Pork Scaloppine with White Beans and Fried Sage

This was very good.  D thought we needed more beans.  So next time we will.  We had with a Caesar Salad.

Pork Scaloppine with White Beans and Fried Sage

Photo by ALB

Total Time: 30 Mins
Yield: Serves 4

Using fresh sage is the key to giving this classic dish lots of flavor in very little time.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided (used 1)
8 whole sage leaves plus 1 tsp. minced sage
1 1/2 pounds thin pork cutlets (8 pieces) or 4 boned, center-cut pork chops, butterflied*
Kosher salt for seasoning plus 3/4 tsp.
Pepper for seasoning plus 1/2 tsp.
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 small tomato, diced, or 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes (use 1C next time)
1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (use 2 cans next time)
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Preparation
Step 1
Heat 1 tbsp. oil over high heat in a large frying pan. Add whole sage leaves and fry until crisp, about 30 seconds. Carefully transfer to a paper towel-lined plate (they are quite brittle when fried) and set aside.

Step 2
Season pork cutlets lightly with salt and pepper and spread one side of each with mustard.

Step 3
Reduce heat to medium-high and add butter. When foam subsides, add pork, mustard side down, in a single layer and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a clean plate.

Step 4
Heat remaining 2 tbsp. oil (used PAM) in same pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in tomato and cook until it has softened slightly and released some juice, about 3 minutes. Stir in beans, minced sage, zest, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until warm and flavors have melded, about 10 minutes.

Step 5
To serve, set pork on beans and top with whole sage leaves.

Step 6
*To butterfly a pork chop, slice it horizontally with a sharp knife almost all the way through, then open it up like a book.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 564; Calories from fat: 55%; Protein: 44g; Fat: 35g; Satfat: 11g; Carbohydrate: 16g; Fiber: 5g; Sodium: 612mg; Cholesterol: 125mg

SUNSET, February 2015

7 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Scallops with Pancetta

We had a lot of Pancetta we had to use up from Christmas.  I found a few recipes, but neither D nor I could remember the last time we had scallops.  So we decided this is what we were have.  They were really good, but VERY salty.  So be aware of that.

We had with a Mediterranean Side Salad. We would have again.

Scallops with Pancetta

Photo by ALB

Recipe adapted from Cooking Channel
Total:15 min
Active: 15 min
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound (U10) fresh scallops, foot removed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces 1/4-inch-thick sliced Pancetta, diced
1/4 cup minced shallot
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions
In a medium skillet, add the olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Pat the scallops dry with a couple of pieces of paper towel and season them well with salt and pepper on both sides. When the oil is nice and hot, add the scallops and cook them, undisturbed, for 2 minutes per side. Remove the scallops to a plate and set them aside.

Discard all but 1 teaspoon of oil from the pan. Reduce the heat to medium, add the pancetta to the skillet and cook until it crisps up around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the wine, allow it to reduce for 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the scallops back in along with the parsley. Cook for 1 additional minute. Serve immediately.

11 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 2 servings)

Creamy Cajun Pork Chops

We had pork chops in our freezer that we decided to use up.  This recipe came up, and I'm in a comfort food zone, so we decided to have them.  Plus D likes Cajun Seasoning.  The original recipe suggested egg noodles, but D hates them, mashed potatoes were on sale, and I had a coupon.

We also had with cauliflower. We would have again.

Creamy Cajun Pork Chops

Photo by ALB

Pork chops smothered in onions and mushrooms, in a spicy Cajun cream sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time :45 minutes
Total Time :1 hour
Servings: 4
Adapted from Kelly ~ the hungry bluebird (adapted from What's KP Cooking?)

Ingredients
4 center cut boneless pork chops (1 lb)
freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
kosher salt
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup chicken broth,
2 bay leaves
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (originally called for 1 TBSP but Hotter than Hell Cajun Seasoning is actually hotter than hell)
1 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions
Season chops with plenty of black pepper to taste and sprinkle with a little kosher salt. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chops, about 5 minutes per side. Remove chops to a plate and set aside, leaving fat in skillet.

Add onions and mushrooms to skillet and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and a pinch of salt and cook until just fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the chicken broth and deglaze the pan, stirring up any browned bits. Season with another sprinkle of salt. Turn down the heat to a simmer, add the bay leaves and nestle the chops back in the sauce. Cover and simmer on low for about 30 - 35 minutes until the chops are cooked through.

Remove cooked chops to plate and cover loosely with foil. Increase heat to high and bring pan juices to a boil and reduce by about half. Skim as much fat from the surface as you can (I probably skimmed off 2 to 3 tablespoons).

