ArcaMax Recipes 07/15/2005

Deviled Ham Spread
Pork Loin Chops with Mushroom Gravy
Mashed Potato Casserole
Marinated Cucumbers
Pecan Shortbread

This menu serves 6 to 8.
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Appetizer
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Deviled Ham Spread

2 small cans deviled ham
1/2 cup mayonnaise
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
3 Tbsp. fresh dill chopped or 1 tsp. dried

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Chill
before serving with crackers or crust bread pieces.

The Skinny: Use light mayo and cream cheese.

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Main Course
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Pork Loin Chops with Mushroom Gravy

6 - 8 pork loin chops
2/3 cup flour
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 and 2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup dry red wine
1/2 tsp. dried thyme

Combine flour and salt and pepper in a large bag.
Shake each pork chop to coat with flour mixture. Melt
butter in a large skillet and brown pork chops on each
side; remove chops from skillet and place on a paper
towel to drain. Meanwhile saute onion, mushrooms, and
garlic in the skillet until mushrooms and onion are
tender. Add leftover flour that was used to coat chops,
milk, wine and thyme to the skillet and simmer until
mixture starts to thicken. Return chops to the skillet
and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes or until pork is cooked
through.

The Skinny: Use lean pork chops and low fat milk

Mashed Potato Casserole

8 large baking potatoes
8 oz. sour cream
3 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
2 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Boil potatoes until tender. Beat potatoes along with sour cream,
cream cheese, butter milk, garlic, dill weed and salt and pepper.
Place in a casserole dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

The Skinny: You're joking, right? Actually you can improve
this dish by using light sour cream and cream cheese and
low fat milk.

Marinated Cucumbers

6 - 8 large cucumbers, peeled and sliced
1 large onion, sliced
1 cup sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
1 tsp. celery seed
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate
overnight. We keep a constant supply of these cucumbers
in our refrigerator. They really are very tasty.

The Skinny: Use your favorite sugar substitute.
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Dessert
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Pecan Shortbread

1 and 1/2 to 2 cups flour, sifted
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioner's sugar, divided
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup pecans finely chopped

Combine flour, butter and 3/4 cup of the confectioner's sugar
together and blend with a mixer, add extracts, salt and pecans
and continue mixing until a dough forms. Shape dough into one
inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at
325 degrees for 20 minute or until lightly brown.

The Skinny: Use your favorite sugar substitute.

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Grocery List
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2 small cans deviled ham
1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 oz. cream cheese
1 jalapeno pepper
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
3 Tbsp. fresh dill chopped or 1 tsp. dried
6 - 8 pork loin chops
3 cups flour
2 cups butter
2 large onions
2 cups fresh mushrooms
3 cloves garlic
2 cups milk
1/4 cup dry red wine
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
8 large baking potatoes
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
6 - 8 large cucumbers, peeled and sliced
1 cup sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
1 tsp. celery seed
1 cup confectioner's sugar, divided
2/3 cup pecans finely chopped
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract