HOBO FOIL STEWS with BUTTER BBQ SAUCE

HOBO FOIL STEWS with BUTTER BBQ SAUCE

2 thick ground beef patties, I used Stater Brother’s bacon cheddar patties

1 Yukon potato, chunked

1 carrot, sliced

1 Mexican onion sliced thin

salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon butter per patty

  • Layer 2 pieces of heavy duty foil on top of each other.
  • Place the hamburger patty in the center.
  • Top with 1 tablespoon butter.
  • Spread BBQ sauce around the butter.
  • Top with sliced onions.
  • Spread onions and carrots evenly around the meat.
  • Fold the foil pieces up around the meat tightly.
  • Turn it over seam side down and then seal the 2nd piece of foil.
  • Turn them back over so they are meat side down.
  • Bring grill to a medium heat, around 225°.
  • Place foil packs on grill with lid shut for 10 minutes.
  • Turn packets over for 10 more minutes.
  • Serve in foil or slide out onto a plate.

HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons dark rum

1 tablespoon liquid smoke

1 teaspoon white pepper

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 1/2 cups Portland Ketchup

  • In a large saucepan combine all the ingredients except the ketchup.
  • Cook uncovered until sugar is dissolved and all ingredient are well blended.
  • Add ketchup and bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly.
  • Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring often (about 30 minutes) until dark and thick.

HOBO FOIL STEWS with BUTTER BBQ SAUCE

HOBO FOIL STEWS with BUTTER BBQ SAUCE
2 thick ground beef patties, I used Stater Brother’s bacon cheddar patties
1 Yukon potato, chunked
1 carrot, sliced
1 Mexican onion sliced thin
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon butter per patty

  • Layer 2 pieces of heavy duty foil on top of each other.
  • Place the hamburger patty in the center.
  • Top with 1 tablespoon butter.
  • Spread BBQ sauce around the butter.
  • Top with sliced onions.  
  • Spread onions and carrots evenly around the meat.
  • Fold the foil pieces up around the meat tightly.
  • Turn it over seam side down and then seal the 2nd piece of foil.
  • Turn them back over so they are meat side down.
  • Bring grill to a medium heat, around 225°.
  • Place foil packs on grill with lid shut for 10 minutes.
  • Turn packets over for 10 more minutes.
  • Serve in foil or slide out onto a plate.

HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons dark rum
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 1/2 cups Portland Ketchup

  • In a large saucepan combine all the ingredients except the ketchup. 
  • Cook uncovered until sugar is dissolved and all ingredient are well blended. 
  • Add ketchup and bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly. 
  • Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring often (about 30 minutes) until dark and thick.

LEMON GARLIC SHRIMP SCAMPI

LEMON GARLIC SHRIMP SCAMP
1 tablespoon safflower oil
16 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup white wine
4 tablespoons butter
Juice of 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
pasta, prepared al dente

  • Heat oil over medium high heat.
  • Add shrimp and brown on both sides.
  • Add garlic and pepper flakes, cooking until fragrant.
  • Remove shrimp to drain on paper towels.
  • Add butter and melt.
  • Add wine and bring to a simmer, cooking 5 minutes or until thickened.
  • Add shrimp, lemon juice and seasoning, tossing to coat shrimp.
  • Toss with prepared pasta.
  • Serve immediately.

SHREDDED CHICKEN ROLLS

SHREDDED CHICKEN VEGETABLE EGG ROLLS

2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken or pork pieces (cheat and use a rotisserie chicken)

1 medium Vidalia onion, finely chopped

1 large stalk celery, finely chopped

1 large carrot, finely chopped

1 tablespoon minced garlic, jar

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon sesame oil

4 tablespoons canola oil

egg roll wrappers (I use Melissa’s)

  • Heat skillet with 2 tablespoons of oil. Add onion, garlic, celery and carrots, Saute’ until tender.
  • Drain, retaining oil.
  • In a large mixing bowl toss meat pieces with sesame oil, sugar, salt and pepper. Add vegetables and blend well.
  • Cool 5-10 minutes.
  • Fill center of each wrapper with 2 tablespoons of filling.
  • Fold 1st corner towards the center. Then fold each edge towards the center. With a pastry brush wet the exposed triangle of dough and roll the bulk onto it.
  • Add oil back into pan and add the additional 2 tablespoons and bring to medium heat.
  • Cook egg rolls on all 4 sides until golden.