Remove bay leaves and turn heat down to low. Whisk in sour cream, Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika until smooth and creamy and heat for 3 minutes, be careful not to boil. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper. Add chops back to pan and coat in sauce and heat another minute or two.

Notes If using a Cajun spice blend, check its salt content and adjust your salt and pepper seasoning as you go.

10 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Braised Pork with Potatoes and Shallots

I thought this was a good recipe because it had both sweet potatoes and regular. D doesn't like sweet, so I figured he could pick them out of his, and I could have some.
He was unsure how coriander and fennel would work, but it did.  I really liked it. D thought the potatoes were on the mushy side.

If we have again, I think we should add steamed green beans at the last minute.

Braised Pork with Potatoes and Shallots

Photo by ALB

Active Time: 20 Mins
Total Time: 8 Hours 25 Mins
Yield: Serves 8 (serving size: 2/3 cup pork, 2/3 cup vegetables, and 1/4 cup sauce)

Use preground fennel and coriander seeds if you’re short on time; you’ll lose the texture the crushed seeds provide, but you’ll get the same great flavor. Substitute 2 teaspoons each of the ground seeds for 1 tablespoon whole seeds.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
3 pounds bone-in pork shoulder roast (Boston butt), trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup unsalted chicken stock
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 pound baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
4 large shallots, peeled and halved lengthwise (about 4 oz.)
2 large fresh thyme sprigs
Fresh thyme leaves (optional)

Instructions 
Place fennel seeds and coriander seeds in a spice grinder; pulse until coarsely ground. Stir together ground seeds, pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; sprinkle evenly over pork.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add pork to skillet; cook, turning to brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer pork to a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker; reserve drippings in skillet.

Add chicken stock, wine, and soy sauce to reserved drippings in skillet; bring to a boil over medium-high, stirring to loosen browned bits from bottom of skillet. Pour mixture over pork. Add sweet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, shallots, and thyme sprigs to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until pork and vegetables are tender, about 8 hours.

Transfer pork to a cutting board, and let rest 5 minutes. Transfer vegetables to a platter; reserve cooking liquid in slow cooker. Discard thyme sprigs. Break pork into large pieces; discard bone. Place pork on platter with vegetables; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Garnish with thyme leaves, if desired. Serve with reserved cooking liquid.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 280; Fat: 9g; Satfat: 3g; Unsatfat: 6g; Protein: 23g; Carbohydrate: 24g; Fiber: 4g: Sugars: 4g; Added sugars: 0g; Sodium: 627mg: Calcium: 5% DV; Potassium: 12% DV

Cooking Light, October 2018

8 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 8 servings)

Katsudon Japanese Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl

So I think that I liked this better than D did.  He thought the egg came out weird. I thought everything tasted really good.  I would have again.  It was originally for 2 portions, but again, when your chops come in a package of 3, make 3 and have lunch the next day.

Katsudon Japanese Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl

Photo by ALB

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 40 mins

Katsudon is a fried, panko-breaded pork cutlet with egg over rice and a favorite of Japanese restaurant-goers. Our Katsudon recipe is easy to make at home!

Adapted from Author: Sarah
Recipe type: Pork
Cuisine: Japanese
Serves: 3 servings

Ingredients
3 center-cut, boneless pork chops, pounded down to a centimeter thick (1 lb total)
salt and pepper
1/4 C flour, for dusting
1 egg
1 cup panko
oil, for frying (used Pam)
½ cup dashi stock or chicken stock
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons Mirin
2 large eggs
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 servings steamed white rice (1 1/2 C)
1 scallion, chopped

Instructions
Season the pounded pork chops with salt and pepper, and dust with a light, even coating of flour. In one shallow bowl, beat the egg. Put the panko into another shallow bowl.

Add thin, even layer of oil to a cast iron pan or skillet over medium heat (used Pam). The oil is ready when you throw a panko breadcrumb into the oil and it sizzles. Dip the pork into the egg to coat. Transfer the pork to the panko and press it evenly into the meat to get a good coating.

Carefully lay the pork chops in the hot oil and cook for 5-6 minutes on one side, until golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for another 5-6 minutes. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.

While the pork is resting, add the stock, sugar, soy sauce, and Mirin to a small bowl. In another bowl, lightly beat 2 eggs. Add a tablespoon of oil to a pan (can use the same pan) over medium heat (again with the Pam), and add the sliced onion. Fry the onions until they’re translucent and slightly caramelized.

Pour the stock mixture over the onions. Slice your tonkatsu into pieces and place on top of the onions. Drizzle the egg over everything. Cook over medium low heat until the egg is just set. Serve over bowls of steamed rice, and garnish with scallions.

