Food Fun and Facts Pantry Secrets for Easter Dinner Easter Recipes
(Family Features) - You probably don't know it, but you may have the
secret ingredients for an exceptional Easter dinner in your pantry
right now. The holidays are a perfect opportunity to sprinkle
creativity into special meals by using staples like pancake mix, syrup
and instant mashed potatoes in unexpected ways to craft new and
delicious dishes the whole family will love.
Celebrity Chef Adam Gertler, host of Food Network's "Kid in a Candy
Store," along with Hungry Jack®, have come up with original,
easy-to-prepare recipes using everyday items to create a memorable
Easter meal.
"Planning for a holiday meal can be stressful," says Chef Gertler.
"But by looking to your pantry for inspiration, you will find
ingredients to make a truly unique and special meal sure to delight
your family and guests!"
Here are ways to use up what you already have to make a complete
Easter menu, including savory Bacon and Cheese Appetizer Bites, Spinach
Salad with Warm Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin,
and a sweet Spiced Mocha Fudge Cake. You'll create an Easter meal worth
celebrating and make your hungry family a happy one.
Recipe for Punchy Potatoes: Add a teaspoon of prepared
horseradish or Dijon mustard and a sprinkle of garlic powder to Hungry
Jack Instant Mashed Potatoes for gourmet flavor ready in less than five
minutes.
Make dry spices last: Ground
spices tend to lose pungency rather quickly. Buy spices like cinnamon,
cayenne pepper, cumin, nutmeg, cloves and allspice whole and grind
small batches as you need them. It's a good idea to have a separate
coffee grinder for your spices.
Save room and keep dry goods fresh:
When you get home from the grocery store, transfer flours, pastas,
cereals and other dry grains into resealable storage bags or
containers. Simply label and date them with a marker, and you'll be
surprised at how much extra room you'll have in your pantry.
1 cup Hungry Jack Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix (Just Add Water)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Paprika
Preparation
HEAT oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
MIX sour cream and water in medium bowl until well combined.
Add pancake mix, cheese and bacon pieces. Stir just until dry
ingredients are moistened. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared
cookie sheet.
BAKE 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with paprika. Serve warm.
This is a beautiful table centerpiece for your Easter holiday table.
The bunny has crafted back pack that may be used as a vase for a short bouquet or candy, perhaps even Easter eggs.
HEAT oven to 350°F. Line
bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Coat paper with
no-stick cooking spray. Place chocolate and butter in medium
microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH power 45 to 60 seconds or until
chocolate is melted and smooth when stirred.
COMBINE coffee, potato flakes, cinnamon and cayenne in large
mixing bowl, stirring until moistened. Blend in sugar and vanilla.
Blend in chocolate mixture and egg yolks. Stir together flour, baking
powder and salt. Gradually blend into chocolate mixture.
BEAT egg whites on medium speed of electric mixer until
stiff. Add to chocolate mixture and blend on low speed until completely
blended, scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Pour batter into
prepared pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until set in center. Cool
completely in pan on wire rack. Remove from pan. Sprinkle liberally
with powdered sugar.
COMBINE whipping cream, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla
in medium mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed of electric mixer until
stiff.
Serve with cake
Serves Makes 12 servings
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Pantry Secrets for Easter Dinner
Recipe for Spiced Mocha Fudge Cake
Ingredients
Cake
Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
4 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup hot brewed Folgers Classic Roast® Coffee
2/3 cup Hungry Jack Instant Mashed Potato Flakes
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
Spiced Whipped Cream
1/2 pint whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
HEAT oven to 350°F. Line
bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Coat paper with
no-stick cooking spray. Place chocolate and butter in medium
microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH power 45 to 60 seconds or until
chocolate is melted and smooth when stirred.
COMBINE coffee, potato flakes, cinnamon and cayenne in large
mixing bowl, stirring until moistened. Blend in sugar and vanilla.
Blend in chocolate mixture and egg yolks. Stir together flour, baking
powder and salt. Gradually blend into chocolate mixture.
BEAT egg whites on medium speed of electric mixer until
stiff. Add to chocolate mixture and blend on low speed until completely
blended, scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Pour batter into
prepared pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until set in center. Cool
completely in pan on wire rack. Remove from pan. Sprinkle liberally
with powdered sugar.
COMBINE whipping cream, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla
in medium mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed of electric mixer until
stiff.
COMBINE thyme, marjoram,
salt, onion powder and garlic powder in large resealable food storage
bag. Seal bag and shake well. Add pork slices. Seal bag. Shake to coat.
MELT butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add pork mixture. Cook and stir 8 to 10 minutes or until pork is
browned and no longer pink in center. Add syrup. Cook and stir until
pork is glazed.
Serves Makes 4 servings
Preparation Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe
1 small unpeeled red apple, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons crumbled cooked bacon or real bacon bits
Preparation
WHISK together syrup,
vinegar, mustard, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper in a medium
microwave-safe bowl until well blended. Gradually whisk in oil,
stirring until thickened.
COMBINE spinach, apple, cheese and bacon in a large bowl.
Just before serving, microwave vinaigrette on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds
or until warm. Drizzle salad with desired amount of vinaigrette; toss
salad and serve immediately.
