Category: PORK

SWEDISH MEATBALLS ~ OLDIE BUT GOODIE

Traditionally this recipe is served with lingonberries – YUMMMMMMY!!
MEATBALLS*
1 Jumbo egg
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large slice white bread, crusts removed, and bread torn into 1-inch pieces
8 ounces ground pork, double ground
8 ounces ground beef, double ground
1 medium onion, grated or minced
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
Olive Oil, heavy coat

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Whisk egg and cream together in small bowl. Stir in bread and set aside to soak.
  • Blend hamburger & pork, onion, nutmeg, allspice, pepper, brown sugar, and salt smooth and uniform.
  • Using fork, mash bread mixture until no large dry bread chunks remain.
  • Add mixture to beef mixture and blend until well mixed.
  • Form 1-inch round meatballs. You’ll have about 25-30. 
  • Bake 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
  • At this point you can either complete the recipe or freeze the meatballs for a later weeknight.

SAUCE
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
Table salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Melt butter over medium high heat.
  • Once melted, add flour and cook, stirring constantly with whisk, until flour is light brown.
  • Slowly whisk in broth.
  • Add brown sugar and bring to simmer.
  • Reduce heat to medium and cook until sauce is reduced to about 1 cup, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in cream and return to simmer.
  • Add meatballs back to sauce and simmer, turning occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.  If making the meatloaf, at this point pour sauce over the meatloaf and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
  • Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper to taste and serve over noodles.

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.

LUAU BENEDICTS

LUAU BENEDICTS
1 English muffin per person
2 eggs per person
leftover sweet and sour pulled pork
Hollandaise sauce

  • Prepare Hollandaise sauce.
  • Toast English muffins.
  • Poach eggs.
  • Layer together starting with English muffin, pulled pork, poached egg and the hollandaise sauce.
  • Enjoy.

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE
1/2 cup butter
3 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
dash cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons hot water
finely chopped fresh parsley, if desired

•    Heat butter in a heavy saucepan until hot and foamy, but not browned.
•    In a small bowl, whisk or beat egg yolks with lemon juice, salt, and  hot sauce.
•    Gradually beat in butter, then water.
•    Return mixture to saucepan and beat over very low heat until mixture is slightly thickened.
•    Serve immediately or let stand over warm water for up to 30 minutes.
•    If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Makes about 2/3 cup of hollandaise sauce.

OVEN BBQ PORK CHOPS

OVEN BBQ PORK CHOPS
1 1/2 to 2 pounds pork rib chops, trimmed of fat 

1/4 teaspoon sea salt 

1/4 teaspoon  freshly ground pepper
3 teaspoons safflower oil, divided
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1 clove  garlic, minced
1/2 cup  orange juice 

3/4 cup  barbecue sauce
2-3 cups prepared white rice

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Generously sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. 
  • Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. 
  • Add the pork chops and sear to brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
  • Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan. 
  • Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened. 
  • Stir in garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant. 
  • Add orange juice and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. 
  • Stir in barbecue sauce until well blended. 
  • Return the pork chops to the pan, turning several times to coat with the sauce.
  • In a large baking dish layer the rice on the bottom, smoothing the top.
  • Add pork chops to top of rice.
  • Pour remaining sauce over the chops and rice.
  • Transfer the dish to the oven and bake until the pork chops are barely pink in the middle and an instant-read thermometer registers at least 145 degrees. 10-15 minutes.