9 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 3 servings)

Gochujang-Glazed Ribs

This is an odd recipe, in terms of how D made it.  He smoked the ribs.
I don't know how to smoke ribs, and I wasn't paying any sort of attention.  So if you know how to do it, it is probably easy to adapt the recipe. If you don't, you'll have to bake in the oven.

Anyway, the ribs were great, and I really enjoyed them. We had with avocado potato salad.

Gochujang-Glazed Ribs

Photo by ALB

Servings 6
Author Lisa Fain from Homesick Texan

Ingredients
For the gochujang sauce:
¼ cup gochujang paste
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
8 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground ginger
Salt
For the ribs:
2 2-pound racks baby back ribs (used 1 rack of Spare Ribs)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
½ tablespoon black pepper
4 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnishing
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, for garnishing

Instructions
To make the sauce, stir together the gochujang paste, soy sauce, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, brown sugar, and ginger until well blended. Taste and add salt if needed.

For the ribs, salt and pepper each rack on both sides. Line two sheet pans with foil, then lay out 2 (2-feet) pieces of foil and place this foil on top of the sheet pans. Place each rack on the foil, starting with the meat-side down.

Take half the sauce and then evenly spread the sauce on the racks on both sides, reserving the remaining sauce for the final glazing. With the meat-side up, wrap the ribs with the foil leaving the seam on top, then refrigerate for 4 to 8 hours.

To prepare the ribs, preheat the oven to 300°F and remove the ribs and their sheet pans from the refrigerator. Once the oven has heated, slide the ribs into the oven and cook covered for 1 hour and 40 minutes.

After this time, remove the ribs from the oven and gently open the foil and pull it back to expose the meat. The meat should be tender but if you desire it to be more so, return the ribs to the oven and continue to cook until they’re how you prefer.

Once tender, remove the ribs and turn the heat up to 450°F. Gently open the foil and pull it back to expose the meat. With tongs, flip the ribs and spread a couple of tablespoons of the remaining sauce on the bony side. Flip the ribs back over and evenly coat the meaty side with the rest of the sauce. Slide the ribs back into the oven and cook uncovered for 12-15 minutes or until the sauce is beginning to blacken.

Remove the ribs from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds before serving.

20-Minute Crispy Pierogies with Broccoli and Sausage

Another Pierogie Recipe (they were on sale and I had a coupon).  This was ok.  It really just tasted like Sausage and Broccoli and Pierogies in a bowl (like I was too lazy to clean a plate or something).  It wasn't bad, because none of those things are bad.  It just didn't meld together.

We had with salad.

20-Minute Crispy Pierogies with Broccoli and Sausage

Photo by ALB

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
Total:20 min
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Level: Easy

Ingredients
1 tablespoons olive oil
One 16-ounce box frozen potato-cheese pierogies
1/2 pound hot Italian sausage (about 3 links)
2 cloves garlic, smashed and roughly chopped
Pinch red pepper flakes
1 pound frozen broccoli spears, thawed (split any spears that are very large)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Directions
Place frozen pierogies on the sheet pan, spraying the tops of the pierogies with non-stick pan spray. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes or until golden brown, turning over halfway through cook time. Remove from the heat.

While the pierogies cook, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, squeeze the sausage out of the casings into the skillet. Cook the sausage, stirring frequently and breaking it up into bite-size pieces, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and stir until the garlic begins to brown, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broccoli. Stir in the broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the liquid is reduced by half and the broccoli is tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Transfer the pierogies to a large, shallow serving dish and top with the sausage and broccoli mixture. Toss everything to combine and sprinkle with extra Parmesan.

13 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Eggs Benedict Salad

I saw the video for this on Instagram, and then went and found the recipe.  D is not a huge hollandaise fan, and it is so rich, I rarely eat it when we go out.  So I showed the recipe to D and he thought it would be a good weekend lunch (kind of hard to eat poached eggs as a left over).

He made it.  It was very good.  The tanginess of the dressing with mixture of the egg yolk was really good.

You can buy mixed greens with radicchio already in it.

Would have again.

Eggs Benedict Salad

Photo by ALB

Instead of starting his day with traditional eggs Benedict, Food and Wine’s Justin Chapple opts for this healthier salad. To mimic hollandaise, he makes a richly flavored yogurt dressing, and he tosses that with greens, torn ham and crunchy English muffin croutons. It’s a deeply satisfying and healthy alternative to heavier brunch options.

