Local produce dinner

So this week I had a hard time with my produce. They delivered it to the wrong house, so the meals I had planned weren't adaptable.  However, Produce Box delivered a free box full of peaches, watermelon, fresh thyme, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers and cherry tomatoes.  So when trying yore plan my weekly meals... I came up with some amazing meals. It's funny how local produce tastes better than who-knows-where produce.  

Tonight, we had pork chops with stuffing, vegetables and peaches.  I used HT pork chops-thin slice no bone.  I went the easy route and used stove top! While that was cooking, I chopped up red potatoes, a onion, red pepper and mix Ina bowl with a little olive oil and garlic powder.

On a hot skillet I cooked the potato mixture for 15 minutes then added the sliced squash.

Cooked for another 15 adding fresh thyme and red pepper flakes. The pork chops took about 45 min.while it cooked I enjoyed some Pinot.... 

The dinner was delicious with happy plates at the end.... Still waiting on the hubby todo the dishes :)   

Eggplant

So I asked several friends for eggplant recipes when I got an eggplant in my produce box this week. I like eggplant parm- but the one thing I don't like is the sogginess of the eggplant. So was searching the Internet for other recipes.   I found one!! However, as usual to me didn't totally follow the recipe. 

It's an eggplant spaghetti bake. 

First you cut your eggplant into squares toss in 1- 1 1/2 tbs of olive oil and add salt and pepper.  Roast at 400 for 30 min on a baking sheet.  Meanwhile pick your favorite spaghetti ( I had spinach and chive linguine from TJs on hand. 

I used half the bag and cooked to the regular directions. Drained than set aside.

Then chop one small onion and one small pepper and add to a hot skillet.  Wait two minutes that add 1lb of ground beef (next time Imight try hot sausage).brown accordingly. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on the meat ( I added a lot - but I like it spicy.) next add your favorite sauce.... I used Toscana marinara 

Mix together and set aside for ten minutes. During this time pour yourself a glass of wine. Next add 3/4 c of mozzarella cheese and a handful of Parmesanand mix. Put in a greased 9x13 add another small handful of Parmesan and sprinkle on bread crumbs. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Enjoy :)

Produce box

Today I got my first produce box!!! I am so excited! Well for the box yes and all the amazing veggies and fruits that came in it that are local. As you all know I work for trader joes and although we have amazing produce.... Most of it comes from California! So I signed up for the produce box- which is a local organization that works with small local farmers to provide the best local, fresh produce. You get to pick your box each week, whether you want more fruits or different veggies... I am excited. I got lots of zucchini  and I plan to use a couple of them in my chocolate zucchini bread... Recipe to follow... Don't worry :) 

Figs and goat cheese

Today Trader Joes got in figs.... I love figs. So of course I bought them! For only 3.99 how could I pass it up... I baked them with goat cheese and honey and boy were they yummy! Thought I would share the recipe.  

Preheat oven to 400

Toss figs in olive oil, then slice a criss cross in each fig.  Add a teaspoon of goat cheese to each fig. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Drizzle with honey and enjoy! 

Meatballs

I have been craving meatballs.... And not the store bought kind but homemade meatballs.  So tonight I tried something new.... Made my normal meatball recipe (below) but added a slice of a fresh mozzarella stick to the inside!  Boy what a difference and I love it!  My husband and sister in law are using the rest of the meatballs in a meatball sandwich tomorrow!! Yumm!! I paired my meatballs with regular spaghetti and Toscano Marinara from Trader Joes!!
Here's the recipe:

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1.25lbs ground beef (80/20)

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0.75 lbs ground pork

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2 cloves garlic, minced

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½ cup onion (chopped)

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2 eggs

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1 cup grated Romano cheese (we substituted parmesan)

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1 ½ tablespoons parsley

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Salt and black pepper to taste

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2 cups Italian style bread crumbs

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1 cup water

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Olive oil

3 sticks is fresh mozzarella (sliced)

Mix all of the ingredients together. Start to roll meatballs and poke a whole to add mozzarella! 

Heat oil in pan then cook meatballs in batches!

Meanwhile cook spaghetti and sauce!!! Yum

Enjoy!!! 

