Pork Chops with Dijon Herb Sauce

This recipe is oh so easy and twice as delicious.  I got it from Gina's Skinny Kitchen, which is a great blog for skinny recipes!  I've actually made it about three times already! But of course, they were pre-blog times.  I've served it with whipped potatoes (it has a pretty good gravy/sauce for that), spinach, broccoli, really any sides you want.  This time I served it up with the new all time favorite, sweet potato fries and some ole fashion corn on the cob!

 For the pork chops, I started by brinning them for about 4 hours. Then, I patted them VERY dry and seasoned with salt, pepper, and some fresh thyme.

 I also let the chops come down to room temp to get an even cook.  I seared them on both sides for about 3 minutes each (they are bone in and a little thicker than regular ones).  I cooked them in some oil and butter (color and flavor).

While they were cooking up I chopped up the onions, parsley, and thyme.

Then I threw the onions and herbs in and added about a cup of chicken stalk, a squeeze of Dijon mustard,  and some white wine to deglaze.  I let that cook down for about 10-20 minutes.... I read a little.... I stirred a a little... Then I added the chops back for about 3 minutes until I got all of the sides ready.

Then it was time to eat! Now tell me that doesn't sound like the easiest thing ever!! Now go get cooking!

Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs

I've said it before and I'll say it a million  more times... I love spaghetti, I love any kind of marinara sauce. I don't know what it is, but I could eat it for days! Which is why I make a huge dutch oven full of sauce.  This week I actually tried a variety of new things.  I made turkey meatball but followed a recipe by none other than Pioneer Woman.  Her Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe looks amazing!  I love how she cooks them first then puts them back in the sauce.  It made for a super simple yet flavor packed meatballs and sauce.  For my marinara I followed a recipe by Giada De Laurentis, kind of, I mostly followed what she put it in, especially after watching her on the Rachael Ray Show.

To start I threw all of the meatball ingredients into a bowl: Half a pound of turkey (PW uses beef and pork, but really you can use whatever ground meat you have), chopped parsley, chopped onion, bread crumbs, salt and pepper, and then I added some chopped spinach (it was going bad and I didn't want to waste it).

Also, PW makes bread crumbs by toasting some old bread at 250 for 25 minutes... I tried and the bread never got crispy enough, so I used the bread I cooked for garlic bread and used store bought bread crumbs.

Then I mixed  it all together and threw them into a hot dutch oven with half oil and half butter.  I cooked them about 5 minutes each, while flipping through out.

 After they had all been seared (they were probably not all the way cooked on the inside), I transferred them to a plate and began on the sauce.

To the same dutch oven, I added chopped onions, carrots, mushrooms (I wanted to add celery, but alas, I was out), and fresh parsley and basil.
The idea for all of the vegetables came from Giada De Laurentis' marinara sauce.  I saw her make it on the Rachael Ray Show and it looked fabulous! Of course, on the show she did not cut up any of her vegetables and noted that it was optional to puree and add them back, after cooking.

 Then I deglaze with some chicken stock and some red wine, I throw in two cans of whole peeled tomatoes, season with salt, pepper, and sugar; and let it all bubble about for 30 minutes or so.

The next step was a little messy, but well worth it, I take out the large chunks of vegetables with a slotted spoon and throw them in the blender.  Then I throw them back in the pan and let everything simmer up with the meatballs back in it.

It was oh so very delicious, and we are eating it for leftovers! We had a TON!

Sidebar, Caleb and I were discussing the oddity of our food choices.  Now as 23-24 year olds, should we be cooking these kinds of things that 30-40 year old foodies, bloggers, and TV personalities are? You tell me...

Homemade BBQ Sauce

I've been quite behind on blogging, but you can blame that on my birthday present from Caleb... A KINDLE! I'm so excited, it's a touch and it's awesome! But sometime last week I made some home made BBQ chicken sandwiches with my left over roasted whole chicken! It was delicious and I served it up with a sauce by Rachael Ray and Melissa D'Arabian's Sweet Potato Fries.  Now I can't find that recipe online, but I got it when I was watching her show.  In addition, I also made Green Beans with Shallots and Pancetta.

I know the sauce looks like it has a ton of ingredients, but I'm telling you what, Rachael Ray knows what she's talking about, it was AMAZING! Actually, we had all of the ingredients already in the pantry! You just simmer them all up for about 20 minutes and voila!

The green beans were equally easy, just brown up the pancetta and saute the green beans.  I did add some Italian seasoning for some extra flavor... Also, at the last minute I added some lemon juice.

