-STUFFED PORK CHOPS

 

Note: These thick pork chops are stuffed with flavor featuring a sweet cornbread and plenty of tart apples. The combination with the tender chops is really a taste experience. They are also very pretty with a sprig of parsley and red apple slices for garnish. This is a recipe from my upcoming book, Rosalie Serving Country Book

2 to 2 ½ cups prepared Jiffy corn bread muffin mix

6 bone-in pork loin chops (1 ½ -inch thick

Lawry's coarse garlic salt with parsley

Ground black pepper

½ cup flour

Oil for searing chops

¾ cup butter

¼ cup onion, chopped small

½ cup celery, chopped small

2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

½ teaspoon apple pie spice

¼ teaspoon thyme

2 teaspoons fresh curly parsley, minced

Red apple slices, unpeeled

Parsley sprigs

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Prepare corn bread mix according to box directions using an 8-inch round baking pan. Bake and set aside.

2. Place loin chops on cutting board and cut a pocket in each chop by making a horizontal cut through the meat almost to the bone, but not through. Sprinkle chops on both sides with the garlic salt and pepper. Rub flour on both sides of chops. Sear chops on both sides in hot oil until crusty, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove to cutting board and set aside.

3. In medium saucepan, place butter, onion and celery. Sauté

4. Crumble corn bread and mix in with apple mixture. Using a ½ cup measure, stuff each pork chop with the stuffing mix. Place chops in a lightly oiled large baking pan. Scatter any left over stuffing around chops. Cover and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover, and bake for an additional 8 minutes longer to form a crisp edge on the stuffing. Meat thermometer should read 160-degrees when inserted into the meat.

5. Transfer chops to a large platter garnished with unpeeled red apple slices and pa

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2, 2008 - BLESS AND BE BLESSED

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2, 2008 - BLESS AND BE BLESSED

Buon giorno and Good Day!

Going to church on this beautiful Sunday Morning reminded me of one of the greatest freedoms on the face of the earth; Freedom to worship in the way that we choose. Do I take this lightly or for granted? A thousand times, I say no; I always thank God I was born an American in the home of hard-working immigrant parents who taught us to love our country and by all means love and thank God for the freedoms we enjoy.

Sitting in the service this morning and listening to Pastor expound on the merits of giving, not only monetarily, but in every facet of our lives, I thought of my dear mother, Ann Fiorino. Almost every Sunday of my life, I can remember her rising very early to make the Italian Bread and Pasta Sauce full of her wonderful meatballs, chicken and pork. Her reasoning was that she would be ready for family or friends stopping by.

And stop by, they did. If it was not family, it was the parish priest when all his duties were fulfilled after the last Sunday service, or friends, or maybe even new American Italians seeking the same food they missed so much.

She taught me so many things; how to cook, set the table, be a gracious hostess, but mainly, how to serve. This was her greatest love. Serving her wonderful Italian food to people she loved and some she hardly knew, it was her greatest joy.

She did not have a lot of money, nor did she leave a legacy of a famous woman, but at her funeral there was standing room only. Many people came to tell their story of her hospitality, others told how she helped them get their citizenship, others of sitting at her table and being encouraged to peruse their dream. Because she blessed so many, she herself was blessed.

As I was completing a cooking class the other evening at one of the Dierbergs Cooking Schools, a lady came to me and said, "I must tell you that your story of 'making a memory' with your children so touched me that I started teaching my daughter how to cook. We have had some wonderful times, and it has bonded us together." She went on to say that she loved the cookbook, *Rosalie Serving Italian,* but the recipes were only recipes until shared them with her loved one.

As the Pastor closed the sermon, he said "BLESS and BE BLESSED. As my mother blessed others, she can rest assure that I too am carrying on the tradition of serving others as best that she taught me. That is why the title of my book is *Rosalie Serving Italian.* My greatest joy is that you will use the recipes in my book to bond with and enjoy your children.

