Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Southern Peach Pork Chops...and I am missing the Peaches :(

I always try my best to make sure that if I am going to cook something I have all the ingredients...  For this recipe I am missing the peaches, simply because they rotted :( !!!!

This recipe isn't too bad, but it isn't the most flavorful recipe, when the book says "Quick and Easy" there isn't much to it to make flavor!

Southern Peach Pork Chops
Total Time: 25 Minutes
Makes: 4 servings


1 tablespoon curry powder (I didn't have this)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch coarsely ground black pepper
1 garlic clove (I cheat and use the refrigerator jar of minced garlic)
 4 bone-in pork chops, 3/4 inch thick (5 ounces each) (my hubby would have been happier if they would have been boneless, but you have to cook them for a bit and the boneless would have burned on the grill)
4 large peaches, each cut in half and pitted (mine rotted)
1/2 cup peach or apricot jam or preserves

1. Prepare grill for direct grilling over medium heat.
2. In a cup (I used a bowl), with fork, stir curry powder, sugar, oil, salt, cinnamon, pepper, and garlic until blended; use to rub on both sides of pork chops.
3. Brush cut side of each peach half and one side of chops with some jam.  Place peaches, jam side down, and chops, jam side up, on grill over medium heat; grill 5 minutes.  Turn chops and peaches, brush grilled side of chops with some jam and grill 5 minutes longer.
4. Transfer peaches as they are browned to platter.  Turn chops and grill until browned on the outside and still slightly pink inside 2 to 3 minutes longer.  Transfer chops to platter with peaches and serve.

From Good Housekeeping: Fast Weeknight Favorites, 200 Really Quick, Simply Delicious Recipes

Friday, August 16, 2013

Fresh Produce my foot!!!!

As I was cleaning my kitchen today, I noticed how much "Fresh Produce" I was throwing out (and it hasn't been even a week since I bought it).  I am not saying that I want it to last forever, but a week without rotting would be great!!  My bank account would really appreciate it!!

I just find that I am throwing them out.  So the better question is, how long is it left there before I buy it?  My peaches that I bought lasted 2 days before fuz started to grow on them.  I was really sad!  

I really like to keep fresh stuff on hand.  If I was better at growing it, I would.  Maybe I just need to make the trek to the farmers market on Saturday and buy from there.  It might cost a little bit more, but I think that stuff is actually fresh.  And being that I refuse to work Saturday's I have no excuse not to go.  Now I just need to get cash!

I hope that you have better luck with your produce!  I will continue to buy it, after all it's good for you!!

Best of luck!!!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

I did not grill this..but it was still good!!

First I want to apologize for not following my lined out schedule of blogs.  I have decided that I am going to go with the flow and pray for the best.  Second, I haven't been on here a lot this year.  Blogging is always on my mind, but time is never on my side.  

I have a ton of cookbooks and cooking magazines.  So, I decided that I should go through them.  After all there are so many recipes that I could make, I could make something new every day and blog every day, I just neither have the time or money.  

For my bridal shower, almost two years ago (:D) I got a cookbook called Good Housekeeping: Fast Weeknight Favorites, 200 really quick, simply delicious recipes.  The cover shows a picture of stir fry!!  This is the first time that I have really opened it.  It is quite interesting.  

I am not really a steak person, I like a good one once in a while. But, I honestly do not go out of my way to make steak.  My hubby on the other hand could eat it every night.  If I mention it I think that his mouth waters.  So I found a recipe for Chili-Crusted Flank Steak.  He was totally excited.  This recipe is very easy to make, and it is super tasty.  Basically a man meal that doesn't take very long to make (okay who is interested now!>?!?!?)  

Chili-Crusted Flank Steak
Total Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 6 servings

2 tablespoons of chili powder
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 large garlic clove, crushed with garlic press
1 beef flank steak (1 1/2 pounds)
3 large red onions (8 ounces each), each cut into 6 wedges
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions
1. Prepare grill for direct grilling over medium heat.
2. Meanwhile, in a cup, with fork, stir chili powder, sugar, salt, lime juice, and garlic until blended.  Use to rub on both sides of steak.  In a medium bowl, toss red onions with oil.
3. Place steak and onions on grill over medium heat and grill steak, turning once, 15 to 20 minutes for medium-rare or until desired doneness.  Cook onions, turning occasionally, until browned and just tender, about 15 minutes.
4. Transfer onions and steak to cutting board.  Let steak stand 10 minutes to set juices for easier slicing.  Thinly slice steak and serve with grilled onions.

Each serving: About 270 calories, 24g protein  15g carbohydrate.  13g total fat (5g saturated).  57mg cholesterol, 200mg sodium.

Tips and Changes:  I didn't grill, I fried in a pan.  Still tasted good, but would have like the grilled taste even better.  You don't need 3 onions, you probably don't even need 2, one will do you.  I used lime juice in a bottle, I also used chopped garlic that I had prepared, they each tasted just fine.  Lastly, don't leave this out where your boxer can get to it...she will eat it and then you will have none left over and your hubby will be sad.

Make it and let me know what you think!!