Category: PROTEINS

FRENCH ONION PORK TENDERLOIN

FRENCH ONION PORK TENDERLOIN
LARGE 3 pound pork tenderloin
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 SMALL sweet onion, halved and sliced thin
1 SMALL red onion, halved and sliced thin
1 LARGE shallot, sliced thin
several sprigs fresh tarragon, chopped small
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 package Lipton Onion Soup mix OR KNORR vegetable soup mix
Fresh ground black pepper and salt, to taste
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup cream sherry
1 3/4 tablespoons Wonder flour
chopped flat leaf parsley for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons butter and oil in dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Add onions and saute’ until translucent.
  • Add tarragon and cook 10-15 minutes more until onions are browned.
  • Generously season pork roast with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Push onions to the edge of the pan and add pork roast, searing quickly on each side.
  • Season melted butter and pour evenly over tenderloin.
  • Whisk together the wine, cream sherry, chicken broth and soup mix. Pour over tenderloin and onions.
  • Roast 20 minutes.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 325°.
  • Roast 30 minutes more or until cooked through.
  • Remove to cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
  • Slice pork.
  • Serve with mashed potatoes or cornbread stuffing and top with gravy.

BALSAMIC HONEY GLAZED SALMON

BALSAMIC HONEY GLAZED SALMON
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons chicken broth
1 tablespoon creamy horseradish
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon avocado oil
8 (6) ounce salmon fillets
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon FRESH minced oregano
3 green onions, minced

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Whisk together the vinegar, white wine, chicken broth, horseradish, honey, garlic and avocado oil in a sauce pan.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil, cooking and stirring 5 minutes until thickened.
  • Place salmon skin side down on a greased baking sheet.
  • Season generously with FRESH ground pepper and salt, to taste.
  • Spoon glaze over salmon fillets and top with oregano.
  • Bake uncovered 12-15 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork.
  • Garnish with minced green onions.

NOTE: A weeknight short cut is to use a bottle of Bertolli Balsamic glaze instead of the individual components.  Just heat it up and pour it over 😀

BAKED SOUR CREAM CHICKEN

I couldn’t get a great picture, but oh my the flavor of this is so very good and it is one of the easiest recipes ever!

BAKED SOUR CREAM CHICKEN
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon smoked Paprika
1 can Campbell’s Tomato soup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Coat 8-9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the soup, sour cream, mayonnaise and Worcestershire with the
  • FRESH ground sea salt, black pepper and paprika.
  • Fold in the Italian blend cheese.
  • Add chicken pieces and coat well.
  • Pour into baking dish.
  • Cover tightly with foil and bake 45 minutes.
  • Top with shredded Parmesan cheese and bake uncovered another 15 minutes.
  • Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.

TUSCAN STEAK with MUSHROOMS & 3 PEPPER SAUCE

TUSCAN STEAK with MUSHROOMS & 3 PEPPER SAUCE serves 4
12 ounces fettuccine
FRESH ground sea salt and tri-color peppercorns, to taste
1 pound sirloin steak
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons Wondra flour
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes (optional)
1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
1 small can baby peas (Le Seur)
Balsamic glaze, for drizzling

  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside. OR roast or pan fry potatoes in a separate pan.
  • Generously season steak with FRESH ground sea salt and tri-colored peppercorns.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook steak 3 minutes per side for medium rare.
  • Transfer to a plate to let rest, 10 minutes, then thinly slice.
  • Meanwhile, make Alfredo sauce.
  • Add butter to skillet and let melt.
  • Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
  • Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute more, then add milk and simmer until thickened, 5 minutes.
  • Add parsley and Parmesan, stirring to combine.
  • Fold in peas.
  • Add tomatoes (if desired) and cook down 2 minutes.
  • Add cooked pasta or roasted potatoes to sauce and toss until coated.
  • Top with sliced steak, drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with minced Parsley.

VINEGAR CHICKEN

I found this recipe in an old drawer of grams. It was originally written for bone-in chicken pieces, but hubby hates when I cook with bone-in so I have adapted it to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can also change up the flavor by using flavored vinegars.  Tonight I used the rest of our coconut pineapple vinegar and it was awesome!

VINEGAR CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
KOSHER salt
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup crisp white wine
1/3 cup champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons FRESH, FINELY chopped tarragon leaves
1/2 cup heavy cream

  • GENEROUSLY season the chicken with KOSHER salt, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before you begin preparation.