Click on my website,

www.rosalieservingitalian.com to find a cooking class near you. Bring your sons or daughters and have an enjoyable evening with *Rosalie Serving Italian.* Bless someone this week and be blessed.

God Bless,

Rosalie

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI RECIPE

1 large eggplant

1 tablespoon salt

 

1 cup Progresso Italian Style bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

 

3 eggs beaten, more if needed

Salt and pepper

 

1 (15-ounce) carton Ricotta cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded thin

1/2 Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon black ground pepper

 

1/3 cup olive oil for frying, more if needed

Marinara Sauce of your choice, or

 Rosalie's Marinara Sauce on page 127 of Rosalie Serving Italian

 

1.  Preheat oven to 375-degrees.  Cut stem and end from eggplant.  Peel the eggplant partially in strips, leaving some of the peel intact.  Using a meat cutter or a mandoline, slice the eggplant into thin lengthwise slices, about 1/8-inch thick.  Let the eggplant slices soak in cool water with the salt added for about 30 minutes while you prepare the other steps. 

 

2.  Place the bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, and parsley in a shallow plate.  Beat the eggs until fluffy.

 

3.  Prepare the filling by placing the Ricotta, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, parsley, egg and pepper in a bowl.  Mix well and set aside.

 

4.  Rinse the eggplant in cool water and drain.  Dip each slice in the beaten eggs and then the bread crumbs on both sides.  Place the olive oil in a large skillet and over medium heat; fry the eggplant about 2 minutes on each side until golden.  Salt and pepper lightly as they fry.  Drain slices on paper towels.  Add olive oil to pan as needed and if necessary, start a clean pan midway of frying.

 

5.  Meanwhile, using a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, pour in 1/2 cup marinara sauce to cover the bottom.  When all of the eggplant slices have been fried and drained, place them on a large cookie sheet.  Place 2 tablespoons Ricotta filling on each slice and spread gently.  Starting from the short end of the slice, roll the eggplant up jelly-roll style.  Place each roll, seam-side down, in the baking dish.  You should have about 15 rolls.  Top with the Parmesan cheese and cover loosely with aluminum foil.  Bake about 20 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.  Serves 8.

JUST STUFF IT!

Buron giorno and Good Day

 

Greetings to all the wonderful fans of Rosalie Serving Italian.  Your emails, letters, phone calls and praises are not only great to receive, but let's me know that cooking and serving good food still makes people happy.  The greatest gift to me is when someone tells me they actually fixed a dish out of my cookbook and their family loved it, like the Eggplant Rollatini.

 

Thus was the case last evening when I conducted an Italian Cooking Class at Dierbergs School of Cooking held at the St. Charles, MO. location.  There were 19 people in class, all of which were wonderful; showing their enthusiasm to learn while tasing the savory food once demonstrated.

 

One of the items to teach for the evening was Eggplant Rollatini; one that many say delighted their whole family.  This is thinly sliced eggplant that is breaded with Italian bread crumbs and fried quickly in olive oil.  Each slice is then covered with 2 tablespoons of Ricotta cheese that has been blended with Parmesan, mozzarella and spices.  The slice of eggplant is then rolled up and seam-side down, placed in a baking pan. A rich Marinara sauce is poured over the rolls and after a garnish of Parmesan cheese is sprinkled on the top, it is baked to bubbling, about 20 to 30 minutes. 

 

Some of the other items I taught were: * Italian Stuffed Sausage Bread * Pasta Con Broccoli* Caprese Salad * and the *Chocolate Almond Biscotti.  All were loved and enjoyed by the students, but when asked what they loved the best, all said the Eggplant Rollatini.

 

Did you know there are many ways to enhance common food:...JUST STUFF IT!  I was thinking of some of the recipes in my cookbook like:  *Jumbo Stuffed Shells * Spiedini ( breaded stuffed meat rolls) * Italian Breaded Chicken Rolls * Stuffed Talapia * and of coarse, * Cannoli Shells (stuffed with Ricotta and whipped cream.)