RASPBERRY PINEAPPLE DIPPING SAUCE

1/2 cup raspberry jam

2 tablespoons crushed pineapple, drained

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • Heat jam in microwave for 20 seconds to warm and thin.
  • Whisk in honey and soy sauce.
  • Set aside.

LINK PARTY PALOOZA & FOODIE FRIDAY submissions by 3 Sides of Crazy

It’s FOODIE FRIDAY over at RATTLEBRIDGE FARM and a great time for me to catch up on a few recipes that needed posting from the recently tried stack of Magazine Monday recipes and this week there were quite a few winners I must say.

First up is:

BULLAI RUBBED CHICKEN

2 pounds chicken tenders, rinsed and dried

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 KNORR onion bouillon cube, crushed

1 teaspoon California sweet Paprika

1 KNORR chicken homestyle stock tub

2 tablespoons sun dried tomatoes

Juice of 1 lemon

4 tablespoons butter, divided

  • Combine spices until well blended.
  • Sprinkle rub on both sides of chicken  rubbing in well.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium high heat.
  • Cook chicken pieces until just done, about 4 minutes per side.
  • Remove chicken pieces, keeping them warm.
  • Add remaining butter and KNORR stock and hot water, whisking into drippings until well blended.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat and simmer about 10 minutes until reduced by half.
  • Whisk in the lemon juice and whipping cream until well blended.
  • Add sun dried tomatoes.
  • Reduce heat, simmering to desired consistency.
  • Pour over chicken and mashed potatoes.

Next was a super easy and SUPER tasty recipe:

GERMAN SMASHED POTATOES

3 pounds YUKON GOLD potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks, cooked tender

1/2 pound bacon

4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

  • Cook bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels.
  • Add vinegar and sugar to bacon fat, being sure to scrape up all the bits on the bottom of the pan and cook until well blended. Remove from heat.
  • In a large bowl add the potatoes and smash.
  • Crumble the bacon over the potatoes.
  • Pour the vinegar mixture over top and mix well.
  • Enjoy.

Then came a more time consuming recipe, but one hubs fell in love with:

I also found that they now make refried BLACK beans – gotta tell you I’m loving these!

LAYERED TORTILLA PIE

1 cup salsa

1 pound ground beef

homemade taco seasoning

1 can refried BLACK beans

1 can traditional refried beans

8 inch flour tortillas

2 cups Mexican shredded cheese

sour cream

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

  • Brown the hamburger and drain off the grease.
  • Add 1/2 cup water and taco seasoning to the hamburger.
  • Cook until liquid is absorbed.
  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • In a medium bowl mash together the refried beans, 1/2 the salsa and 1/2 the garlic.
  • In another medium bowl mash together the refried BLACK beans, 1/2 the salsa and 1/2 the garlic.
  • Spray a shallow pie pan with PURE.
  • Spread a small amount of sour cream on a tortilla and lay in the bottom of the pie pan.
  • Spread with one of the bean mixtures.
  • Add another tortilla and spread with some meat mixture.  Top with a thin layer of cheese.
  • Repeat layers until you have about 7 or 8 layers.
  • Top with remaining cheese.
  • Cover lightly with foil.
  • Bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
  • Cut into wedges and serve with salsa and sour cream.

Here’s an all-time favorite:

SEAFOOD SALAD

Shredded Romaine

Tomato wedges

Sliced green onions

Juice of 1 lemon

salt and pepper to taste

1 large can tuna, drained really well

Mayo to taste

  • Toss all together and enjoy with some garlic bread.

And lastly one of our new favorites:

ITALIAN MEATLOAF CUPS w/ PARMA ROSA PASTA

1 pound hamburger

1 pound Italian sausage

2 bunches green onions, chopped

1 sleeve saltines, crushed

2 eggs

1 can Italian tomato paste

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

2 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon white pepper

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon liquid smoke

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Blend all together.
  • I use the mini loaf pans and fill each one 2/3.
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until top is crispy.
  • Pour off excess fat before serving.
  • Bake how ever many you need today and freeze the others for future meals. Thaw in refrigerator before baking.
These are truly greatest hits at our house and welcome leftovers for weekend picnic sandwiches.