The sweet potato fries are a house favorite, since I can't find that recipe I'll share with you  how easy it is...
1.  Preheat oven to 450
2.  Peel and slice up your sweet potatoes (I use two medium to large sized ones).  You'll want them pretty thin, if they are thick you'll have to cook them longer so they are crispy.

3.  Add them to a bowl with about 2-3 tbs vegetable/canola oil.
4.  Add 1/4 - 1 tsp cayenne (depending on how spicy you like it)
5.  Sprinkle on some garlic powder (about 1/2 tsp)
6.  Sprinkle on paprika (1-2 tsp)
You'll want to season with to taste, so mix it all up then add it to a baking sheet and throw it in the oven, half way through you'll want to flip them over for max crispyness.
7.  Enjoy.

They are so easy and yummy, it is a crime not to try them!

Spinach Tomato Tortellini

I'm a little behind, but this week has been crazy busy with a few wedding crises.  First, I find out that the wedding coordinator I had been working with at our reception venue had been replaced! We had so many specific requests that it was quite a shock and I admit, I had a little freak out moment.  Although, I got an email from the new person about two weeks before I actually realized why this new person was emailing.  Anyways, I actually love this new girl, I've gotten emails back in less than an hour and she's even called to discuss things! Things are working out lovely! I also have finally gotten in touch with the ceremony coordinator, which is also awesome!

But back to the food, a couple of days ago I made this delicious Spinach Tomato Tortellini that everyone has been pinning on Pintrest.  It was so easy and delicious it should have been a crime! To start I just threw into a saute pan a can of diced tomatoes, some roughly chopped spinach, a diced onion, some garlic and some chopped basil.
I also added a little white wine.

 After the Spinach wilted I threw in 3/4 cup milk and 3/4 cup heavy cream. 








I let this reduce down into some yummy deliciousness and then threw in the cooked tortellini and shrimp.

 I don't think it could have been any easier or any more yummy!

I highly, highly recommend this recipe! My only change that I could add would be to use Greek Yogurt or sour cream instead of the heavy cream.  It was quite thick and creamy which was delicious but not so healthy.  If you are worried about those extra calories, then I think those substitutions would allow the meal to much healthier yet still just as tastey!

Engagement Chicken

I know what your thinking, Engagement Chicken? But I'm here to testify to its truth.  Almost exactly one year ago, my best friend, Kristian, introduced me to something called Engagement Chicken she found in her Glamour magazine.  Now there were about 50 testimonial posts depicting their success with this bogus sounding recipe.  I was apprehensive, but Caleb and I did need to eat, so why not try it out?  Well, I made it for him, exactly the way it said... three times.  Now about 3-4 months after the first time I made this meal... he proposed! It was the happiest day of my life!  So I'm here to tell all you single girls, TRY THIS RECIPE! It may not work overnight, but it works eventually! (Not that Caleb was probably not already planning proposing before having engagement chicken!  Now that I am passed engaged and on my way to be married, I try out some variations on the recipe and I also follow some of Ina Garten's tips. Sunday is a great day for this recipe because it does take quite a long time, but it is well worth it! And not very difficult at all!

To start you MUST brine your chicken! We bought a four pound bird so that we could have left overs for chicken salad and chicken BBQ sandwiches.  For my brine I did simply salt, pepper, and bay leaves; left it for 24 hours; then patted it completely dry.  I salted and peppered the chicken VERY generously on both sides inside and out; then I added lemon juice all over (and you can see I sliced an onion in the pan for the juices and gravy I made).  Then I pricked two lemons and stuffed them with some garlic into the cavity of the chicken.  (I would have put more if the chicken was bigger or less if it was smaller)

Then I added some white wine to the bottom of the pan so that the drippings would not burn and I could create the gravy.

 Then I threw it in the oven (preheat to 400) then once you put it in uncovered drop the heat to 350.  Then after about an hour and a half it came out at 170 and (although I should have taken it out at 160) it was perfect!You can see I got a great crispy brown skin and the drippings make for an awesome sauce.

So with the drippings I simply poured them ito a small sauce pan, added some flour, cooked it off and then added a splash of milk and it was a yummy mixture of concentrated chicken goodness.

 To go with the yummy engagement chicken I made twice baked potatoes! I love them so  much but hardly ever have time to make them! They are so yummy but also very time consuming! I love Pioneer Woman's recipe the best! So you start by cutting them in half and scraping out the inside!

 Then throw in about 3 tbs butter for two whole potatoes, with some sour cream, salt and butter..

 Then I threw in the cheddar cheese, green onions and fresh made turkey bacon!











 Then I threw some cheese on top and threw them in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes.

Then they came out all melted like this.  We ate them up, even the skin!

