Apple and Sage Pork Chops

We get tired of eating the same kind of thing all the time. I feel like we get in a rut eating the same types of things. Anyway, I found this recipe and thought it sounded like a perfect Fall Dish. This recipe is from McCormick (You can buy these "Recipe Inspirations" at the store in a pagakge that has all the spices measured out for you, and you just add the meat and a few extra ingredients).

Anyway, we thought it was delicious, so I thought I'd share the recipe.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes (I cooked a lot longer because I like my pork chops tender, not tough)

Makes 4 servings

1 1/2 tsp. McCormick Rubbed Sage

1 tsp Minced Garlic

1 tsp Thyme Leaves

1/2 tsp Ground allspice

1/2 tsp Paprkia

1 tbs Flour

1 tsp salt

4 boneless chops, 1-thick

2 tbs Olive Oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced (I only used half an onion)

2 red apples, thinly sliced

1/2 cup apple juice

1 tbsp brown sugar

1. Mix flour, spices, and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of prok chops with 1 tbsp of the seasoned flour.

2. Cook pork chops in hot oil in large skillet on medium-high heat until browned on both sides. Remove from skilled. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes or until tender. Add apples; cook and stir 2 minutes.

3. Stir in juice, sugar and remaining seasonsed flour until well mixed. Return pork chops to skillet. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes of until desired doneness.

ALTERNATIVE: My crock pot version: Perform step 1 as outlined above. Cook pork chops in skillet until browned. Mix juices, sugar and remaining seasoned flour and place in crockpot. Put browned chops in pot. Cook on high for 2 hours. Microwave sliced onion for 1 minute. Add onion and apples to crockpot. Cook for an additional 2 hours on high.

Crockpot Southwest Chicken

This is my fall back recipe if I ever don't know what to make for dinner-- It's so easy!

To crockpot:

3-4 frozen chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups salsa

1 small bag frozen corn
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

After shredding chicken add:

1/4 c chopped cilantro

Additional toppings (optional)

shredded cheese

sour cream

avocado

Add all ingredients to crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours. Shred chicken and return to crockpot. Serve on rice or over tortilla chips.

Fish recipes

Does anyone have any good fish recipes? We're trying to eat a little healthier and less cholesterol. Plus they might be good for any of you fish lovers out there!

Chicken Quesadillas

I love this simple recipe. You can make it for a bunch of people, or just a few.

Chicken Quesadillas
2 lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts
3 cloves of garlic
1 Tablespoon Cumin
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1 small bottle Kraft Italian Salad Dressing (I usually use less than this...I also use light dressing)

Place all ingredients in crockpot. Cook for 4 hours on high, then shred chicken. Serve in Flour/Corn tortillas with cheese. Can also add black beans, corn, salsa, rice (I like cilantro lime rice in these), guacamole, sour cream...whatever "tickles your fancy!"

Sometimes I will make this for lunch, but only make a small portion. In that case I use:
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced (or you can use left-over cooked chicken, or canned chicken)
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp Cumin
1 Tsp chili powder
1/4-1/2 cup Kraft Dressing (to taste)

Place ingredients in a skillet. Cook on medium high heat until chicken is cooked through. Serve on tortilla with melted cheese, and any of the extra fixings you want!

Creamy Garden Spaghetti

1/2 lb. fresh broccoli florets

1 1/2 c. sliced zucchini
1 1/2 c. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 large carrot, peeled & sliced
1 Tbsp. olive oil

8 oz. uncooked spaghetti

1/4 c. chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced (I usually use garlic powder instead)
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. flour
2 tsp. Chicken bouillon
1 tsp. Thyme
2 c. milk
1 c. shredded mozarella

In a large skillet, saute the broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms & carrot in oil until crisp-tender. Remove from heat & set aside.

Cook spaghetti.

In another saucepan, saute onion & garlic in butter until tender. Stir in flour, bouillon & thyme until blended. Add a little milk, stir until smooth. Add a little more, stir until smooth. Continue until all the milk has been added and you have no flour lumps. Bring to boil; cook & stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat to low; stir in cheese until melted. Add to veggies, heat through. Drain spaghetti and toss it all together.

