Category: MISC

Honey & Hoisin Grilled Trout – Fire Day Friday

This is a recipe I posted on my blog back in 2010… it’s just one of those dishes that never got the recognition it deserved, so I thought to myself.. why not bring it back?  Feature it just one more time so everyone can see I don’t just eat Tilapia – my fish love goes way deeper than that!
This is a very simple, very light dish.  Easy to assemble, takes about 15-20 minutes to grill… the longest part of this recipe is just the marinating time.  Simple!  What more can you ask for on a busy week night….??

Honey & Hoisin Grilled Trout
Ingredients:
1 – 3/4lbs trout fillet (mine had the skin on one side still)
2 Tablespoons honey
1 Tablespoon hoisin sauce
1/2 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 large clove of garlic, minced or pressed 

Directions:

Mix everything but the fish together in a small bowl.  Place the fish in a shallow dish or a Ziploc bag.  Pour the marinade over the fish and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for about 45 minutes.

Preheat your grill to 375 (medium, medium-low).  Tear off a square of aluminum foil (make sure it’s big enough to make a packet around the fillet) and spray it with non stick cooking spray.  Place the fillet in the middle of the foil and seal into a packet.  Place on the grill and cook for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the fillet.  Remove from grill and let rest for 3 minutes.  Carefully open packet and enjoy!!

BAKED PORK STEAKS with BROWN GRAVY

These are the BEST steaks and are fork tender!


OVEN BAKED PORK STEAKS
4 pork steaks
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, sliced thin
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon ACCENT
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
  • Sprinkle meat on both sides with salt, pepper, meat tenderizer and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Place steaks on foil lined cookie sheet.
  • Top with onions and garlic
  • Bake 20-30 minutes, turning once.
  • Top with gravy.

BROWN GRAVY
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon minced garlic, jar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons Better than Beef Bouillon
salt and black pepper to taste

  •  In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Whisk together the hot water and bouillon. Set aside
  • Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, until the mixture is golden-brown and fragrant.
  • Add the garlic and cook a few seconds more.
  • Whisk in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring to a low boil.
  • Reduce the heat to a low simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired consistency.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.

ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD ~ BAKED PORK STEAKS with BROWN GRAVY

These are the BEST steaks and are fork tender!


OVEN BAKED PORK STEAKS
4 pork steaks
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, sliced thin
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon ACCENT
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
  • Sprinkle meat on both sides with salt, pepper, meat tenderizer and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Place steaks on foil lined cookie sheet.
  • Top with onions and garlic
  • Bake 20-30 minutes, turning once.
  • Top with gravy.

BROWN GRAVY
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon minced garlic, jar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons Better than Beef Bouillon
salt and black pepper to taste

  •  In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Whisk together the hot water and bouillon. Set aside
  • Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, until the mixture is golden-brown and fragrant.
  • Add the garlic and cook a few seconds more.
  • Whisk in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring to a low boil.
  • Reduce the heat to a low simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired consistency.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.

BOEUF FLAMANDE aka BEEF IN DARK BEER, well sort of

I found this recipe in the bottom of grams pile of magazine/book clippings to try one day.  It just screamed, “try me for the guys”.  BOEUF FLAMANDE translates into ‘Beef Stew in a rich sauce made with beer’. But I don’t like dark beer so I adjusted the recipe and it worked really well. The guys we’re asking when we’re doing the leftovers.  This will be perfect on a cold winter’s night!

BOEUF FLAMANDE
1/2 pound bacon, cut into 1/4″ cubes
3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite size pieces (I used brisket)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large Vidalia onions, cut into thin slices
2 large carrots, sliced
1/2 cup flour + dredging flour
1/2 cup Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce
3/4 cup Dr. Pepper (yep you read that right)
3 cups boiling water
3 tablespoons Better than Beef Bouillon
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
fresh parsley sprigs

  • Preheat oven 325 degrees.
  • Place the flour into a plastic bag.
  • Brown bacon pieces until crisp.  With a slotted spoon remove to drain.
  • Dredge beef pieces in the flour mixture.
  • Brown beef pieces in bacon fat*.  With a slotted spoon remove beef pieces to a colander to drain.
  • Add butter to saute pan. 
  • Saute’ carrots for several minutes.
  • Add the onions and garlic until fragrant and translucent.
  • Stir in 1/2 cup flour, salt, pepper and thyme.
  • Whisk together the hot water, sugar and bouillon. 
  • Add Country Bob’s sauce, Worcestershire sauce, champagne vinegar and Dr. Pepper until well blended. 
  • Add to veggies.
  • Bring to a fast boil.
  • Lower heat to a simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Spray a casserole with PURE.
  • Add browned meat to the casserole.
  • Top with onions and carrots.
  • Pour sauce over top and blend well.
  • Bake for 2 1/2 hours or until meat is tender.
  • Serve over Parmesan Potatoes.