OVEN BBQ PORK CHOPS

OVEN BBQ PORK CHOPS
1 1/2 to 2 pounds pork rib chops, trimmed of fat 

1/4 teaspoon sea salt 

1/4 teaspoon  freshly ground pepper
3 teaspoons safflower oil, divided
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1 clove  garlic, minced
1/2 cup  orange juice 

3/4 cup  barbecue sauce
2-3 cups prepared white rice

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Generously sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. 
  • Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. 
  • Add the pork chops and sear to brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
  • Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan. 
  • Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened. 
  • Stir in garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant. 
  • Add orange juice and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. 
  • Stir in barbecue sauce until well blended. 
  • Return the pork chops to the pan, turning several times to coat with the sauce.
  • In a large baking dish layer the rice on the bottom, smoothing the top.
  • Add pork chops to top of rice.
  • Pour remaining sauce over the chops and rice.
  • Transfer the dish to the oven and bake until the pork chops are barely pink in the middle and an instant-read thermometer registers at least 145 degrees. 10-15 minutes.

Fire Day Friday: Wanton Wontons

One of the wonderful byproducts of grilling and smoking is that I usually have a little extra cooked pork, chicken, or steak left over. This week I had a bit of hickory smoked pulled pork. It wasn’t really even enough for two bbq sandwiches but it was enough for 8 appetizer servings of these fried wontons.
These slightly spicy wontons make great appetizers for a formal meal or as the star of a tailgating menu.
Wanton Wontons
8 servings (3 wontons each)
¾ cup shitake mushrooms, diced
¼ cup carrot, diced
¼ cup red bell pepper, diced
1 Tbsp ginger, diced
1 clove garlic, diced
½ cup napa cabbage, diced
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
½ cup pulled pork
3 Tbsp sweet chili sauce
½ tsp fish sauce
½ tsp rice vinegar
½ tsp Sriracha sauce (hot chili garlic sauce)
Teriyaki sauce
24 wonton wrappers
Preheat a saute pan or wok over medium high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil.
Add the mushrooms, carrot and saute for 4 minutes.
Stir the bell pepper, ginger, and garlic. Saute another 1-2 minutes.
Turn off the heat and stir in the napa, cilantro and pulled pork. Let the residual heat of the pan wilt the napa and cilantro for a minute.
Mix the sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha sauce. Stir that into the pan mixture.
Place about 2 teaspoons of the mix on each wonton wrapper. 
Wet two edges of the wonton wrapper. Pull one corner over to the other corner.   Seal one edge and work as much air out as possible. 
Seal the remaining edge. Repeat with remaining wontons.
Preheat a deep fryer or a deep skillet with oil to 350f. Add the assembled wontons 3-4 at a time and cook for 30 seconds. Flip them over and cook another 30 seconds or until golden brown.
Drizzle with terriyaki sauce, red pepper flakes and serve with a cold beverage.
The crispy crunchy shell and the spicy fillings will make you “wantin’ wontons”.  yeah, I know, that’s a bad pun.

PEANUT CRUSTED PORK CHOPS ~ Fire Day Friday

I think it might actually be starting to cool off here.  Seriously… It might finally feel a bit like fall…. Wednesday was only a high of like 79!!  That’s huge considering that last week we were still at 100!!!  The excellent thing about living in Arizona is that I get probably some of the best weather for grilling all year long.  I definitely appreciate that fact.  And thanks to the wonderful weather, I tend to do as much grilling as I can throughout the year, not only to not heat up my kitchen in 110 degree weather OR just the fact that I can… no, I tend to do it because most meals made on it, are simple and ever so fast.  Yes, you can do things nice and slow on the grill… but with the kind of weeks I’ve been having lately… speed and simplicity (along with deliciousness) are what it’s all about it.  And this recipe does not disappoint… Trust me 🙂

Peanut Crusted Pork Chops
Adapted from BHG Grillin’ & Chillin’
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 Tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2-1 teaspoon hot sauce (I used Cholula)
1/3 cup finely chopped dry roasted peanuts
2 Tablespoons dry bread crumbs
1-2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
1 garlic clove, finely minced
4 pork chops (I used bone-in; about 1/4-1/2 inch thick)

Directions:
In a bowl, mix together peanut butter, pineapple juice, soy, honey, ginger, mustard, and hot sauce until well combined.  Place the pork chops in a resealable bag or shallow dish.  Pour the peanut butter mixture over, seal or cover, and place in refrigerator for 4 hours.