 

So, the next time you're stressed, instead of telling someone to...JUST STUFF IT, get out your Rosalie Serving Italian cookbook, and really...JUST STUFF IT!Especially, take the time some evening to make up the Eggplant Rollatini. I am so convinced you will love it, I included the recipe following this blog.

 

A few more tips for the stressed:

*If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

*Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

*The second mouse gets the cheese.

*Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

 

There you have it my friends; remember one thing about your ills, "This too shall pass."  Have fun and go ahead...JUST STUFF IT!

 

Bella sera and Good Evening!

Rosalie...email me at rosalie@rosalieservingitalian.com

 

 

DITCH THE STRESS

DITCH THE STRESS!

 

Reading over one of my website links, I was delighted to see my friend Cathy Sexton write an article about managing stress.  Her website is *On Point Solutions, LLC* and features QuickBooks Accounting, Taxes and Office Organizing Solutions.  She tells the following story:

 

A lecturer,  when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"  Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.  The lecturer replied " The absolute weight doesn't matter.  It depends on how long you try to hold it.  If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.  If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.  In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."  He continues, "And that's the way it is with stress.  If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.  As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.  When we are refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

 

This story is the essence of what a continual stressful situation can do to everyday Americans like you and me.  We get so tired of holding the same old situation, trying over and over to put it down, but there it is again in our hand.  Why does this menace...STRESS, seam to rob us of the beauty of living life and being able to appreciate our God, our Family, Others and finally Ourselves?  Something has to give, and we have to lay it down.  This is my idea of dealing with STRESS:

 

STRESS;

 

S...STITCHES...My mother was a sewer, and when she put the stitches in the wrong place, she would simply unravel them and start over.  Sometimes we just have to start the whole plan overb get a new look on the existing plan, and reform it.

 

T...TRUST...If you don't have the brains to figure it out, then trust a family member or friend who may have the knowledge to advise you.  This takes humility, but no kingdom is built alone.

 

R...REVITALIZE...Put a new spin on your old ways.  Get out of the rut and back on the road.

 

E...EXERCISE...Put the burden down and go for a walk, or join the gym and work out for 30 minutes.  It is proved over and over that exercising the mind and body can help us refocus the situation.  If nothing else, go on a date with your spouse.  I'll keep the kids.

 

S...STREAMLINE...Clean off your desk!  Throw away all the things that are NOT important.  The best way to feel better about the situation, is to ELIMINATE  what you really don't need.  Get organized, and feel the weight lift from your shoulders.

 

S...STAY...Don't Give Up!  If God be for you, who can be against you!  Here's a thought...PRAY!  Usually when people have used up every resource including Drugs, Desperate House Wives, and Self Help Books, they somehow turn to God.  So don't burn the house down, stay with your spouse and kids and little by little, Ditch the Stress.

 

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

 

*Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

*Always keep your words soft and sweet, your never know when you may have to eat them.

*If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

*When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

*Birthdays are good for you.  The more you have, the longer you live.

*You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

*Drive carefully.  It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

*Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

 

So there you have it my friend.  Put that glass down and go make a wonderful dish of Pasta right out of my cookbook *Rosalie Serving Italian.*  Check out the Recipe below.

 

Ditch the Stress, and have a great day!

Rosalie 

 

 

STUFFED JUMBO SHELLS:

 

*Marinara Sauce of your choice

*Italian Meatballs recipe found on page 125, of Rosalie Serving Italian, optional

 

1/2 package jumbo shells, about 18

1 tablespoon salt

13-inch by 9-inch glass baking dish

olive oil to brush pan

 

1(15-ounce) container ricotta cheese

11/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

 

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

 

1.  Preheat oven to 350-degrees.  Prepare the marinara sauce.  If using the Italian meatballs, brown, crumble and add to sauce.  Simmer together about 15 minutes.  Boil jumbo shells in a 6-quart pot with 4 quarts boiling water.  Add 1 tablespoon salt and boil 8 to 10 minutes.  Shells should be a little under cooked to accommodate baking time.