*May have to add a bit of butter or oil if not enough bacon grease.

CHOCOLATE HUMMUS, SWEET CARAMEIZED ONION DIP & PEANUT BUTTER DIP

Holiday parties, football parties, and New Years buffets.  They are all around us. And at every one, there is a dip of some sort.  Fruit dip, chip dip, veggie dip, you name it, it’s there. 

Here are a few of my favorite dips.  And believe me, I don’t need a special occasion to eat any of these. 
The chocolate hummus is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  My bean hating, hummus despising, 9 year old requests this all the time.  It goes with fruits, crackers or pretzels.  Did I mention this was amazing.

I am in love with onions so of course the caramelized onion dip has a special place in my heart.  I’ve made it several times and end up eating way, way too much.

The peanut butter dip is just pure joy. Sweet smooth and just perfect. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chocolate Hummus
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup splenda (or sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 – 4 tablespoons warm water

  • Mix everything in a food processor. Add water as needed for consistency.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Caramelized Onion Dip
2 large sweet onions, chopped
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup fat free mayonnaise
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoon fat-free cream cheese, room temp
1 tablespoon I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, light
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Heat butter in a large pan over medium heat on the stove. 
  • Once butter has coated the bottom of the pan, add onions, salt and cayenne pepper. 
  • Saute for 10 minutes, stirring often. 
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for additional 25 – 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are browned and caramelized. 
  • Add mustard and vinegar to the pan. 
  • Continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. 
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool. 
  • In large bowl, combine sour cream, mayo and cream cheese. Whisk until smooth. 
  • Add cooled onions to the mayo mixture and mix thoroughly. 
  • Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to combine. 
  • Serve with your favorite veggies or chips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peanut Butter Dip
1/2 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt (I used lite n fit)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (I used peanut butter chocolate chips)
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon honey

  • Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve with apples, veggies or pretzels.  or just a spoon.

12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.  Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.

  • The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
  • Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
  • Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
  • The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
  • The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
  • The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
  • Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
  • The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
  • Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
  • The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
  • The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
  • The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol…so pass it on if you wish.’

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone – and, remember, the Twelve Days of Christmas are the 12 days following December 25th.  The Christmas Season runs until Epiphany, January 6.

CHICKEN POT PIES

CHICKEN POT PIES
6 cups shredded chicken (2 rotisserie chickens)*
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 celery stalks
1 small bag baby carrots
1 small bag frozen green beans or 1/2 pound fresh, cleaned and cut
2 cups chicken broth
12 oz. evaporated milk
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon Wondra flour
3/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 cup cooking sherry
1/8 cup parsley
salt and pepper to taste

  • Separate chicken from fat and bones and set aside. 
  • Heat oil in dutch oven. 
  • Saute’ onions and celery until just tender. 
  • Transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with chicken. 
  • Mix together chicken broth and milk and microwave until steamy, 2-3 minutes. 
  • In a large sauce pan melt butter. When foamy stir in flour, parsley and thyme until golden. 
  • Gradually whisk in the hot milk mixture. 
  • Bring to a simmer and cook until thick. 
  • Turn off heat and stir in sherry, salt and pepper to taste. 
  • Stir in chicken mixture and vegetables. 
  • Divide into 6-8 small French white Pyrex round baking dishes. 
  • Cover with lids and freeze.
  • When ready to bake, thaw and bring to room temperature. 
  • Cover with pie crust** and bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. 

With this recipe you don’t end up with a bottom crust, but just think of how many calories you’re saving.

*I usually make this when my local market has a buy one get one free on the rotisserie chickens.

**Pillsbury pie crust from the dairy section will make 2 pot pies with left over pieces for decorative leaves. Unfold a sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out gently. Measure the diameter of the pot pie bowls, and cut out dough rounds that are slightly larger in diameter. Repeat until you have made all the necessary tops. Whisk an egg in a small bowl. Lay the dough rounds on top of the pot pies. Brush the dough lightly with the beaten egg. Bake the pies for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve immediately.