May Day

May Day is on May first, and it is a springtime holiday celebrated in many countries.  In some places there are parades, or dancing around a Maypole.

In school we would make a crown of flowers and place it on the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary to crown her the Queen of May.

We tried to find the earliest spring flowers, usually violets, to make a May Basket.  When spring came late to Minnesota, we would make tissue-paper flowers to put into a home-made basket made from the plastic or wood containers that held a pint of strawberries at the supermarket.  The plan was that you made a May Basket, hung it on the door of a neighbor or friend's house, rang the doorbell and ran away before they could see you.  Mostly, we hung the baskets on our own back door and rang the bell for Mother.

There are many cute ways to decorate a round cake for May Day.  A straw stuck in the center and curling ribbons attached to the top, and you have your very own Maypole.

Perhaps your May Basket could include packages of flower or vegetable seeds for your garden.  Planting time will be here before you know it.

Fifth week in April

Monday:
Hamburger casserole
Lettuce salad with dressing
Green beans
biscuits or rolls

Tuesday:
Sliced ham
Vegetable salad
Carrots
Rhubarb crisp

Wednesday:
Spaghetti and meatballs
Italian vegetable salad
Corn

Thursday:
Breaded chicken
Scalloped potatoes
Asparagus
Frozen fruit cup

Friday:
Fried fish
Lettuce salad with dressing
Sliced tomato
Mashed potatoes

Saturday:
BBQ ribs
Cole slaw
Potato salad
Corn

Sunday:
Fried chicken
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Tomato salad
Green vegetable
Strawberries and ice cream

Arbor Day

Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April.

It is a day to plant, nurture and celebrate the importance of trees.

In the kitchen we use the produce from trees in lots of ways.  Fruit trees give us wonderful ingredients like apples, cherries, apricots, peaches and pears for fruit salads, pies, cakes and bars.  Nut trees provide us with almonds, pecans and walnuts.  Maple trees are the source for delicious maple syrup.  And, although the 'acorn' squash doesn't come from oak trees, it would still fit into today's theme! (wink)

This time of year the birds are building nests in the trees and singing their springtime songs.  Easter is just past, and there are probably a  few extra jelly beans around.  Let's make 'Bird Nests' to celebrate Arbor Day.  I'm not sure if these fit into the 'cookie' or 'candy' category, but they're so easy to make!

Bird Nests

1 (12 oz) package of peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips, white or chocolate chips.
(The type of chips you use will determine the color and flavor of your nests.)
1 (5 oz) package of chow mein noodles
1 small bag jelly beans - mini's are fine

(A couple of tips before you begin:
1. Taste a couple of chips to make sure they are fresh.  If the taste seems off, use a different package.  Old chips do go stale and get nasty.
2. Make sure you melt chips slowly and stir frequently.  If not, it will cause the chips to 'seize up' and turn grainy instead of melted and smooth.  You just have to throw it out and start over if that happens.)

Melt the chips in a microwavable bowl in the microwave oven on medium heat (50%), stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. I used a 1.5 liter corning ware casserole which has good surface area for melting and high enough sides to add more ingredients and stir without any problem.

Add the chow mein noodles to the melted chips and mix to coat.

Drop large spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Shape into a nest.  OR  Spoon into mini muffin tins.
Place some jelly beans in the center of each nest.
Chill in the refrigerator to set.  Makes about 15 nests or nearly 24 if you use mini muffin tins.

Earth Day

In the United States, April 22 has been designated as Earth Day.

In 1970 the first Earth Day was organized to bring attention to environmental reform issues. Events were held in New York and Philadelphia.  Twenty years later,  Earth Day 1990 focused on international recycling efforts and world peace.  There was even an International Peace Climb on Mt. Everest where climbers from the United States, China and the Soviet Union roped together for the first time to climb the mountain.  They collected and sent back by (way of their support crews) more than 2 TONS of trash left behind on the mountain by previous climbers.  By Earth Day 2000 the Internet was being used to spread the message, and environmental groups in 183 countries participated in Earth Day activities.



In springtime the gardens are waking up from their long winter sleep, and the first rains of the season fill the air with the wonderful 'earthy' smell.  What better way to have fun and celebrate the Earth than to serve ... Dirt!

