Category: PROTEINS

COWBOY GOULASH

COWBOY GOULASH
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1 large carrot, small chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon avocado oil
4 cups beef broth
1 can original Rotes tomatoes
1 small can green chiles, drained well
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
sour cream

  • Heat oil over medium high heat.
  • Add beef and brown.
  • Drain off grease.
  • Add carrot, onion, garlic and bell pepper sautéing until soft.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add broth and hot sauce.
  • Cover and bring to a FULL simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Add Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes and green chiles.
  • Return to a simmer for another 20 minutes.
  • Serve with warm tortillas or corn bread and a dollop of sour cream.  Sometimes we serve it over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.

 

SWEET GARLICKY PORK CHOPS

Honey or sugar based marinades are a WONDERFUL way to bring out the rich flavors of pork especially when they are coupled with citrus juices, Asian flavored oils and vinegars.

SWEET GARLICKY PORK CHOPS
4 1 inch thick pork chops
4 LARGE cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup Bragg’s Amino Acids
Juice of 1 LARGE tangerine
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3/4 tablespoon Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
2 teaspoons FRESH ground sea salt
1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1 tablespoon PURE maple syrup
2 tablespoons apricot pineapple jam

  • Whisk all ingredients together.
  • Reserve 4 tablespoons for later.
  • Pour over pork chops and marinate, turning frequently, for 2-4 hours before grilling.

Another great grilled pork chop recipe is for these grilled chops with Raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce.

  • Preheat grill to medium high heat.
  • Oil the grate.
  • Arrange chops on grill sear 5-7 minutes per side.
  • Heat reserve marinade in a small sauce pan.
  • Brush chops on both sides with the hot marinade as you remove them from the grill and place them on the platter.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTES:

  • If you prefer a thinner chop, be sure and adjust the cooking times!  Thinner chops take considerably LESS cooking time, usually only 2 minutes per side!
  • This recipe is best with FRESH green vegetables like asparagus or broccolini, slaws or salads.  I also like to grill orange slices slathered in the sauce to go with the whole meal.

CAJUN BARRAMUNDI & REMOULADE

While we don’t really miss Texas, there are parts and places we do miss.  One of our favorite seafood restaurants was RAZZOOS CAJUN CAFE – this we miss A LOT! I especially miss their stuffed fish!

This recipe makes us feel like we’re back there in the fun atmosphere sipping cocktails BAYOU BREEZES were my favorite,  Throw in some Mardi Gras beads and Zydeco music and it just feels like we’re back there enjoying their southern hospitality.

CAJUN BARRAMUNDI
2 skin on Barramundi fillets of similar size
2 sprigs Dill, minced
1 tablespoon GHEE*
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning
Fresh ground salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
Lemon wedges

  • Over medium high heat melt butter and GHEE.
  • Score the skin side of the fillets.
  • Pat dry and generously season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika and Cajun seasoning.
  • Add fillets to sizzling butter skin side down.
  • Cook 4-5 minutes until skin begins to brown and crisp.
  • Flip fillets and cook another 3-4 minutes or until beginning to crisp and are cooked through.
  • Plate and sprinkle dill over fish fillets.
  • Serve with remoulade sauce.

NOTE*: I like the extra flavor from a well made GHEE, but butter or avocado oil could easily be substituted.

REMOULADE SAUCE
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chili sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 green onion, minced
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon creamy horseradish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning

  • Mix everything together.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
  • Enjoy.

FARM STYLE MEATLOAF

FARM STYLE MEATLOAF is a recipe I adapted from Kevin Penner’s 1770 House Meatloaf recipe after watching an episode of Ina Garten‘s Barefoot Contessa.  I debated on what to name this dish after my changes.  I flip flopped between Greenhouse and Farm style before finally landing on farm style.  All of the different meats and FRESH herbs and vegetables influenced my final decision for naming it Farm Style.  Honestly, I may yet rename it as I think more.