PARMA ROSA PASTA

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon minced garlic, jar

1 tablespoon Classico sun-dried tomato paste

1 egg yolk, beaten

1/4 teaspoon thyme

salt and pepper to taste

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • Melt butter in a saucepan.
  • Add garlic and saute until fragrant.
  • Gradually add heavy cream, stirring constantly. Stir in salt, pepper and grated Parmesan cheese and stir constantly until melted.
  • Whisk in egg quickly and heat through.

Recipes Submitted to:

and TATERTOTS & JELLO’S  LINK PARTY PALOOZA

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TERIYAKI CHICKEN – SLOW COOKED

I have a stack of recently tried recipes on my desk that has collected a layer of dust.  I guess it’s time to get them posted versus dusting them.  I split the recipe into thirds since there are just the 2 of us and it fit perfectly into a small crock pot.

TERIYAKI CHICKEN

12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup soy sauce

6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

5 teaspoons cornstarch

5 teaspoons cold water

  • Place chicken in crock pot.
  • Whisk together the sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and pepper.
  • Pour over chicken.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken is tender.
  • Remove chicken to a serving platter, keeping it warm.
  • Pour soy sauce into a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
  • Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth,
  • Gradually add cornstarch mixture to the soy sauce mixture, cooking until thickened.

RITZY CHEDDAR CHICKEN

Evidently I hit the jackpot on new recipes this week.  Hubs was getting tired of all the chicken I was serving so I was looking for a way to “spice” up chicken without actually using too many spices.  Diet here still consists of virtually spice and acid free ingredients due to all my health needs, but 2 recipes so far this week have done it!   On the other hand I will NEVER be posting the recipe for potato crusted Tilapia – that recipe sucked big time!  Now as good as this was I want to try it again using this recipe for the chicken and the Lemon Cream Chicken sauce from last night.

RITZY CHEDDAR CHICKEN

2 pounds chicken tenders or 4 boneless, skinless breasts**

1 sleeve RITZ crackers

salt and pepper to taste1/2 cup whole milk

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

SAUCE

1 can cream of chicken soup##

2 tablespoons sour cream

2 tablespoons butter

  • Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
  • In a food processor grind crackers until fine.
  • Generously salt and pepper chicken pieces.
  • Soak chicken pieces in the milk.
  • Dredge chicken pieces through the cheese first and then the crumbs.  Press each layer into the chicken pieces.
  • Spray a baking dish with PURE or PAM.
  • Lay chicken pieces into the baking dish.
  • Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake another 5-10 minutes or until chicken is golden brown.
  • While chicken is baking begin the sauce.
  • In a medium sized sauce pan combine the soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk.
  • Stir over a medium high heat until sauce is hot.
  • Serve over chicken.

**I use thinly sliced chicken steaks which are basically chicken breasts that are sliced at least once and many times 3 times.  This helps for portion control and works wonders!  Since my last surgery and for medical reasons I’m supposed to eat less each meal and eat more meals.  This it happens allows me to try even more recipes as long as I adjust them to feed 2.

## I make my own cream soups if you prefer:

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons WONDRA flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup chicken broth

  • Melt the butter in heavy saucepan.
  • Blend in flour and salt. Cook until bubbly.
  • Remove from heat and gradually stir or whisk in liquid.
  • Return to heat and cook, constantly stirring until smooth and thickened.

LEMON CREAM CHICKEN

When I first started blogging it was about home renovations that were forced on us when we bought some investment property. Soon after though I realized that my favorite blogs to read and the women I met were those of the foodie genre. Since then I have made more recipes from the scraps of paper I collected over the years. Some were real duds, but some shone brightly.