Adapted from Food and Wine

Total Time: 30 MIN
Yield Serves : 3

Ingredients
3 English muffins, split and torn into bite-size pieces
5 large eggs
1/4 cup yogurt (used fat-free Greek Yogurt- 5 oz.cup)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest plus 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt
Pepper
10 ounces mixed baby greens with radicchio
1/2 head of radicchio, torn into bite-size pieces (didn't use)
4 ounces thinly sliced ham, torn into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup snipped chives

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the English muffins on a baking sheet and toast for about 7 minutes, until golden. Let cool. (used a toaster oven). 

Meanwhile, bring a large, deep skillet of water to a simmer. One at a time, crack the eggs into a small bowl, then gently slide them into the skillet. Poach over moderately low heat until the whites are set and the yolks are runny, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the poached eggs to a plate.

In a large bowl, whisk the yogurt with the olive oil, mustard, lemon zest and lemon juice. Season the dressing with salt and pepper. Add the mixed greens, radicchio, ham, chives and croutons and toss to coat. Transfer to plates and top with the poached eggs. Sprinkle with pepper and serve right away.

Food and Wine, December 2017

10 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 3 servings)

Korean-Style Pork and Rice

I am in love with ground pork.  Not sure why I like it so much, but I do.  This recipe came in the newest Cooking Light, and I asked D if we could have it.  Amazingly our Kroger had gochujang paste as well, so it wasn't even a hassle to find.

The dish is slightly spicy and garlicky.  D and I were watching different TV shows, and I texted him in the middle of eating, "This is so good."  We will have again.

Korean-Style Pork and Rice

Photo by ALB

TOTAL TIME: 20 mins
YIELD: Serves 4

Deeply savory gochujang adds a mild heat to the finished dish so kids can still enjoy; look for it on the Asian foods aisle.

Ingredients 
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
12 ounces lean ground pork (used 1 lb)
3/4 cup finely chopped white onion
3/4 cup chopped green onions, divided
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons gochujang sauce (such as Annie Chun's)
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
2 (8.8-oz.) pkg. precooked brown rice (such as Uncle Ben's) (used regular brown rice...cooked 3 Cups)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
4 lime wedges (didn't use)

Preparation
Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add pork; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add white onion, 1/4 cup green onions, and garlic; cook 4 minutes. Add 1/3 cup water; cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/2 cup green onions, gochujang, soy sauce, and brown sugar.

Heat rice according to directions.

Place 1/2 cup pork mixture and 3/4 cup rice in each of 4 bowls; top with cilantro, vinegar, and lime wedges.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Calories: 429; Fat: 17.4 g; Sat fat: 4 g; Mono fat: 2.7 g; Poly fat: 2.9 g; Protein: 23 g; Carbohydrate: 49 g; Fiber: 5 g; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Iron: 1 mg; Sodium: 532 mg; Calcium: 30 mg; Sugars: 7 g; Est. Added Sugars: 5 g

Cooking Light, JANUARY 2017

13 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Egg Roll Noodle Bowl

I showed this recipe to D and he said yes.  It looked pretty easy to make (I would have bought shredded coleslaw mix to make it easier but he used the food processor).  The portions were huge!  It needed a little bit of soy sauce and chile garlic sauce, but doesn't everything?  Would have again


Egg Roll Noodle Bowl

Photo by ALB

Amended from Taste of Home

TOTAL TIME:
Prep/Total Time: 30 min
YIELD:4 servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 pound ground pork (used 1 pound)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 cups shredded cabbage (about 1 small head)
2 large carrots, shredded (about 2 cups)
4 ounces rice noodles (used 8 oz)
3 green onions, thinly sliced
Additional soy sauce, optional

Directions
1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook and crumble pork until browned, 4-6 minutes. Stir in soy sauce, garlic and seasonings. Add cabbage and carrots; cook 4-6 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

2. Cook rice noodles according to package directions; drain and immediately add to pork mixture, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with green onions. If desired, serve with additional soy sauce.

Yield: 4 servings (1-1/2 cups)

Nutritional Facts (from Taste of Home with no changes)
1-1/2 cups: 302 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 652mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 4g fiber), 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 medium-fat meat, 2 vegetable, 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.

11 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 5 servings of 1-1/2 Cups) 

Vietnamese Pork Salad

We've had this twice.  It is very good.  Lots of flavor, and the dressing has a good heat in it.

Vietnamese Pork Salad

Photo by ALB

Think of this impressive salad as a deconstructed version of a spring roll.

