Apple Pork Roast in Slow Cooker

I made this one Sunday for family dinner.  Was really good with lots of flavor.  Love these kind of meals that you really don't have to fuss with and spend all day in the kitchen.
I always buy the large boneless pork loins when they are on sale at our local grocers.  I can get so many meals from one piece so really it's very economically wise to buy this way.  When I get it home I cut it into pork chops, thin cuts for stir fry and schnitzel and then also cut some pork roasts.

3-5 lbs boneless pork roast
2-3 apples *I used honey crisp b/c that's what I had*
1 large onion thick sliced
1./2 stick of butter cut in large pats
salt and pepper
2-3 TBL spicy mustard
2-3 TBL honey
1- 1 1/2 TBL thyme.  I would have used fresh but didn't have any

Directions:

Peel and cut onion, place in bottom of crock pot, place sliced apples on top then place the butter on top of apple.  Cut slits in the pork roast and place sliced apples in the slits.  Place on top of  apples, and onions.  Sprinkle salt and pepper, then add mustard then squirt honey evenly over top, last sprinkle the thyme on top *if your using fresh thyme place the springs on top of roast*.  Cook on low for about 5 hrs.  Internal temperature should be about 135-140.

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

Corn Chowder with bacon and potatoes

I have been craving this soup for a week or so, and our weather here in Kansas has been just crazy.  One day 77 and the next barely in the mid 30's.  So this was the perfect time to make this.  I've never made corn chowder before and I've only had it a couple of times and really enjoyed it.

This came our sooooooooooooooo yummy....I will make it again for sure.  I took this to work and shared with some of my co workers and they all loved it.  Just enough left for 1 one serving.  Which I will totally enjoy.

PRINT:

Ingredients

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled*
1/4 cup butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
1 large red bell pepper, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1 medium yellow onion, diced (1 1/4 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced slightly less than 1/2-inch thick (3 cups)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2  cans corndrained
1 can creamed corn
1  cup half and half
1/2 - 1 cup heavy cream
3 oz cream cheese
3 oz Cracker Barrel White Cheddar Cheese
2 tsp dried thyme
Chives, chopped
sour cream


Directions:

Boil cubed potatoes until almost done, drain.
In large sauce pan cook bacon til crispy, set aside but leave fat in pan.  Add 1 TBL of butter to fat and then add 1/2 chopped onion.
Preheat oven to 450°, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the red pepper cut in half and the other half of the onion.  Cook until tender.  Set aside.
Back to bacon fat and butter, when onion is opaque add the garlic.  Add 2 TBL flour and stir until you get a wet sand look.  Add the chicken stock slowly and use whisk to stir so you get a nice smooth mixture.  Add all the corn, cooked pepper and onions and cook for about 10 minutes.  Add the Cheddar cheese, salt and pepper to taste.  Add the half and half and potatoes and cook for about 20 minutes at real slow low simmer.  The potatoes will continue to cook.  At this point I turned off the heat and let the flavors meld.  I finished the soup the next morning.    I melted butter in the microwave, added 2 TBL flour and made a roux.  I then added a 1/3 cut heavy cream and mixed til smooth.  I added that to the soup, added more heavy cream and simmered for about 10 minutes.  I then added the thyme and the cream cheese and simmered until the cheese melted.
When you serve garnish with chives and sour cream.  Enjoy with your favorite bread.
YUM, YUM, YUM
Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week and Always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the Things You L♥ve.
Donna

Sweet and Sour Chicken (baked)

That was a very good meal, and not long to make. 
Instructions

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper to taste
1½ cup cornstarch
3 eggs, beaten
¼ cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup (no sugar added)
¼ cup white vinegar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon  soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 carrot sliced thin
1 onion sliced
1 celery stalk sliced
1 small red pepper
Fresh Pineapple (can use 20 oz can of pineapple chunk drained)
2-3 TBL of the pineapple juice
sesame seeds to top

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
In separate bowls, place cornstarch and slightly beaten eggs. Dip chicken into cornstarch then coat in egg mixture.
Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until browned. Place the chicken in a 9 x 13 greased baking dish.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Pour over chicken and bake for 1 hour.
I stirred the chicken every 15 minutes so that it coated them in the sauce.
separate bowls, place cornstarch and slightly beaten eggs. Dip chicken into cornstarch then coat in egg mixture.
Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until browned. Place the chicken in a 9 x 13 greased baking dish.  After the chicken is cooked, pour oil off and leave a tiny bit in skillet, add the onion saute for a minute or so then add the rest of the veggies.  Add to baking dish.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic salt, mix well add the pineapple. Pour over chicken and bake for 1 hour. Stir the chicken every 15 minutes so that it coated them in the sauce.  Just before serving you can sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.  Serve with your favorite rice.   I always make cauliflower fried rice.
Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment if you like.  Have a great week and always Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU LOVE.
Donna

