Category: RECIPES

TERIYAKI BEEF & VEGGIES

TERIYAKI BEEF & VEGGIES
1 1/2 pounds thin flank or flat iron steak
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons avocado oil
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 bunches green onions, sliced on bias
3 carrots, peeled and sliced on bias
2 cups snow peas, trimmed of strings and ends
2-3 mini peppers, seeded and cut into rings
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4-1/3 cup chopped cilantro, optional

  • Whisk together teriyaki sauce, water, vinegar and cornstarch.
  • Pat steak dry and GENEROUSLY season with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in skillet.
  • Add steak and cook 2-3 minutes per side until 125°.
  • Transfer to cutting board and tent with foil.

 

  • Add remaining oil to skillet.
  • Add carrots to hot oil for 2 minutes.
  • Add onions, snow peas and pepper rings, stirring to sear.
  • Add garlic, stirring until fragrant.
  • Transfer the vegetables to a platter and keep warm.
  • Add ALL the juices into the skillet along with the teriyaki mixture simmering 2-3 minutes until thickened.
  • Slice steak on bias and add steak to the sauce, turning to coat.
  • Add steak and sauce to vegetables on the platter.
  • Serve over rice.

HOISIN GLAZED GRILLED PORK CHOPS & PINEAPPLE SALSA

HOISIN GLAZED GRILLED PORK CHOPS & PINEAPPLE SALSA
CHOPS
4-6 bone in THICK pork chops
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup Hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Whisk together the Hoisin sauce and vinegar in a small bowl.
  • Transfer 3 tablespoons to a small bowl and set aside.
  • Pat chops dry and generously season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Brush pork chops with the sauce mixture.
  • Grill pork over hot grill 3-4 minutes per side until seared and cooked through.
  • Transfer pork to platter and brush with reserved Hoisin sauce mixture.
  • Tent with foil and let rest 5 minutes.

SALSA
1 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch rings
1 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced OR 1/4 cup minced mini red peppers
1/4 cup FRESH chopped cilantro
2 teaspoons FRESH grated ginger

  • Brush pineapple all over with oil.
  • Grill over hot grill 3 minutes on each side until charred.
  • Transfer to cutting board.
  • When cool enough to handle, chop into 1/2 inch pieces.
  • Toss pineapple, green onions, cilantro and ginger with sesame oil.
  • Season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.

MEATLOAF BURGERS

MEATLOAF BURGERS
1/2 pound ground sirloin
1/2 pound ground pork
1 LARGE egg
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon FRESH minced thyme
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
4 buns

  • Combine ground sirloin, ground pork, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in mixing bowl.
  • Shape into 4 patties.
  • Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar and vinegar. Set aside 1/3 cup for serving.
  • Grill patties on greased grill 5-7 minutes until browned.
  • Flip burgers and brush with glaze, cooking another 5 minutes.
  • Transfer burgers to platter and serve with buns, cheese and reserved glaze for dressing buns.

GRILLED BALSAMIC BEEF KEBABS

GRILLED BALSAMIC BEEF KEBABS
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup avocado oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak tips, trimmed into 1 inch chunks
1 red onion, cut into wedges
Colorful Mini peppers, cut into chunks

  • Whisk together vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes and oil in a small bowl.
  • Season steak pieces GENEROUSLY with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add steak pieces to a large ziploc bag.
  • Pour oil mixture over steak pieces and marinade 2-4 hours.
  • Drain steak pieces and add drained marinade to a small sauce pan.
  • Cook marinade over medium heat until slightly thickened,
  • Thread meat, onion wedges and pepper pieces alternately onto prepared skewers.
  • Grill kebabs, turning every 2 minutes and basting with reserved sauce until charred and cooked through.

GRILLED PORK CHOPS & PLUMS

GRILLED PORK CHOPS & PLUMS
4 thick bone-in pork chops
2 tablespoons avocado oil
4-6 LARGE plums, halved and pitted
Juice from 1 LARGE lemon
2 tablespoons PACKED brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground coriander
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • Whisk together the avocado oil and lemon juice. Set aside.
  • Rub plums with half of the brown sugar.
  • Whisk together the remaining brown sugar with the coriander, ginger, salt and pepper.
  • Lightly brush the pork chops with oil mixture and then sprinkle with spice mixture.
  • Sear chops on an oiled grill over medium heat 3-4 minutes per side until you reach 140° and a good sear on each side.
  • Transfer chops to platter and tent with foil while you grill the plums.
  • Add plums to grill 2-3 minutes per side until caramelized and skins are peeling away.
  • Peel away skins and toss plums in remaining lemon juice mixture.
  • Serve immediately.

PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICHES & CARROT BROCCOLI SLAW

This couldn’t be a simpler recipe if you tried.

PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICHES & CARROT BROCCOLI SLAW
2 cups torn rotisserie chicken pieces
1 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
OR
2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce (I used a Cherry Chipotle)

  • Whisk together the vinegar, water, sugar and red pepper flakes in a saucepan over HIGH heat, simmering 8-10 minutes until reduced by half.
  • Stir in chicken and cook several minutes until warmed through.

OR

  • Bring YOUR FAVORITE BBQ sauce to a SLOW simmer.
  • Add chicken, stirring to coat all the pieces.
  • Simmer 5-10 minutes until heated through.
  • Serve on buns with FRESH corn on the cob.

CARROT SLAW
1 1/2 cups shredded matchstick carrots
1/2 cup broccoli matchstick pieces
1/4 cup bread and butter pickles, chopped
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or juice from the pickles
1/2 cup sour cream
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Whisk together the sour cream, vinegar or brine, salt and pepper.
  • Toss carrots and broccoli pieces together with dressing.
  • Chill several hours before serving.

TERIYAKI CHICKEN with PINEAPPLE SALSA and RED PEPPER JELLY GREEN BEANS

TERIYAKI CHICKEN
1/3 cup Bragg’s liquid aminos
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon FRESH grated ginger
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders

  • Whisk together the liquid aminos, sugar, mirin, ginger and cornstarch together in a small saucepan.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil over medium heat until thickened, about 2 minutes.
  • Marinate chicken pieces for 1 hour.
  • Grill chicken 2-3 minutes per side on a medium hot grill.
  • Brush chicken with remaining sauce as grilling.

JALAPENO PINEAPPLE SALSA
1 pineapple, diced
4 cups watermelon cubes
2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
1 cup cherries, diced
1 small red onion, diced
1/3 cup chopped cilantro

  • Toss all together.
  • Chill at least 2 hours before serving.

RED PEPPER JELLY GREEN BEANS
1 1/2 pounds FRESH green beans, trimmed
1 LARGE shallot or SMALL red onion, diced
4 cloves or chicken in garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/4 cup FRESH orange juice
1/2 cup red pepper jelly
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons butter

  • Heat butter until melted over medium heat.
  • Add shallots or red onions and saute 2-3 minutes until softened.
  • Add garlic and stir 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Add green beans and orange juice, stirring to coat.
  • Add jelly to top of beans, cover and cook over medium heat 10-15 minutes until beans are tender.
  • Stir in cilantro to blend flavor and serve immediately.

CHILI STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

CHILI STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS serves 6
6 medium zucchini or 3 LARGE, depending on type
2 tablespoons avocado oil
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 3/4 pounds QUALITY ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and chopped small
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons QUALITY tomato paste
1 cup tomato sauce
3/4 cup chicken stock
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Sour cream, for garnish
Green onions, chopped for garnish
Chopped Cilantro, for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Cover baking sheet with foil or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Wash zucchini and cut off ends.
  • Cut zucchini in half and remove seeds to hollow out centers.
  • Spread oil on zucchini and sprinkle with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Place zucchini on baking sheet. Set aside while you prepare chili.

 

  • Heat oil in large cast iron skillet.
  • Add ground beef to brown. Drain off excess grease.
  • Add onions, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Cook 4-5 minutes until onions soften.
  • Whisk together tomato paste, chicken stock and tomato sauce.
  • Add tomato mixture to meat, stirring to combine and cooking 8-10 minutes until VERY thick.
  • Stir in cilantro.
  • Fill zucchini boats with chili and sprinkle with cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake 15-20 minutes.
  • Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more until cheese is golden.
  • Top with sour cream, green onions and cilantro.

BROWN BAG APPLE PIE

There are a lot of recipes out there for Brown Bag Apple Pie, but I honestly haven’t found one that compares to grans. ALL of those others will tell you that their pie is the most incredible one! Once again I haven’t found one that compares with gran’s old recipe. I can agree that no matter what recipe you use, the paper bag is THE key ingredient! It truly makes for a crust that doesn’t burn, but is a lightly textured and deep golden flaky crust, sweet and delicately flavored center and a crunchy topping. Don’t forget the luscious vanilla ice cream on a nice warm piece of pie!

BROWN BAG APPLE PIE

CRUST
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons SUPERFINE sugar
6 tablespoons UNSALTED butter
2 ½ tablespoons COLD vodka or more as needed

  • Whisk the flour and white sugar together in a bowl until well-combined.
  • Cut the unsalted butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; sprinkle with the vodka, a little at a time, mixing the dough together lightly with a fork until it barely holds together.
  • Form the dough into a ball and roll it out to a circle about 1/8-inch thick.
  • Gently ease the dough into pie dish, pressing to fit pie pan.
  • Cut off any excess pastry with a knife.
  • Finish the edge of the crust by gently pressing the tines of a fork into the dough all the way around the edge of the pie dish.
  • Set the crust aside.