Tonight the Lemon Cream Chicken shined the brightest of all recent recipes I’ve tried. So, I’m going to share it with you and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Lemon Cream Chicken

LEMON CREAM CHICKEN

1/3 cup WONDRA flour

salt and pepper to taste

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves**

3 tablespoons butter

1 KNORR chicken homestyle stock tub

3/4 cup hot water

1 cup whipping cream

Juice of 1 large lemon

1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

  • Wash and dry chicken pieces.
  • Generously salt and pepper each side.
  • Dredge in the flour, pressing to coat well.
  • In a large skillet, melt butter.
  • Add chicken pieces and brown on each side. Remove chicken and keep warm.
  • Add KNORR stock and hot water, whisking into drippings until well blended.
  • Bring to a boil over medium high heat and simmer about 10 minutes until reduced by half.
  • Whisk in the lemon juice and whipping cream until well blended.
  • Reduce heat and add mushrooms cooking about 5 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
  • Simmer to desired consistency.
  • Pour over chicken and mashed potatoes.

**I use thinly sliced chicken steaks which are basically chicken breasts that are sliced at least once and many times 3 times. This helps for portion control and works wonders! Since my last surgery and for medical reasons I’m supposed to eat less each meal and eat more meals. This it happens allows me to try even more recipes as long as I adjust them to feed 2.

BBQ HERBED CHICKEN

It was another scorcher here today of 112 degrees and monsoony humid weather so we stayed inside and painted the bathroom and a bedroom. I’m exhausted though so decided to make this simple recipe for the grill. It was made even simpler by having the lime juice in the freezer. I buy the fruit and then squeeze it all at once making it into cubes for future recipes. And then even simpler yet by converting the fresh herbs into dry measurements and using a mortar & pestle to revive them. This was a substitute for tonight, but I highly recommend using the fresh when you can.

BBQHerbedChicken

HERBED BBQ CHICKEN

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil

2 tablespoons fresh chopped oregano

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper

4 chicken thighs, about 1 pound*

4 chicken drumsticks, about 1 pound*

  • In a small food processor mix together everything except the chicken.

    Wash and dry the chicken pieces.

  • Pour herb mixture into a large ziploc bag and add chicken pieces. Marinate chciken for 30 minutes to 24 hours.
  • Heat grill and spray with PAM for grilling especially if using skin free pieces.

    Place chicken pieces on grill, reserving the marinade.

  • Cook on one side and then turning to other side. Time will vary drastically based on type of chicken pieces you are using.
  • Pour reserved marinade into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat and then remove from heat.
  • Brush over chicken pieces.

*I use whatever I have on hand – breasts, tenders, etc….

PEANUT PORK & NOODLES SALAD AND A CHAT

Seems like a VERY long time since I’ve sat and chatted here on my blog.  The past 2+ years have been such a jumble of care taking others, the BIG “C”, multiple medical appointments, VA red tape and just plain messed up events that it seems life has gone on without me.

Well, I’m here to tell you I’m taking my life back!  I do have one more surgery to get through, but it is trivial in comparison to the past couple years. Fortunately my mom’s winter place is empty for the summer and near my doctors so we are here and able to get it spruced up for her before winter while we deal with everything else.  The pool has also been a godsend for me to get some exercise and try to get my strength back.  All the anesthesia has taken a toll on me!  Right now we’re painting.  The house is 5 years old and had never been painted other than by the builder so boy is it soaking up the new paint!

If a messy kitchen truly is a sign of happiness, I must be freaking delirious!  We are taking a break tonight and enjoying a new recipe for Peanut Pork and Noodles salad while we watch the Nascar race.  I hope everyone had a great 4th and long weekend!

Peanutty Pork & Noodles 2

PEANUT PORK AND NOODLES SALAD

DRESSING

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon garlic chili paste

SALAD

1/2 pound boneless pork chops

2-3 ounce bundles ramen noodles

8 ounces snow peas, trimmed and cleaned

8 ounces bok choy, trimmed, cleaned and sliced

1 sweet red pepper, cored, seeded

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons dry roasted unsalted peanuts (optional)

  • In a small food processor combine dressing ingredients and blend until smooth.
  • In a large ziploc bag combine pork chops and half of the dressing.  Marinade for 15 minutes minimum.
  • While chops are grilling bring a pot of water to a boil.
  • Add ramen noodles for 2 minutes.
  • Add peas and bok choy, boiling for 1 minute more.
  • Drain and rinse in cold water.
  • Place in large salad bowl.
  • Heat grill to medium high.
  • Grill chops and red pepper just until done, turning half way through.
  •  Transfer to a cutting board and thinly slice both chops and pepper.
  • Toss salad with remaining dressing and salt.
  • Scatter pork and peppers over salad.
  • Top with peanuts. (optional)
  • Serve immediately.

