BREAKFAST SAUSAGE

 

   

Ingredients

1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper 
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon of hot pepper flakes

1 pound of ground pork
 
 

In a small, bowl, combine the salt, ground black pepper, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper. Mix well.

Place the pork in a large bowl and add the mixed spices to it. Mix well with your hands and form into patties. I usually make 8 patties with a pound of meat. Allow to chill for an hour or more in the refrigerator. 

 Saute the patties in a large skillet over medium high heat for 5 minutes per side. Make sure the pork is cooked thoroughly (internal temperature of 160).

PORK CUTLETS WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Pork cutlets with pineapple salsa, served with roasted green beans

The Salsa

2 1/2 cups of 1/2 inch cubed fresh pineapple
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 teaspoons of minced peeled fresh ginger
3/4 cup of water
2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar

Stir first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cover and stir until pineapple is soft, stirring often. If you need to add more water do so. This should take about 30 minutes. When the pineapple is at the consistency you want, add the vinegar. 


The Chops

4 boneless pork chops
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups of panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
2 teaspoons of the seasoning of your choice (I use Emeril's Essence)
About 1/2 cup of flour
3 tablespoons of olive oil

Pound the chops until they are about 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisk eggs in bowl to blend. Mix panko and your choice of seasoning in another bowl. Place flour on plate. Dredge the chops in the flour, dip into beaten eggs, then place into panko mixture, coating both side of chop. Press so the panko adheres. 

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pork and cook until browned,  about 5 minutes per side. Make sure pork is cooked thoroughly. 

Serve chops with the pineapple salsa.

TANGERINE BEEF

1 1/2  pounds London Broil

2     tangerines

8     scallions, sliced, plus more for garnish 1/4 cup soy sauce

4     tablespoons toasted sesame oil

4     teaspoons sugar

4     tablespoons chopped peeled ginger

6    cloves garlic, minced

Pinch of red pepper flakes

2 – 3 additional tangerines for sauce

Pierce the steak with a fork several times on each side. Remove a 2-inch strip of zest from the tangerines, halve the fruit and squeeze the juice into a resealable plastic bag. Add the zest, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, ginger, garlic, pepper flakes and a cup of water to the bag and mix well. Add the meat, seal the bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the broiler or grill. Remove the steak from the bag and reserve the marinade. Pat the meat dry and place on the preheated broiler pan or on the grill. Cook until the meat is golden brown and a thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 130° for medium-rare, about 10 minutes. Let rest 5 to 10 minutes before slicing; reserve the drippings.

Meanwhile, boil the marinade in a small pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the juice of 2-3 tangerines and the drippings from the meat. Reduce by half or until thickened. Slice the meat against the grain and top with scallions. Serve with the sauce.

FRIED RICE

Finally . . . I've found a great fried rice recipe!!

3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

2 large eggs, lightly beaten with a pinch of kosher salt

4 scallions (white and green), thinly sliced

1/4 cup grated carrot

3 large cloves of garlic, minced

Pinch red chile flakes

1 tablespoon of minced peeled fresh ginger

2 tablespoons soy sauce (sometimes I substitute a tablespoon of kecap manis)

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

3 cups cooked jasmine rice

1 cup cooked meat cut in 1/2-inch cubes, such as pork, ham, beef, or chicken

1/2 cup frozen peas, defrosted in a strainer at room temperature

It may be worth your while to have EVERYTHING prepped to go BEFORE you start cooking.

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a well-seasoned wok or large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat the pan. Pour in the eggs, swirl the pan so the egg forms a large thin pancake. As soon as the egg has set, turn it out of the pan onto a cutting board. Cool, cut into 1 inch pieces.

Wipe out the pan with a paper towel and heat the remaining vegetable oil over high heat. Add the scallions and carrots and stir-fry for 1 1/2 minutes. Add the garlic, chile, and ginger, stir-fry for 1 minute more. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil and rice and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the meat, peas, and reserved egg, cook, stirring until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

ROASTED GRAPES AND SAUSAGE

• 2 large yellow onions, halved and slivered
• 2 cups black grapes (Concord, Globe, or any other ripe black variety -I use whatever is on sale or whatever looks the best), rinsed well
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 4 to 8 sweet Italian sausages (1 or 2 sausages per person), cut into bite-sized pieces

Preheat oven to 375°F. 

In a large roasting pan or skillet mix the slivered onion and grapes together with your hands. Drizzle some oil over them and sprinkle with several generous pinches of salt and pepper. Mix again and spread out the mixture evenly. Nestle the sausages in the onion-grape layer, but don't let them be completely covered. 