It is similar, yet completely different from my normal meatloaf recipe that I’ve been using for eons!  We instantly fell in love with the earthiness of this meatloaf and the savory herb sauce was perfect with mashed potatoes too!   Hubby normally loves ketchup or BBQ sauce with meatloaf, but with this flavorful sauce he bypassed it completely!

The key to this recipe is using QUALITY ingredients! Preferably grass fed meats and very FRESH organic ingredients.

FARM STYLE MEATLOAF
1/3 pound ground veal or lamb
1/3 pound ground pork
1/3 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon chopped, FRESH chives
1 teaspoon chopped, FRESH thyme leaves
1 teaspoon chopped, FRESH Italian parsley
1 LARGE egg
scant 1/2 cup finely ground Panko crumbs
scant 1/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Avocado oil
1 stalk of celery, finely diced
1 LARGE shallot, finely diced

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Place the veal, pork, beef, chives, thyme, parsley, eggs, Panko crumbs, milk, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
  • Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat and film it with avocado oil.
  • Add the celery and shallot to the pan, stirring, until softened.
  • Remove the celery and shallot from the pan and let cool.
  • When the mixture is cool, add it to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.
  • Using gloved hands, mix the ingredients until well combined and everything is evenly distributed.
  • Place a LARGE piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan.
  • Place the meat on the sheet pan and pat it and punch it down to remove any air pockets shaping the meat into a loaf about 6 inches long x 2 inches high.
  • Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes or until a meat cooked through (155-160°).
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes.

SAUCE
2/3 cup chicken or beef stock
1 tablespoon Marsala wine
3 cloves roasted garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon FRESH chopped chives
1/2 teaspoon FRESH chopped thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon FRESH chopped Italian parsley
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)

  • Combine the broth, Marsala wine, roasted garlic and butter over medium-high heat and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly thickened.
  • Add the chopped thyme, chives and parsley.
  • Quickly whisk in the cornstarch if needed to thicken as necessary.
  • Slice the meatloaf into serving portions and spoon the hot sauce over the meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTE: You can use a loaf pan if you prefer, but we like the firm crispy edges produced using this method.

LEMON SHRIMP FETTUCCINE

LEMON SHRIMP FETTUCCINE

3/4 pound medium shrimp, cleaned and deveined
1 small fennel, cleaned, halved and sliced – save chop fronds and keep separate
12 ounces fettuccine, prepared al dente (save 1/4 cup hot pasta water)
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved
2 Meyer lemons, Juice of LARGE Meyer Lemon + slices for garnish
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Whisk together the cream, lemon juice and egg yolks.
  • Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • Heat avocado oil in skillet over medium heat.
  • Saute shrimp for 90 seconds. Remove shrimp and set aside to keep warm.
  • Add the fennel pieces and saute for 2 minutes.
  • Add the snap peas and saute another 3 minutes until peas are tender and fennel is browned.
  • Add cream, 1/4 cup pasta water, prepared fettuccine and shrimp into pan.
  • Turn off heat and stir together until well blended and sauce thickens.
  • Season to taste.
  • Garnish with fennel fronds and lemon slices.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTE: Meyer lemons are a bit sweeter than regular lemons so if you can’t find a Meyer lemon, use half of a regular lemon and half of a tangerine.

PAN SEARED CHICKEN & VEGGIES IN LEMON HONEY GARLIC BUTTER

This is a WONDERFUL and deliciously simple recipe. Chicken thighs OR breasts cooked in browned butter infused with honey, garlic and lemon juice. Simple ingredients BUT maximum flavor!

