Category: RECIPES

SLOW COOKED SWEDISH MEATBALLS

I found this recipe in Real Food Slow Cooker Suppers: Easy, Family-Friendly Recipes from Scratch By Samantha Skaggs

I love that they start by saying “If you’ve ever visited a certain, large, Swedish, rat-maze-like furniture store”…. Gee I wonder if they mean IKEA LOL 😀 I did adapt it slightly, but the final product is REALLY similar and VERY tasty!

SLOW COOKER SWEDISH MEATBALLS
MEATBALLS
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup FRESH sourdough bread crumbs
1/2 cup WHOLE milk
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon FRESH ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt
FRESH ground pepper, to taste

  • Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, seasonings, salt and pepper.
  • Form ping pong sized meatballs, about 24 of them.
  • Arrange meatballs in a couple layers in large slow cooker.

GRAVY
3 cups beef consommé
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon House Seasoning
1/3 cup sour cream
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

  • Whisk together the consomme’, flour, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and house seasoning.
  • Pour this over the meatballs evenly.
  • Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours until meatballs are cooked through, but still tender.
  • Using a slotted spoon remove meatballs to serving platter.
  • Skin any fat from the gravy.
  • Add sour cream to a small bowl.
  • Add a couple spoonfuls of gravy to the sour cream and whisk together. This will temper the sour cream and prevent curdling. Add a few more spoonfuls and keep mixing until completely tempered,
  • Add sour cream mixture into gravy, whisking to combine.
  • Adjust seasonings.
  • Add meatballs back into slow cooker and cook 30 minutes more.
  • Serve over prepared egg noodles with lingonberry jam.

Prepared egg noodles
Lingonberry jam

HOUSE SEASONING
1/4 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder

HONEY RANCH BBQ PORK CHOPS

HONEY RANCH BBQ PORK CHOPS
PORK CHOPS
4 THICK bone-in pork chops
1 ounce Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning (I buy it by the bottle, but you can use the dip/salad dressing package)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 batch BBQ sauce (recipe below)

  • Coat pork chops with ranch seasoning.
  • Add pork chops to a large ziplock bag.
  • Add sauce to the chops and coat well.
  • Seal bag and marinade at least an hour, but preferably over night, turning occasionally.
  • Drain marinade from pork chops.
  • Prepare grill.
  • Sear chops on hot grill, turning once.
  • Brush with reserved marinade, grilling 5-7 minutes until cooked through.

BBQ SAUCE
3/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons PACKED brown sugar
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Mesquite liquid smoke
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste

  • Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, honey, liquid smoke, paprika, garlic powder and pepper. Reserve 1/4 cup.

SPICY ORANGE CHICKEN

SPICY ORANGE CHICKEN
8 bone in, skin on chicken thighs
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
8 ounce can orange juice concentrate
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons PACKED brown sugar
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoons Frank’s original hot sauce
2 green onions, sliced and diced for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 450°.
  • Generously season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
  • Arrange chicken pieces skin side down on a baking sheet.
  • Bake 45 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Flip skin side up 2/3 of the way through.

 

  • In a medium sauce pan combine the orange juice concentrate, garlic, red pepper flakes, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook 15-20 minutes until mixture thickens.
  • Pour sauce into large mixing bowl.
  • Remove chicken from oven and increase heat to broil.

 

  • Add chicken pieces to sauce, turning to coat well.
  • Drain fat from baking sheet.
  • Arrange chicken pieces and broil 1-2 minutes until bubbling and starting to brown.

COCOA MERINGUE KISSES

These will soften as time goes on so they are the best served FRESH for crisp bites.

COCOA MERINGUE KISSES
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
PINCH of salt
2 LARGE egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Line heavy baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Sift together 1/3 cup of the sugar, cocoa and salt into a small mixing bowl.
  • Beat egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar in a chilled metal bowl with chilled beaters until soft peaks begin to form.
  • Add remaining sugar a tablespoon at a time until stiff peaks form.
  • Add cocoa mixture a tablespoon at a time, beating until meringue is stiff and glossy.
  • Drop or pipe meringue onto parchment paper 1 inch apart.
  • Bake 25 minutes for softer, chewy cookies. OR Bake 40 minutes for drier, crisper cookies.
  • Cool completely.
  • Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

NOTES:

  • For a fun little surprise you can press a single peanut butter, butterscoth or chocolate chip into the center of each meringue before baking.
  • To make these plain just omit the cocoa.

