Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Farmer Boy Recipe - Pigs in a Blanket

Here is another one of the recipes I salvaged out of my mother's collection.  This one was probably my grandmother's, from the early 20th century.  But, it could very well have been something handed down to her from another generation.  Grandmother, (my father's mother) was from the "Old Country".  (This one we know to be Germany.) She lived just past 100 years of age.  She had very little formal education and until her dying day spoke in "Broken English".  But, she did have some really good recipes!

This recipe, like so many of the collection, needed my translation and interpretation.  So many times directions or ingredients were left out of these original recipes.  But I've made all of these from the originals to be sure they work before passing them on to you.  I hope you enjoy this one; I do!  Who knew cows and pigs could get along so well!

Ingredients: (The original recipe didn't tell me how much meat was needed, so I had to guess on that.  You may wish to change this amount to fit your needs or taste.)
*This recipe makes 8 servings
  • 2 lbs. - thinly sliced Round Steak or Flank Steak * (see note at bottom)
  • Salt & Pepper and Paprika to taste
  • 1 small Onion (chopped)
  • 1/2 of a large Green Pepper (chopped)
  • 4 slices of Bacon (each cut in half)
  • 3 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 Cup - water
  • Vegetable Oil & Kitchen Bouquet (enough to brush on each serving)
  • Kitchen String
Directions: Cut each of the steaks into equal pieces.  They may be any size you wish, but I like to make them about 5 inches square. Next, with a kitchen mallet, pound the steak pieces till they thin down to about 1/4 inch and measure about 6 inches square.  Dredge them in the flour mixed with salt, pepper and paprika.  Place a strip of bacon (2 half slices) on each of the steak pieces.  Mix the chopped green pepper and onion together.  Place equal amounts of this mixture on top of each of the bacon-covered steak pieces.  Roll up each steak piece and tie with the strings.  Mix the oil and Kitchen Bouquet together and brush it on each roll.  Place each roll in a pan with about 1 Tablespoon of oil, and sear on all sides.  Add water.  Cover and simmer about 1 1/2 hours.

Before serving, cut the strings and dispose of them.  I enjoy these with mashed potatoes or noodles and any accompanying vegetable side dish.  If you reserve the drippings in the pan and add a Tablespoon of butter and flour and a little seasoning salt and milk or cream, you can have some really nice gravy to pour over the rolls and for your potatoes or noodles.

* Note: You can also use Minute Steaks - and then you probably don't have to pound them out.

If you make this, please let us all know by leaving a comment here.  Thanks.  I hope you are telling others about this blog site and how they should become followers.
I wonder if the Ingalls family ever made anything like this recipe!  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

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