There are a number of recipes that are all quite similar.  So whether you call it Dirt Cake, Dirt Pie or Dirt Pudding, it's just plain fun!  Part of the fun is how it is served.  A new, clean, plastic children's pail and shovel or 10-inch flower pot and trowel give the most impact to this sweet treat.

Dirt (Cake, Pie or Pudding)

1 package Oreo cookies
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter or margarine
1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
3 1/2 cups milk
2 pkgs. instant vanilla pudding
1 (12 oz.) carton Cool Whip
1 small package gummy worms

Crush the cookies in a blender and set aside.  Cream together the butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Set aside.  Mix the milk and pudding together.  Add Cool Whip to the pudding. Then fold in the cream cheese mixture.  Place a layer of crushed cookies in the bottom of your serving 'bowl'.  Then a layer of pudding mixture.  Repeat, putting gummy worms in the pudding layers.  End with a layer of cookie crumbs on top.  Chill overnight.

A plastic artificial flower could even be stuck in the top for presentation!  Serve with shovel or trowel into bowls.


  

Fourth week in April

Monday:
Chicken and rice
Lettuce salad with dressing
Carrots
Biscuits

Tuesday:
Roast beef
Potatoes
Orange and Pineapple salad
Tomato slices
Strawberries and ice cream

Wednesday:
Leftover roast beef
Hashed brown potatoes
Lettuce salad with dressing
Green vegetable
Strawberries and pudding

Thursday:
Pork chops
Potato salad
Lettuce salad with dressing
Peas
Rhubarb pie

Friday:
Baked fish
Parsley buttered noodles
Cucumber salad
Beets or carrots

Saturday:
Ham
Baked potatoes
Cole slaw
Carrots

Sunday:
Grilled Steak
Parsley buttered potatoes
Fruit salad
Asparagus
Vanilla ice cream with Maple syrup topping

Easter

He is Risen! Alleluia! 
Easter is such a wonderful holiday.  Filled with religious tradition, family time together, Easter egg hunts and candy!

Many families celebrate with a dinner menu which includes:

Baked Ham with pineapple

Fruit Salad

Scalloped Potatoes

Rolls & butter

Asparagus or peas

Carrot Cake

Since our children enjoy celebrating with their in-laws on Easter, we have been having a family Easter Vigil dinner on Saturday.  I try not to serve ham because they'll be having ham the next day.  This year's menu received high praise, and even requests for the recipe, so here you are!

Menu:

Oven baked Chicken breast

Mashed Potatoes

Lime jello with colored mini marshmallows on top

Glazed carrots

Rolls & butter

Pecan pie or Strawberry Rhubarb pie with ice cream

Oven Baked Chicken Breast - serves 12
Family package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (7 lbs. approx)
Small onion, or 1/2 large onion, coarsely chopped
Two sleeves of Ritz crackers, crushed in the blender
1/2 cup butter , melted
1/4 cup canola oil or olive oil
1 cup chicken broth (made with water and bullion cube)
Lasagna pan and aluminum foil

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease bottom of Lasagna pan with Crisco.
Cut chicken breasts into serving sized pieces.  (My large Sam's Club chicken breasts were cut in half, and then 'butterflied' or cut horizontally to make 4 servings.)
In a large frying pan, heat oil.  Dip chicken in melted butter, drain slightly, then dip in cracker crumbs.  Brown both sides of chicken pieces and transfer to Lasagna pan.  Add more oil to the frying pan if needed while browning chicken to prevent sticking or burning.
When all the chicken is browned and in the Lasagna pan, toss the chopped onion on top.  Pour chicken broth into Lasagna pan.  Cover Lasagna pan with aluminum foil.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 hours.
Check with a meat thermometer.  Chicken is done at 160 degrees.  If it's done earlier than you'd like, just turn off the oven and let it stay warm in there until you're ready to serve.
(update) For smaller batches the cooking time is about the same, but use a smaller pan.

Paula's Glazed Carrots-  serves 4
4 Carrots, peeled and cut into rounds
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon butter

Put all ingredients into a saucepan.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Cook over medium heat about 15-20 minutes, or until water is mostly gone. Don't peek.  Shake the saucepan after 15 minutes to make sure the water is not completely evaporated.  You don't want the carrots to scorch.  We made a triple batch, so it took a bit longer.