Yield: Serves 6 (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups) (we got 4 servings)

Ingredients
2 ounces uncooked rice vermicelli noodles (used angel hair Pasta)
12 ounces ground pork (used 1 lb lean)
7 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
4 teaspoons fish sauce, divided
1 tablespoon peanut oil
2 tablespoons chopped unsalted peanuts
2 tablespoons sliced green onions
2 teaspoons Sriracha
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup diagonally cut seeded cucumber
1 cup diagonally cut carrot
1/2 cup diagonally cut yellow squash
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves (have used mint and have subbed basil)

Preparation
1. Cook rice vermicelli according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Drain.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork to pan; cook 8 minutes, stirring to crumble. Combine 1 tablespoon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons fish sauce, and oil in a bowl; add to pan. Cook 1 minute; remove from heat.

3. Combine remaining 6 tablespoons juice, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, remaining 2 teaspoons fish sauce, peanuts, green onions, and Sriracha in a bowl. Arrange lettuce, cucumber, carrot, and squash on a large platter. Top with noodles, pork mixture, cilantro, and mint. Drizzle juice mixture over top.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 268; Fat: 16 g; Sat fat: 5.1 g; Monofat: 7.2 g; Polyfat: 2.4 g; Protein: 12 g; Carbohydrate: 19 g; Fiber: 2 g; Cholesterol: 41 mg; Iron: 1 mg; Sodium: 337 mg; Calcium: 38 mg; Sugars: 8 g; Est. Added Sugars: 5 g

13 Smart Points (with my additions/subtractions)

Cooking Light, JUNE 2016

Rainbow Fried Rice

Eat this with the Char Sil.

Rainbow Fried Rice

Photo by ALB

Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup minced yellow onion
1 cup chopped Char Sil
4 cups cooked long-grain rice, chilled
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 cup minced green onions
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil

Preparation
Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggs; stir-fry for 1 minute or until done. Remove from pan.

Add yellow onion to pan; sauté 2 minutes or until translucent. Stir in Chinese-Style Roast Pork; stir-fry 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Add rice and soy sauce; stir-fry 2 minutes. Return eggs to pan; cook 1 minute. Stir in iceberg lettuce, green peas, salt, and white pepper; stir-fry 1 minute. Sprinkle with green onions, and drizzle with sesame oil.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 219 (28% from fat); FAT 6.7g (sat 1.4g,mono 3.1g,poly 1.5g); PROTEIN 9.7g; CHOLESTEROL 85mg; CALCIUM 33mg; SODIUM 455mg; FIBER 1.7g; IRON 1.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 29g

Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2005

Chinese-Style Roast Pork (Char Sil)

We have no Chinese Restaurants by us. So we have to come up with our own. I have made this. It is easy and good!  Use the extra Char Sil for Rainbow Fried Rice.

Chinese-Style Roast Pork (Char Sil)

Photo by ALB

Ingredients
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons minced green onions
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds boneless Boston butt pork roast, trimmed and cut into (2-inch) cubes

Preparation
Combine first 9 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add pork; seal and marinate in refrigerator 24 hours, turning bag occasionally. Remove pork from bag, reserving marinade.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place pork on the rack of a broiler pan lined with foil. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Turn pork over, and baste with reserved marinade. Discard remaining marinade. Bake an additional 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160° (slightly pink). Preheat broiler. Broil pork 5 minutes or until browned.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 3 ounces)

Nutritional Information 
CALORIES 193 (41% from fat); FAT 8.9g (sat 3g,mono 4g,poly 1.1g); PROTEIN 21.2g; CHOLESTEROL 73mg; CALCIUM 28mg; SODIUM 249mg; FIBER 0.2g; IRON 1.5mg; CARBOHYDRATE 5.8g

Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2005

Szechuan Green Beans with Ground Pork

This recipe had one thing wrong with it. It was not spicy!  Looking at the ingredients, there is nothing besides crushed red pepper to add heat.  So you know we added chili garlic sauce to our servings.

Besides that, it was really good.  It was definitely something I liked for dinner, and leftovers for lunch.

We would have again.

Szechuan Green Beans with Ground Pork

Photo by ALB

The Szechuan Green Beans with Ground Pork recipe is characteristic of the hot and spicy cuisine from the Szechuan province. You can substitute lean ground chicken or turkey for pork and asparagus for green beans.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup pork mixture and 1/2 cup rice)

Ingredients
1/2 pound lean ground pork (used 1 lb)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper (used black pepper)
1 teaspoon peanut oil (used vegetable oil)
2 1/2 cups (1-inch) cut green beans
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 cups hot cooked white rice

Preparation
Combine the first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture, beans, and garlic; cook 3 minutes or until pork loses its pink color, stirring to crumble.

