Week of April 23, 2017

Mon - Alfredo with Sausages
Tue - Tequila Lime Pork Chops with Cilantro Rice
Wed - BLT Pasta (one-pot dish)
Thur - Pot Roast
Fri - Hot Beef Sand

Tequila Lime Pork Chops
1/2 cup tequila
1 tbsp lime zest (about 1 lime)
6 limes, for freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tsp chiplote chili powder
1 tbsp minced fresh garlic (about 3 cloves)
2 tps kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
6 pork chops
Directions
Combine the tequila, lime juice and zest, chili powder, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add the meat. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but up to 24 hours.
Remove from marinade. Throw away marinade. Grill (on BBQ grill or on grill pan) on medium heat until the meat is cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. 160f with a meat thermometer.
Let stand 5 minutes before cutting and serving. Recommended: Serve with rice, warm tortillas, and lime wedges.

(BLT Pasta) Bacon, Linguine & Tomato Toss (pampered chef recipe)

Recipe

 12 slices bacon, divided

 4 cups (1 L) chicken broth

 2 cans (14.5 oz each)  Italian-style diced tomatoes (3½ cups/875 mL)

 1 medium onion 

 4 garlic cloves, pressed

 1/2 tsp (2 mL) crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

 12 oz (350 g) uncooked linguini pasta

 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

 1 cup (250 mL) loosely packed fresh parsley, divided

 4 oz (125 g) cream cheese

 1 oz (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated

Halved grape tomatoes (optional)

1.         Slice bacon crosswise into 1/4-in. (6-mm) strips using Santoku Knife. Place into (12-in./30-cm) Skillet; cook over medium-high heat 8-9 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from Skillet; drain on paper towels. Drain Skillet, leaving 1 tbsp (15 mL) drippings in Skillet.

2.         Meanwhile, place broth and diced tomatoes in Large Micro-Cooker®. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 6-8 minutes or until hot; carefully remove from microwave. On clean Cutting Board, finely chop onion usingFood Chopper. Return Skillet to heat; add garlic pressed with Garlic Press and pepper flakes, if desired. Cook 10-20 seconds or until fragrant. Add onion; cook 2-3 minutes or until onion is tender. Carefully add broth mixture, pasta, half of the bacon and salt. Simmer, covered, 9-10 minutes or until pasta is almost cooked but still firm, stirring occasionally.

3.        Finely chop parsley using Chef's Knife; reserve 1 tbsp (15 mL) for garnish. Cut cream cheese into cubes. Grate Parmesan cheese using Rotary Grater. Cut grape tomatoes in half, if using. Remove Skillet from heat. Stir in remaining parsley, cream cheese and grape tomatoes, if desired. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes or until pasta is tender and sauce is thickened. Serve with remaining bacon, Parmesan cheese and reserved parsley.

Yield: 6 servings Nutrients per serving: Calories 450, Total Fat 18 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Cholesterol 45 mg, Carbohydrate 49 g, Protein 18 g, Sodium 1500 mg, Fiber 3 g

Beef Pot Roast
Ingredients
3 lb chuck roast
salt and pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1 lb bag carrots, chopped or baby carrots
4 celery, chopped

Crock Pot Roast`

4 cloves garlic, pressed
6 medium red potatoes, quartered
1 tbsp thyme
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp browning liquid
5 cups beef or veggie stock
Directions
Brown roast in 2 tbsp oil on high heat preferably in the roasting pan or cast iron pot (Dutch oven) you will be using to roast meat in oven. Turning to brown on all sides. Remove meat. While still on high heat, add 1 cup of the stock, scrap pan. Add all other ingredients except potatoes to pan. Return meat and add enough stock so that liquid reaches about halfway up the side of meat. (Add more stock if needed) Bake covered with foil /lid for 3 hours at 350F. Turn meat over every hour. Remove meat. Add potatoes to pot, and return meat. the liquid should cover the potatoes. Add more HOT stock if need. Cover. Cook for one more hour or until potatoes are tender.
Roast should be fall-apart tender when done.
For Gravy:
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp butter
mix together, whisk into drippings from roast pan on high heat. Boil, whisking constantly until thickness is reached.
NOTE: SLOW-COOKER directions:Add vegetables to bottom of cooker. Pour in stock and bay leaves. Put roast on top and add seasonings. Cook on high for 6 hours. At the last 2 hours, mix in the flour and butter mixture.

