Category: PROTEINS

PORKY PIG FARMER’S MARKET SALAD

This light and bright salad is oomphed up by FRESH basil, FRESH parsley and FRESH lemon juice to make this a spring favorite!

PORKY PIG FARMER’S MARKET SALAD
8 ounces pasta, bowtie or campagnelle
1 cup FRESH chopped green beans
2 cups sliced cherry tomatoes
2 cups chopped seeded cucumber
1 cup chopped red pepper
2 cups chopped ham steak
1 1/2 cups mozzarella balls
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup FRESH chopped basil
1/2 cup FRESH chopped parsley
1/2 cup Avocado oil
1/4 cup champagne vinegar
Juice of 2 lemons
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds

  • In a large saucepan bring salted water to a boil over high heat.
  • Add pasta and cook for 10 minutes.
  • At 10 minutes add green beans and bell pepper cooking for 2 more minutes.
  • Drain and rinse WELL with cold water.
  • Transfer to a large salad bowl.
  • Stir in tomatoes, cucumbers, ham, red onions and mozzarella balls.
  • In a small bowl combine lemon juice, sugar, lemon zest, shallot, salt and pepper. Let stand for 10 minutes.
  • In a small food processor add the lemon juice mixture, champagne vinegar, basil, parsley and oil, pulsing until well blended.
  • Pour over pasta mixture.  Toss to coat and set aside for 10 minutes.
  • Add pasta mixture to the veggie mixture, sprinkle with seeds and toss to mix.
  • Refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

BALSAMIC POMEGRANATE CAPRESE CHICKEN

While this recipe is an entree it turns into a salad for us. We usually go heavy on the micro greens and then cut up all the parts to toss with the sauce and YUMMY salad just magically appears before it quickly disappears!

BALSAMIC POMEGRANATE CAPRESE CHICKEN 
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
1/2 cup STRONG QUALITY balsamic vinegar
2 boneless, skin-on chicken breasts** (SEE NOTE)
FRESH ground Himalayan sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch-thick
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
fresh buffalo mozzarella, sliced 1/4- inch-thick
1/4 cup crushed pistachios
Fresh BABY basil leaves or micro greens, for garnish

  • Bring pomegranate juice and vinegar to a SLOW simmer in a small saucepan over low heat, then let cook until very syrupy, thick and reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 45 minutes. Season to taste and set aside to cool.
  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Generously Sprinkle chicken breasts liberally with FRESH ground Himalayan sea salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Add oil to a medium ovenproof skillet and heat over medium-high heat.
  • Place chicken in the skillet skin-side down and cook until the skin is nice and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Flip chicken and cook for another 2 minutes.
  • Transfer skillet to the oven and roast until cooked through and juices run clear, 10 to 12 minutes.
  • Let rest for 5 minutes.
  • Slice the cooked chicken breast 1/4-inch-thick.
  • Layer tomatoes, onions, chicken and mozzarella on a platter.
  • Drizzle with the pomegranate reduction.
  • Sprinkle with crushed pistachios.
  • Scatter basil leaves or micro greens on top.

NOTE:  Skinless, boneless breasts cans be substituted, but the browned crispy skin is a MUST for us.  If you do substitute, be sure to also adjust the cooking time. You can also start with a thick slab of bacon under the chicken to create the illusion of crispy skin.

FRENCH ONION MEATBALLS

FRENCH ONION MEATBALLS

GRUYERE cheese is the real star here that turns the flavor of French Onion soup into satisfying meatballs!

Yields: 4 servings Prep Time: 0 hours 15 mins Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins

MEATBALLS
2 tablespoons avocado oil
3/4 pound ground beef
1/4 pound ground pork
1/2 cup shredded Gruyère
1/4 cup bread crumbs 
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped parsley
1 LARGE egg, beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon FRESH ground Himalayan sea salt
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste

  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Line a large baking sheet with foil and rub with oil. 