FILLING
5 pounds Granny Smith apples – peeled, cored and sliced thinly
½ cup PACKED brown sugar
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
2 teaspoons PURE ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch QUALITY ground ginger
Juice from 1 LARGE lemon
2 tablespoons ginger snap crumbs

  • In a large mixing bowl toss the apples with the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and lemon juice.
  • Set aside.

CRUMB TOPPING
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup COLD butter
1/4 cup superfine sugar
1/4 cup PACKED brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons QUALITY cinnamon 



  • Combine the flour, sugars and cinnamon, whisking to combine.
  • Cut in butter pieces until you have a crumbly coarse mixture.


ASSEMBLY


  • Sprinkle the ginger snap crumbs over the bottom of the pie crust evenly.
  • Fill the pie with the apple mixture.
  • Sprinkle the crumb topping mixture evenly over the filling.
  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Adjust shelf to lowest position.
  • Place pie in a brown paper bag (grocery size) so that bag is folded over, but not actually touching the pie itself.

  • Bake for 1 hour. DO NOT PEEK while baking.
  • Remove from the oven, carefully remove paper bag from around pie and let cool; serve warm.
  • Store leftovers in refrigerator.


NOTE: ALTERNATE METHOD TO AN ACTUAL PAPER BAG

  • Tear off two 30 inch long pieces of parchment paper.
  • Place them perpendicular to each other on a work surface.
  • Place the filled pie in the center of the two pieces of parchment, bring the paper ends up over the pie and fold and staple the parchment paper over the pie to COMPLETELY enclose and seal in the pie inside.
  • The paper should not touch the top or sides of the pie.
  • Place on a baking sheet to catch any drips.

CREAMED CORN

CREAMED CORN
3-4 cups FRESH corn kernels
2+2 tablespoons butter
1 Vidalia onion or LARGE bunch green onions, chopped small
2-3 cloves garlic FINELY minced
1-2 red or orange mini peppers, chopped small
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped thyme
1/4-1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

  • Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add onions, sauteing until soft, 5-10 minutes.
  • Add garlic, sauteing 30 seconds or so until fragrant.
  • Add corn kernels and pepper pieces, stirring to combine.
  • Sprinkle generously with FRESH ground sea salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
  • Lower heat and cook 30-35 minutes or so until tender.
  • Stir in cream, 2 tablespoons butter, thyme and red pepper flakes.

CHEDDAR MUFFINS

These are moist, cheesy, flavorful and most importantly light and fluffy muffins that complement any chili, soup or stew!

CHEDDAR MUFFINS yields 18 regular sized muffins
3 strips bacon, chopped and cooked crisped
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 LARGE egg, room temperature
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup avocado oil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 small bunch green onions, halved and sliced
2 sweet mini red peppers, FINELY chopped
2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil, DRAINED well
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk and oil. Add in minced garlic.
  • Add wet mixture to dry mixture JUST until moistened.
  • Fold in cheddar cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes and bacon pieces.
  • Fill greased or papered muffin cups 3/4 full.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake 15-18 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool 5 minutes before removing from muffin tins.
  • Serve warm with FRESH butter.

GRILLED CHICKEN with PEACHES & GREEN TOMATOES

GRILLED CHICKEN with PEACHES & GREEN TOMATOES
1/2 cup Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon minced FRESH ginger
4-6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2-3 green tomatoes, cut into wedges
2-3 FRESH peaches, cut into wedges
1/2 red onion, sliced thin
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped flat leaf parsley
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
1 tablespoon QUALITY honey
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Combine liquid aminos, brown sugar, ginger and garlic in a large Ziploc bag.
  • Add chicken, seal bag and turn to coat chicken.
  • Refrigerate AT LEAST 2 hours. All day or overnight is best. Turn bag frequently.

 

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • In a LARGE cast iron skillet heat 1/2 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat.
  • Add tomatoes and peaches to cook, turning once, until lightly browned.
  • Transfer to a serving bowl.
  • Whisk together the lemon juice, salt, honey and 1 tablespoon of avocado oil.
  • Fold in parsley.
  • Pour over tomatoes and peaches, gently turning to coat.
  • Add last 1/2 tablespoon of oil to skillet over medium heat.
  • Drain chicken of marinade.
  • Add to skillet skin side down, cooking 2-3 minutes until browned.
  • Turn chicken and transfer to oven for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
  • Plate chicken and top with peach tomato mixture.

NOTE:  Grilling the chicken works well too.