Pork-tastic Chops

Let me begin this post by saying I typically do not like to eat pork (exception bacon). However, I had a coupon for a free pound of boneless pork chops at EarthFare (love this store). So Nick and I splurged one pound free and $4.99 for another pound. This got us four 1"-1 1/2" chops weighing 1/2 lb each. These were huge! Anyways, I made two of these with a homemade mango bbq sauce.

Recipe: Serves 2

BBQ Sauce:

1 mango diced

1 hot banana pepper (or other chile pepper)

2 tbsp Sweet Baby Ray's Bbq Sauce

1 tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)

Place all ingredients in food processor and blend until all mango is smooth.

Pork Chops:

2 thick cut boneless pork chops

Salt, pepper, garlic powder, steak seasoning (like McCormick's Montreal Seasoning)

2 tbsp oil

Heat skillet on medium high with oil. Season one side of the pork with a sprinkle of each seasoning and place seasoned side down in skillet. Season the other side of the pork. Cover with lid or aluminum foil. Cook each side for about 5 mins. Reduce heat to medium low. Once each side is browned, begin basting with the mango bbq sauce. Baste one side and flip, it cook about 2 mins. Baste other side and flip immediately, cooking about 2 mins. Baste and cook each side 2-3 times. Should take about 20 mins to fully cook. Once pork is finished top off with mango bbq sauce, cover and let rest five minutes. Serve with veggies or instant potatoes (that's what I did). Enjoy!

Sensational Salad

I love salad--really love salad!! Seriously, I could eat salad everyday. Recently I tried a simple salad and it was a hit. I hope you try it and love it as much as I did. My only request is USE FRESH INGREDIENTS--splurge just a bit for fresh lettuce and cheese.

*Side note: Even my I-don't-eat-anything-with-salad-in-the-name husband enjoyed this. He's eaten it three different times now!!

Recipe:

3 cups mixed salad greens (or favorite lettuce*)

3/4-1 cup freshly grated gouda cheese

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Mix together and top with any vinaigrette (or ranch if you must).

*Please, please, please do not use iceberg with this. It will only detract from the quality of this dish.

Quick Cooking Potatoes

Tonight, Nick and I took dinner over to his grandmother's house. It was so good--the food and conversation. Also we got to spend some time with Nick's cousin, Kevin, who was over for dinner as well. Well, I cooked this meal tonight after I got off work so I definitely needed to make sure it was fast! I made homemade mashed potatoes. Usually I would not make these in a time crunch but had a brilliant thought..."Why not slice the potatoes so they cook faster?" So I did. And it worked wonders!

I figured the amount of time spent dicing the potatoes vs. time spent slicing (about an 1/8"-1/4") was the same--maybe 8-10mins. I just filled the water, covered it, and started heating it on med-high. Then I sliced the potatoes and placed them in the heating water when I had too many on the cutting board. Added salt and chicken bouillon, and let it boil for about 15 mins (about half the time had I diced them). They were perfect! Mashed with butter, milk, and s/p. Delish! Try this one and enjoy a fabulous homemade dinner.

Another Casserole

I don't why, but I have just made alot of casseroles lately. No that that is a bad thing, it's just I feel like I've just given up. It's just been busy so I just throw whatever into a dish and that's dinner. Anyways, here is a tex-mex insprired casserole.

Recipe: Serves 4-6

1 1/2 cups cooked rice (leftover or just cooked)

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can corn, drained and rinsed

1 can rotel

1/2 cilantro, roughly chopped

10 6" or 8" flour tortillas

Dash of red wine vinegar, lime juice, salt and pepper, salsa

1 cup cheese

Heat oven to 375*. Combine beans, corn, Rotel, cilantro, and rice. To this mixture add just enough, vinegar, lime juice and salsa to coat everything. In a 2qt casserole dish, layer one tortilla and 1/3 mixture. Repeat until finished then top with cheese. Back for 15-20 mins or until cheese begins to brown. Serve with extra salsa and sour cream. Enjoy!

Mexican Casserole

So this is a dish I just made up. Nick didn't really care for it, but I loved it!! If you fix it, let me know your thoughts.

Recipe: Serves 4-6

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1/2 can Rotel (or other diced tomato with jalapeños), drained

1/2 can corn, drained and rinsed

1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 bag of boil in bag rice (or 2 cups cooked white rice)

1/2 non-fat greek yogurt (sour cream)

A splash of red wine vinegar, lemon or lime juice, salt and hot sauce.

1 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375*. In an 8x8 baking dish, combine everything except cheese. Top with cheese and bake 15-20 mins or when cheese is melted and bubbling. Enjoy

Baking

I don't bake much. I just don't enjoy baking as much as cooking, but today I was off and had been wanting to make a few things. So I did.

First up is homemade white bread. A while back I inherited my mother-in-law's stand mixer. Yes it's a vintage Sunbeam and I had been eying it since I first met her, but anyways, I haven't used it too much. I've made some cakes with but never bread so I thought I'd give it a try today. I must say I would rather make it by hand. I found my dough just crept up the dough hooks therefore making it difficult to mix. I ended up just dumping it all out on the counter and finishing by hand. Although, I had some trouble with the mixer, the recipe is probably one of the easiest I have found and definitely a keeper!!

Well, after much patience, here is the finished product, and I must say it turned out fabulous. We are definitely having some tonight for dinner!! Homemade bread it just so yummy!!!

Also, I had dried some apples a while back and finally decided to use them. This is a cross between an apple pie, an apple crisp and an apple tart. I made the dough right in the tart pan--so simple! Then I rehydrated the apples and used all the traditional apple pie filling ingredients. Lasting I made a apple crisp topping. It looks and smells delicious! Nick is going to take it into work tomorrow so hopefully glowing reviews!

Well, I also made upside down pineapple biscuits. This is a recipe my mother-in-law makes frequently, and everyone loves!! I have started making my own twist of it. Instead of baking individual biscuits, I just roll out all the biscuits (you use canned ones) and press them together. Then I place the pineapple topping in a 8x8 pan and lay the biscuits on top. It is scrumptious! I think the next I bake this, I am going to add in some cream cheese to the pineapple mixture. It just occurred to me that that would a perfect combination of flavors.

Well, I'll try to post these recipes soon so you can try them out!

New Meals

This is a meal I fixed from last month's Rachel Ray magazine. It is called Disco Fries and it was delicious!! Seriously one of the best meals we have had in awhile. It is french fries, mushrooms, onions, gravy and sharp cheddar cheese. I mean how can you go wrong with that?! Check it out. It was simple and quick.

This is my most delicious chili. I love my chili because it is so simple and can be ready in 15 minutes or an hour. It is seriously fix it and forget it. I posted the recipe in a previous blog Winner, Winner, Chili Dinner. If you need a quick meal--this should be on of your go to's. Enjoy these recipes and look for more to come soon!

Also, if you are looking for ways to cut calories but can't give up your faves like cheese, pay a little extra for an extra sharp cheese (check out the specialty cheese section). You'll use less but get a more intense flavor. One more tip, buy fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley to bulk up flavor while using less salt. And if don't use all the herbs--tie a string around it and hang it upside down to dry it out. Then crush and store in an airtight container. It will keep for awhile.