Boneless Pork Roast with potatoes and carrots

Made this for dinner one Sunday night.  I have so much food in the freezer I could eat for a year and never go to the store.  I believe I got this habit from my MOM, she did the same thing and I can remember as a kids I would always ask her ..."gee Mom why do you have so much food??  Her reply was always the same, ya never know when you won't be able to go food shopping and what if company dropped in, you'd always have food to make".  I would say now, pure logic.

This meal goes together quickly and not much fuss.  Make the marinate.
put meat (that has salt and pepper both sides) in a plastic bag, pour the marinate over pork and refrigerate about an hour or you could do over night if you have the time and have planned ahead.  Cook your potatoes and carrots for about 12 minutes, drain and set aside.

Marinate
put dry spices, garlic, lemon juice , zest, olive oil s & P in a blender or magic bullet and blend til you get a nice smooth texture.

3 lbs boness pork loin
5-6 russet potatoes
4 large carrots
6-7 cloves garlic
zest of 1 lemon
juice from lemon
2 heaping TBL oregano
1/4 tsp thyme
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper.



Remove meat from bag, put in roasting pan and bake at 350°  for about an hour.  Add the potatoes and carrots after that hour and cook for another 45 minutes or so, until veggies are tender and meat is 145° internal temp.  Use a meat thermometer to always make sure you meats are cook properly.  I use the one with the probe and little counter thing that goes off when the meat is ready.  Let it rest at least 20 minutes, carve and serve.  You could make a pan gravy if you wanted from the drippings.  I put the information for that below.

**Pan gravy**  Use the dripping from roast and add a little water, stir then add some chicken stock or more water .  Make a slurry of corn starch or flour using water and dry mix.  Add to pan dripping and cook until it thickens.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve over meat is desire.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the Things You L♥ve.
Donna


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Carrot cake

adapted from the joy of baking

This was the other cake I made on my Sunday baking this one was for the head painter Ryan.  For some strange reason I couldn't find the Carrot Cake that I know I had posted here several years ago.  Guess it's out there is space somewhere.  Carrot cake is one my all time favorites too.   Ingredients: 1 cup pecans or walnuts toasted and chopped 3/4 pound (340 grams) raw carrots (about 2 1/2 cups finely grated) 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour   1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 4 large eggs  1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar 1 cup (240 ml) safflower, vegetable, or canola oil (or other flavorless oil) 2 teaspoons pure vanilla  extract 3/4 golden raisins Cream Cheese Frosting: 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature 2 cups (230 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar sifted 1 teaspoon pure vanilla  extract 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest or a bit of fresh lemon juice Directions:   Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter or spray two - 9 x 2 inch (23 x 5 cm) cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper. I made this is a tube pan. Toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely. Peel and finely grate the carrots. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the eggs until frothy (about 1 minute). Gradually add the sugar and beat until the batter is thick and light colored (about 3 - 4 minutes). Add the oil in a steady stream and then beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. With a large rubber spatula fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.   Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, and then cool completely before frosting.  To assemble: place one cake layer onto your serving plate. Spread with about half the frosting. Gently place the other cake onto the frosting and spread the rest of the frosting over the top of the cake. If desired, garnish with toasted nuts on the top of the cake. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers. Serves 10 - 12. Frosting: In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese and butter, on low speed, just until blended with no lumps. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract, and lemon zest or juice. Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do all the things YOU L♥ve. Donna

carrot peach bread

At work we have what's called Turn which was the end of July 1st week of August.  I haven't made many things for work lately but thought that since there are a couple of new people helping us this year it might be nice for them to have a pick up treat.  They work really hard and fast during this time, which consist of about 4 hard days.  I wanted to make some sort of quick bread but also wanted something with carrot.  I found this recipe and adapted it a bit.  I am going to make a banana bread next for the head painter, have to keep him happy.  :)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups canned peaches, drained (can use fresh)
3/4 cup freshly grated carrots
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup greek yogurt (or milk)
2 large eggs, lightly beatenDirections:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool 15 minutes.
• Stir together flour, sugars, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl; add peaches, carrots, vegetable oil, milk, eggs, and toasted pecans, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon batter into a lightly greased 9- x 5-inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 350° for ~1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely

Hope you try this, it sure is yummy.  Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Always remember to Find the time To DO ALL the things YOU L♥ve.
Donna

Broccoli and Cheese Soup (LC)

Well it's snowing here in KS ....again....am sooooooooooo ready for Spring and some decent weather.  I wrote this and also made the soup the day it snowed and that day was Feb. 4.    So with that said it was perfect weather for some soup and today's choice was Broccoli and Cheese.  Best part of this one is that it is LC too, and oh so yummy.