Put the pan in the oven and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the onions have cooked down considerably, the grapes are soft, and the sausages are plump and browned on top, even a little bit crusty. Pierce one of the largest pieces of sausage. They are ready when the juices run clear. Spoon a bed of onions and grapes onto a serving platter or individual plates, top with the sausages, and serve.

CHICKEN MARSALA

I based my recipe on Emeril's recipe for chicken Marsala. In his version, Emeril does not do the three step breading method that I use. Other ways my recipe differs - I reduce my sauce twice, I use more Marsala, I use different mushrooms, and I do not add the cutlets to the finished sauce in the pan. Rather I spoon the sauce over the cutlets which are already on the serving platter or dish.

The first thing you need to do is to prepare your chicken cutlets. I pound mine as thin as I can get them, as long as the breast is not falling apart. You, however, may pound YOUR chicken to whatever degree you wish. After all, it is YOUR chicken. And if you've had a bad day, it could be therapeutic.

After pounding the chicken, I dredge it in flour, seasoned with Emeril's Essence, available in your grocery store spice aisle. (The above link also has a recipe for making your own Essence, just scroll to the bottom of the recipe at the link and you'll find it.) If you have a seasoning you prefer, change it up!

I then dip the cutlet in egg, allowing the excess egg to drip off before I put it in the seasoned breadcrumbs. I'm making the assumption that you know how to pound and bread chicken cutlets so I won't waste much time on it. If you are new to the breading of chicken cutlets, here's a nice short video showing you the method I use. Please note that I always pound the chicken to the desired thickness before I bread it for this recipe. (And no . . . it's not me on the video.)

Video

Breading chicken cutlets

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour, seasoned with 1 tablespoon Essence

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs

2 (6 to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in halves and pounded thin

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoons butter, divided
3 cups sliced mushrooms, I use baby bellas
1 1/2 cups of Marsala, divided

1 cup chicken stock

Directions

Pound the breasts to desired thickness. Dredge in seasoned flour, dip in eggs, then place in bread crumbs until thoroughly covered.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and cook the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside. (I usually place mine in the microwave until I'm ready for them.)

Add 1 tablespoon of the remaining butter to the pan and add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are brown around the edges and have given off their liquid. Add 1 cup of the Marsala wine and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, scraping to remove any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. When the wine/broth mixture has reduced by half, add the rest of the Marsala and reduce again or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Be patient. Reducing a sauce takes time. It will be worth it. Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Place your cutlets on the serving platter or dish and spoon the Marsala and mushrooms over the cutlets.

PORK LOIN WITH PEANUT SLATHER

This is a wonderful tasting recipe, but I have yet to take a decent pic of it. I had some pics of it being served with roasted green beans and jasmine rice, but somehow or another I deleted the pics before I could post them. {sigh} You can use your oven or your grill. I've tried it both ways.

If you like peanut sauces, you'll like this. I usually make a double batch of the slather.

You'll need . . .

2 pork tenderloins, each about 12 ounces

Flavorless cooking oil to brush on the cooking rack

Trim off and discard any excess fat from the pork. Set aside the cooking oil, if grilling.

Ingredients for Slather

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter, salted

1/4 cup Chinese rice wine or dry sherry 

2 tablespoons dark soy sauce 

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons flavorless cooking oil 

1 tablespoon dark sesame oil

1 tablespoon Sambal Badjak Fresh Ripe Chili Paste with Onion or other Asian chile sauce

4 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tablespoons finely minced ginger 

1/4 cup minced green onion

To Make the Slather

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredi­ents for the peanut slather and mix to combine evenly. Reserve, cover, and refrigerate 1/2 cup of the slather. Evenly coat the pork with the remaining slather and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. All advance preparation may be completed up to 8 hours be­fore you begin the final steps.


Final Steps

Thirty minutes prior to cooking, remove the pork and 1/2 cup reserved peanut slather from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature.

To Grill: If using a gas or electric grill, preheat to medium (350°). If using char­coal or wood, prepare a fire. When the gas or electric grill is preheated or the coals or wood are ash covered, brush the cooking rack with the oil, then lay the pork in the center of the rack. Make sure the pork is lying open on the grill. Cover the grill and regulate the heat so that it remains at a medium tempera­ture. Grill the pork until an instant-read thermometer registers 150° when in­serted deeply into the meat, about 20 minutes.


To Roast: Preheat the oven to 450°. Roast the pork until the internal temperature reaches 150°, about 30 minutes.