ALTERNATE BAKING METHOD

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Place cookie sheets in oven.
  • Turn off oven and leave overnight.
  • Dust with powdered sugar.
  • Enjoy.

CAJUN CREOLE CHICKEN, RICE & BEANS

Cajun seasoning adds the unique flavor to this meals and provides you with just enough spiciness and bite to make your taste buds stand up and pay attention.

CAJUN CREOLE CHICKEN THIGHS with SLOW COOKED RICE & BEANS
1 can black beans**, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
2 medium tomatoes, rustic chopped
1 red pepper, small chopped
1 shallot, halved and sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
3 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon + 1  teaspoon (divided) SLAP YA MAMA cajun spice
2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
1 tablespoon avocado oil

  • In a 6 quart slow cooker combine the beans, rice, tomatoes, red pepper, shallot, garlic, parsley, broth and 1 1/2 teaspoons SLAP YA MAMA seasoning until well combined.
  • Sprinkle the chicken thighs with the 2 tablespoons SLAP YA MAMA.
  • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet (preferably cast iron).
  • Brown chicken pieces on both sides until golden, about 5 minutes per side.
  • Place in slow cooker, skin side up.
  • Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours until chicken is cooked through. Rice will be saucy!

**The original recipe calls for a traditional red bean, but I personally HATE red beans and always substitute black beans.

SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN WINGS

SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN WINGS
1/3 cup Bragg’s liquid aminos
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup QUALITY sweet honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
3 pounds chicken wing pieces
sesame seeds to garnish
2 green onions, sliced thin for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 475°.
  • In a small saucepan whisk together the liquid aminos, vinegar, honey, garlic and ginger.
  • Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until reduced by half and starting to thicken, about 30 minutes.
  • Strain through a sieve and discard solids. You should have about 2/3 cups of sauce.
  • Transfer sauce to large mixing bowl.

 

  • Arrange chicken wing pieces on a jelly roll pan covered in foil and sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes until golden, crisp and cooked through.
  • Transfer wings to sauce bowl and drain fat from pan.
  • Toss wings until well coated by sauce and most of sauce is absorbed, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions to serve.

PECAN CHICKEN with MAPLE CREAM GRAVY

PECAN CHICKEN with MAPLE CREAM GRAVY

CHICKEN
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts or 2 pounds chicken tenders
1 cup buttermilk
Avocado oil or your favorite for frying or just plain old crisco
3/4 cup FINELY chopped or crushed pecan pieces
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons FRESH ground Himalayan pink salt
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste

  • Place chicken in large ziplock bag with buttermilk.
  • Chill for 8 hours.

 

  • Pour oil to a 1 inch depth in your favorite deep skillet, preferably cast iron.
  • Mix together the pecans, flour, salt and pepper.
  • Remove chicken from bag and discard marinade.
  • Dredge chicken in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
  • Fry chicken 6-7 minutes on each side until cooked through.
  • Drain on wire rack.
    Keep warm.

MAPLE CREAM SAUCE
4 slices thick bacon, diced
1 shallot, minced
3 tablespoons Wondra flour
1/2 cup PURE and QUALITY maple syrup
1/4 cup whole grain mustard (optional)
1/3 cup bourbon
2 cups heavy cream
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Cook bacon until crisp.
  • Using a slotted spoon remove bacon to paper toweling to drain.
  • Add shallots to bacon grease and sauce 2 minutes or so until tender.
  • Add flour, stirring constantly until golden.
  • Add syrup, bourbon and mustard if using. Stir constantly until thickens.
  • Add cream, stirring constantly 5-7 minutes until desired consistency.
  • Fold in bacon.
  • Plate chicken
  • Serve with mashed potatoes.
  • Ladle sauce over chicken and potatoes.

