Jonnie Jacobs: Recipes from Kate and Kali

Dear Reader,

I write mysteries in two series—neither of which is a cooking series. But some of my favorite foods occasionally find their way to the pages of my books. Because I've received so many inquiries about these recipes, I've decided to put them together here. I hope you enjoy them.

Chili Relleno Casserole (quick and healthy)

1 7-oz. can whole green chilies
8 oz. unflavored yogurt (nonfat works fine)
½ cup grated cheddar cheese
3 eggs (or one egg and whites from four eggs)
2 T. flour
½ teas. chili powder
¼ teas. cumin
½ cup salsa

Split chilies and open flat. Cover bottom of baking dish with chilies. Combine all remaining ingredients but salsa, mix well and pour over chilies.

Bake in 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes, until set. Top with salsa and bake for another 15 minutes or so, until salsa is heated.

Quick (and delicious) Cheese Cracker Appetizer

8 oz. cream cheese (low fat is fine)
2-3 chopped green onion
½ cup Parmesan cheese
4 T. mayonnaise
1 teas. Worcestershire sauce
dash of Tabasco sauce

Mix the above ingredients, spread on crackers (Carr's Water Crackers work well) or toasted bread rounds, and bake until bubbly.

Wine-Scalloped Potatoes

About 7 boiling potatoes, thinly sliced
3 T. butter or margarine
¾ cup grated Swiss cheese
2 T. dried onion soup mix
½ cup chicken stock
¼ cup vermouth
salt and pepper

Rub bottom of baking dish with a little of the margarine. Spread a layer of potatoes, add half the cheese and half the onion soup mix, then add a second layer of potatoes. Top with the rest of the cheese, onion soup mix and dot with margarine.

Mix stock (bouillon and water is fine) and vermouth, and pour over potatoes. Cover and bake at 425 for about an hour. Remove cover and brown.

Persimmon Cookies

1 cup persimmon pulp (about 3 ripe persimmons)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine
2 cups flour
1 cup raisins
1 cup nuts
1 teas. cinnamon
1 teas. nutmeg
1 teas. cloves
dash of salt

Cream sugar and margarine. Add egg, pulp, soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Blend. Add flour, then raisins and nuts.

Drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees for fifteen minutes.

Recipe can be doubled.

Country Mouse Cappuccino (for those of us without fancy steamers and such)

Heat milk in a saucepan until warm. Do not boil.

Pour milk into a food processor like a Cuisinart (best) or a blender (will work, but not as well). Whip until frothy (about a minute), then let the milk stand so that the foam and milk separate (about half a minute).

Meanwhile, make half to two-thirds cup of strong coffee.

Spoon milk foam and milk into coffee. Top with cocoa and cinnamon.

Best enjoyed while reading a good mystery.

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• Jonnie's Advice For Beginning Writers
• Be Your Own Best Editor, by Jonnie Jacobs and Lora Roberts
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