1/2 head of broccoli crowns (microwave in bowl with water for about 4 min)
1/2 onion diced
1 - 2 carrots (cook in microwave til almost tender)
3 pcs bacon
4-5 oz. velvetta
4 oz cream cheese
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2-1 cp half and half (can also use milk)
1 pkt chicken powder seasoning (makes stock)
2/3 cp water
salt and pepper

In stock pot cook bacon, when almost crisp add the onion and cook until translucent.  Add the half and half and start adding the cheeses, cook until melted.  Add 1/3 of broccoli and then use an immersion blender to make it nice
and smooth.  Add the rest of the broccoli and the carrots and simmer until done.
Serve with some sour cream on top and a little bit of fresh parsley.  Enjoy

Thanks for stopping by,  have a great week and Remember to Find the Time to do all the Things YOU L♥ve.
D♥nna

Healthy Muffin

Been trying to eat a bit more healthy these days and there are times you want something that is yummy but also can be healthy.  I made these without using any White Flour.  Ya know what they say it's not that good for you...that's why it tastes so good.  :)  But to my surprise these were really yummy.  Could be because there is so much stuff in them.  They go together quickly so you could make them on the weekend and I would think they would freeze well.  The recipe looks long and has a lot of ingredients but trust me you'll have them made and in the oven in no time.  I do think next time I make them I will add raisins.  I didn't this time because my son in law won't eat them.

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oat flour (I made mine own by just putting oats in the food processor)
1/3 cup almonds finely ground
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream
2 carrots shredded
2 banana's mashed
1 apple grated (I used red delicious b/c that's what I had)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp all spice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 slice of jellied cranberry mashed
 about 2 TBL of the cranberry juice

Preheat oven to 350°
In a large bowl mix the banana, egg, oil and sugars.  Add the vanilla, sour cream, cranberry and cranberry juice.  Combine the flours, nuts, salt, baking soda, baking powder and all the dry spices.  Add the carrots, and shredded apple to the wet ingredients.  Then add the dry ingredients to the wet.  Don't over mix.  Put into muffin line tins and bake for about 20 minutes.  This made 16 regular size muffins.
Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day and Remember to Find the Time to Do All the things You Love.
Donna

Carrot Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting

I made these last week,  Very moist, light and down right yummy. 
They go together quickly too.  Recipe adapted from Joy of Baking.

Printable Recipe
Ingredients:

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour  

1 1/2 teaspoons  baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

4 large eggs

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar

1 cup (240 ml) safflower, corn, or canola oil

2 cups (210 grams) finely grated raw carrots

1 cup crushed pineapple

1/2 cup (55 grams) walnuts or pecans coarsely chopped

1 cup (100 grams) raisins or currants

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature

3 cups (330 grams) confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Carrot Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Place paper liners in 20 muffin cups.
In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. 
In another large bowl whisk the eggs, sugar, and oil until slightly thickened. Fold in the flour mixture until incorporated. With a large rubber spatula fold in the grated carrots, pineapple, chopped nuts, and raisins. Evenly divide the batter between the 24 muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick  inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.  
Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. Pipe or with a knife or small metal spatula spread the cream cheese frosting on top of each cupcake. Cover and refrigerate the cupcakes until serving time.

Frosting: In the bowl of your electric, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until very smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until fully incorporated and smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Makes 24 cupcakes.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day, stay warm if you're in cold weather country (like me) and Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things You LOVE.

Donna

Shrimp Stir Fry

 I get a craving often for Chinese Food so the other night I decided it was time for some Shrimp Chow Mein or as others call it Stir Fry.  This is a very quick and tasty meal and can be made with many different types of meat, poultry, fish or just veggies.  I made shrimp fried rice that night too.  I'll post that recipe very soon.  Also you can add other veggies if you like, such as snow peas, cauliflower, bean sprouts or even cabbage.  I'm not a fan of cabbage in Chinese food so it's up to you what you would like.  It probably takes more time to cut the veggies than to prepare this dish.

3/4 - 1 lb shrimp (cooked,  and peeled)
2 large carrots sliced on the diagonal
3 stalks of celery cut on the diagonal
1 large onion sliced
3-4 stems of broccoli cut
  *any other veggies you want to add*
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup water
3 TBL soy sauce
2 TBL Sesame oil
1 1/2 TBL corn starch
2 TBL vegetable oil

In a large skillet heat oil, add a couple of pieces of onion and cook for about a minute or so, add the rest of the veggies, cook until tender.  Add cooked shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes, add about 1 TBL soy sauce and a couple of shakes of sesame oil.   stir.  Just before ready to serve mix chicken stock, water, rest of soy sauce, sesame oil and then add the cornstarch and stir until well mixed, add to shrimp and veggies and cook until it thickens.

Veggies all cut and ready to cook.

Shrimp added

And last the sauce mixture added.

Sure hope you try this simple recipe.  I love this the next day.  I'm not a leftover person but I can deal with this.  :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day, but Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the Things you Love. 

Donna