Mell-o-Lantern?

Here is a fun summer activity. Make mellon jack-o-lanterns, then eat them afterward! Courtesy of my Dad. Thanks!

Baked Pork Chops

• 3 Tbs Olive oil
• 4 pork chops
• 2 Tbs brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dry mustard
• 1 Tbs lemon juice
• 1 10 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Place pork chops in the skillet and brown about 5 minutes on each side. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, salt, pepper and dry mustard. Arrange pork chops in a medium baking dish. sprinkle with lemon juice, season with brown sugar mixture, and cover with tomato sauce. Pour water into the baking dish. Cover and bake 1 hour in the preheated oven.

Breadsticks

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 Tbsp yeast
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup butter
Garlic salt
Parmesan cheese

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water. Add salt and flour; mix and knead for 10 minutes. Spread on a cookie sheet. Spread on butter and sprinkle garlic salt and Parmesan cheese. Slice into strips. Let rise 20 minutes and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Snickerdoodles

2 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening**
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 & 1/2 cups sugar, plus 3 Tablespoons
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.

With a hand-held or standing mixer, beat together the shortening and butter. Add the 1 & 1/2 cups sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour mixture and blend until smooth.

Mix the 3 Tablespoons sugar with the cinnamon in a small bowl. Roll the dough, by hand, into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar. Flatten the balls into 1/2-inch thick disks, spacing them evenly on unlined cookie sheets. Bake until light brown, but still moist in the center, about 12 minutes. Cool on a rack.

**I did not have shortening, so I just used 1 cup (2 sticks) of margarine total and it turned out great.

St. John's Banana Nut Bread

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 bananas, mashed
1 cup nuts (optional)

Cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs. Mix in dry ingredients. Mash bananas on a plate with a fork. Add bananas and nuts. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

** Can double the loaf and make 3 loaves.

Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Cookies

1 pkg Triple Chocolate Chunk Cake Mix (Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat in 1/2 of cake mix, butter, vanilla, and eggs on medium speed until smooth. Stir in remaining cake mix and chocolate chips.

Drop dough on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes (until edges are set). Cool 1 minute.

**Can also use other cake mix flavors.

Ham n Cheese Pasta

8 ounces pasta (bow tie, elbow, flower, etc.)
1/4 cup butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 1/2 cups shredded Colby cheese
4 ounces cooked ham, diced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

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In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Saute garlic 30 seconds. Whisk in flour and pepper. Cook and stir until smooth. Pour in milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly. (Don't let it burn!) Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Stir in mustard and Colby. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted. Remove from heat and stir in pasta and ham.
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Pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

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Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.