I got this recipe from ApronGirls.blogspot.com, Love it!!! So yummy! I didn't have chicken bouillon, so I used a cup of chicken stock and only one cup of milk instead of 2 cups. I bet it would delicious either way :)

Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE TRIFLE

2 qt. Strawberries sliced

1 C. sugar divided

2 8oz. pkgs. cream cheese softened

3 T. orange juice or lime juice (I prefer lime squeezed fresh)

3 C. whipped Whipping Cream

1 loaf (10 oz.) pound cake cubed (Sara Lee in the freezer section works great) (We used angel food cake. It was SO good)

1 large chocolate bars, grated

chocolate swirls and strawberries to garnish1.

Toss strawberries with ½ C. sugar. Allow to chill in refrigerator until juicy. (About an hour)

2. Cream together the citrus juice, cream cheese and the remainder of the sugar. Add whip cream and blend until creamy. (Make sure you blend the cream cheese, citrus juice and sugar first, or the acid will curdle the whipped cream.)

3. Drain juice off the strawberries and drizzle onto the cake cubes.4. Layer in trifle bowl as follows:
½ cake cubes on bottom
1/3 cream cheese mixture
½ strawberry mixture
chocolate shavings
the rest of the cake cubes
1/3 cream cheese mixture
the rest of the strawberry mixture
chocolate shavings
the rest of the cream cheese mixture
chocolate shavings
Strawberries to Garnish

Click here to see a picture and/or the video. My mom saw this on "Studio 5" in Utah a while back. It is SO delicious!

Autumn Harvest Pork

In Honor of the Upcoming FALL:
Harvest Pork (from the Sister's Cafe)

1 Cup cider or apple juice
1.5-2 lb pork loin roast
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
2 large apples, peeled and cubed (Granny Smith or other)
1 1/2 whole butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/4 Tsp cinnamon
1/4 Tsp dried thyme
1/4 Tsp dried sage
Heat cider in deep skillet on medium-high heat. Sear pork loin on all sides in cider. Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper on all sides and place in crock pot, along with juices. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Combine apples and squash in large bowl. Sprinkle with brown sugar and herbs, stirring to coat well. One or two hours before roast is done, arrange the squash and apples around the pork loin. Continue to cook on slow for the remainder of time and until squash/apples are desired tenderness. Remove pork from crock pot, cover with foil, and let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.~

Cranberry Pork Roast

Cranberry Pork Roast
3 Lb Pork Roast, Browned And Placed In Slow Cooker
1 Can Whole Cranberry Sauce
1/4 Cup Steak Sauce (Lea Perrin's)
1 Tbl Brown Sugar
1 Tsp Prepared Mustard
2 Tbl Water
2 Tbl Cornstarch
Combine ingredients and pour over roast. I like to double the sauce recipe. Use half to cook and warm other half of sauce to serve with meat.

Pesto Pasta

Pesto Pasta
From http://www.cooksillustrated.com/ (July 2006)
3/4 Cups Pine Nuts
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Pound Bow Tie Pasta
1/4 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Cups (4 Oz) Fresh Basil
1 Cup Baby Spinach
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
6 Tablespoons Mayonnaise
1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes Or Grape Tomatoes; Halved

Toast pine nuts over medium heat until golden and fragrant, 4-5 minutes. Cook bowtie pasta in boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt until tender (see box). Toss pasta with 1 tablespoon EVOO and cool (about 30 minutes). In a food processor combine 1/4 cup pine nuts, garlic, basil, spinach, pepper, lemon juice, remaining 1/4 EVOO, and 1 teaspoon salt and process until smooth. Add cheese and mayo and process until thoroughly coombined. Just before serving, combine the pesto sauce with the pasta. Fold in remaining pine nuts and tomatoes.
Can add cooked chicken if desired.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

I love this recipe for a few reasons. It is so easy, so tasty, and so quick. After you make this you'll never want to use jar spaghetti sauce again! I've made this with shrimp and with chicken and we loved it both ways. Also, I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but I used stewed tomatoes because that's what I had.

