Tag: BLOG 366

APPLE PIE PORK CHOPS ~ BLOG 366.208

APPLE PIE PORK CHOPS Yield 4-6 servings
4-6 1 inch THICK boneless pork chops
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
6 ounce package Stove Top Stuffing mix, prepared per package
21 ounce can Comstock apple pie filling
1-2 ounces avocado oil

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  • Season pork chops all over and add to oil, browning 3-4 minutes per side.
  • Lightly grease 9×13 baking dish.
  • Spread pie filling evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Layer pork chops over the pie filling.
  • Layer the stuffing mix over the pork chops.
  • Cover and bake for 35 minutes.
  • Uncover and bake 10 minutes longer.

NOTE: Changing the fruit flavor can give you a new and more complex flavor profile. I really like these with cherry, apricot, peach or pineapple also.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPES week 30 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.204

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

WEEKEND RECAP

I spent the entire weekend volunteering for a Community event, the BBQ ThrowDown. We had a wonderful turn out and a GREAT time also. Besides that we helped a friend who got locked out of her house and another that needed some electronic wiring work straightened out.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

After the storm on Saturday night yesterday cooled off by almost 20 degrees and it’s supposed to remain that way throughout the entire week 😀 which makes me REALLY happy! I’m wearing a favorite pair of Levis, plaid blouse and birkenstock thongs.

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get everything done last night so I’m ready for the downtime after tomorrow’s surgery. I don’t do sitting well, so the no lifting or bending is going to be really hard on me!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Cleared the week and hubby will be cooking from what’s in the fridge and pantry!
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Nothing this week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Nothing this week.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • We started a series, Hudson and Rex that was really cute, but at the end of the first season they wanted us to subscribe to yet another streaming service. 🙁 So, we switched back to finishing MACGYVER and COACH
  • CABLE ~ I still need to get caught up on the BBQ Brawl and a few Mary makes it Easy

READING TIME

I downloaded a few books (TRULY MADLY by HEATHER WEBBER, THE COTTAGE AT WHISPER LAKE by PHILLIPA NEFRI CLARK and WICKED APPETITE by JANET EVANOVICH) to audible for this week. I’m not allowed to do anything after the surgery so will wear my headphones and listen to books Wednesday through Friday at least.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 MANDARIN PORK and ARTICHOKE CAKES
 surgery day so hubby’s choice the rest of the week 😀
 
 
 
 
DESSERT
 
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

The BBQ Throwdown (BAGS, BBQ & BREWS) was another HUGE success in our little town. Last year was the first year and there were 29 BBQ teams from around the country and one of the judges even flew in from Ireland!

This year we expanded to 40 BBQ teams and more Breweries and Wineries joined in too! We also have a HUGE Corn Hole tournament. I love the old trucks and trailers that were retrofitted into taps! There were several local vendors also including a young man who makes GORGEOUS hand made bowls of all types and his mother helping him get a start in business.

Thanks to Terry and his wife Lisa, local business owners who along with Dan and Nicole spearheaded this endeavor for ALL of their hard work doing everything and anything it took to make this event happen successfully. It supports scholarships for trade and tech schools. Not sure yet how much their doing this year, but last year they gave out $20,000 in scholarships. Not bad for the first year! I’ll update this after I find out what this year’s total is. There were also really unique and innovative awards handed out.

The food was plentiful and oh so yummy! Saturday was super hot (mid nineties and humid) and I came home that night with a little heat stroke and collapsed, but yesterday was absolutely gorgeous (mid seventies) after a thunderstorm roared in with a lightning storm and lots of rain. Tough on the BBQers that were manning smokers, but made for a gorgeous day Sunday. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend. And I couldn’t have done this again if I tried, but a guy set his beer on the table while he bought more chips from me. I dropped one of the chips and it bounced perfectly into his beer.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

PEACH PINEAPPLE JALAPENO CHICKEN ~ BLOG 366.201

I adapted this recipe for Strawberry-Jalapeño Chicken from DELISH

This one is for sweet-and-spicy lovers. When I found this recipe it was for a strawberry jalapeño chicken. It sounded intriguing to me, but everyone I cook for turned their noses up at the idea UNTIL I converted it to either peach, apricot or pineapple. Or better yet a combination of all three flavors.

Start well seasoned chicken breasts and pan sear them 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown, smother them in your peach or pineapple or apricot chipotle sauce, and topped with FRESH SALSA made from the same flavors to create this scrumptious dish that will leave them begging for more. The sweetness of the fruit coupled with the spicy of the pepper and the smokey of the chiles are a match made in heaven.

PEACH PINEAPPLE JALAPENO CHICKEN Yield: 4 – 6 servings

SALSA
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped cilantro or flat leaf parsely, plus more for serving
1 cup+ chopped FRESH pineapple
3 peaches, chopped
1-3 jalapeños, seeded, chopped, divided (depending on the heat level you want)
2 shallots, FINELY chopped, divided
3-4 tablespoons pineapple balsamic vinegar (or a QUALITY balsamic)
2 tablespoons Frank’s Chile Lime sauce
2 tablespoon QUALITY honey

  • In a small bowl, toss cilantro, peaches, pineapple, jalapeños, shallots, vinegar, and a pinch of salt. 
  • Spoon over chicken or eat with a spoon 🙂
  • Top with cilantro.