 

  • In a large bowl, combine ground meats, Gruyère, bread crumbs, parsley, egg, and garlic.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Form 16 meatballs and place on baking sheet.
  • Bake until golden and cooked through, 25 minutes.

SAUCE
4 tablespoons butter
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
2 teaspoons FRESH chopped thyme, plus more for garnish 
1 teaspoon FRESH ground Himalayan sea salt
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cup shredded Gruyère

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
  • Add onions and cook until very soft and golden, 25 minutes, stirring often.
  • Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.
  • Add broth and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer until slightly thickened, 10 minutes. 
  • Add meatballs to skillet and sprinkle with Gruyère.
  • Cover and cook until meatballs are warmed through and cheese is melty, 5 minutes.
  • Serve warm, garnished with thyme.

NOTES:  Chicken can be substituted easily for the beef and pork

SHEET PAN CHICKEN MEDLEY

Sweet apricots, zesty marinated artichokes add tons of flavor to this marinated sheet pan chicken dinner.

SHEET PAN CHICKEN MEDLEY
2 1/2 pounds (4) skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into LARGE chunks
4 tablespoons Avocado oil, divided
ZEST and Juice of 1 lemon
2 cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground Himalayan Sea Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon ground fennel
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2-3 large carrots, diagonally sliced
2 LARGE red onions, cut into wedges
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts
1 -2 cups dried apricot halves
1 – 6 ounce can pineapple orange juice

  • In a large bowl combine 1 tablespoon of the avocado oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and garlic.
  • Generously season chicken pieces with FRESH ground Himalayan sea salt and black pepper.
  • Toss chicken breasts in marinade and let stand 30 minutes at room temperature.
  • In a separate bowl add apricot halves, juice and artichokes, tossing to mix.  Let stand at least 30 minutes or more to plump apricot pieces. I usually let it stand all day.

  • Heat oven to 400°.
  • Coat a sheet pan covered in foil with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl combine the basil, fennel, tomato paste and remaining avocado oil.
  • Season with FRESH ground Himalayan Sea Salt and black pepper, to taste.
  • Pour half into a second bowl. Add the onion wedges, apricots and artichoke hearts, tossing to coat, set aside.
  • Add carrots to the marinade in the first bowl, tossing to coat.
  • Arrange carrots on the sheet pan.
  • Roast carrots for 15 minutes.
  • Add in chicken pieces in a single layer.
  • Top with the apricot mixture.
  • Roast 30-35 minutes until chicken is cooked through to 160°.

CHILI GLAZED MEATLOAF a NEW favorite of ours

CHILI GLAZED MEATLOAF
3/4 pound ground beef
3/4 pound ground pork
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2/3 cup chili sauce, divided
1 large shallot, finely diced
1/4 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine the beef, pork, breadcrumbs, 1/3 cup chili sauce, shallots and pepper gently blending together.
  • Form meat mixture into loaf pan.
  • Top with remaining chili sauce during the last 15 minutes of baking time.
  • Bake 1 hour until juices run clear and meat is cooked through.
  • Let stand under foil for 10 minutes before slicing.

BUTTERMILK PORK CHOPS ala SLOW COOKER

This recipe is so SIMPLE, but leaves you with the satisfied feeling of having had a fine gourmet meal.  The pork chops turn out fork tender and the sauce blends to make its own gravy!  There is the added bonus of changing up the flavors by just changing the soup flavor 😀

BUTTERMILK PORK CHOPS ala SLOW COOKER
6 LARGE boneless pork loin chops
1/4 cup WONDRA
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 pound mushrooms, thickly sliced
1 small bunch green onions, sliced
1/3 cup favorite white wine
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 can cream of ???? soup (today I use broccoli cheese to compliment the veggie of choice)
1 cup buttermilk
Prepared pasta

  • Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Generously season pork chops with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Dredge pork chops in flour, shaking off excess.
  • Heat oil in large skillet.
  • Sear pork chops and transfer to slow cooker in a single layer if possible.
  • Add butter to skillet and when frothy add onions. Saute a minute or so.
  • Add mushrooms, sauteing and stirring 5 minutes or so until tender.
  • Add wine and loosen bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Add chicken broth, stirring to blend.
  • Pour mushroom mixture over pork chops. Cover and set to low 3-4 hours.