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Prep Time:

15 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

18 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus additional as needed
• 1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup dry white wine (I used 1/4 cup red wine vinegar and 3/4 cup chicken broth)
  
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 3 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves (I used dried)
  
• 3 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions

Toss the shrimp in a medium bowl with 1 teaspoon of salt and red pepper flakes. Heat the 3 tablespoons oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and saute for about a minute, toss, and continue cooking until just cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a large plate; set aside. Add the onion to the same skillet, adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan, if necessary, and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, wine, garlic, and oregano. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the tomato mixture; toss to coat, and cook for about a minute so the flavors meld together. Stir in the parsley and basil. Season with more salt, to taste, and serve.

I just pour everything over some angel hair pasta (or whatever pasta you like) and mix it up and top with some freshly shaved Parmesan cheese! YUM.

{Chocolate Eclairs-UPDATE}

If any of you were planning on trying the chocolate eclairs I messed up when I typed it up. The powdered sugar is part of the CHOCOLATE SAUCE. Sorry ladies! I went back and fixed it.

Pineapple-glazed chicken breasts

This is my favorite recipe for grilling chicken. Only tips I have is use fresh rosemary if you can and just remember to not over cook the chicken :)

4 servings

1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup frozen (thawed) pineapple juice concentrate
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (5 oz. each)
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 slices (1/2 inch thick) fresh pineapple, rind removed and coat with brown sugar(optional)

1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, mix mustard and juice concentrate; reserve 2 Tablespoons. Into remaining mixture, stir garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper; set aside.

2. When grill is heated, rub chicken breasts with oil. Place chicken on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill over medium coals; cover grill. Cook 5 minutes.

3. Add pineapple to grill. Turn chicken; brush with rosemary mixture. Cover grill; cook 6 to 8 minutes longer, brushing chicken occasionally with rosemary mixture and turning chicken and pineapple once, until chicken is fork-tender and juice is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cute. Discard any remaining rosemary mixture.

4. Place chicken on serving plates. *Spoon reserved 2 tablespoons mustard mixture over chicken (* I just use it as a dipping sauce because it can be a little overpowering). Halve or quarter pineapple slices; serve with chicken.

From "Pillsbury, good for you!" recipe book

Strawberry-banana-orange smoothie

This is supposed to be a rip off recipe from Jamba Juice, I don't know what the name is though. We recently bought a blender, the "Ninja" (it is awesome by the way), so we have been into making smoothies. This one is yummy:

Blend 1 cup of ice until smooth

Then add:
2/3 cup of frozen strawberries
1 banana, sliced
2 scoops of nonfat frozen yogurt
1 to 1 1/2 cups of orange juice (depending on what texture you like it)

Blend and enjoy!

{Chocolate Eclairs}

3 1/2 Cups Milk
2 French Vanilla Puddings
1 8 oz. Cool Whip
Graham Crackers

Chocolate Sauce:
1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
3T Milk
3T Cocoa
3T Oil
1T Vanilla

Add pudding to milk and beat on low for 2 minutes. Blend in cool whip and powdered sugar. In the bottom of a lightly greased 9x12 pan, layer crackers, pudding, crackers, pudding, and crackers. Use remaining ingredients to make a chocolate syrup and beat with a whip until its runny. Spread chocolate over top and refrigerate over night.

Easy Italian Spiced Pork

This recipe is one of my favorites for grilling. The key is to not over cook the pork. So yummy.
4 servings

1 package (0.6 oz.) Italian Dressing Mix
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless pork loin chops, 3/4 inch thick (1 lb.)
Paprika

1. In small bowl, beat dressing mix, vinegar, Italian seasoning and red pepper with wire whisk until mix is dissolved. Beat in oil until well blended.

2. In shallow glass baking dish, arrange pork chops in single layer. Spread oil mixture over both sides of pork. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes to marinate.

3. Meanwhile, heat gas or charcoal grill.

4. When grill is heated, remove pork from marinade; discard marinade. Place pork on gas grill over medium-high heat or on charcoal grill over medium-high coals. Sprinkle pork with paprika. Cook uncovered 4 minutes. Turn pork; sprinkle with paprika. Cook uncovered 3 to 6 minutes longer or until pork is slightly pink in center and thermometer inserted in center of pork reads 160 degrees.

From "Good for you!" book by Pillsbury