Combine hoisin and next 3 ingredients (through soy sauce) in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add hoisin mixture to pan. Cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Serve over rice.

Nutritional Information (without my changes)
Amount per serving
Calories: 254; Fat: 6.8 g; Sat fat: 2.2 g; Mono fat: 3.5 g; Poly fat: 1.1 g; Protein: 14.6 g; Carbohydrate: 32.5 g; Fiber: 3.3 g; Cholesterol: 43 mg; Iron: 1.5 mg; Sodium: 323 mg; Calcium: 47 mg

Cooking Light, APRIL 2006

Pork Tinga (Tinga de Pueco)

I found this recipe the week after I got my blood pressure results back, they were high, so I decided to go on a "REALLY HEALTHY EATING" kick.  Of course, how the hell am I going to eat this.
Well, we also had 1.5 pounds of pork shoulder in the freezer, D wasn't going on a healthy eating kick and well, sometimes you just have to say F-it.

The result of this was a tangy pork stew that was delicious.  Of course it was; it's from Homesick Texan.  D had on corn tortillas, and I had on a wheat wrap.  So he had tacos and I had a burrito.  We definitely would have again.

Pork Tinga (Tinga de Pueco)

Photo by ALB

From Homesick Texan

Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (used 1 TBSP)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
3 chipotle chile peppers in adobo
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound Mexican chorizo, removed from its casing
1 1/2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch cubes
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups water
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Warm corn tortillas, for serving (used both corn and wheat)
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced, for serving
Cotija cheese, for serving (used Jack Cheese)
1 lime cut into wedges, for serving
Added Reduced Fat Sour Cream

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 300°F.

In a Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil on medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and while occasionally stirring, cook until fragrant and softened, about 4 minutes. Scrape the onion and garlic into a blender and add the tomatoes, chipotle chiles, oregano, and thyme. Blend until smooth.

Meanwhile, wipe out the Dutch oven and then add the remaining oil and the chorizo removed from its casing. On medium heat, while occasionally stirring cook for 10 minutes or until the meat has darkened.

Turn off the heat and add to the Dutch oven the pork shoulder, bay leaf, salt, chipotle tomato salsa from the blender, and water. Gently stir to combine everything, cover the pot, and then bake for 2- 2 1/2 hours or until the sauce has reduced and the pork is fork tender and can be easily shredded.

If you prefer, instead of using the oven you can place the chipotle tomato salsa, cooked chorizo, and pork in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.

Once the pork is tender, with two forks, shred the pork and then stir in the chopped cilantro and lime juice. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve warm with corn tortillas with more cilantro, avocado, Cotija cheese, and lime wedges, on the side.

Yield: 8 servings (Homesick Texan indicated 4-6 servings, we got 8)

Spice-Crusted Pork Chops with Buttermilk Carrot Slaw

D and I decided to have this recipe.  However we were a little shocked by the price of thick-cut pork chops, so we only bought 2. D had to work, so I prepped the chops. I told him I didn't cut down the spice for 2 chops but used up all the paste.  He said that is typical for a Weber recipe.

For the slaw, since neither of us are huge carrot fans, we used bagged coleslaw, and mixed with the rest of the ingredients.

The results were flavorful and good.  We will definitely have again.

Spice-Crusted Pork Chops with Buttermilk Carrot Slaw

Photo by ALB

Adapted the recipe by Jamie Purviance
With my modifications, there were 4 servings of slaw, and 2 servings of chops.

INGREDIENTS
PASTE
2¼ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon chipotle or ancho chile powder (used Chipotle)
½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano leaves, crumbled (used regular oregano)
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
6 center-cut pork rib chops, each about 8 ounces and 1 inch thick, trimmed of excess fat (used 2)
SLAW
¼ cup buttermilk
¼ cup sour cream
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon whole-grain or stone-ground mustard
⅓ cup vegetable oil (did not use)
5 large carrots, about 1¼ pounds total, peeled and grated using the large holes of a box grater (used bagged coleslaw)
1 shallot, about 1 ounce, very thinly sliced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil, Italian parsley, or cilantro leaves, or a combination (used cilantro)
Kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS
1 In a small bowl mix the salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, chile powder, oregano, cayenne, and garlic powder. Set aside 1 teaspoon of the spices for the slaw. Add the oil and vinegar to the bowl and stir to combine.

2 Spread the paste on both sides of each pork chop. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours. Allow the chops to stand at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before grilling.

