Blanket-in-A-Pig

Are you getting tired of us making recipes from Rachel Ray's Cooking Rocks! Cookbook? I don't know about you, but I sure am. I think D needs a new cookbook.

This is the first recipe from that cookbook the D didn't care for. He had two pieces and declined to have any more. Both B and I liked them and ate 3 each! Go figure?? It was very easy to make. The age category is from 7 - 11 years and I think that is appropriate. I couldn't imagine an easier recipe for any kid to make.

Blanket-in-A-Pig

Makes 8 pieces


1 can soft bread stick dough (available in the dairy case)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano or Romano cheese, eyeball it
2 tablespoons honey, eyeball it
2 tablespoons deli-style mustard, such as Guldens
8 slices smoked or honey ham or smoked turkey or honey roast

Preheat oven according to the directions on the package of soft bread sticks. Open the bread stick package and separate the sticks. Pour the grated cheese onto a plate. Roll each bread stick in cheese, pressing lightly to make it stick. Place the bread sticks on a nonstick baking sheet and continue baking according to package instructions. Remove from oven when golden (10 to 12 minutes, depending on brand) and allow the soft bread sticks to cool slightly.

Mix the honey and mustard in a small bowl. Lay out 4 slices of meat on a work surface and spread each with honey-mustard. Place a bread stick on one end of the deli slice and wrap and roll the meat up and around the bread stick. Repeat with remaining 4 bread sticks.

Enjoy!

The Creative Cook

Olive Garden Style Chicken Gnocchi Soup - UPDATE

I made the Chicken Gnocchi Soup on Wednesday which was one of the (many) days D had off from school due to snow/ice. I didn't use whole milk, heavy cream or the chicken bouillon. Instead, I used skim milk, fat free half & half and homemade chicken broth. The soup was probably not as thick as it would have been had I used the original ingredients but I'm quite sure I reduced the amount of cholesterol and sodium by a lot. I also used quite a bit more fresh spinach than called for in the recipe. The only thing that I would do next time I make the soup is use olive oil rather than butter to cook the chicken. You could use more flour if you like your soup thicker or even use a smaller amount of cream to get the right consistency. I'm sure the soup would still be much healthier and easier on your arteries!

In my opinion, and both B and D agreed with me, the soup was yummy. B and two bowls and D declared it the best soup he had ever eaten (of course he is only 10 years old). Still, that was quite a high compliment coming from him.

Please try this soup, it is easy and scrumptious. If you take out the heavy cream and whole milk, it is somewhat healthy, too! Especially, if you increase the spinach, carrots and celery.