 

  • Add flour to a shallow bowl for dredging.
  • Add butter and olive oil to a large skillet and melt over medium high heat.
  • Dredge chicken pieces and add to skillet.
  • Sear the chicken 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and JUST cooked through.
  • Remove chicken to platter, cover with foil and discard most of the oil from the skillet.
  • Return skillet to the heat and add the onions to the skillet, seasoning to taste with the FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Cook onions, stirring occasionally 15-20 minutes until onions are tender and beginning to caramelize.
  • Increase heat to high.
  • Add wine and vinegar, de-glazing the pan and scrapping up all the little bits.
  • Add half the tarragon, stirring to blend.
  • Lower the heat, set lid ajar on the skillet and simmer 10-12 minutes.
  • Return the chicken to the pan and simmering a few minutes more, turning the chicken pieces to coat in the sauce.
  • Transfer chicken pieces to a platter.
  • Increase heat again and add heavy cream letting sauce simmer and thicken to a desired consistency.
  • Adjust the seasoning to taste, adding more vinegar if you like it a bit more tart.
  • Add remaining tarragon in the final stir.
  • Spoon sauce over chicken and serve with mashed potatoes.

updated CHICKEN CONTINENTAL

Chicken Continental as a recipe appears to be a collaboration from Campbell’s soup and Minute Rice during the 1960’s, an era of combining ‘prepared’ foods to form casseroles as your main meal.  Casseroles as a whole obviously go back MUCH further, but were usually made with scratch ingredients or bits of leftovers. I have found cookbooks on pinterest and google with the recipes, but I have grams old card with the Campbell’s label recipe on one side and a portion of a Minute Rice box cut out on the other.

Either way, I wanted to bring the recipe into the 21st century with using boneless, skinless chicken and FRESHer ingredients to spice it up a bit while maintaining the integrity of the original flavor base of the recipe.

updated CHICKEN CONTINENTAL
4 chicken breasts
1/4 cup WONDRA flour
2-3 bacon slices, cooked crisp, drippings reserved
8 ounces FRESH sliced mushrooms
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 stalk celery, strings removed, diced
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped thyme
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped Parsley
1 1/2 cups Minute Rice (uncooked)
1 can Campbell’s Tomato soup
1 cup chicken broth
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Generously season chicken breasts with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Dredge chicken breasts in flour and set aside.

  • Add  1 tablespoon of butter and oil to the bacon drippings in a large skillet.
  • Add celery and onions, sauteing lightly until softened.
  • Add mushrooms, thyme and parsley, cooking a couple minutes more until mushrooms begin to caramelize.
  • Add chicken broth and soup, blending together and bring to a boil.
  • Pour all but 1/2 cup into a large mixing bowl and stir in rice. Cover with a plate and set aside.
  • Return skillet to stove and add last tablespoon of butter to melt.
  • Add chicken pieces and sear 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Arrange rice mixture into the bottom of a prepared baking dish.
  • Nestle chicken breasts into rice.
  • Top with remaining sauce.
  • Cover and bake 20 minutes until chicken is completely cooked through.

NOTE:  Hubby hates mushrooms, but I love them so I makes them “separately” and add them to just mine. 😀

SPIKED LEMONADE CHICKEN

I adapted this recipe from a postcard I picked up at a farmer’s market. The original recipe called for their Jalapeno wine which is super expensive and only available by mail since I was traveling and a day and a half from home, hence the adaptation. 😀

The recipe originally called for using the grill, but I also adapted it to the oven and we’re quite happy with it.

SPIKED LEMONADE CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied
12 ounce frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
4 ounce can chopped green chilies, DRAINED juice reserved
12 ounces crisp white wine
8-10 strips bacon
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Combine the thawed lemonade concentrate, wine and juice from green chilies in a large ziploc bag.
  • Add chicken pieces and turn to coat. Marinate 8 hours.

 

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • In a large skillet cook bacon 3-5 minutes to render off most of the fat, but so that bacon slices are still soft and pliable. Cool several minutes until cool to the touch.
  • Line baking pan with silicone mat or foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Drain off marinade.
  • Lay chicken pieces out and generously season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Arrange shredded cheese and green chilies evenly on chicken breasts.
  • Fold close and wrap each chicken breast tightly with 2 pieces of bacon and secure closed with toothpicks.
  • Arrange chicken pieces on baking sheet.
  • Bake 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and bacon is crisp.
  • Remove from oven and cover with foil to rest for 8-10 minutes.

