This week we salute our American veterans with Veterans’ Day. It is also National Split Pea Soup Week. Create a teachable moment for youngsters and honor those who helped to preserve our freedoms with a family-style meal. Enjoy of menu of Split Pea Soup, Kelly’s Beef Braid and Mom’s Apple Pie. Tell an interesting aspect of American history during this shared family moment.
SPLIT PEA SOUP
Follow the instructions on the package of Split Green Peas (16 oz.). This can be cooked on top of the stove or in a crock pot. Add several slices of Serrano Ham (found in the deli section of many grocery stores). It will warm your home and provide a heartwarming taste.
KELLY’S BEEF BRAID
In a skillet: Brown 2 pounds of lean ground meat. Remove & drain completely.
In the skillet: Brown with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/2 cup of finely chopped onion, 1/2 cup of chopped black olives, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic, 1/2 teaspoons of ground cloves, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 3/4 cup diced apples, 1/2 cup slivered almonds & 5 medium peeled drained finely chopped tomatoes (canned tomatoes acceptable). Stir the browned ground meat back into the mixture.
Lay out a sheet of frozen puff pastry. Cut 6 inch strips of 3/4 inch wide. (A pizza wheel cutter works well.) With a second sheet of frozen puff pastry, cut a solid rectangle of puff pastry the length of the rectangle baking pan. On a greased baking pan, place the pastry rectangle. With a touch of water, adhere the strips to the backside to the rectangle leaving the strips free to lace over the top of the beef. Space the strips 1/2 apart.
Scoop the meat mixture onto the rectangle and fold the strips over the top of the meat in a criss-cross pattern. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees.
MOM’S APPLE PIE
Prepare your favorite Pie Crust (double the recipe for enough Dough to create the pie top).
Prepare 2 sticks of melted Butter 6 Sliced Red Delicious Apples (completely peeled if preferred) Coat the peeled Coat the Apples with the melted Butter
In a bowl, thoroughly mix 3/4 cup Sugar, 1/3 cup Flour & 3 tablespoons Cinnamon.
Fill the Pie Crust with layers of Apple & the Sugar mixture. Attach the Dough for the pie top and seal the edges. Bake at 400 degrees for a total of 40 to 45 minutes. (Check the pie after 30 minutes.) During the last 10 minutes of baking, brush on an Egg White wash to create a golden brown crust. The aroma and the home-baked flavor will put smiles on everyone’s faces.