Now to go with the twice baked potatoes we also made some Grilled Parmesan Eggplant... and the reviews are not as good... I really just think we overcooked them when cooking them on the George Foreman, but I don't we will be making them again since we didn't eat but one bit last night. But hey, at least they looked yummy with the balsalmic reduction!

Now for the piece de resistance.... if you don't speak french, I call this my prized baked possession.  S'mores tart meringue!  It was just plain heavenly! I started by melting 1 cup of chocolate chips in 1/4 cup warm milk.

 Then I poured it into my pre-made graham cracker crust and put it in the freezer for 20 minutes.

 Then it was time for the meringue! It was crazy to watch 3 egg whites get so fluffy and huge!

 Once stiff peaks formed, I added about 1 cup of sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla. Mixed again. Then added to the top of the pie!

I put it in the broiler for about 3 minutes and this came out! I was so unbelievably proud!  And it was as delicious as it looks!

So our meal was complete after this dessert!

 And the gravy was oh so delicious on the chicken! And Hercules was able to sneak in!

This is how much chicken we had leftover! We have enough to make a meal to go with a homemade BBQ sauce as well as to make chicken salad for this week's lunches! YUM!

Thyme Rubbed Pork Chops with Apple-Shallot Sauce

Well I think it's safe to say that Dinners for a Year and Beyond has redeemed itself after the monstrous disaster of the last meal.  Last night I tried a new recipe called Thyme Rubbed Pork Chops with Apple-Shallot Sauce . Holy cow was it delicious and EASY!  Now Caleb and I might be slightly biased toward ANY pork and apple recipe, but this one is in the top two.  It may seem like a lot, but it came together so easily and stress-free that I would want to make it tomorrow, the next day, and maybe even the next.

But back to dinner, I started by seasoning up the pork chops with salt, pepper, and fresh thyme.  I made sure and smushed the thyme in there real good.

Then it was time to chop, chop, chop or as Anne Burrell would say, "prepare the Mise en place".  


I started boiling the potatoes up for some yummy and creamy mashed potatoes.

Then I started searing the chops in about 1 tbs of EVOO and 1 tbs butter.  The butter just gives it much more color and flavor. 

 After about 3 1/2 minutes per side I took out the chops and put them on a plate under some foil and added the apple slices and shallot to the oil. 

After sauteing for about 5 minutes, I added 1/2 cup chicken stock and 1/4 cup white wine.  I let it simmer up and found it a bit to liquidy for my taste, so I added about 1 tbs of heavy cream as well as a sprinkle of flour to make it a bit more decadent and rich.

The next step was to season it up, and really this is where the recipe just goes over the top.  It called for garam masala, which is a spice mix I do not have, but after a bit of research I found that it was simply a mix of  cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black pepper.  Now I now this sounds like a lot, but after perusing the pantry I found that I have all of these spices except the coriander and cardamom. I  searched on and found that another option added all spice and nutmeg to make up for the others, so that is precisely what I did.  Man oh man, that cinnamon and ginger and nutmeg... it made for an explosion of taste in your mouth.  It really was over the top and oh so yummy!  If you don't have the clove or whatever, just add some all spice and cinnamon, even that would have been enough.  But the mixture of all of those really was amazing.
Now for a basically one pot meal, this was so amazingly delicious that I actually licked my plate clean.  After topping with a couple of sprigs of thyme, it just all came together. 

Excuse my messy plate, but this sauce was awesome...

Also, here's a nice pic of Hercules taking over my seat so that I can't enjoy my dinner.  It's been a while since he's been featured, and these are his tails.

Vietnamese Pork Tenderlon

Now, I'm no super-star professional chef, but oh my goodness, the recipe I  made last night was oh so very stressful and difficult! I made a Vietnamese Pork Tenderloin by Amy Casey on her blog, Dinners for a Year.  I think the most stressful part was knowing whether the pork was fully cooked because last time we used the meat thermometer I accidentally left it in the oven (it is an instant read kind with rubber buttons).  Needless to say, I thought I broke it...  But back to the dinner, it ended up delicious but was probably much more trouble that necessary.  The vegetables were delicious and the sauce was yummy but it was a long night and half way through I debated quitting and getting Chinese take out, until Caleb knocked some sense into me.  I bet you wouldn't have guessed that I only took two pictures... at the end.

Things I liked about it - the sauce, the fresh cilantro, the vegetables

Things I didn't like about it - the recipe, making it

 Caleb's monstrous plate (he absolutely loved it)

My plate, in the end it ended up yummy... just wayyy too stressful to try again, but then again, you never know.