 ½ cups crushed ice
1 ½ cups club soda
3 Tablespoons vanilla syrup (sold as a coffee flavoring)
½ cup sugar or more, to taste
1 can whipped cream

Directions

Wash and drain strawberries. Remove stems and slice. Put lime juice in blender, and then add batches of strawberries, about a half-cup at a time, blending until liquefied. Strain the strawberries through a fine sieve to remove most of the seeds and some pulp. Place back in blender, and blend with the crushed ice. Pour into a 2-liter pitcher and stir in club soda, vanilla syrup and sugar. Serve in six tall glasses with a swish of whipped cream on top.