 

2.  While shells are cooking, mix together ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg and parsley.

 

3.  Drain shells and cover with lukewarm water to keep separated.  Remove 1 shell at a time and stuff with ricotta mixture.  Lightly brush bottom of baking dish with olive oil.  Place 1 cup marinara sauce over bottom of dish and arrange filled shells on top of sauce.  Pour 2 cups additional sauce over shells.

 

4.  Top with 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.  Cover with foil, making a few slits in foil for steam to escape.  Bake 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.  Let stand 6 to 8 minutes before serving  Serves 6.

 

 

 

I QUIT!

Buon giorno!

 

Reflecting on the past two weeks I must say I didn't expect the turn of events that entered my life.  Pneumonia, a severe sinus infection, and an ICU stay in the hospital have really taken a toll on my thinking.  Somehow a spirit of thankfulness overtakes all the demands of life, or what we deem to be demands. 

 

It seemed just a few weeks back I was struggling with whether to continue my next book Rosalie Serving Country.  I had been trying to perfect the Southern Belle dessert  Apple Dumplings. It was on a Wednesday morning that I decided to try my hand at these little darlings just one more time.  After making the dough and trying to roll it out on my counter, I could tell it was going to be disastrous.  Aggravated, I swept dough an apples alike into the waste can.  This was the fourth time of trying, and I was saying " I Quit"!  I looked down at Cappuccino, my ShihTzu, and said "Come on Capps, lets take a walk". 

 

I am blessed to have a gorgeous Gulf grounds near my house with a beautiful walking trail, so without further thought the dog and I headed there.  It was a beautiful October 24th, and with the crisp air and lovely landscape, maybe one could feel some solace.  Right into the walk I started to talk to the Lord out loud about the trying last few days.  I told Him I just didn't feel that I had another book in me, and at the rate these crazy recipes were going, it would never come to fruition anyway. I said, " I Quit"!  It was at this point that Capps looked up to me and cocked his head as to sympathize.  I quickly looked down to him and said "Mind your own business, and look for squirrels".  

 

After enough of the pitiful confession my conversation turned to repentance, and I began to thank God for my health, strength, and the greatest family anyone could ever ask for.  I decided to enjoy the remainder of the walk along with Capps as he frolicked through the woods in hopes of seeing one of his rodent friends.

 

We got home about an hour later, and as I entered the kitchen and looked at the dough in the waste can, something rose up in me that said "Just try one more time".  If you have been keeping up with my newsletters, you all know that this was the "Breakthrough of the Apple Dumpling Dilemma".  This was the day the recipe was perfected and baked up so beautifully, I just had to step back and smile. 

 

Heading to the hospital after the dumplings came out of the oven so that my trusty co-workers could taste-taste, I was feeling rejuvenated and back on track.  Of course i wasn't going to Quit.  I had a book to write!

 

It was the next day that I came down with the illness and many days thereafter to think about the statement "I Quit"!  How grateful I was to see the days of recovery, and be able to thank God for the many opportunities he daily gives me to better my life as well as those around me.  The great Abraham Lincoln lost almost every election he ran for until he was elected President of the United States.  I wonder would have happened if he scummed to self-pity and quit? 

 

Maybe we would still be in slavery.  Thank God for those among us that will persevere in the face of adversity.  So hang in there my friends, don't give up just yet.  The Apple Dumplings are just waiting to be perfected, along with our failing business, home life, marriage, that wayward child,  or our life-long dream that is still hanging out there and waiting to be fulfilled.  So keep keeping on, and by all means don't QUIT!   Remember, 2nd Corinthians,12:9... "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness".

 

Check my newsletter for my upcoming events, and God Bless!

Rosalie.. and keep serving Italian.