Mango and Mixed Berry Chia Pudding

Ok, so i have decided Chia seeds have changed my life.  I used to just sprinkle them on top of salads, in yogurt etc.  Then a friend at the Joe told me about putting a little water on top of the chia seeds-let it sit 5 min and yahh!! not only are they a different texture(tapioca balls idea) but keep you fuller longer.
I guess i should tell you a little bit about the Chia seed... yes it's the same thing they make the chia plant out of but you can find them in all stores.  At TJ's they are 4.99 and look like this

They have 6g of fiber per serving(1tbs.) , 2.9 g of Omega 3's, and 3g of protein.  

Every morning I have a yogurt-switching flavors and greek to regular so that I don't get sick of any of them.  I put 2 tbs. of chia seeds in a small bowl and cover with water.  Then I start my coffee maker and when the coffee is done I mix the seeds into the yogurt.  

Well this week I  was looking for something different, I found a recipe on Pinterest, but didn't have all the same ingredients so I tweaked it a little.   

so onto the recipe that I used-Definitely start a day or so before going to eat ... 

3/4c of unsweetened coconut milk

1/2c of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/4 and a little more of chia seeds

1 cup of chopped mango(i used tj's frozen cut up mango and mixed berries) 

So at first I just let it sit 4 hours-as suggested, wasn't the right consistency.  So left over night (a good 9 hours) then put more frozen fruit in it and delicious!!! The frozen fruit mostly more mixed berries made it almost as a dessert or a good afternoon snack because it was cold and almost like an icecream :) 

Yah for Chia seeds :) 

My Grandma's Deviled Eggs

Lately, I have really been missing my Grandma Esther.  She was one awesome lady and I really do miss being able to call her at 2am and she being awake and chatting the night away, or playing endless cards with her, shopping at the grocery store or heck just hanging out.  She had such an amazing attitude on life, so happy, wanting the best for my mom, sam and I.  I miss her smile and her way of touching your hand so soft and loving.  

When I find myself missing her, I start baking.  She was a fantastic cook and probably my favorite thing about her was she didn't really measure anything.  It was all about taste.  So I have found myself making deviled eggs, beets, or antipasta more often. 
Below I posted my deviled eggs that I made for the Super Bowl- now I want to make sure everyone knows that the chives on top were not part of her recipe-but just something i added for the football party.  

So here is the part that in a food blog that I would give you the recipe.... however that is not going to happen. Yes, I make one fantastic deviled egg and yes you all want to know my secret. But that is between my Grandma and I.  I will never forget the several times we sat in the kitchen making this recipe together.  We always tasted after we added an ingredient and if I added too much she would just think up something else to fix it.  

I wanted to share this because I live my life in a way that I think she would be proud.  I do wish she was here to talk to... but I know she is looking down on me- smiling and laughing.  I love you Gram and I still make fantastic deviled eggs.   

thinking out of the box

So I have tried a dozen recipes from pinterest.... cookies, chicken recipes, caserolles, and honestly have not been satisfied.  A cookie recipe I made directly following what it said turned out very thin and well not that great.  A chicken recipe was not detailed enough and yuck-even Mike hated it.  So hmf as much as I love pinterest- I am going back to thinking out of the box for recipes or heck yesterday I used a homestyle bake box recipe and yum it was 3 bucks and absolutely delicious... i put a pack of frozen veggies in and yum!  Not sure if anyone else has had this issue but it's a bummer.  Not saying that I won't use pinterest recipes again, just taking a break for awhile.  Tonight I am attempting Eggplant, chicken parmesan with a salad! Can't wait...will post later!

Crock Pot Braised Apple Cider Pork

So I love a good crock pot recipe and boy did I find one.  I found a recipe on allrecipes but of course changed the ingredients to what I had on hand and what I preferred.  It was soo yummy and the pork was just perfect and tender.  

Ingredients 
2lb pork roast
1 medium onion
3 stocks of celery
1/2-1cup of carrots 
4 potatoes (peeled and cubed) 
1/2 of small red cabbage (you can use either- I liked the added color)
2 cloves of garlic (peeled)
1-1/2 tbs of fresh herbs (called for parsley and sage -- i had rosemary on hand)
1-1/4 C of apple cider
3/4 tsp of dijon mustard
1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper
1tbs of cold butter
salt and pepper garlic powder

Season the pork roast with garlic powder and pepper.  Put in the crock pot with chopped onion, celery, carrots, potatoes and red cabbage on top with herbs. On top pour the apple cider and fill the rest of it with water till it covers the meat and potatoes. Cook on low for 6.5 hours.  
Pull the pork roast and veggies out of crock pot and cover with foil.  
Take the juice and put in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 5ish minutes.  Add 2tbs of cornstarch, remove from heat --whisk in cayenne pepper and dijon mustard.  
Serve pork with veggies and sauce on top.

