Dishes that warm us in the cold of winter

Burrrr . . . this cold weather is for the birds. I don’t like those minus-degree readings.

Here are some recipes to turn on your stove and keep warm:

Breakfast Pizza

(Connie Kuster)

1/3 package of sausage or bacon (4 to 6 slices)

1 can refrigerator crescent rolls

1 cup hash browns (shredded)

3-4 Tbsp. chopped red or green pepper

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

4 beaten eggs

¼ cup milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Place crescent rolls on pizza pan and seal corners. Sprinkle meat, hash browns and peppers. Sprinkle cheese on top. Combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

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Versatile Coffee Filters

Use coffee filters as individual disposable bowls for popcorn or granola.

To prevent splatters, place a slightly flattened coffee filter over a bowl or plate of food when heating leftovers in the microwave.

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Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

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Delicious Apple Torte

2 c. flour

1 c. brown sugar

¾ c. quick oatmeal

¾ c. butter

8-10 apples

¾ c. sugar

1 tbsp. cornstarch

1 c. water

¼ tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

Chopped pecans (optional)

Mix flour, brown sugar, oatmeal and butter together like a pie crust. Save 1 cup for topping. Press remaining mixture into a 9x13 pan. Set aside.

Peel and slice apples into a large bowl. Set aside.

Bring sugar, cornstarch, and water to a boil and cook until thick. Remove from heat and add salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over apples and mix well. Pour apples over crust. Top with 1 cup reserved topping.

Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes. You may also add chopped pecans to topping before baking.

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If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.

For the rest of this "Cookin' with J & K" column, see the Jan. 21 Galva News.