Make-Ahead Shortcake
>From Quick Cooking
From Gove, Kansas, Karen Bland shares the recipe for this lovely layered dessert that showcases strawberries. "This family favorite has all the satisfaction of traditional strawberry shortcake with just a dash of distinction,” she promises.

1 loaf (14 ounces) angel food cake, cut into 1-inch slices
1/2 cup cold milk
1 package (5.1 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
1 package (6 ounces) strawberry gelatin
1 cup boiling water
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen sweetened sliced strawberries
Sliced fresh strawberries, optional

DIRECTIONS:  Arrange cake slices in a single layer in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. dish. In a mixing bowl, beat milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes or until thickened; beat in ice cream. Pour over cake. Chill. In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; stir in frozen strawberries. Chill until partially set. Spoon over pudding mixture. Chill until firm. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired. Yield: 12 servings.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Stuffed Pizza Pull-Apart

22 RHODES brand Dinner Rolls, thawed
44 small slices pepperoni
8 ounce brick mozzarella cheese, cut into 22 pieces
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
pizza sauce

Spray counter, lightly, with non-stick cooking spray. Flatten each roll into a 3-inch circle. Place 2 pepperoni slices and 1 piece of mozzarella cheese on each circle. Pull edges of each dough circle up to completely enclose filling. In a bowl combine butter, basil, oregano and parsley. Place parmesan cheese in a separate bowl. Dip each filled roll in butter mixture and then in parmesan cheese. Place 11 in the bottom of a large sprayed bundt pan pinched side up. Top with remaining 11 rolls. Sprinkle any remaining parmesan cheese over rolls. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double. Remove wrap and bake at 350°F 30-35 minutes. Cover with foil last 10 minutes of baking if necessary to prevent over browning. Remove from oven and invert onto serving platter. Serve warm with heated pizza sauce.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Crockpot Cajun Chicken

3 slices bacon chopped
1/2 C. chopped green pepper
1/4 C. chopped onion
1/4 C. chopped celery
1 1/4 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 t. dried Cajun seasoning
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/3 C. uncooked regular long grain rice
1 1/3 C. water

Cook bacon until crisp. Add pepper, onion and celery,cook 2-3 minutes or until crisp tender. With slotted spoon transfer to crockpot. Sprinkle thighs with 1 t. of the Cajun seasoning. Place in skillet and cook 4-5 minutes or until browned on both sides. Arrange chicken and any drippings over vegetables in crockpot. Pour tomatoes over chicken. Stir in remaining Cajun seasoning. Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, cook rice according to package directions. Serve chicken over rice.

- - - - - - - - - -

Quick & Easy Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Cook 1/4 pound bacon over moderate heat about 2 minutes.  Cool on paper towels.  Cut bacon slices in half.  Place 1 scallop half on each slice of bacon; wrap scallop and secure with a toothpick.  Place on greased cookie sheet.  Broil scallops, bacon side up towards broiler, turning once, about 6 minutes.  Sprinkle with drained capers.  Serve immediately.

(These were served at my baby shower for number four child ... Christopher Michael ... while we were living at Edwards AFB, CAl!  I was in awe!!!  And the lady also fixed bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, too!  Sure beat sheet cake!!)

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Quick & Easy Baked Brie

So easy and so delicious.  Generously layer mango chutney on top of your favorite Brie cheese, top with cashews and bake at 350° for 15 minutes.  Serve with sliced baguette.  Also try pesto sauce and pine nuts or apricot jam and almonds.

            When my mother was called for jury duty, she felt confident of her ability to answer the questions asked of prospective jurors.
            As a young attorney, I had filled her in on what to expect.
            Asked about the occupations of family members, Mom answered, "My son is a lawyer."
            As a follow-up, she was asked if she had ever used the services of an attorney.
            "Only to mow my lawn."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            On a busy Friday night at the restaurant where I'd recently started waiting tables, the owner suddenly emerged from the kitchen and handed me money.
            "We're in trouble!" He said. "We're out of quarters, and customers are waiting. Go next door and get me $40 worth."
            I ran to the supermarket next door, but a cashier said she wasn't allowed to give out that many quarters. Determined, I sprinted to a convenience store two blocks away, but it was closed. At a gas station farther down the road, the clerk took pity and gave me the four rolls of quarters. Twenty minutes after I'd left, I handed the coin rolls to my boss. "Where are the quarters?" He asked.
            "Right here," I said breathlessly.
            His face sank. "I meant chicken quarters."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*Speeding Hymns*
If you MUST speed on the highway, sing these hymns loudly:
at 45 mph.... "God Will Take Care of Me"
at 55 mph.... "Guide me, O Great Jehovah"
at 65 mph.... "Nearer My God to Thee"
at 75 mph.... "Nearer Still Nearer"
at 85 mph.... "This World is Not My Home"
at 95 mph.... "Lord, I'm Coming Home"
at 100 mph.... "Precious Memories"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            My teenager was headed to school one morning when I told him that the neck tag on his shirt was hanging out. "I know," he replied. "It's a fad me and some of the guys started."
            Weeks later, as the style persisted, I commented, "I can't stand it! Every time I see that, I want to fix it for you." I gently tucked the tag in place and rumpled his hair.
            "Yeah," he said smiling slyly. "All the girls do!”