My hubby loved the sauce-- I will probably double it in the future. I served it in my awesome swan gravy boat.  Hope you enjoy- I will def make it again. It was a nice alternative other than always beef and veggies.  

A new favorite

Honey Greek Yogurt! It's just delicious and so tasty!! I use it at breakfast and snacks- great before bed. 

Usually, I put it with whatever cereal we have in the cupboard. Yesterday for breakfast was 5tbs and special k choco and strawberry.  Yummy and filling.  Tonight for snack before bed i paired it with some TJ's fresh strawberries and blackberries!! It's sweet enough but still healthy! 

Creme Brulee

In love with the Creme Brulee from Trader Joe's. Just defrost for an hour at room temp and enjoy the yummyness.  Best part... comes in a dark chocolate cup so no dishes!!!'

A quick healthy meal

Tonight, I have to go into work so a quick dinner idea was needed. I threw together a bunch of TJ ingredients I had on hand and a great meal we had.  

I usually stock up on ravioli and freeze them. Tonight I chose the goat cheese and sundried tomato variety.  

I first put garlic and onions in a pan and cooked until tender then added 1/2 of the Asian stir fry mix.  (the mix contains- snow peas,  peppers, water chestnuts, onions, carrots and broccoli). 

I cooked the mix for 10-12 minutes. Since, I had olive tempenade on hand- I added into the veggies- what great flavor! 

Then turned to low and started the pasta.  Since mine was frozen it took about 5-6 minutes. 

For sauce: I used Mike's favorite which is Ragu sausage and cheese flavored. 

I added the sauce to the veggie mix and well what a great meal.  We didn't have any bread on hand but a good garlic bread would have been fantastic with it.  

For fruit we had cocktail grapefruit.  Which are similar to more of an orange than a grapefruit, but have more seeds.  Cocktail grapefruits are usually only available the month of January so I like to stock up.  

Enjoy :)

German Chocolate Pancakes

So it's been forever since I posted.  Although, I have had amazing food since then.  Mike and I went on our honeymoon and had fantastic dishes, but will post about those later.  Today is Mike's birthday and usually every year I make a German Chocolate Cake-but it makes so much and it's just the two of us.  So this year I decided on German Chocolate Pancakes and boy were they good.  I originally got the recipe from southern living magazine but altered it a bit.  The pancakes look like footballs because that's what Mike wanted... 

Pancake Ingredients:
2 C of Flour
1/2 C of Sugar
1/2 C of Unsweetened Cocoa
1-1/2 TBS of Baking Soda
1 TSP of Salt
2 C of Milk
2 Large Eggs
1/2 of 4oz German Chocolate Bar- Finely Chopped
3 TBS of Butter
1/2 TSP of Vanilla

Topping Ingredients:
2/3 C of Chopped Pecans
2/3 C of Sweetened Coconut
1 (5oz) Can of Evaporated Milk 
1/2 C of Light Brown Sugar - packed
1/4 C of Butter
2 Egg Yolks
1/2 TSP of Vanilla

So deciding which to do when is tricky and we have a small kitchen- so I had to have my hubby help.  
I started the topping first then the pancakes and then well back and forth.  

Directions: 
Put the chopped pecans and coconut in a pan and put in the oven 350 for 5 minutes. Pull out and set aside.  Next Put the first 5 ingredients of the pancake recipe in a large bowl. (Flour, Sugar, Cocoa, Soda  and Salt).  Stir well.  In another bowl Mix the milk, eggs, butter, vanilla and chopped chocolate.  Gradually stir wet mixture into the dry.  (just until moistened- the batter is supposed to be lumpy).  
On a heated skillet pour the batter- mike wanted footballs so I created a little bigger size of pancake. 

 Let sit 3 ish minutes then flip.  To keep warm I put the done pancakes on a pan and in the oven at 200 degrees. 

While making the pancakes I then started the topping. Mix together the evaporated milk, brown sugar, butter and egg yolks in a saucepan over medium heat.  Stir consistently (which is why I needed a helper) for about 10 minutes- the mixture should start to get thick.

  Remove from heat add vanilla and toasted pecans and coconut and serve immediately over warmed pancakes.   

Mikey and I both loved them! I was also supposed to serve with sausage but i totally forgot.  Hope you enjoy them!!