 

 

 

 

HAVE BOOKS WILL TRAVEL OCTOBER 3,2007

Boun giorno, and Good Day!

 

Recently I had the opportunity to be in beautiful Tampa, Florida, and was fortunate to stay at the luxurious Embassy Suites in downtown Tampa.   The event was an annual church conference that my husband and I usually try to attend.  I had the idea to bring my cookbook Rosalie Serving Italian, but wasn't sure how it would be accepted.  How do books like How to Start a Home Missions Church,  Be The Satisfied Pastor's Wife,  Prayer That Moves Mountains  and a ton of other church-related topics: "Marriage Counseling", "Christian Child Raising",  "Win Your Neighbor", and Bible Studies on every possible subject, fit in with a COOKBOOK?

 

 What would Dr. Dobson, Max Lucado, and Rick Warren say?  "DO YOU THINK WE WANT A COOKBOOK ON OUR SHELF?"  Or, maybe they would say, " WE'RE TRYING TO BE SPIRITUAL , NOT GLUTTONOUS!".   While I try to be sensitive to these things,  I have a book to sell, and besides, every Spiritual Giant has to break their fast sometime.  Besides didn't Jesus say that He was the Bread of Life, and that man should not live by Bread alone?.  Even the Devil tried to tempt Jesus with warm loaves of Bread.  Of course, Jesus said no, but then He was God Almighty.

 

So, I arrive at the Hotel toting my little wheeled suitcase full of books, and notice a sign, "Ladies Fashions by Classy Collections" now in progress at the Marriott, Room 5, second floor".  BINGO!  A place to sell my books.  I tell Bill, "Lets get checked in quick, so I can head across the street to the Marriott".  He"s mumbling something about how he got into all this, and would I please settle down; however he is obliging as usual.  In less then 20 minutes I've found the "shop" along with hundreds of church ladies trying to find the perfect outfit.  The owner of the shop was very sweet and agreed to let me set up a table at the entrance for a small percentage of book sales.  As soon as the ladies came out from shopping,  I would say, "How about a Cookbook?"  I then tell them how spiritual this will be; pleasing your husband, nourishing your little ones, witnessing to your neighbor with an Italian Cream cake, having Pastor and wife over for a wonderful Italian meal.  They could only stare at me and Hope to be Spiritual.  I did sell a lot of books.

 

The next day I'm at the exhibit hall among Pastors, Missionaries, Evangelists, Authors, Teachers, Music Ministers, and a host of "booth people" selling everything from baptismals to communion cups.  Since my granddaughter, Taylor, is attending the Gateway  College of Evangelism  in Missouri,  I thought this would be a great booth to advertise and sell my book, plus help the College by donating a percentage.  As the ministers and wives came by the booth, it was evident there was a question mark on their face.  "WHAT DOES A COOKBOOK HAVE TO DO WITH BIBLE SCHOOL"?  Again, I humbly explained how I was trying to help the Bible school, but more important, I emphasized..."GET A LIFE, AND HAVE SOME FUN, PEOPLE... BUY A COOKBOOK!"  Actually many of the men, who I found out do much of the cooking, were my biggest fans.  Maybe they thought it would good therapy after having a meeting with the church board.

 

All in all, I did have a great time, sold 92 books, and even talked several Foreign Missionaries into taking my book on consignment.  Think of it...as they travel around the United States trying to raise money for their budget, some deserving wife can have the opportunity to buy my book.  It may even help her marriage!   You all know my motto, right?  Food is a Bridge to Relationships.  I say, if Jesus is going to all the trouble to make us the "Marriage Feast of the Lamb", then surely His chosen ones should be in practice down here.  I, my friends am fulfilling this calling...writing Cookbooks, and giving you the means to participate in heavenly places right at your own table. ( Red Sauce over Penne Pasta, page 126). 

 

Remember, life's short, eat pasta.  Have fun and God Bless!  Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and get free weekly recipes.

Love to All!

 

Rosalie Fiorino Harpole