Preheat grill to 375-400 degrees F.  In a small bowl, mix together peanuts, bread crumbs, parsley and garlic.  Remove pork from the bag/dish and discard marinade.  Place the pork directly on oiled grill grates over direct heat.  Allow to grill 4-7 minutes depending on how thick the chops are.  Flip pork and carefully (and evenly) sprinkle crust mixture on top, and press down with a spatula.  Cover and grill another 4-6 minutes or until the pork is cooked through.  Carefully remove from grill and enjoy!

Fire Day Friday: Thai Cashew Nut Pork

“If the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, you’ll approach every problem as if it were a nail.”
That is why I like to use some unusual “tools” on my grill like my wok. It keeps my creativity fired up (I know, bad pun).
Woks may seem a bit unconventional for the grill but actually woks were originally designed for and used with fiery hot coals. You can do this recipe inside on your stove but I like to wok and roll on the grill. I call stir frying on the grill “stir firing”. 
Thai Cashew Nut Pork
Source:  Nibble Me This
1 pork tenderloin, silver skin removed
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 onion, cut into 1/2” wedges
1 bell pepper, cut into slices (I like to use 1/3rd each of red, yellow and green just for color)
1 cayenne pepper, seeded and finely chopped (substitute a serrano, jalapeno, etc)
1 Tbsp ginger, peeled and finely diced
1 Tbsp garlic, peeled and finely diced
1 loosely packed cup of fresh basil leaves, stems removed and cut in half
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp fish sauce
¼ cup chicken stock
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cold water
1 Tbsp corn starch
¼ cup unsalted roasted cashews
Slice the pork tenderloin into thin strips about 1” x 2” x 1/4” like this….
Prepare your grill to medium hot (400f) and preheat your wok. Then add the oils, let heat for another minute and “stir fire” the pork. You might need to do this in two small batches instead of one big batch to avoid over crowding the wok. (A crowded wok does not rock….it only steams and simmers.)
Cook for about 4-6 minutes until browned. Remove to a plate and tent with foil. Add the peppers and onions to the grill, “stir firing” 2 minutes.
Add the ginger, garlic and basil, tossing for another 1-2 minutes.
Stir in the soy sauce, fish sauce, stock, and sugar, cooking for another minute. While that is going on, whisk the water and starch together to form a slurry. Add to the wok.
Move the meat and veggies to the cooler sloped edges of the wok to let the liquids form a simmering hot tub in the center of the wok. Let simmer for 2 minutes or so until thickened. 
Add the cashews and toss the mix together again one last time. Serve with sweet jasamine rice.
There’s a lot of boisterous flavors in this dish but they all work together.  With the cashew only being added at the end, you might wonder why it gets named in the title.  It brings not only a taste to balance the spicy dish but also a crisp texture.

Fire Day Friday: Grilled Pork Chops with Tzatziki Sauce

I know there are at least a dozen, if not more, blogs out there with recipes for Tzatziki sauce…but this was the first time I had actually made it myself, so I just had to share it with you all!

I took a few of these ideas from Chris at Nibble Me This and Andrea The Kitchen Witch, so I can’t even take real credit for this recipe.

What I did do all by myself was cut my own loin chops.  I found a very large 6 pound piece of boneless pork loin for like $4 the other day and I just couldn’t pass it up.  What it meant, though, was that I was going to have to cut my own chops.  Last time I did that, I ended up with some really extra thin and quite strangely shaped pork chops.  This time… well, it wasn’t perfect, but that’s ok, I’ll just keep practicing 🙂

The pork was cooked perfectly…if I do say so myself.  It had a wonderful mild flavor to it, but what makes this all come together, is definitely the sauce.  As most of you know by now, I do my love sauces.

My recommendation… try this one … you will not be sorry you did!  Oh, and I brined these chops for an hour and a half and then I let them sit in the marinade for another hour and a half.  You can choose to skip the brining part if you want, but, if you have the time, please don’t skip it…  You will thank me in the end, trust me! 