 

  • Whisk together soup and buttermilk until smooth.
  • Pour over pork chops. Cover and cook another 30 minutes.
  • Remove pork chops to a platter.
  • Stir soup into mushrooms and onions to create a uniform sauce.
  • Season to taste.
  • Serve over egg noodles.

SLOW COOKER BUTTER CHICKEN MEATBALLS

SLOW COOKER BUTTER CHICKEN MEATBALLS
1 pound ground chicken
1/2 pound ground pork
1 LARGE egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon garam masala
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Mix everything together until well blended.
  • Form into 1 inch meatballs. It will make about 36.
  • Coat the slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Place meatballs in the slow cooker.
  • Prepare sauce.

SAUCE
1 small shallot, minced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Wondra
1/2 cup chicken stock
8 ounces tomato sauce

  • Heat butter in small skillet over medium heat.
  • Whisk in flour until golden.
  • Whisk in chicken stock until well blended.
  • Whisk in tomato sauce until well blended.
  • Season to taste.
  • Pour sauce over meatballs.
  • Cook covered on low for 3 hours  or until cooked through.
  • Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

BUFFALO CHICKEN TENDER SLIDERS

BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS

2/3 cup Frank’s hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
4 cups shredded chicken**
12 KING’s Hawaiian sweet rolls
1/3 cup Ken’s Sweet Vidalia Onion dressing
Green leaf lettuce or cabbage mix, optional
Thinly sliced Mozzarella cheese

  • In a large sauce pan combine the hot pepper sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a SLOW boil, removing from heat as soon as it bubbles.
  • Add the chicken and stir to coat.
  • Spread a layer of the dressing on each roll or better yet make a slaw with the dressing and a cabbage mix or the lettuce.
  • Top with a slice of mozzarella cheese, lettuce if using and a scoop of the chicken mixture.
  • Serve and enjoy!

NOTES: **A rotisserie chicken works great when you’re in a time crunch! I prefer to pan sear a few breasts for shredding when I have time.

BALSAMIC MUSHROOM CHICKEN

I realized recently that I AM posting almost daily, but I’m kind of in a rut in as much as I’m just posting the recently successful recipes without much conversation to go with them. I promise to get better. 😀

Eating in general is still a HUGE issue for me (and ALWAYS will be for the rest of my life), BUT I LOVE to cook and my family still needs to eat, so why should they suffer my limitations?  I may only get a few bites of each meal, but I promise they do NOT go to waste.

Hubby swears he HATES cooked mushrooms (little does he actually realize how much I use them in recipes like Bolognese where they are cooked down into the sauce that he’s been eating for years!!!!!!!) so the VISIBLE mushrooms in any recipe end up on any plate, BUT his! 😀 LOL I even sometimes have to cook the mushrooms in a separate pan to keep him happy if he’s hanging around the kitchen while I’m cooking, which if I’m honest I prefer to be alone while cooking.  I seem to be more creative and get better inspiration during “alone” time. 😀

Because of my limitations in eating I rarely eat starches anymore, BUT this recipe is especially good with mashed potatoes to absorb all that glorious gravy!

BALSAMIC MUSHROOM CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup WONDRA flour
FRESH ground Himalayan sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons avocado oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1/4 cup STRONG balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup chicken stock.
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped thyme

  • Generously season chicken breasts with FRESH ground Himalayan sea salt and black pepper, to taste.
  • Dredge through the Wondra flour.
  • Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add chicken breasts and sear for 2 minutes.
  • Flip chicken.
  • Add onions and garlic to pan sauteing for a minute.
  • Add mushrooms, sauteing a couple minutes.
  • Add vinegar, broth, honey and thyme.
  • Cover and cook 5 minutes.
  • Turn chicken and cook a few minutes more until chicken is cooked through.
  • Remove chicken to platter and keep warm.
  • Cook 5 minutes more to reduce sauce.
  • Add butter.
  • Serve over chicken with mashed potatoes and/or your favorite veggies.

