Category: RECIPES

CREAMY GARLIC & HERB BONELESS PORK CHOPS

I adapted the delicious boneless Pork Chops in a Creamy Garlic & Herb Wine Sauce from Olga at What’s In The Pan.  This a superb One pan dish is so easy to prepare and actually ready in less than 30 minutes! It is made with a dry white wine, the juice of a fresh lemon, FRESH minced garlic and FRESH thyme making these pork chops are packed with flavor and so juicy!

CREAMY GARLIC & HERB BONELESS PORK CHOPS
4 boneless pork chops
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup WONDRA flour
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

  • Whisk together flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
  • Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper.
  • Dredge pork chops thoroughly in flour mixture.
  • Reserve dredge for next stop.
  • Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • 
Add pork chops and sear them by cooking for 3-4 minutes per side, reducing heat to medium on second side.
  • Remove from heat and transfer to a plate.
  • Cover to keep warm.

CREAMY HERB & WINE SAUCE
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of the dredging mixture
½ cup dry white wine
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
½ cup chicken stock
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 sprigs FRESH thyme, leaves only, minced
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped Italian Parsley

  • Return skillet to heat and melt 2 tablespoons butter.
  • Add minced garlic and cooking for 1-2 minutes on medium heat.
  • Whisk in flour and blend well.
  • Add in wine while constantly whisking for 1 minute.
  • Add chicken stock and heavy cream, whisking to blend well.
  • Add lemon juice, fresh thyme and Italian seasoning.
  • Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

TO SERVE

  • Reduce heat to low and return pork chops to pan.
  • Turn to coat well simmering JUST until heated through.
  • Serve with mashed potatoes, prepared pasta or rice pilaf.

PICKLED BEETS

PICKLED BEETS
4 LARGE beets
¾ cup apple cider vinegar
¾ cup water
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup sugar

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Wash and trim beets, but leave 2-3 inches of tails on.
  • Cover baking sheet with foil and LIGHTLY spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Bake 35 minutes until fork tender.
  • Cool 30 minutes.
  • Trim again and rub off outer skin.
  • Slice ¼ inch thick or julienne and place in canning jar.
  • Whisk together water, vinegar, sugar and sea salt in saucepan until sugar and salt are dissolved.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Cool 15 minutes.
  • Pour over beets and seal jars.
  • Refrigerate.

CORN BREAD CAKE

CORN BREAD CAKE
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
½ cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup WHOLE milk
½ cup avocado oil

  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Grease an 8×8 baking dish OR a deep 9-10 inch cast iron skillet.
  • Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend well.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden in color and toothpick comes out clean.

NOTE:  A well drained can of green chiles or jar of pimientos make a flavorful addition to change up the flavor.  Crisp bacon or a can of well drained shoepeg corn also make great additions.

BACON MAC & CHEESE

BACON MAC & CHEESE
8 ounces elbow macaroni or small pasta shells
8 slices thick bacon, diced
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
2 ½ cups WHOLE milk
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese* (see note)

  • Cook pasta per package directions and drain well.
  • Cook bacon in skillet until crisp.
  • Remove bacon to paper toweling to drain.
  • Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings.
  • Add shallots and garlic to bacon drippings over medium heat and cook a minute or two until shallots soften.
  • Increase heat to medium high and sprinkle in flour, whisking until golden and smooth.
  • Whisk in milk slowly and bring to a SLOW boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 4-5 minutes until
  • sauce begins to thicken.
  • Reduce heat to low and gradually stir in cheese(s), stirring until cheese is melted and blended well.
  • Season to taste.
  • Fold in drained pasta and bacon pieces.

NOTE: *For an even creamier texture use a portion of Velvetta cheese to replace some of the cheddar cheese.