Grilled Pork Chops with Tzatziki Sauce
Adapted from Nibble Me This & Andrea The Kitchen Witch
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
4 boneless pork loin chops (thick or thin, whatever your preference though I would go for a thicker cut if you can find it)
For the brine –
3 cups water
2 1/2 Tablespoons kosher salt
2 1/2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons minced or chopped garlic
1 teaspoon white or black pepper
For the marinade –
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon Greek Seasoning (optional)
For the tzatziki sauce –
6 oz Greek yogurt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
just over a 1/4 cup chopped English cucumber (you can always add more if you want)

Directions:
Mix the water, salt, sugar, garlic, and pepper together.  Place chops in a resealable bag and pour the brine over it.  Seal and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 1.5 hours.  Remove from brine and rinse pork thoroughly under cool running water.  Thoroughly rinse out the resealable bag also, and place the pork back inside.  Mix together all the ingredients for the marinade and pour over chops.  Seal and let marinate in the refrigerator another 1.5-2 hours. 

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, garlic powder, salt, and dill.  Add the red wine vinegar and oil and stir to combine.  Stir in the cucumbers.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. 

Preheat your grill to 375 degrees F.  Place the pork directly over the fire and grill for 3-6 minutes per side, depending no how thick your chops are, or until the internal temperature registers 145 degrees F.  Remove from grill and allow pork to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving…they will continue to cook while they sit.  Serve with tzatziki sauce and enjoy!

SLOW COOKER TEXAS PULLED PORK

Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork adapted from allrecipes.com
This recipe is for 8 servings but I doubled it (plus a little more) to have about 20 servings.
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 (2lb) pork shoulder roast
1 cup BBQ sauce
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 extra large onion, chopped
2 large cloves, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
8 hamburger buns
2 tablespoons butter
Directions:  Pour the vegetable oil into the bottom of a slow cooker.  Place the pork roast into the slow cooker; pour in the BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and chicken broth.  Stir in the brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, onion, garlic, and thyme.  Cover and cook on High until the roast shreds easily with a fork 5 to 6 hours.
Remove the roast from the slow cooker, shred the meat using two forks.  Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker, and stir the meat into the juices.
Spread the inside of both halves of hamburger buns with butter.  Toast the buns, butter side down, in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown.  Spoon pork into the toasted buns.
Modifications:
-I didn’t use brown sugar.
-I didn’t toast the buns.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Chop up the onions.
Chop the garlic. 
Pour the oil into the bottom of a slow cooker and lay the pork on top.
Pour the BBQ sauce over the meat.
Add the rest of the ingredients.
I cooked it on 375 for about 4 hours and then I turned it down to 300 for another hour. 
Pull the pork from the cooker and shred it.
Put the shredded meat back into the sauce.  Turn it on low until ready to serve.
Here’s what you’ll end up with:

LUAU BENEDICTS

I saw a recipe similar to these on a menu and set out to replicate it.  I’m not sure how close I came, but we loved them!

LUAU BENEDICTS
1 English muffin per person
2 eggs per person
enough leftover sweet and sour pulled pork
hollandaise sauce

  • Prepare Hollandaise sauce.
  • Toast English muffins.
  • Poach eggs.
  • Layer together starting with English muffin, pulled pork, poached egg and the hollandaise sauce.
  • Enjoy.

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE
1/2 cup butter
3 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
dash cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons hot water
finely chopped fresh parsley, if desired

  • Heat butter in a heavy saucepan until hot and foamy, but not browned.
  • In a small bowl, whisk or beat egg yolks with lemon juice, salt, and  hot sauce.
  • Gradually beat in butter, then water.
  • Return mixture to saucepan and beat over very low heat until mixture is slightly thickened.
  • Serve immediately or let stand over warm water for up to 30 minutes.
  • If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Makes about 2/3 cup of hollandaise sauce.