PAN SEARED CHICKEN & VEGGIES IN LEMON HONEY GARLIC BUTTER

6 chicken thighs (or 4 large chicken breast fillets pounded thin) (bone in or out/skin on or off)
Salt and pepper, to taste
6 tablespoons butter, divided
4 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1 tablespoon minced garlic, or 4 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 medium lemon
2-4 tablespoons chicken broth OPTIONAL
3 cups broccoli florets OPTIONAL
4 Lemon wedges, to serve
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Sear chicken in an oven proof skillet or pan, skin side down first for 3 minutes. Flip and sear for a further 3 minutes until browned.
  • Transfer chicken to a plate.
  • Add lemon juice, garlic and honey to pan, blending well.
  • Add the chicken into the sauce in the pan, turning to coat well.
  • Transfer to the oven for a further 20-25 minutes until completely cooked through and no longer pink inside.
  • Change oven settings to broil (or grill), until nicely charred on the tops.
  • To serve, add the lemon wedges around the chicken, garnish with parsley and drizzle with the pan juices.
  • Serve with steamed vegetables; over rice or noodles, or with a salad!

ALTERNATIVE – FOR BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN FILLETS (my preferred way of making this dish) I also prefer carrots and snap peas

  • Sear boneless chicken thighs or breast fillets on both sides until golden and cooked through.
  • Transfer chicken to a warm plate; set aside.
  • Make the sauce following recipe directions.
  • Add the chicken back into to the browned butter/honey mixture in the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes in the sauce, while basting the tops with the pan juices.
  • Flip and continue cooking in the sauce until cooked through.
  • Season with a little extra salt and pepper, to your taste, if desired.

7UP CHILI SLOPPY BURGERS

This was an actual “scrap” of a recipe torn from a typed book – maybe a church cookbook or some such type. It had such a unique name, 7-UP CHILIBURGERS, that I had to set it aside to try sometime. Fast forward many years and I ran across it again, this time vowing to make it soon. Fast forward a couple more years and here we are. All I can say is that I am truly sorry we didn’t try this sooner!!!! These were wonderful!

7UP CHILI SLOPPY BURGERS
1 tablespoon butter
1 pound lean ground beef
1 SMALL onion, chopped (3/4 cup)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon WONDRA flour
7 ounces 7UP
3/4 cup Jalapeno ketchup
1/2 teaspoon chili powder

  • Melt butter in skillet over medium heat.
  • Add onion and beef. Brown until beef is crumbled into small pieces and onion is cooked through and translucent.
  • Sift together the flour, salt and chili powder.
  • Slowly add the 7UP, stirring until smooth.
  • Add ketchup, Worcestershire and 7UP mixture to the skillet, stirring to blend well.
  • Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Serve on buns.

CHICKEN & ONIONS in WHITE WINE CREAM SAUCE


CHICKEN & ONIONS in WHITE WINE CREAM SAUCE

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup all-purpose flour for dredging
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 small Vidalia onion, halved and sliced
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup champagne

  • Generously salt and pepper each breast.
  • Lightly dredge chicken breasts with flour.
  • In a large skillet, lightly brown chicken breasts to a nice golden brown in oil.
  • Once browned on both sides, add onions and champagne.
  • Cook over medium heat, champagne should come to a SLOW boil.  Reduce to simmer for approximately 15 minutes hour.
  • When chicken is tender, transfer chicken to a platter.
  • Pour cream into skillet. Simmer about 5 minutes, until slightly thickened.
  • Pour sauce over chicken breasts. Serve.

CHILI LIME STEAK BITES

These are the perfect appetizer for ANY party. Super easy recipe ready in just minutes with only a few ingredients.
CHILI LIME BITES
1 pound top sirloin steak, cut into large bite sized pieces
scant 1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt
scant 1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
scant 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon QUALITY honey
1 tablespoon chili paste
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 LARGE limes zested and juiced
chopped parsley and green onion, for garnish

  • Place steak pieces in a mixing bowl.
  • Sprinkle with the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Toss to coat well.
  • Whisk together the honey, chili paste and garlic.
  • Pour chili paste mixture over steak pieces and toss until well mixed and coated.
  • Heat avocado oil in skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling. If it doesn’t sizzle and hiss, the pan is not hot enough.
  • Sear the steak for 1 minute before touching it, then flip the steak bites.
  • Sear the steak on the second side for an additional 1 minute, then remove the steak from the pan to a plate.
  • Add the lime zest and lime juice to the hot pan, stir to combine, and pour the chili lime sauce of the steak bites.

