Oma comes to the rescue X3-turnip casserole, Olive/Cheddar nuggets and Easy Rapsberry Cake

Hadn't really decided what I was going to do for this week's recipes when Sunday got a bit out of control.   I had forgotten that I was supposed to host a meeting for my playgroup's executive.  Hosting typically involves serving some food.  Also, we were invited to my brother's place for one last dinner in advance of all of our March Break travels (they're off to Italy, I'm jealous! Mike and Philip are going to New Zealand to see Chris Harker (grandpa) and Eleanor, Wilhelmina and I are heading to Florida).  I told Sue (sister-in-law) that I would bring a vegetable for dinner.

So, 3 things needed in one day.  What to do, what to do?   So, I cracked the recipe boxes and looked for inspiration:


Turnip-Apple Dish (veg requirement for dinner at Rob & Sue's)
1 Large turnip
1/4 cup butter
4 apples
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
Peel and cube turnip.  Boil in salted water for 15 minutes.  Mash turnip with 1/4 cup butter.   Peel and core apples and slice thinly.  Toss apples with 1/4 cupbrown sugar and cinnamon.   In a well greased casserole dish, spread a layer of turnip.  Then put a layer of apple slices, followed by more turnip, more apple and finally finish with the 3rd layer of turnip.   In a small bowl, crumble flour, 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp brown sugar.  Sprinkle on top of casserole.  Bake at 350 fro 50-60 minutes.

Verdict:   This was really, really good.  Tasted like baked apples.  It was a great sidedish with the roast chicken dinner that was served.  I would totally do this again.

mashing turnips

Cheese-Olive Nuggets  (appetizer served at meeting)
1 1/3 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup soft butter
1/2 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp worcestershire
1/2 tsp paprika
24 stuffed olives (just the ones in the jar, not the huge ones from the deli)
Cream cheese and butter together.  Add flour, salt and paprika, worcestershire to mixture and mix into crumbly dough.   Using 1 tsp at a time, bring dough together in your hands and work it around to surround one olive.   Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes until golden.  Can be served hot or cold.

Verdict:  These things rocked!   I made them in the afternoon and warmed them up for the meeting.  The meeting coincided with the Oscar broadcast so I served these with a lovely cocktail (1 oz. pineapple, 1 oz. white cranberry, 1 oz. vodka.  Serve over ice with one raspberry).  They were nice and salty and the olive made a nice contrast with the cheese.  My friend Mary sampled one earlier in the day and said that her mom used to make something very similar with pickles.

Making the nuggets

Easy Raspberry Cake

I also made a cake to serve at the meeting. As it turned out, 2 people brought sweets (thanks Lesley and Erin!) so I didnt' serve it.   The day after, February 28 happened to be Eleanor's 1/2 birthday.  So for her 5 1/2 birthday, we served half a cake.  (gave the other 1/2 to my friend, Bernice)

1 package frozen Raspberries (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 package white cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 package instant vanilla pudding
dream whip (optional)
Defrost Raspberries.  Reserve a few berries for serving, if desired.   Reserve a few tbsp of berry syrup for dream whip, if using.   Put cake mix, eggs, oil, pudding and berries (with any other remaining juice) in mixer.  Beat for 3 minutes.   Pour into well-greased Bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 55 minutes.  Let stand for 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool.   If desired, prepare dream whip with reserved berry syrup and serve with cake.

Verdict: Very yummy.   Raspberries tasted nice.

lovely!

Happy 5 1/2 birthday!