Sandwich and Salad Lunch Day

Here is a recent picture of the Lovely Lunch Ladies taken on the beautiful grounds of the Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland.

Lori, Stacey, and Andrea have been with the Lovely Lunch Ladies the longest and are starting their 9th year of providing lunches for the residents at this wonderful institution.

Barbecued-Pork Sliders made by Kathy

1 four pound shoulder pork roast
24 small dinner rolls

Spice Rub:
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. packed dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp. dry mustard
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Sauce Mix:
2 onions, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 6-oz can tomato paste
1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
Pickled Onion:
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 red onion, thinly sliced.

Remove skin and excess fat from pork.  Make spice rub:  Combine all ingredients and rub all over the meat.  Place pork on a large plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
Make sauce:  Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker, place pork on top and cook on high for 5 1/2 hours, until meet is tender and can be shredded easily with a fork.
Make pickled onion:  Stir sugar and salt into vinegar until dissolved; stir in onion.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, stirring ocasionally.
Remove pork fron slow cooker.  Remove 2 cups of sauce.  Shred meat.  Stir pork back into slow cooker, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
To serve put meat and pickled onion on rolls and pass the reserved sauce separately.

 Blossom Stuffed Bread made by Connie

2 cloves garlic, minced
4 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. nutmeg (optional)
2 10 oz. pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
8 oz. roasted red peppers, drained
8 oz. swiss cheese, sliced
4 oz. sandwich pepperoni
1 large round loaf Italian bread
oil ol.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Saute garlic in butter, add nutmeg, spinach and parmesan cheese and toss until the cheese melts.  Season with salt and pepper. Cut the top off the bread, remove and hallow out the inside of bread leaving a 1 inch crust.

Layer as follows:
1/3 swiss cheese
1/2 of the spinach
1/3 swiss cheese
1/2 pepperoni
red peppers
1/2 pepperoni
1/3 swiss cheese
1/2 spinach
remaining swiss cheese
Replace top and rub with olive oil.  Wrap in foil and bake at 350 for 25 mins.  Cool.  Serve at room temperature cut into wedges.  Serves 8.

Cooks note:  This is the basic recipe but I always find that I ned more cheese and pepperoni to make a nice full loaf.  I did not use nutmeg in the loaf I served at Ronald McDonald House.

Orange Tapioca Salad made by Andrea

3 cups water
1 (3 ounce) package orange flavored gelatin mix
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (3 ounce) package tapioca pudding mix
1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8 ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan.  Whisk in the orange gelatin, vanilla pudding, and tapioca pudding mix.  Return to a boil and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.  Fold in the mandarin oranges, pineapple, and whipped topping.  Transfer to a serving bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  You may garnish with some oranges if desired.

 Pumpkin -Maple Bread Pudding made by Connie

Butter flavored nonstick cooking spray
1 loaf cinnamon swirl bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup cream
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1 15 oz. can solid pack pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 3 quart casserole with nonstick spray and toss the bread and pecans in the casserole dish.  Whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over the bread.  Press down to cover the bread and soak at least one hour - I let mine soak overnight.  Bake pudding for one hour or until knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  Toppings could include hard sauce, caramel sauce, powdered sugar or shipped cream.