Pineapple-Cherry

Now Pineapples and Cherries are a tasty combo in drinks, or cakes. Perhaps not paired with Bologna.

I'm still on the Good and Easy cookbook. Really there are so many ridiculous recipes in here I could probably blog all year about it - but I won't, don't worry. There are several pages of frankfurter fun, and I chose this one to highlight today because of the picture, too. LOOK AT THAT CARPET. Then LOOK AT THAT FOOD.

Really they should post this at Weight Watchers as folks would lose their appetites.

Pineapple-Cherry Bologna (I'm serious)

1 pound ring bologna (I'm sure that's a popular selection at the deli)

Pineapple-Cherry Glaze (it's coming)

Potato Buds (enough for 4 servings) (that's optimistic)

If necessary, remove casing from bologna (when would that not be necessary?); arrange bologna in ungreased 9-inch pie pan. Cut ring diagonally at 2-inch intervals, being careful not to cut completely through. Carefully separate cuts and spoon in part of the glaze. Spread remaining glaze on top of bologna.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare Potato Buds as directed on package. Mound potatoes in center of ring. Bake 20 minutes or until potatoes are light brown. (Then get in car and drive to nearest Burger King and get a veggie burger.)

Pineapple-Cherry Glaze (I warned you)

1/2 cup crushed pineapple

1/4 cup coarsely chopped maraschino cherries (how would something that fall be finely chopped?)

1/4 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons white vinegar (this is turning my stomach just typing it)

1/4 teaspoon cloves

2 drops red food color (because it wasn't bad enough before)

1 1/2 teaspoons water

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch.

Heat it all except water and cornstarch to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer 15 minutes. Blend water and cornstarch; stir into fruit (is that what we should call it?) Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute.

Oddly, my many holiday cookbooks have nothing for Martin Luther King Day. Perhaps the fact that many of them are based in the South from the 1960's has something to do with it. My older son is now 5 and he and I talked about the great man. His Kindergarten class did a project about how MLK wanted all to be friends and have equal rules. Good spin for little guys. I talked a bit more at home, about how African American folks could not use the same drinking fountains and bathrooms as Caucasians before people like MLK started protesting. My son was astonished, saying "Daddy? Did you know about this?" I pray that he and his brother and everyone they encounter are always astonished that such things existed, though we try to prepare him for less positive situations that he may encounter. In the meantime, we are all celebrating the Inauguration of another great man today. The Chicago papers have been speculating about what will be served at the events for weeks.