In the area where I grew up, pigs in the blanket meant using cabbage, ground meat, tomato sauce and rice. It can also be called stuffed cabbage or golabki
In this area, pigs in the blanket is made just like the recipe below.
Pigs in the Blanket
1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
4 hot dogs
ketchup
mustard
Preheat oven to 375 F. Separate dough into 8 triangles.
Cut each hot dog in half crosswise. Place each hot-dog half on the wide end of the roll and roll it up. Space the hot-dog rolls evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake approximately 13-15 minutes until the rolls are brown and flaky. Let cool for a few minutes before serving with ketchup and/or mustard.
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Now my recipe for pigs in the blanket is how the Polish people make them. They are more of a full meat meal. All you have to do is add mashed potatoes (a must) and if you want another vegetable go for it.
Golabki, Stuffed Cabbage or
Pigs in the Blanket
About 12 to 14 cabbage leaves
(more if you have a big crowd)
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (lean)
3/4 Cups cooked white rice
1 egg slightly beaten
salt and pepper (to taste)
1 egg
4 cans tomato soup
Put cabbage leaves in a shallow pan and cover with boiling water, allow to soak in water just until leaves are tender
TIP: Freeze the cabbage raw. When it defrosts, the leaves are easily workable and you do not have to worry about burning your fingers. No pre-cooking needed. In large bowl mix all ingredients except cabbage leaves and tomato soup until mixed well.
Using clean hands form meat mixture into oblong rolls and place each one on top of cabbage leaf. (seam side facing down) Over lap sides and ends of leaves over meat, tucking in edges to secure.
In baking pan, pour tomato soup plus 1/2 can water for each can of soup. stir to mix water in completely. Add salt pepper to soup and stir till mixed in.
Arrange stuffed cabbage rolls in baking pan with the folded side down. I use a pressure cooker. They are done in minutes.
Cover and bake in 350 preheated oven for about an hour and half or until cooked thru (depends on size of rolls you made)
Serve with mashed potatoes, using the tomato soup sauce as a gravy.
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National pretzel day is also celebrated in April. Here are some recipes using pretzels. I don't know anyone who doesn't like pretzels.
Bite-Sized Peanut Butter Pretzel M&M Cookies
This is just a slightly different version of the ordinary Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie.
1/2 Cup salted butter, softened
to room temperature*
1/2 Cup packed light brown
sugar (or dark brown sugar)
1/4 Cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3/4 Cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 and 1/4 cups flour
3/4 Cup M&Ms
3/4 Cup pretzel pieces
In large bowl, using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together on medium speed. Beat in the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla (in that order). Beat in the baking soda and flour. Do not overmix. Fold in the M&Ms and pretzels. Cover the dough tightly and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Drop chilled dough by tiny tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Press down to slightly flatten them out. Bake for 8-9 minutes. Cookies will be soft and may appear undone. They will firm up as they cool. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Cookies stay fresh at room temperature in an airtight container for 10 days. If they last that long and they don't.
*You may use unsalted butter in this recipe. If so, add 1/4 tsp salt with the flour.
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Pretzels are not only for dessert. Here is a light recipe which you can use as a main dish.
Pretzel Salad
CRUST:
2 Cups broken pretzels
3/4 Cup melted butter
1 Tbsp. sugar
Mix together, pat in bottom of 9x13x2 cake pan. Bake at 350F 8 min. and cool.
MIDDLE LAYER :
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
12 oz tub whipped topping
1 Cup sugar
Mix together until smooth and creamy; spread over cooled pretzel crust.
TOP LAYER:
2 pkg. small strawberry gelatin
2 cups boiling water
20 oz frozen, sliced strawberries
Stir together until gelatin is dissolved. The cold strawberries will help to make it set faster.
Refrigerate until it begins to gel but do not allow to solidify. Pour over the creamy layer.
Serving on a lettuce leaf or with a sprig of green is always a pretty touch.