SWEDISH MEATLOAVES with MASHED POTATOES, ROASTED CARROTS & LINGONBERRY JAM with HOUSE SEASONING

Meatloaf is really just an oversized meatball. So, why not make it a personal size so you can get more finished edges covered in delicious gravy?

Swedish Meat Loaves are spicy beef meatloaves smothered in a rich tasty gravy served over mashed potatoes with roasted carrots with Lingonberry jam on the side—in other words, Thanksgiving for the rest of the year.

SWEDISH MEATLOAVES with MASHED POTATOES, ROASTED CARROTS & LINGONBERRY JAM

2 Carrots, peeled and sliced into thick coins
3/4 pound Yukon potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/3 cup minced yellow onion
several sprigs Parsley, finely chopped
1 slice white bread
3 tablespoons + 1/4 cup milk
2/3 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup beef consomme
2 tablespoon Lingonberry Jam
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons butter
FRESH ground salt and pepper, taste

  • PREHEAT oven to 425° and adjust rack to upper position.
  • Toss carrots on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil and a large pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Roast in oven for 15 minutes.
  • Add potatoes to a medium pot with a large pinch of salt and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return to empty pot off heat.
  • Place bread and 3 tablespoons milk in a medium bowl. Break up bread with your hands until pasty.
  • Add in beef, 2 tablespoons minced onion, half the parsley, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper and salt to taste. Mix by hand gently until thoroughly mixed.
  • Shape mixture into two 1-inch-tall loaves.
  • Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add meatloaves and cook until browned on surface but not yet cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
  • Once carrots have roasted about 15 minutes, remove sheet from oven and give carrots a toss. Add meatloaves to same sheet and place back in oven.
  • Bake until meatloaves are cooked through and carrots are tender, about 15 minutes more.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the same pan you browned the meatloaves in over medium heat.
  • Add remaining minced onion. Cook, sauteing, until soft, about 2 minutes.
  • Add flour and cook, stirring, until pasty, about 1 minute.
  • Slowly whisk in beef stock and 1/4 cup milk.
  • Bring to a simmer, then whisk until thickened, about 1 minute.
  • Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg to taste.
  • Add more water if too thick.
  • Place pot with potatoes over low heat.
  • Add 1/4 cup milk and 1 tablespoon butter mashing until smooth. Add more milk if too stiff.
    Season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
  • Plate potatoes and meatloaves.
  • Drizzle with gravy.
  • Add carrots and jam to the side.
  • Garnish with remaining parsley.

HOUSE SEASONING MIX

1/4 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon FRESH ground black pepper

  • Combine in a small bowl until well blended.
  • Store in an air tight container.

GREEK GAZPACHO PASTA SALAD

Gazpacho is Spanish in tradition, but with the addition of the Feta cheese I feel like it is more of a Greek and Spanish fusion. Hubby loves the Mediterranean flavors while I pass on it every time, but it’s a GREAT recipe for a BBQ or picnic.

GREEK GAZPACHO PASTA SALAD
1 pound rotini, prepared al dente and rinsed in cold water and drained

SAUCE
14 1/2 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
1/4 cup FRESH basil leaves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup avocado oil (or olive if you prefer)

  • Process tomatoes, basil, garlic, red pepper flakes and red wine vinegar with a pinch of salt until smooth.
  • Drizzle with avocado oil and gently fold in.

VEGGIES
1 cucumber, halved, seeded, and chopped
1 red pepper, halved, seeded, and chopped
1 yellow pepper, halved, seeded, and chopped
1 small red onion, small diced
3/4 pound grape tomatoes, halved

ASSEMBLY

  • In a large mixing bowl gently toss veggies together.
  • Drizzle with sauce mixture and fold again.
  • Cover and let marinade for 15-30 minutes.

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup (or more) pitted black olives, sliced
3 green onions sliced thin
FRESH minced parsley for garnish

  • JUST before serving fold in olives, cheese and green onions.
  • Season to taste.
  • Garnish with parsley.