GRILLED CHICKEN RAMEN with PEANUT SAUCE

GRILLED CHICKEN RAMEN with PEANUT SAUCE
3-3 ounce packages of Ramen
2 (1+1) tablespoons avocado oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken tenders
1 English cucumber, quartered lengthwise and then cut into pieces
3/4 cup match stick carrots
1 small bunch green onions, sliced thin
3/4 cup salted peanuts

  • Prepare sauce (recipe below) and set aside.
  • Cut chicken tender in half lengthwise and then cut each of those pieces in half.
  • Discard ramen flavor packets.
  • Cook ramen in boiling water for 3 minutes.  Drain and toss in serving bowl with 1 tablespoon of avocado oil.  Cover and set aside.
  • Coat chicken pieces with remaining oil and grill or sear in cast iron until chicken is seared on the outside and cooked through.
  • Toss chicken in sauce with vegetables.
  • Serve over prepared ramen, cucumbers and garnish with green onions.

SAUCE
1/2 cup salted creamy peanut butter (see note)
2-3 tablespoons BRAGG’S liquid aminos
2 tablespoons maple syrup
+/- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce, depending on your heat level
Juice of 2 FRESH limes
+/- 1/4 cup water (to thin)

  • Whisk together the peanut butter, liquid aminos, maple syrup, chili sauce and lime juice in a medium mixing bowl.
  • Add water a little at a time until a thick BUT pourable sauce is formed.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more maple syrup for sweetness, chili garlic sauce for heat, lime juice for acidity, or liquid aminos for saltiness.

NOTE:

  • Almond butter or Cashew butter SUBSTITUTE WELL for Peanut butter.
  • If your sauce becomes too thin, add more nut butter.
  • If your sauce is too thick, thin with more water.
  • FRESH grated ginger to taste adds another great flavor.

BLUEBERRY BANANA MAPLE MUFFINS

I made these recently for a friend’s birthday and instantly fell in love <3 with them!  I’ve adapted the original recipe just slightly and think it’s absolutely perfect now.

BLUEBERRY BANANA MAPLE MUFFINS slightly adapted from Brandi Milloy
yields 18 muffins

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
²⁄³ cups PURE maple syrup
1 LARGE egg, room temperature
2 small VERY RIPE bananas, mashed
¹⁄³ cup WHOLE milk
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
2 cups sifted cake flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
2 cups SMALL WILD blueberries
¼ cup FINELY chopped walnuts
¼ cup DARK brown sugar, for topping

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Line muffin tin with cupcake liners or grease tins well.
  • In an electric mixer bowl, cream together the butter and maple syrup.
  • Add egg, mashed banana, milk and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • If you are using fresh blueberries add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and mix just until combined.
  • Then FOLD in blueberries.
  • If you are using frozen blueberries, add 3/4 of the flour mixture to the banana mixture and mix. Then add your frozen blueberries to the remaining flour mixture and toss. This will keep the frozen blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins.
  • Scoop batter into muffin tins until they’re about ¾ of the way full.
  • Whisk together the brown sugar and walnuts.
  • Top with a generous sprinkle of the brown sugar nut mix.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean.
  • Cool COMPLETELY on wire rack.

GRAN’S CORN PUDDING

GRAN’S CORN PUDDING
4 LARGE eggs
1 cup WHOLE milk
1-15 ½ ounce cream style corn
1 can white shoepeg corn, drained well
5 slices day old STALE or toasted sourdough bread without crusts
½ cup sugar
1-2 tablespoons butter, thinly sliced or cubed small

  • Grease a 9×9 baking dish. Set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Whisk together the eggs and milk.
  • Add the corn and sugar, blending well.
  • Cut the bread into ½ inch cubes.
  • Arrange bread cubes in the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Pour corn mixtures over bread cubes.
  • Dot with butter.
  • Bake uncovered 60 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

NOTE:  When I prepared this tonight I didn’t realize we were out of sourdough so I use a rye with caraway seeds that actually added some seriously GREAT flavor.

GARLIC LIME SLOW COOKER CHICKEN

GARLIC LIME SLOW COOKER CHICKEN
8 bone in chicken thighs
½ cup Bragg’s Amino liquids
½ cup chicken broth
1/3 cup lime juice, 4 large limes
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon each FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Lightly spray slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the remaining ingredients.
  • Pour over chicken pieces.
  • Cover and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 6-8 hours. Watch that chicken does not dry out.