Hot Beef Sandwiches
12 slices white bread
Leftover Roast Beef (at least 1 cup)
Leftover Beef Gravy (at least 2 cups)
Heat beef and gravy together in a sauce pot until hot. Pour over bread. Serve with mashed potatoes and a vegetable.
NOTE: If you do not have enough gravy, make more using a can of beef stock, 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce and 2 tbls flour. Mix together with any leftover gravy you  have (or alone, if you have no leftovers). Boil until thickness is desired. Taste, add salt and pepper as necessary.
Makes 4 large 3-piece servings

week of April 17, 2017

Mon - 3 Bean Chili
Tue - Chicken and Dumplings
Wed - Ravioli with Pesto
Thur - Egg Rolls and Fried Rice
Fri - Waffles and Sausage
Sat - French Dip Sandwiches

Three Bean Chili

1 lb ground beef

1 can 16 oz refried or pinto beans
1 can 15.5 oz Black Beans

1 15.5 oz can Kidney beans

1 14 oz cans diced tomatoes with juice (use ones with chilis, for hotter chili)

1 tbsp tomato paste

1/2 onion, diced

2 small cloves garlic

1 green and/or red bell pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp cummin

1/2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp onion powder

1 tbsp oil

In a large skillet, brown beef, drain. Remove. Sauté onions and bell peppers in oil on medium until onions are translucent. Add garlic, cook until fragrant. Add beef, beans, tomatoes with the juice, paste, and seasoning to the skillet. Bring to a boil. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and/or fresh chopped onions on top, if desired.

Baked Chicken and Dumplings

chicken and veggies

1 lb cooked, diced chicken or turkey

1 can cream of celery or chicken soup

2 stalks of celery, diced

2 cloves of garlic, pressed

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 small bag of frozen mixed veggies

1 1/2 can of water

salt and pepper

Sauté the onion, celery and garlic until onion is translucent. Meanwhile, mix soup, water, salt and pepper in a 9x13 baking pan. Add all other ingredients, and mix together.

 dumplings - drop biscuits

2  cups flour

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

4 tbsp soft butter

4 tbsp shortening

3/4 cup butter milk (to make butter milk - add 1 tsp of white vinegar to 3/4 cup milk, let sit 2 minutes)

 Mix dry ingredients, butter and shortening in a large mixing bowl with a fork or pastry bender. Until it resembles peas. Add butter milk mix until it forms a dough. Scoop small dumplings out of the mix and drop into the pan on top of the chicken/veg mix.

Bake at 375 uncovered until the dumplings are golden brown and done all the way through. About 30-40 minutes.

Ravioli and Pesto

for the pesto follow the Food network recipe HERE - I will be using plain bread crumbs instead of pine nuts

Ravioli - fresh, prepackaged. Follow directions on package to cook.

Chicken Fried Rice and Egg Rolls

Chicken Fried Rice and Egg Rolls
Egg Rolls:
1 lb ground pork or chicken/turkey
1 bell pepper
1/2 medium onion
1 cup fine shredded cabbage
1 carrot
2 tbsp Asian Seasoning Mix
Salt and Pepper
Egg Roll wrappers
In a food processor  shred bell pepper, onion, carrot, and cabbage. Sprinkle ground meat with Asia Seasoning Mix, salt and pepper. Cook ground meat and shredded veggies in a skillet, over med-high heat until meat is browned and veggies are soft. Use a spatula to crumble the meat and veg into very small pieces. (I prefer to cook meat prior to rolling to ensure it is done)
Use the directions on the egg roll wrappers on how to roll these together. Allow to cook in freezer for 5 minutes before frying at 365F until golden brown on both sides 3-5 minutes. keep warm in oven if necessary.
Rice:
1 lb cooked, diced chicken
3 cups cooked white rice
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp oil
1/2 cup peas and carrots frozen mix
2 eggs
Scramble eggs, warm up carrots and peas. In a non-stick skillet heat oil, vinegar and soy sauce on high - med-high. Add in rice. Stir until incorporated. Stir in eggs and carrots peas.

French Dip Sandwiches

Au Jus: 1-2 cans beef consomme OR beef broth + 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

16 oz deli sliced roast beef - (2) 7 oz packages

4 hoggie rolls, split (something chewy and crusty)

4-8 slices of swiss or provolone cheese (optional)

Sprinkle deli meat with grill seasoning or salt and black pepper. cut rolls in half, butter and toast in broiler or toaster oven.