PORK GREEN CHILI ala CROCK POT

PORK GREEN CHILI ala CROCK POT
1 tablespoon avocado oil
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 pound pork loin, cut into large chunks
3-4 LARGE garlic cloves, minced
1 large yellow onion, diced
8 ounces taco sauce
8 ounce chopped green chilies
1 can ROTEL original fire roasted tomatoes with green chiles
2 teaspoons cumin
1 bunch green onions, chopped or sliced thin (reserve some for garnish)
1 can Bush’s black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can S&W Cattle beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup FRESH chopped Cilantro + a few sprigs for garnish
sour cream, for garnish
shredded cheese, for garnish
GRANDMA Ware’s skillet corn bread

  • Heat oil in skillet.
  • Generously season pork roast with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add pork pieces to skillet and sear on all sides.
  • Transfer pork pieces to slow cooker.
  • Add onions to skillet and saute’ until softened.
  • Add garlic, green chiles, taco sauce, cumin, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, ROTEL tomatoes and most of the green onions to the skillet, blending well and cooking until fragrant. Add to slow cooker and stir well with pork pieces.
  • Cook on HIGH 90 minutes.
  • Lower to LOW and cook 6 hours more until pork is tender.
  • Add beans and cook another 30 minutes.
    Serve with a dollop of sour cream, fresh chopped cilantro, chopped green onions and shredded cheese PLUS your favorite corn bread!

TACO BOWLS

I LOVE this recipe because there is an actual saladness to it and no tortillas are needed. It is as refreshing as it is filling and hearty.

TACO BOWLS serves 4
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounce can diced green chiles, drained but reserved
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1/2 cup mini pepper rings
4 LARGE radishes, sliced thin
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
6 cups shredded cabbages and carrots
1-2 LARGE avocados, sliced
1 LARGE lemon, juiced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
FRESH chopped cilantro, to taste
1 cup sour cream
1-1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
salsa (optional)

  • Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add garlic and pepper rings, cooking and stirring 5-7 minutes until it begins to brown.
  • Add beef, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, green chiles and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until beef is cooked through.
  • Whisk together the lemon juice and reserved green chile liquid.
  • Arrange FRESH ingredients in bowls.
  • Drizzle with lemon juice mixture.
  • Sprinkle generously with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Divide the shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream to each bowl.
  • Add a large scoop of the meat to each bowl, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

SPINACH ARTICHOKE CHICKEN

This is one of those recipes that I cut out, but have NO idea from where 😀  It was really good and I made very few changes to the original recipe.

I did make it with a caramelized Cabbage that I think next time I will place under the chicken before baking to make it a one-pan dish and add extra flavor to the cabbage.

SPINACH ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
4-6 6 ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

15 ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained WELL and chopped
10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
3/4 cup mayonnaise (NOT low-fat)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Line baking dish with foil or spray with non-stick spray.
  • Generously season chicken breasts with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Arrange chicken in bottom of baking dish.
  • Stir together the remaining ingredients and spread over chicken pieces,
  • Bake 40-45 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

NOTE:  I start draining the artichoke hearts about an hour before I begin cooking.

SWEET & SOUR ROAST (slow cooker)

SWEET & SOUR ROAST
2-3 pound chuck roast
1/2 cup pickle juice or apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons FRESH ground salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes, halved
1 small bag baby carrots

  • Place potatoes and carrots in bottom of slow cooker.
  • Heat butter in skillet over medium high heat.
  • Sear roast on both sides.
  • Lay roast over potatoes and carrots.
  • Whisk together remaining ingredients.
  • Pour over roast.
  • Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours until fork tender.

NOTE:  This recipe easily converts to cast iron baking if you so choose. 😀

HAM & BROCCOLI NOODLE CASSEROLE

HAM & BROCCOLI NOODLE CASSEROLE
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cups FRESH broccoli florets, cut small*
1/2 Vidalia onion, finely chopped
1 + 1/2-3/4 cup SHARP cheddar cheese, divided
1 ham steak (2 cups diced)
1 1/2 cups macaroni noodles, cooked and drained well
1 jar pimientos, drained WELL
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Mix together the mayonnaise, 1 cup of cheese and milk.
  • Fold in the broccoli, onions, pimientos and ham pieces.
  • Spoon into a 9×13 baking dish.
  • Melt butter and add bread crumbs until well blended.
  • Sprinkle with 1/2-3/4 cup of cheese and bread crumbs.
  • Bake for 45 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.

NOTE: *FROZEN broccoli will work, but FRESH is so much more tastier! 😀