Weekend Gourmet

Spring, Hope, and Celebration! Let’s Eat!

By Kate Beiting

Easter Holiday Brunch Casserole

Place 3 cups of cubed, cooked ham or sausage in a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Spread 3 cups of cubed French or Italian bread on top, along with 2 cups of shredded cheese. In a bowl, mix together 6 eggs, 3 cups of milk, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of seasoned salt, and a dash of Tabasco sauce. Pour the egg mixture over the bread mixture. Mix 3 Tablespoons of flour with 3 teaspoons of dry mustard and sprinkle on top. Drizzle 4 Tablespoons of melted butter over everything. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 50–60 minutes.

Baked Ham With Glaze

Line a large baking dish with aluminum foil. Place a fully cooked, bone-in, spiral sliced ham in the dish. Score the top and push in 15–20 whole cloves. Cover loosely with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours. Mix 1 can of Dr. Pepper with 1 cup of pineapple juice, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 1/3 cup of Dijon mustard. Cook over medium heat until reduced by half. Pour this mixture over the ham, re-cover, and bake for another 20 minutes. Slice and serve.

Slow Cooker BBQ Ham

Place 2 pounds of thinly sliced ham in a slow cooker. Add 1/2 cup of sliced onion. In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of water, 1 cup of ketchup, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tablespoons of vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of yellow mustard. Pour the mixture over the ham. Cook on low for 4 hours. Serve on warm poppy seed buns or pumpernickel bread.

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Mix together 2 pounds of frozen hash browns, 1/4 cup of diced onion, 1 can of cream of potato soup, 1 pint of sour cream, and 2 jars of Old English cheese spread (or 2 cups of shredded cheese). Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle on 2 cups of crushed potato chips or Ritz crackers. Drizzle with 1/2 cup of melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45–55 minutes.

Candied Yams

Melt 2 sticks of butter over medium heat. Add 1 and 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Stir well. Cook for 5 minutes or until syrupy. Pour the mixture over 5–6 washed, peeled, and chopped yams in a lightly greased casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, baste, and then baked uncovered for another 20–30 minutes. Let cool for 5–10 minutes.

Classic Deviled Eggs

Have 12 hard-boiled eggs prepared. In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (the real stuff!) with 1 Tablespoon of yellow mustard, 2 teaspoons of sweet pickle relish (or several diced sweet pickles), 1 teaspoon of pickle juice, 1 teaspoon of white vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Peel, rinse, and halve 12 hard-boiled eggs. Remove the yolks to a bowl and smash them thoroughly. Add the mayonnaise mixture and mix until smooth. Fill the empty whites with the yolk mixture. Sprinkle with paprika, if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Baked Spring Asparagus

Wash and trim 1 pound of fresh asparagus, breaking off the tough ends. (If you don’t have fresh asparagus, you can use a box of frozen spears.) Melt 3 Tablespoons of butter in an 8x8-inch baking dish and put the asparagus in the dish. In a bowl, mix 2 Tablespoons of diced onion, 1 diced celery stick, 1/4 cup of dried breadcrumbs, 1/4 teaspoon each of black pepper and dried oregano, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the mixture over the asparagus. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 25–35 minutes.

Cookie Bars

Cream together 1 stick of soft butter, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of light brown sugar, 1 and 1/2 cups of peanut butter, 3 whole eggs, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Slowly add 4 and 1/2 cups of oatmeal (quick or old fashioned), 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 cup of M&M candies, and 1 cup of chocolate chips. Spread into a greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15–20 minutes. Let cool slightly before cutting into bars.

Coconut Cream Cake

Mix 1 box of white cake mix (with pudding in it) with 1 cup of water, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, and 3 eggs. Beat for 3 minutes. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack. While the cake is still warm, poke holes in the cake and pour in 1 cup of canned cream of coconut. Let cool. Cover and chill overnight.

Before serving, spread with 1–2 cups of whipped whipping cream. Sprinkle with shredded sweetened coconut (add a bit of green to the coconut for decorative effect). Sprinkle miniature jelly beans on top. Refrigerate until serving time.

Chocolate Bundt Cake with Spring Berries

Mix together 2 cups of flour, 3/4 cup of cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt. In another bowl, cream 1 and 1/2 cups of soft butter with 2 and 1/2 cups of white sugar for 5 minutes. Beat in 5 eggs, one at a time. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Add 2 teaspoons of instant coffee dissolved in 1/4 cup of hot water (or 1/4 cup of strong coffee). Add 1 cup of buttermilk and mix for 2 minutes. Pour the batter into a greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 60–70 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack or serving platter. Serve with seasonal berries and freshly whipped cream.

Earth Day Cookies

Mix together 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) and 1 and 1/4 cups of sugar until creamy. Add 3 egg yolks, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. Blend together 2 and 1/2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and blend.

Divide the dough into 2 halves, add a bit of blue food coloring to one half and a bit of green food coloring to the other half. Pinch off a bit of each dough, roll together, and make a walnut-sized ball. Place the balls on parchment-lined (or lightly greased) cookie sheets (no need to flatten the balls). Bake at 350 degrees for 10–11 minutes. Tops will crack. Cool on a rack.