BRUSCHETTA AVOCADOS

BRUSCHETTA AVOCADOS – Luscious tomatoes, FRESH basil and red onion are tossed in a balsamic vinegar with a touch of garlic and avocado oil and then gently stuffed into avocado halves for a incredible summer dinner with no oven or stove to heat up the house. Adapted from Cafe Delites

2 ripe Roma tomatoes,finely chopped
2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
scant tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
2 ripe avocados – peeled, seeded and halved
2 tablespoons balsamic REDUCTION – store bought or see recipe below
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped basil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl.
  • Toss well to evenly meld all of the flavors.
  • Arrange prepared avocado halves onto a plate.
  • Spoon the  filling into each avocado halve and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
  • Top with chopped FRESH basil and Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve immediately.

BALSAMIC REDUCTION (homemade)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon PACKED light brown sugar (optional)

  • Combine brown sugar sugar with vinegar in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil.
  • Reduce heat to low; allow to simmer for about 5-8 minutes or until mixture has thickened and reduced to a glaze.

NOTE: If not using sugar, allow plain balsamic vinegar to reduce for 12-15 minutes on low heat.

CROISSANT BERRY FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

This is a rich indulgent brunch recipe that is also super easy to prepare in advance for those special holiday mornings.

CROISSANT BERRY FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

15 mini BUTTER croissants
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup SUPERFINE sugar
1 pint strawberries, sliced
1/3 cup currants
1/2 cup small WILD blueberries
6 LARGE eggs
1 cup half and half
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1 teaspoon QUALITY ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons PURE maple syrup

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
  • Slice each croissant length-wise, being careful not to cut all the way through.
  • Cream together the cream cheese and sugar.
  • Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture onto the inside of each croissant.
  • Divide strawberry slices evenly between the croissants laying them onto the cream cheese and close the croissants.
  • Sprinkle with currants.
  • Layer the croissants into the dish, packing them tightly.
  • Sprinkle the blueberries throughout the dish.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, and maple syrup.
  • Pour egg mixture SLOWLY over the croissants, making sure to get some into every nook and cranny.
  • Cover and refrigerate up to 8 hours or bake right away.
  • When ready to bake, COVER and bake for 30-35 minutes or until set.
  • Serve with more maple syrup and fresh fruit.
  • Enjoy!

SWEET SOY PORK CHOPS, CURRANT SCALLION RICE & BACON SHALLOT SNAP PEAS

SWEET SOY PORK CHOPS, CURRANT SCALLION RICE and BACON SHALLOT SUGAR SNAP PEAS

MARINADE
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sriracha
4 boneless center cut pork loin chops

  • Whisk together the liquid aminos, vinegar and sriracha.
  • Place pork chops in a large Ziploc bag.
  • Pour marinade into bag.
  • Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly.
  • Turn chops to coat well with marinade.
  • Marinade at room temperature for 30 minutes, turning bag half way through.

 

  • Heat grill to medium heat.
  • Prepare glaze while grill is heating.
  • Remove chops from bag and discard marinade.
  • Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper.
  • Brush each side with glaze.
  • Grill about 6 minutes per side.
  • Brush with additional glaze and serve immediately.

GLAZE
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 tablespoon QUALITY honey
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
1/2 teaspoon sriracha sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder

  • Whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl.

RICE
1 cup long grain rice
1 cup water
1 cup chicken consomme
1 small bunch green onions, sliced thin
1/3 cup currants

  • Combine water and consommé in sauce pan.
  • Add rice, stirring to coat.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or so until tender and moisture is completely absorbed.
  • Fold in currants and green onions.

SNAP PEAS
4 slices thick bacon, diced and cooked crisp
1 large shallot, sliced thin
1 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed
1/4 cup chicken consomme
FRESH ground salt and pepper
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon bacon grease

  • Heat bacon grease over medium high heat.
  • Add shallots and cook 3-5 minutes until browned.
  • Add snap peas, consommé and season with salt and pepper.
  • Saute’ covered 2-4 minutes until crisp tender.
  • Uncover and continue sautéing until all liquid has been absorbed.
  • Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice and bacon pieces.