3 Meanwhile, make the slaw. In a large bowl combine the buttermilk, sour cream, vinegar, mustard, and the reserved 1 teaspoon spices. Slowly whisk in the vegetable oil until emulsified. Add the carrots, shallot, and fresh herbs. Toss well and season with salt. (You can make the slaw up to 4 hours ahead; cover tightly and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature and toss before serving.)

4 Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium heat (350° to 450°F).

5 Grill the pork chops over direct medium heat, with the lid closed, until still slightly pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once. Remove from the grill and let rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve warm with the slaw.

Risotto with Pancetta and Wild Mushrooms

My blogging has been very sparse lately.  I've been taking pictures of food, but when I don't write about the meal in over a month (today is really 4/4, and I pre-dated the blog entry), I am most likely not going to remember much.

I do remember that I enjoyed the texture of the mushrooms and the salty bite of the pancetta.  And remarking we should have it again.  We should have again, so I can write a better description.

Update:  D made this and it was good. Salty and creamy.  I loved the mushrooms because they had a lot of chew.  I added how D made it, because it came out to 14 WW points on the 2016 program).


Risotto with Pancetta and Wild Mushrooms

Photo by ALB

Ingredients
8 paper-thin slices of pancetta or bacon (about 2 ounces)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (used Pam)
1 pound mixed mushrooms, such as chanterelles, cremini and Portobellos, thickly sliced
Sea salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (used 2)
1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley or tarragon
5 cups light chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth (used 4, but 5 doesn't make a difference in points)
1 garlic clove, lightly smashed (always use more)
1 shallot, minced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (2 ounces), plus shavings, for garnish
2 tablespoons heavy cream (didn't use...tasted it and it didn't need it).
Freshly ground white pepper

Directions
Preheat the broiler. Arrange the pancetta slices on a baking sheet in a single layer and broil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden and sizzling.

Drain on paper towels, then crumble.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and cook over high heat, stirring, just until they exude their juices, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms and their liquid to a strainer set over a bowl and press lightly on the mushrooms; reserve the liquid. Wipe out the skillet and add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Return the mushrooms to the skillet and cook, stirring, until tender and just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the parsley, cover and keep warm.

In a medium saucepan, combine the stock with the reserved mushroom liquid and bring to a simmer, then keep warm over low heat. In a large, deep nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat until fragrant. Add the shallot and cook until softened but not browned, 3 to 4 minutes; discard the garlic. Add the rice and stir until the grains are thoroughly coated with butter. Add 1 cup of the hot stock to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until the rice has absorbed most of the stock, 1 to 2 minutes. Continue to cook the risotto, adding the stock 1 cup at a time, and stirring constantly between additions until it is absorbed. Cook the risotto until it has a creamy, porridgelike consistency, about 20 minutes.

Remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, the cream and the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Season with salt and white pepper and transfer to warm soup plates. Garnish with the mushrooms, pancetta and shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Serve immediately.

Posole

A long time ago, Danny the bartender at Twains before it was a brewpub, told me about posole.  He said it was a stew, and pretty good. Along the way, I found recipes for it, but since didn't know what hominy was, it was always something I was a bit intimidated by.  Finally I had hominy, and got over that issue, but still never had posole.

D was looking for recipes and came across this one. Seeing as we had a ham hock in our freezer, we decided to try it.

I know posole is supposed to be a stew, but his came out thicker.  And that was fine, because really it just looked like chili, and that's not a bad thing.

Anyway, it didn't taste like chili.  It tasted like thick stew (duh!).  It was really good. I'm glad D didn't add the other can of hominy.  We both really liked.

*Hominy-  Now that was odd.  Kroger had 1 30 oz can of Hominy from a brand I never heard of (canned in Mexico) and 2 15 oz cans of Kroger Hominy.  So we wiped out the store with those 3 cans.  Even though we ended up not using 1 of the Kroger cans, you definitely could taste the difference between the 2 brands.  I would go with the 30 oz can if I can ever find the can of the brand I can't remember.

We would have this again.

Red Posole

Photo by ALB

Serves 8
Adapted from Homesick Texan

Ingredients
1 pound of dried posole or two 29 oz. cans of hominy, drained (Used 1 30oz can and 1 15 oz can...plenty)
1 pound of pork shoulder, cubed
1 medium onion, diced
8 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of lard, bacon grease, corn or canola oil (used Pam)
8 cups of water (can substitute part with beer or chicken broth for more flavor)- used beer and chicken broth
1 smoked ham hock
1 tablespoon Mexican oregano (can substitute regular oregano)-used regular
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
9 New Mexico chiles, stems and seeds removed
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Juice of one lime

For serving:
One avocado sliced,
One lime cut into wedges
1 cup of cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup of diced onion
Tortillas and tortilla chips
(used macaroni and cheddar cheese)

Preparation
If using dried hominy, soak the hominy a gallon of water for at least eight hours until it’s doubled in size. (just use canned!)

