Recipe(tried): Mothers Day Menu & Recipes 2001

Good Morning Everyone!!

And what a gorgeous Mother's Day it is....Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely Queens of their Kitchens today. May your family adore and treasure each and everyone one of you....

Today my DH took me out to breakfast and presented me with the most adorable Lladro boot filled with flowers and a kitty in it. I promptly put it in my curio...later on I will pick up my Mom so we can spend a lovely day out by the pool.

Today's menu at our home is a long-time favorite:

Grecian Chicken
Mashed Garlic Potatoes (for my wonderful DH)
Glazed Carrots
Sweet Garden Peas
Southern Green Beans
Cinnamon Fried Apples
Romaine Salad with Parmesan and Mandarin Oranges
Strawberries and Whipped Cream

Beverage: Non-Alcoholic Fruity Sangria

Happy Mother's Day!!! Gina

Grecian Chicken Breasts
serves 6

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, split
1 pkg. (10oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 pkg. (8oz.) feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. paprika
12 strips bacon

Preheat oven to 325. Cut a pocket into each breast, salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

Thoroughly drain and squeeze any liquid from the thawed spinach. Do not cook. Combine with feta cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic. Stuff into the pockets.

Combine the flour and paprika and lightly coat the stuffed chicken breasts. Wrap 2 strips of bacon around each breast and place on a baking sheet. Bake uncovered at 325. for 1 hour. Unbelievably delicious!!!

Supreme Garlic Mashed Potatoes

6-8 potatoes, washed, peeled and cubed
1 stick butter
1/2 cup sour cream
salt and pepper
3 garlic cloves
1/4 cup milk or more if needed

Boil potatoes and the garlic cloves together. When tender, mash with potato masher, add butter and mash some more, add sour cream and enough of milk to your liking for consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

Florida Sunshine Glazed Carrots
Serves 6

6 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground corriander
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. fresh orange or tangerine juice

Place the carrots in a saucpan, cover barely with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10. mts. Rinse under cold water and drain.

Stir the sugar and spices together and set aside.

Melt the butter in a skillet, stir in the carrots and the citrus juice. Sprinkle with the sugar mixture and cook over med. heat til carrots are glazed and sauce is slightly thick. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Southern Green Beans

1 lb. fresh green beans, ends snapped off
2 large onion slices, chopped
1 garlic clove
2 bacon strips
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
pepper
salt
1-2 drops of hot sauce
splash of red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar

Cook bacon pieces with onion in a med. pot. After 3 min. add the oil and stir. Add seasonings and garlic clove. Add vinegar and beans, stir to coat. Cover and lower heat to med-low. Check after 5 min., stir, and lower heat to low. Cook for about 25 min or tender. You should have a delicious brown sauce coating the beans when they are ready.

Cinnamon Fried Apples

These are from canned apples that I buy when I go to the mountains up in North Carolina. I brought 8 cans back with me last October but this year I am buying a case, they are that good. They are marketed by Luck's and they are superior!!! This is a nice alternative to apple sauce.

1 can of Luck's Fried apples
1 Tbsp. apple pie spice
1 Tbsp. butter

In a skillet, melt the butter, add the spice and then add the apples with all the juices. Cook until bubbly. Delicious!!!

Romaine Salad with Parmesan and Mandarin Oranges

1/2 bag of torn romaine salad pieces
1 small can drained mandarins
1/2 c. freshly grated parmesan
1 tomato, cut up into chunks
1 red bell pepper, washed and cut up
1/2 cucumber, washed and cut up
Hellman's Citrus Splash, any flavor, they're great!
Toss everything together for a delightful salad.

Non-Alcoholic Fruity Sangria

1 McIntosh Apple, sliced
1 anjou pear, sliced
1 lemon sliced
1 lime sliced
couple of maraschino cherries
6-8 packets of Equal
1/2 to 3/4 cup of lemon juice

Put all the fruits and lemon juice along with the equal in a glass pitcher. Add water and stir, fill glasses with ice. You may substitute the water for 7-Up or a bubbly lemon beverage. Just omit the equal because the sodas have sugar in them. Delicious and thirst quenching for a hot day.