To assemble sandwiches, lay cheese slices on one side of rolls (1-2 slices). Then using a pair of kitchen tongs, dip meat into boiling au jus sauce and pile into rolls. Set ramekins, cups or small bowls with extra dipping sauce along side the sandwiches. 

Makes 4 sandwiches.

week of April 2, 2017

Sun - Pork Milanese
Mon - Chicken Strips
Tue - Fajitas
Wed - Kielbasa and Perogies
Thur - Chicken Puttanesca and Spaghetti
Fri - Salisbury "Steaks"

Pork Milanese
2 lbs boneless thin sliced pork loin or chops
3/4 plus 1/4 cup milk
1 egg
Oil to coat the bottom of the pan (veg or canola)

1 lemon (zest and juice)
flour coating:
1 cup AP flour
1 tbsp seasoning salt (such as Johnny's)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
breading coating
1 cup bread crumbs (I use Progresso Italian)
1/4 cup Kraft Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp lemon zest
.
To bread the meat you will need: 2 bowls, 2 paper plates, 1 non-stick cooling rack covered with parchment paper, a fork. Set up the assembly line: bowl with milk, paper plate with flour coating, bowl with 1 egg and 1/4 cup milk beaten together, paper plate with crumb coating, and last the cooling rack. One piece at a time, dip in milk, place on the flour and coat. Dip in the egg mix. the place on the crumb mix and coat. Lay on the cooling rack until all chops are breaded.
To cook the chops, heat the oil in a large skillet on med-high heat. Add peices one at a time, being careful not to splatter yourself. Cover, and cook for 5-10 minutes or until the bottom side is golden brown and top is starting to turn from pink to white. Turn and cook until done. Middle of meat should reach 160F. Let rest 5 minutes on the cooling rack (without parchment) to drain oil. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top when serving.
Serving with Spaghetti with olive oil (prepared according to box, dressed with olive oil after draining).


homemade "Shake and Bake" Chicken Strips
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast cut into strips
1/2 cup flour

1 12 cup plain bread crumbs
2 tbsp seasoning salt
1 tbsp garlic powder
Milk
Soak chicken in a bowl of milk, enough milk to cover all the chicken. Put flour, seasoning salt, garlic, bread crumbs, into plastic freezer bag (gallon size) and shake to mix. Put in a few chicken strips at a time and shake until coated. Use olive oil to coat the cookie sheet. Lay coated strips on the sheet in single layer (no over lapping). Bake at 350F in the oven (or toaster oven) until done and golden brown - about 20 minutes. Turning chicken over once.
Serve with roasted potato wedges.

Chicken Fajitas
3 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
3 tablespoons lime juice
Zest of 1 lime
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, pressed
Salt and pepper
6-8 Fajita size Flour tortillas
Toppings if desired: sour cream, guacamole, cheese, Pico De Gallo, extra lime juice
Sprinkle meat with cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp veggie oil over medium-high heat. Cook meat, peppers, onion, and garlic until chicken is cooked through. Add lime juice and zest. Serve with warmed tortillas and toppings.

One Pot Puttanesca
2 lbs chicken breast strips

4 cups chicken broth
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Italian-style diced tomatoes
1/2 medium onion
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 cup sliced olives
7 oz artichoke hearts, drained
2 tbsp capers
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 oz (350 g) uncooked linguine or spaghetti pasta
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley, divided
Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1.  In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown chicken in oil , remove. Then cook the onion, add more oil if needed, cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.

2. Carefully add broth, tomatoes, pasta, olives, capers, and pepper flakes, if desired. Put chicken on top. Simmer, covered, 10-12 minutes or until pasta is al dente and chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally.
3. Finely chop parsley; reserve 1 tbsp for garnish. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes or until pasta is tender and sauce is thickened. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and reserved parsley.

Salisbury Steak
1 lb ground beef
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp each Salt and Pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp onion salt
4 tbsp butter
3-4 tbsp AP flour
1 (14 oz) can beef broth
Mix beef, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, Worcestershire suace together. Form into patties ("steaks"). Brown on each side on high heat in 2 tbsp butter - no need to cook through yet. About 2 minutes each side. Remove set on plate.
Add drippings remaining butter to a pan. On high heat, using a whisk, add the flour to the pan. Stir until incorporated, then turn down the heat to low and stir for 1-2 minutes or until it smells nutty. Turn the heat back up to high and slowly add the broth constantly whisking until completely incorporated. Turn heat down to low, add the patties back to the pan. Cover and simmer until the patties are cooked through and the gravy is thickened, about 20 minutes.
Serve with mashed potatoes.