Peanutty Pork & Noodles 3Leftovers (minus the bok choy) chill well and would make a perfect lunch to go.  Just don’t add the bok choy, which in my opinion can be left out and double the peas for my taste.

BLACK PEPPER CHICKEN

Taste and Create was started as a food event by Nicole from For the Love of Food.  The whole purpose of Taste and Create was, and has been, and continues to be to create a community of bloggers who test each others’ recipes and share links. The participants of the event are paired together and try a new recipe from one another’s blog.

This month I was paired with Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla. I love being paired with someone I’ve never been paired with before I inevitably learn sooooooo much, and find great new recipes. She has a huge diversity in recipes. I finally settled on the Black Pepper Chicken from The Law Student’s Cookbook.  I did make a few alterations for us, but none that would drastically affect the flavor.

According to wikipedia, pepper originates in South East Asia and has been used in Indian cooking essentially forever. Peppercorns used to be known as “black-gold” and were used as a form of money. Black pepper is now commonly used in cuisines all around the world.

Black Pepper ChickenBLACK PEPPER CHICKEN

1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 tablespoon plain yogurt

Juice of large lemon

2 garlic cloves, minced

1-inch fresh ginger root, skinned and minced (I omitted as hubs hates ginger)

1 tablespoon ground black peppercorns, coarsely ground

1/2 teaspoon red chili powder

1/8 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon vegetable oil (omit if grilling)

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard (also omitted since I have a deathly allergy to mustard)

pinch of red chili flakes

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

  • Marinate the chicken in the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, pepper, chili powder, turmeric, chili flakes, corriander, cumin and salt.
  • Remove chicken, reserving the marinade.
  • Let sit for 20 minutes in the refrigerator. (I let it marinade for several hours.)
  • In a deep pan heat the vegetable oil, on high. Add the mustard and chili flakes. Fry for 15 seconds. Add the coriander and cumin, and stir for 35 seconds.
  • Heat grill to medium high.
  • Spray grill with PAM.
  • Grill chicken for 5 minutes each side, basting well with marinade after 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the marinated chicken to the pan, browning the chicken on each side. Lower the heat, cover with a lid, and cook for 15 minutes.

* serves 2

INDONESIAN PORK TENDERLOIN ala TAMY

This is one of those recipes I found somewhere and set aside, but kept peeking back at it now and then.  I finally ran out of reasons not to try it and am kicking myself for not trying it sooner. The changes I made for an even better flavor in our opinion.

Indonesian Pork Roast Final

INDONESIAN PORK ROAST ala TAMY

2 pound pork tenderloin

4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

4 tablespoons reduced-fat JIF creamy peanut butter

2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

4 cloves garlic, minced

PAM

1/2 cup mango chutney apricot pineapple jam

6-8 slices bacon**

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Combine soy sauce, peanut butter, red pepper flakes and garlic, mixing well.
  • Using a heavy duty cookie sheet or roasting pan line it with heavy duty foil.
  • Spray with pure. Arrange bacon slices.
  • Spread 1/4 of mixture over bacon slices.
  • Top with tenderloin.
  • Spread remaining sauce on top and sides.
  • Wrap bacon slices up and over securing with toothpicks.
  • Roast, uncovered for 45 minutes.
  • Brush evenly with jam and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Turn off oven and let rest 10 minutes.
  • Slice and serve.

**I bought my tenderloin at costco and instead of being a whole tenderloin it was 2 halves. So I used bacon slices to wrap it as a whole and that addition made a fantastic difference.

Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday hosted by Lisa at Blessed with Grace.

Cooking Thursday is hosted by Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Weekend Cooking Creations is hosted by Jennifer.

weekendkitchencreations

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