1 + 1 tablespoon avocado oil, divided
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil.
  • Pat chicken dry and season both sides with pepper, garlic powder, and 2 teaspoons salt.
  • Add chicken to skillet and cook 5-7 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Top with salsa and Enjoy!

BAKED FIRECRACKER CHICKEN ~ BLOG 366.198

This firecracker chicken recipe is chunks of crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. An easy dinner option that the whole family will love!

FIRECRACKER CHICKEN serves 4

1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 LARGE eggs beaten
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1/3 cup FRANK’S original hot sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste
1/4 cup sliced green onions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Coat a 9″x13″ baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Place the chicken pieces on a plate and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Sprinkle the cornstarch over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
  • 
Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten eggs.
Heat the oil over high heat in a large pan.
  • Place the chicken in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes on ALL sides or until golden brown. You may have to work in batches. DO NOT CROWD PAN!!
  • 
Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the baking dish.
  • 
In a small bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar and red pepper flakes.

  • Pour the sauce over the chicken.
  • Bake for 35 minutes, stirring once halfway through to coat the chicken with the sauce.
  • Top with green onions and serve.


HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPES week 29 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.197

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

WEEKEND RECAP

We started the weekend Friday by traveling to our “BIG” go to town an hour+ away in order to pick up my Hallmark Premiere order for the Keepsake ornament club, do some antiquing and eat at a favorite restaurant (though they were not as good as normal) and I even started my Christmas shopping 😀

It was a fairly quiet weekend though for us despite all that was going on around us (Music Off Central, Bull Riding Stampede, Graffiti Week with classic cars, the Lavender Festival and Lots of LIVE bands everywhere! We did go see TIMBERWOLF on Saturday night with friends and while the guys drank Annette and I worked the door and raffle. Sunday was much quieter and I was able to get the laundry done as well as see a dear friend for a few hours.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re NOT in triple digits, but are oh so close 😂 At least the humidity is fairly low around 20% so I WILL NOT complain about summer though I am already looking forward to fall! I have on Levis rolled to capri length, my favorite birkenstock thongs and a pretty pink paisley blouse.

ON MY MIND

I can’t help wondering when exactly we declined as a polite society? I know this is mostly a rhetorical question, but seriously I pray we wake up (AND SOON), starting talking to each other and finding middle ground instead of senseless violence. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I had several loads of laundry to do and was going to work them into my free evening hours this week to avoid taxing the appliances in the heat of the day, but was able to get them done yesterday. Just a bit of sorting and general clutter pick up otherwise.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS & MEETINGS I have to go to town and sign the surgery consents today so will pick up the necessary groceries for home at that time. I also have a few meetings this week regarding the upcoming BBQ Throwdown in our little town next weekend. This will be the second annual, but the first was such a HUGE success that I really have high hopes for this becoming a permanent event! Everyone seems to enjoy it and we have attracted sanctioned BBQers from ALL around the country. There is also a high stakes Corn Hole Tournament.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Slowly, but surely I am making progress on a couple projects and sorting old paperwork, but it’s a SLOW process.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m still researching some summer recipes and making progress in re-writing some older favorites to update them to current ingredient styles. I’m also going to make some banana ketchup this week for my first time.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We started the sequel to REBEL MOON, but just can’t get into it – they were taking too long to get “there” and have “borrowed” too many things from other favorite SYFY movies s we started binge watching SUPERNATURAL as we never watched it when it was on regular. I am also watching the old MacGyver series with Richard Dean Anderson.
  • CABLE I have a few cooking shows to catch up on, but haven’t had much TV time.

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
7/15 MONDAY
7/16 TUESDAY
7/17 WEDNESDAY
7/18 THURSDAY
7/19 FRIDAY
7/20 SATURDAY
7/21 SUNDAY
DINNER
 PEACH JALAPENO CHICKEN
 NUMERO UNO PIZZA
 PORK CHOPS with APPLE PIE STUFFING and BAKED STUFFED CARROTS
 APRICOT SALSA CHICKEN and ARTICHOKE CAKES
CHICKEN PARMESAN MEATBALLS, PASTA and SWEET & SOUR GREEN BEANS
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
DESSERT
 
 
 BUTTER BISCUIT CHERRY PINEAPPLE COBBLER

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I really didn’t take many photos this week, but love the ones of my tomatoes looking so awesome and I did find this one from a restaurant we ate at amusing. Evidently they are FINALLY keeping people out of the landscaping with a sense of humor 😀

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

BEEF FILET BITES IN BALSAMIC SAUCE ~ BLOG 366.193

This recipe is inspired by Olive Garden’s Beef Filets in Balsamic Sauce. You can serve it with pasta, mashed potatoes or a baked potato and salad to have the perfect date night or company meal.

BEEF FILET BITES IN BALSAMIC SAUCE

4 tablespoons avocado oil
4 tablespoons butter
1 medium Vidalia onion, sliced thin
1/2 SMALL red pepper, diced small
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1/2 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons QUALITY balsamic vinegar
2 pounds beef tenderloins, cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup WONDRA
FRESH rosemary sprigs
FRESH chopped parsley

  • Heat oil and butter in large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Dredge beef pieces in seasoned flour, shake off excess.
  • Add beef pieces to pan and sear 3-5 minutes. Remove beef and keep warm.
  • Add onion slices, season with salt and pepper and cook 10 minutes or until caramelized.
  • Add wines, broth and vinegar, bringing to a SLOW boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes or until reduced by half.
  • Add beef back in and heat through.
  • Garnish and serve immediately.