HEARTY BEEF SOUP

HEARTY BEEF SOUP
1 pound chuck roast, cut into bite sized pieces
3 tablespoons Wondra flour
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend (see below)
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
FRESH ground sea salt, to taste
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large shallot, halved, sliced and chopped
1 large celery stalk, chopped
1 carrots, chopped
2 cups beef stock
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup pasta

  • Heat butter and avocado oil in a skillet over a medium high heat.
  • Combine flour, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning in a ziploc bag.
  • Dredge beef pieces in flour mixture, shaking off the excess before adding to the hot oil. Sear beef on all sides.
  • Using a slotted spoon add beef to dutch oven.
  • Add celery, carrots and shallots to skillet and quickly saute before adding to the dutch oven.
  • Add beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and wine, stirring to combine.
  • Simmer on low 2 hours.
  • Season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add pasta and simmer 1 hour more.
  • Enjoy!

ITALIAN SEASONING BLEND
1 1/2 tablespoons dried rosemary
3 tablespoons dried oregano
3 tablespoons dried basil
1 1/2 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried sage

  • Blend together and store in an air tight bottle.

FIRECRACKER PORK CHOPS

FIRECRACKER PORK CHOPS
4 bone in center cut pork chops
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon Mexican seasoning blend (see below)
1/4 cup avocado oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup Wondra flour
1 recipe RED HOT Aioli (see below)
1 scallion, finely chopped
Italian parsley, chopped for garnish

  • Whisk together the buttermilk and half the Mexican seasoning. Set aside.
  • Whisk together the flour with the other half of the Mexican seasoning.
  • Heat avocado oil in skillet over medium high heat.
  • Dredge the pork chops one at a time in the buttermilk mixture and then press into the flour mixture, shaking off excess before doing it ALL AGAIN to double coat each chop before adding to the skillet.
  • Sear pork chops 3-4 minutes per side.
  • Remove chops to a plate and immediately coat with the aioli, turning to coat both sides.
  • Sprinkle with scallions and parsley.

RED HOT AIOLI
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Frank’s Original hot sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon QUALITY honey
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
PINCH FRESH ground sea salt

  • Whisk ALL the ingredients until smooth.

MEXICAN SEASONING BLEND
4 tablespoons chile powder
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon ground Mexican oregano
1 tablespoon ground red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • Blend together and store in an airtight bottle.

 

CHEESY SOUR CREAM CHICKEN

CHEESY SOUR CREAM CHICKEN adapted from A Dish of Daily Life
4 chicken breasts or 2 pounds chicken tenders
1 LARGE shallot, peeled, halved and sliced thin
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon avocado oil
4 slices Mozzarella or Provolone
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup Parmesan, freshly grated, divided
1 tablespoon corn starch
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground salt
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground pepper
chopped Italian Parsley, for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Over medium high heat, melt butter and avocado oil.
  • Add onions and 2 minced cloves of garlic.  Saute’ until golden and cooked through.
  • Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or avocado oil.
  • In a small mixing bowl whisk sour cream smooth.
  • Add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, 2 minced cloves of garlic, garlic powder and cornstarch stirring to mix well.
  • Place sauteed onions in bottom of baking dish.
  • Lay chicken breasts over onions in baking dish in a single layer.
  • Top each with a slice of Provolone or Mozzarella  and smother the chicken with the sour cream mixture.
  • Top with 1/4 cup remaining Parmesan.
  • Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
  • Uncover and bake 30 minutes more until chicken is cooked through and cheese is golden.
  • Serve chicken over pasta.
  • Top with chopped parsley for garnish.

NOTE: If using chicken tenders, slice Provolone or Mozzarella slices into smaller pieces to fit.  You can also use grated cheese.