HAWAIIAN MILANESA

HAWAIIAN MILANESA
Beef top round, cut into 4 thin milanesa steaks
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained and juice reserved
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced on the diagonal
1 stalk celery, sliced on the diagonal
3 green carrots, sliced on the diagonal
1 shallot halved and sliced thin
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 cup pretzels
1 cup animal cookies
2 eggs, room temperature
3 tablespoons butter
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
PREPARED rice

  • Grind pretzels and animal cookies into a fine dust. Pour into a shallow dish.
  • Whisk together the eggs until well blended.
  • Immerse steaks into eggs.
  • Dredge steaks into pretzel dust.
  • Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add steaks and sear 2 minutes per side.  Remove steaks and keep warm.
  • Add carrots and celery to skillet, sauteing until beginning to soften.
  • Add shallots and garlic, sauteing a few minutes more.
  • Add chicken broth and cook a few minutes until reduced.
  • Whisk together the liquid aminos, pineapple juice and cornstarch into a slurry.
  • Stir pineapple and slurry into the vegetables cooking to desired consistency.
  • Serve over steak and rice.

ITALIAN Chicken and Noodles

ITALIAN Chicken and Noodles

1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts or tenders
1 medium Vidalia onion, finely chopped
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped *see notes
1 1/2 cups of finely chopped carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Sweet paprika
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon avocado oil
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/3-1/2 cup chicken broth
Prepared noodles
Prepared mashed potatoes (noodles AND mashed potatoes were grams AND great grams way favorite way of serving this)

  • In a large sauce skillet, melt butter and avocado oil.
  • Add generously seasoned chicken pieces. Pan sauce 2-3 minutes per side until JUST cooked through. Remove to cutting board for shredding.
  • Add carrots, cooking until they begin to soften.
  • Add celery and onions.
  • Add tomatoes, bay leaf, paprika and minced garlic.
  • Add in chicken broth, stirring to blend.
  • Reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrots are cooked through and tender. If gravy is too thin, see notes.
  • Remove bay leaf, add in chicken pieces and heat through.
  • Fold in noodles.
  • Serve over mashed potatoes immediately.

NOTES:

  • A can of petite diced tomatoes can easily be substituted.
  • If it is too thin, then make a slurry from a tablespoon or 2 of the gravy and a tablespoon or 2 of cornstarch. Add into the pan, stirring constantly, but gently to blend until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Great grams always started with a whole chicken and would boil it down to pieces and use the cooking water as the broth which adds white a bit of flavor.

BACON WRAPPED JALAPENO CHICKEN BITES

Chicken and cream cheese spread stuffed into jalapenos, rolled and wrapped with bacon and then grilled. YUMMY!

BACON WRAPPED JALAPENO CHICKEN BITES adapted from Trisha Yearwood

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon butter
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
3-ounce package cream cheese (I use herbed cream cheese spread), softened
8 LARGE jalapeno peppers, halved and seeded
8 slices bacon

  • Generously season chicken thighs with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Saute chicken pieces until browned and cooked through.
  • Move chicken to cutting board and dice small or shred.
  • Stir chicken pieces into softened cream cheese.
  • Wrap each roll with one piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. (These look a bit odd today because I only had half slices of bacon).
  • Grill until bacon is brown and crispy on both sides.

NOTE: Be sure to wear plastic gloves when handling fresh jalapenos. The oil will attach itself to your hands and is not easily washed away. Even an inadvertent swipe of the hand close to your eyes could be a VERY unforgettable and unwelcome experience.