Oma's recipe project: January 16, 2010 - Pork Chop Apple Casserole, Cheese Scones and Butterscotch cake

Ok, we're off and running! Thought I'd start with something that would probably be a hit with the kids. Oma had the pork chop casserole listed along with the scones to be served together. The butterscotch cake, which is credited as being from Liz Logan (my mother) seemed like an appropriate match.

Pork Chop - Apple Casserole
4 pork chops, 1" thick
1/4 cup apple juice
2 tbsp brandy
1/4 cup dried thyme (I used 1 tbsp only)
Garlic
2 apples, cut into thick slices
Brown pork chops. Drain off fat. Saute garlic for one minute. Add brandy, apple juice and thyme. Scrape pan to remove brown bits. Put pork chops back in and put apple pieces around them. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, until meat is cooked and apples are soft. Serve with hot cheese scones.

Cheese Scones
2 1/2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup grated cheese
3 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
dash of tabasco
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold shortening
1 1/4 cup milk
Cut shortening into flour and baking powder. Add most of the cheese (reserve a small amount), bacon, salt and tabasco sauce. Add milk gradually. Stir until it forms a ball. With hands, knead ball a few times. Do not over-knead. Shape with hands into a circle. Pre-cut into sections, like a pie. Place circle on baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cheese Bake at 450 for 15 minutes.

Butterscotch Cake - Liz Logan
1/2 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups brodie flour (substitute 2 cups flour, 2 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cups raisins (optional, I didn't do this)
3/4 cup milk
Mix oil, sugar and eggs. Beat well. Gradually add flour and milk and vanilla. Mix well. Add raisins, if desired. Bake in greased, square cake pan at 350 for 35 minutes. Ice with glaze (below)

Glaze
1/4 cup soft margarine or butter
2 tbsp hot milk
1 tbsp corn syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup icing sugar
Mix all and spread over cake while still warm so as to have a glaze effect.

Reviews - Served on a Sunday evening to the immediate family

Philip - Liked the dessert and was happy to learn he'd get a piece in his lunch the next day.
Eleanor - Ate the most out of the kids. Liked the scones

Michael - "Not a strong starter for the purpose of this blog"

Wilhelmina - Was in a bad mood so basically ate broccoli and butter only. Perked up for the cake.

Jodi - meh! Not terrible, but not great. Let's see what next week brings.