Hamburger Steak

I have been making this recipe for years.  It's such a quick easy meal with tons of flavor.  In times like these when prices at the grocery store just keep soaring you have to try and make things that don't require taking a loan from the bank.  I can only imagine how difficult it can be for those families out there that have to feed a family of 4 or more.  I must confess for this recipe I do use a package gravy mix, which I buy at Aldi's.  (it really is good).  The reason for that is to be honest I have not tried making my own gravy with this recipe because lean ground beef doesn't give off alot of juices nor flavor.  I will try it some day..*maybe*

Ingredients:
2-3 lbs of ground beef
1 large onion (1/2 minced 1/2 thinly sliced)
2 tsp. thyme
1 clove garlic, finely minced
salt and pepper
1 - 2 package brown gravy mix
water
olive oil for sauteing onions

Directions:
In a skillet heat oil, add onion cook for a minute or so, add garlic and continue cooking until translucent.  Remove from pan and mix into your ground beef.  Salt and pepper meat, add thyme and continue to mix.  Form oblong patties.  In same skillet cook meat on medium.  When almost done add 1 cup of water to meat and let come to boil, turn down heat and add the gravy mix, stir.  Add the sliced onions and cook for about 10 minutes.  Taste, add salt and pepper if needed and some more thyme.  Serve with mashed potatoes and a veggie.  Enjoy
The roll you see if the picture is a recipe for Texas Roadhouse Rolls.  The recipe for those will follow soon.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful rest of the week and Remember to Find the Time to DO ALL the things YOU Love.
Donna

Pineapple Mango Salsa

 

I've been wanting to try this for a while now.  I actually made this in June but had all my posts done til now.   I made this to go with the Crusted Tilapia.  You can still get really nice pineapple and mango this time of year.  Pineapple tip, Do you know how to check for ripe Pineapple?  Try pulling on one of the inner most leave and if it pulls out oh so easy you have a good one.  Can't remember where I learned that but it sure helps when trying to find fresh pineapple.

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh pineapple, diced (you could use canned)
1 cup chopped mango (be sure to peel it)
1/2 cup sweet red pepper, chopped
1 plum tomato, diced
2 green onion or `1/2 red onion, diced
2 TBL lime juice
1 TBL lemon juice
pinch of salt
**optional**...1 - jalapeno pepper, finely diced**

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Serve over fish, chicken or use with chips.

Today I'm headed for the State Fair.  I've lived in KS for over 20 years and this will be my first visit.  It is the 100 year celebration.  Just hope it's not jammed packed with people.  My sister in law is coming too.  Should be a nice break for us. 
Thanks for stopping by, have a great rest of the week 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

Pepper Steak

This is one of my favorites.  I love Chinese and Italian food.  This is a very simple quick recipe that can be ready in 30 minutes or less...Sound like Rachel Ray huh??  LOL  There's only 4 ingredients and you put it over brown rice or white rice, your choice.  I also make this with  fried rice which I will post in the future another very quick and great side dish.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. of top round steak (or whatever you want to use) cut into strips
1 - 2 green peppers sliced
1 large sweet onion sliced
1 pkg of brown gravy mix
* soy sauce to taste.. about 1 1/2 TBL...
1 TBL oil for frying 

Cut the meat, peppers and onions.   In a large skillet heat oil, add a couple of pieces of onion and let cook for about a minute just to flavor the oil, the add the meat and cook until done.  Add the rest of the onions and peppers and cook for about 5 minutes.  (cook the veggies so they are to the tenderness you like, either crisp or soft)  Add the package gravy as per instructions and add the TBL of soy sauce cook until thickened.  Serve over rice.  YUM YUM..  Enjoy

 

 Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day and Remember to Find the Time to do ALL the things you Love.
Donna

Chicken Enchilada with Green Sauce

Tuesday (9/7/10) was my oldest grandsons Birthday, he turned 18....WOW am still trying to believe that, as the saying goes, seem like just yesterday.  I think when we say things like that it shows you're starting to age.  We had a small dinner for him with his favorite foods.  The Enchilada's is not the one the requested.  I made that for those of us that didn't want to eat his favorite, which is Frito Pie.   This is a very simple recipe, a bit time consuming but worth the work.

Ingredients:
4 skinless boneless chicken breast
1 1/2 diced sweet onion
2 cloves garlic
salt & pepper
1 TBL chilli powder
1 TBL cilantro
1 large can green enchilada sauce (mild, medium or hot ...you choice)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
12-14 Taco Shells (soft)
extra virgin olive oil (for sauteing)
1/4 - 1/2 cup of veg. oil (for frying shells) 

This is the enchilada sauce                    

The Taco Shells  (also low in carbs)












Directions:

Dice the onion, smash the garlic.  Save about 1/2 of the diced onion to put inside the shells.
Heat skillet with oil, add onion and garlic, saute until clear.  Remove all but maybe a TBL of the onion

Cut up the chicken, remove any excess fat and cook in skillet until done about 10 minutes.   Add chili    powder, salt and pepper, cooked  onions and garlic.