CORN FLAKE HOLLY WREATHS

Christmas is right around the corner so I thought I’d share one of my favorite holiday recipes. My great aunt who I only got to see a couple times a year used to make these every year special for me and I would wait out on the front steps for her arrive just to see them and know they were there. She always made them soooooooooo pretty and perfect!  They are delicious and they are a quick, easy, no bake treat and they’re so pretty to add to the cookie & candy tray selections.

CORN FLAKE HOLLY WREATHS
(these are better when they are made a few days ahead)

30 large marshmallows (or 3 cups mini marshmallows or 1 jar marshmallow cream)
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon green food color
3 1/2-4 cups cornflakes
Red Hots or sprinkles for decorating
  • Combine marshmallows, butter, vanilla and food color in top of double boiler.
  • Heat and stir frequently until well blended.
  • Gradually stir in cornflakes until well blended.
  • Drop onto wax paper and arrange into wreath shapes. I plop them onto the wax paper and then push out from the center to form the wreaths.
  • Decorate with red hots.
  • Let cool.
  • If your house is warm – chill in refrigerator until set.

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HONEYMOON SALAD

This recipe stems from my grandmother’s ancient file.  It was not a well written recipe so I’ve “interpreted” it into what I like 😀

HONEYMOON SALAD
2 LARGE (15 ½ ounce) cans crushed pineapple, drained WELL juice reserved**
¼ cup sugar
1 LARGE egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
pinch of salt
1 cup mini marshmallows, halved
½ cut chopped nuts
1 LARGE banana, diced

  • In a large saucepan whisk together the sugar, egg, flour and salt, until well blended.
  • Add  reserved juice (2 cups), cooking on medium low heat until thick.
  • Fold in fruit pieces, banana pieces, marshmallow and nuts.
  • Chill until cold.
  • Keep refrigerated.

NOTE:

  • I sometimes substitute a LARGE can of mandarin oranges for one of the cans of pineapple.  When I do, I cut the orange segments into 2-3 pieces each.
  • I’ve seen this made with a few Maraschino cherries during the holidays to add color.

TOMATO CHEDDAR DUMPLINGS

TOMATO CHEDDAR DUMPLINGS
SAUCE
2 green onions, minced
1 SMALL stalk celery, finely diced
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
2-15 ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon sugar
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet.
  • Add onion and celery, sauteing until soft.
  • Add flour, stirring to combine.
  • Add tomatoes and sugar, blending well.
  • Season with salt and pepper, bring to a SLOW boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.

DUMPLINGS
1 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons COLD butter, diced
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup milk

  • Combine flour, baking powder and salt until well blended.
  • Cut in butter until coarse crumbs form.
  • Add cheese.
  • Stir in milk until JUST moist.
  • Drop by tablespoons into simmering tomato sauce.
  • Cover and simmer, undisturbed, 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

CLASSIC CLAM CHOWDER

CLASSIC CLAM CHOWDER
2-10 ounce cans BUMBLE BEE whole baby clams
1-8 ounce bottle clam juice
1 cup white wine
3 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
½ LARGE red onion, diced small
2 stalks celery, diced small
8 slices bacon, chopped small
¼ cup chopped Italian leaf Parsley
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
3 LARGE gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 ½ cups half-and-half
2 green onions, sliced thin

  • In a large dutch oven, melt butter over medium high heat.
  • Cook bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon.
  • Add onions, celery and half of Parsley, sauteing until soft.
  • Add flour and blend well.
  • Strain clams, reserving juice.
  • Add clam juices, white wine and chicken stock, blending well.
  • Bring to a LOW SLOW boil. Reduce heat to medium low.
  • Add potatoes and simmer 15-20 minutes until potatoes are fork tender and soup has thickened to desired consistency.
  • Add clams.
  • Stir in half-and-half, simmering 5-10 minutes until clams are heated through.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste.
  • Garnish with reserved Parsley, green onions and bacon.