In a large pot, heat up the lard (Pam) and cook the onion for 10 minutes. Add the pork and brown on each side for a couple of minutes. Throw in the garlic and cook for one more minute.

Pour the water into the pot and add the ham hock, oregano, cumin, ground cloves and ancho-chile powder. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a low simmer.

Meanwhile, take your New Mexican chiles and cook on high in a dry cast-iron skillet until the pop, a couple of minutes. Turn off the heat, add water to the skillet and let the chiles soak until hydrated, about half an hour.

Drain the chile-soaking liquid, and place the chiles in a blender. Add one cup of water and blend on high until a smooth puree has formed. Stir the chile puree into the soup pot.

After a couple of hours, add the hominy to the pot along with the juice of one lime and the chopped cilantro. At this point, adjust your spices and add salt to the pot. Continue to cook on low for a couple more hours.

Pour into bowls and serve with diced onions, lime wedges, chopped cilantro, avocado slices and tortillas or tortilla chips.

Italian Chopped Salad for Two

So I love Italian Subs, and this reminded me of a sub without the bread.  It is a little high in calories, but definitely worth it.  You could easily make this 3 portions.

Italian Chopped Salad for Two

Photo by ALB

From Pinch and Swirl

Ingredients
For the dressing:
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced shallot
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the salad:
1 15 ounce can cannellini beans, drained
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
2 ounces Pecorino Romano or provolone cheese, diced small
3 ounces salami, sliced into thin ribbons
6 oil packed sun dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped
12 kalamata olive, pitted and coarsely chopped (didn't use)
Added 4 Pepperoncinis

Instructions
To make the dressing:
In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, shallot and Italian seasoning. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

For the salad:
Place cannelini beans in a large salad bowl. Add dressing and gently stir to combine. Let stand 10 minutes. Add chopped romaine to beans and toss gently to incorporate beans and coat lettuce with dressing. Sprinkle remaining ingredients over and serve.

Nutritional Information (from My Fitness Pal the way I ate it)
Calories: 692; Total: Fat 42 g; Saturated Fat: 13 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 19 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g; Trans Fat: 0 g; Cholesterol: 63 mg; Sodium: 2233 mg; Potassium: 1150 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 49 g; Dietary Fiber: 17 g; Sugars: 9 g; Protein: 34 g

Orecchiette with Turkey Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, and Walnuts

So I guess technically this should be called Fusilli with Spicy Italian Sausage, Broccoli Rabe. and Walnuts, because that's what D made.  Our Kroger, in a mind baffling move doesn't sell linguine or orecchiette.  So we make do with what we can get.

Overall, this was very good.  The tang from the cheese and the crunch from the walnuts made it a little different from your basic pasta, spinach and sausage dish.

We would have again. We had a with a Caesar Salad.

Orecchiette with Turkey Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, and Walnuts

Photo by ALB

Warming winter flavors unite to create this simple and elegant weeknight dish.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients
6 ounces uncooked orecchiette pasta (we used 8 oz of fusili)
5 teaspoons olive oil, divided (used cooking spray)
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
8 ounces sweet turkey Italian sausage, casings removed (used Spicy Pork Italian Sausage)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 12 ounces), trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Added 1 tsp of butter
3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)

Preparation
1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid; drain.

2. While pasta cooks, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat (didn't use oil). Add walnuts; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer walnuts to a plate.

3. Add remaining 4 teaspoons oil and sausage to pan (used cooking spray); cook 6 minutes, stirring to crumble sausage. Add garlic, broccoli rabe, and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping pan to loosen browned bits.

4. Add pasta, remaining 1/2 cup pasta water, walnuts, rind, juice, and red pepper and butter to pan; toss to combine. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information (with none of my changes)
Calories :424; Fat: 21 g; Sat fat: 5.9 g; Mono fat: 7.7 g; Poly fat: 5.8 g; Protein: 24 g; Carbohydrate: 37 g; Fiber: 2 g; Cholesterol: 57 mg; Iron: 3 mg;   Sodium: 507 mg; Calcium: 83 mg

Nutritional Information (with my changes)
Calories: 587; Fat: 15 g; Sat fat: 6 g; Mono fat: 3 g; Poly fat: 5 g; Protein: 19 g; Carbohydrate: 62 g; Fiber: 6 g; Cholesterol: 16 mg; Sodium: 151 mg

Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2015