After removing finely chop the chicken.

In another pan or skillet heat green sauce, add chicken broth and cook for about 10-15 minutes.  Add sour cream just before you are about to fill the shells.

Heat other skillet with veg. oil, fry each shell one at a time, they fry up quickly so be careful not to let them get real crispy.  Dry on paper towel.

 

A shell filled ready to roll

Tray ready for the cheese

This is the pan with them all rolled and the cheese on top almost ready to for the oven. 

 

All Done and ready to eat.  YUM!

                                             

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day, and Remember to Find the Time to do ALL the Things You LOVE!   Donna

Salsa Verde Burgers

I recently came across this ingredient and have used it in several recipes.  It gives a very nice added spice to food and dressings.  Give it a try.  Sunday night I was craving grilled hamburgers so I decided to try this in them along with some sauteed onions and garlic, they all came together nicely and the flavor was nice and the salsa made the burgers very moist (another added plus).  My family loves cheese so they also had American White Cheese added.  I served these on homemade burger buns made from this recipe along with my macaroni salad and a green salad. (tomatoes from the garden)

Ingredients:
1- 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 can Salsa Verde
1/2 Sweet Onion diced and sauteed
1 clove garlic (for cooking with onions)
salt and pepper

Take enough meat to make the size patty you want, flatten then add about 1 TBL salsa verde and 1 TBL onions.  Mix and form the patty (it will be very moist).  Grille and when just about ready add cheese if desired.  You can add additional onions and salsa if you want.  Enjoy

I'll be posting a raspberry pineapple muffin recipe tomorrow with pictures of Michael the new chef.
Have a wonderful day and always Remember to Find the Time to Do all the Things You  Love.
Donna

Red Sauce (Marinara Sauce)

 I love Italian food and when I was growing up I had two friends, they were sisters and they were Italian.  I looked forward to Sundays because I was always invited to their house for the usual Italian Sunday Family dinner...and boy could their mom make wonderful Italian food.  Having red sauce for your pasta didn't come ready from the can.  You used whole canned tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato puree and of course all the good seasonings.  The other main ingredients where the meats.  I remember their mom always had pork, sausage, chicken and at times beef.  Cooking the sauce for most of the day with the meats in the sause is what made it so tasty.  Well last summer we had a some tomato plants so what better to do with them then to make red sauce.  I had never had roasted tomatoes until I ate at a place here in town called Milton's.  Excellent food, so if you ever get to KS you must try it.  It's just a little place in downtown and they are only open for breakfast and lunch, think they close at 2.  So with my tomatoes I roasted them in the oven for about 40 minutes at 400 degrees, these pictures also have some black cherry tomatoes that I bought from a local farmer. 
I roast my tomatoes and peppers on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  It is easy for cleanup and also you can get all the good dripping that are created and put it in the processor.


This is the tomatoes with the salt, pepper, evoo, garlic salt and Italian seasoning.








In the following pictures you will also see red sweet peppers which I bought at Sam's.  I use these in the sauce to give it an added delicious flavor, you can also use these peppers (before you puree them) on top of homemade pizza or a sandwich.

I cut the peppers in rounds instead of strips, just a personal preference.   You can cut them anyway you like.

These are the peppers after 15 or so minutes, see how the onions are starting to become translucent? 

These are the tomatoes done.  You now put them in your food processor and puree them, be sure to get all the good stuff that's on the parchment paper. 

Making the puree

I add this to the sauce to give it body.  This is also the can that I used to cut my English Muffins.  It's a great size, I also think it would make a great cookie size and a good size doughnut.  Yet another thing on the list to make.  :-)

Now here is the sauce before the can has been added.  As you can see it's fairly thick.










And the final product.  With all the flavors from roasting the tomatoes, onions and peppers it makes a great flavorful sauce.  I also toss in about 5 or 6 gloves of garlic during the roasting.  I have also roasted garlic (the whole head) in foil for future recipes.  It makes the garlic very sweet and when you squeeze it from the casing you have almost a paste.



This sauce is great for pasta, pizza and calzones.  Really any Italian dish that calls for a red sauce.  Try it I'm sure you won't be disappointed.  You can buy your tomatoes and peppers from your local grower or even the grocery store (if you had to)  If you do choose the later be sure they are the vine or Roma's  type for the flavor.
I'd love to know if you try this.  Thanks for stopping by, and Remember to Always find the time to Do the All the Things you Love.
Donna