Give mom the night off and make this easy savory, stuff pasta dish

Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Bacon Pierogies
Photo provided

Family Features -- Whether you're celebrating a special day or simply looking for an excuse to show her the love she deserves, giving mom the gift of time to explore her hobbies and interests is a treasure she'll surely appreciate. Providing her with those extra moments can be as easy as creating a meal that gives her back the time to enjoy her passions and hobbies.

You don't have to be an experienced chef to make a dish you'll be proud to share. Simply putting your heart into preparing a meal you can enjoy together is sure to send a strong message about how much you appreciate the time and love she pours into you. A simple, savory treat like these Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Bacon Pierogies may look and taste fancy, but you can whip them up in next to no time at all.

Make cooking a breeze and put a smile on your mom's face with easy-to-prepare Mrs. T's Pierogies, which are pasta pockets stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes, cheesy goodness and other big, bold flavors. You can find full or mini sized versions in the frozen food section in 13 flavors. If you want to try your hand with other dishes, these pierogies are versatile; you can boil, bake, saute, fry or grill them.

Visit mrstspierogies.com to find more recipe inspiration to celebrate mom.


Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Bacon Pierogies

Ingredients -

  • 4 strips bacon, chopped
  • 3 small onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup baby bella mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 box Mrs. T's Classic Cheddar Pierogies
  • Directions -

    In pan over medium-high heat, cook bacon until tips begin to crisp.

    With bacon and drippings still in pan, add onions, mushrooms, thyme, balsamic vinegar, sugar and salt. Cook 2-3 minutes until onions begin to brown. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered with lid, 10-15 minutes; stir occasionally. Set aside.

    In clean skillet, melt butter and saute pierogies according to package directions.

    Top pierogies with caramelized onion mixture before serving.

    U of I tennis looking for ball runners

    URBANA -- Atkins Tennis Center is looking for ball runners for the University of Illinois home tennis matches. In addition to working the men's and women's matches, the U of I tennis facility will also host the collegiate NCAA tournament.

    Ball runners are needed for the following dates and times:

  • Friday - April 1st at 3pm, Michigan
  • Saturday - April 3rd at Noon, Michigan State
  • Saturday - April 16th, Northwestern
  • Friday - April 22nd at 3pm, Indiana
  • Sunday - April 24th at Noon, Purdue
  • NCAA Tournament May 19-28
  • No experience is necessary, t-shirts will be provided to wear and take home. Ball running is an opportunity to be a part of high-level tennis and on the same court with future professional tennis stars. Kids through between in grades 2 through 8th can sign up here to volunteer.

    For additional information, please email Sadie at spotvin2@illinois.edu or call Atkins Tennis Center at (217) 244-8562.

    Guest Commentary | At this point we have no choice but to help

    by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

    America has always been good when it comes to helping people and more are on the way.

    Refugees from Ukraine are coming to America, up to 100,000 would be welcomed as recently announced by President Biden. The population of some communities will grow depending on where the federal government places these people.

    Since the passage of the refugee act there are already over 3 million refugees in America. They are located throughout the United States with large populations in some towns and cities.

    A refugee is "a person who is unable to return his or her country of origin because of a well- founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group." A refugee legally resides in the country of resettlement and is eligible for federally funded cash assistance for up to 8 months.

    Refugees are resettled in the United States by the federal government and are afforded specific refugee assistance to help them rebuild their lives in America. This federal funding is limited in both duration and amount. It is important to note that most refugees arrive with very little in terms of possessions, beside a few bags of luggage, and if they are lucky, all of their family members.

    All refugees arriving in the United States are entitled to 8 months of Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) from the date of their U.S. arrival. The RCA amounts vary based on the size of the family: Single person ($230/month), Family of 2 ($363/Month), Family of 3 ($485/month), Family of 4 ($611/month), etc. If a family qualifies for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), offered by the State Department of Health and Human Services, they will not receive RCA funds, but will immediately begin receiving TANF funds, which provide the same amounts of funds as outlined above for families (Refugee or American), yet unlike RCA, there is 5 year time limit to their receipt of funds which can be reviewed and extended depending on need. All TANF recipients must be participating in verified educational courses, volunteer placements, and/or employment searches in order to access these funds.

    The Ukrainian people appear to be hard working people. Once they make it to America I would not be surprised if some of our worker shortage will start to disappear. These people have nothing. If you still want a job you probably should take one and go to work.

    At this point, we have no choice but to help these people as the economy and infrastructure of the countries surrounding Ukraine cannot absorb them all.

    Can you imagine if Russia and China combined to attack America? What if we had to run to Canada to survive? We would appreciate anything anybody would do to help us.


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    Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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    This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.


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