To Serve: Let the pork rest for 5 minutes. Cut the pork into serving-sized pieces and transfer to a heated serving platter or 4 dinner plates. Spoon the reserved peanut sauce around the meat and serve at once. 

GOOD EATS REVISITED - CHIMICHURRI MEATBALLS

I have been dreaming of chimichurri meatballs. For the past 2 weeks, I have tried to make them, but each time I'd try, I 'd realize that I was missing an important ingredient. The first time it was the pork, then the feta, then the green onions. I finally got my act and groceries together.

Chimchurri sauce originated in Argentina as a marinade and basting sauce. The prime ingredient is parsley, although many recipes call for cilantro. While there are many commercial brands of chimichurri sauce out there,  nothing tops a sauce made from fresh herbs and other fresh ingredients. It is easy to make and you can adapt it to your tastes and dishes.

These meatballs are easy to make. The recipe should make 48 small meatballs. You want to keep them small so they cook quickly. You also want the freshest parsley possible. I grow 2 kinds and always have it readily available.

This time I put them and the chimichirri sauce over fettuccine. Worked out well.

Even if you aren't interested in the chimichurri sauce, the meatballs are excellent and could be used for other recipes. I have used the chimichurri sauce as a dressing for salads and it tastes good over pasta or rice.

Check out the recipe for yourself.
Chimichurri meatballs

PAN FRIED PANKO PORK CHOPS

 

WHAT YOU NEED

Flour

Salt and pepper (or other preferred seasoning, I often used Emeril's Essence)

Egg(s)

Panko bread crumbs

Pork chops

Olive oil for frying

Notes - I did not give amounts because that would depend on how many pork chops you are making. I usually make 1 or 2 at a time. I use paper plates for the breading process. Start off with about 1/4 cup of flour and panko. I season the flour before I dredge the pork chops in it. I use 1 egg. You can always add more of these ingredients if you need more. 

Place flour on plate. Add seasoning to taste. Stir the flour. Beat egg and pour onto plate. Add panko to remaining plate. Take your pork chops and first dredge them through the flour, both sides. Then dip them in the egg, once again both sides. Allow excess egg to drip from chop before you bread it with the panko. Allow the breaded chops to sit while you heat the oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot enough, fry your chops until they are browned.

I use my well-seasoned cast iron frying pan for this. If you have never owned one, you truly do not know what you are missing. Best bet - buy one at a garage/yard sale. Hopefully it will already be seasoned for you. If you are more into "pretty" than practical, tale a lookie at this one I've found.

TEXAS HASH

Easy and tasty. I make it as hot as I can stand it.

1 pound of ground chuck, browned
1/2 cup of rice (I use brown rice)
10 oz. bag of frozen corn, or one 14 oz. can of corn
1 14 oz. can of chopped tomatoes
1 green pepper, chopped
3 larges onions, chopped
hot sauce, to taste
chili powder, to taste
freshly ground pepper to taste

After browning the beef, add all ingredients to a crock pot. Cook on high for 3 - 4 hours.

Chimichurri Meatballs

Chimichurri sauce

1/2 a bunch of fresh parsley
1/2 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup red wince vinegar
1 TB minced fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dried
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
minced zest and juice of 1/2 of a lemon
salt to taste

Combine all ingredients for chimichurri in a large bowl. Cover. Let stand at room temperature to combine flavors.

Meatballs

1 lb. of ground chuck
1/2 lb. of ground pork
1/4 cup of panko crumbs
3 TBS. minced scallions
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp of kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 egg
2 TBS. olive oil, divided
1/2 cup of feta cheese

Blend all meatball ingredients together (except oil and feta) in a bowl; do not overwork. Form 1 inch balls. Place 1 TBS of oil in skillet , at medium-high heat. Fry half of the meatballs until heated through, about 5 minutes. Place on platter already drizzled with chimichiurri. Heat remaining oil and fry the rest of the meatballs. Add them to platter, along with feta. Top all meatballs and cheese with chimichurri.

Soy and Garlic Pork Chops

Many many years ago . . . I was given a recipe for grilled pork chops. Amy, the recipe donor, tried to impress upon me just how great these chops were. I shrugged and smiled, thinking to myself, "Soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar? I don't think so." Then I made them. I changed my mind.

I've lost the actual recipe that she gave me, but here is the way I do it. I've used fresh garlic rather than the powder she had listed and I switched the regular soy sauce for low sodium.

• 4-6 center cut pork chops

Marinade

• 1 cup of low sodium soy sauce
• 1 head of bruised (before peeling and chopping, use the flat side of a knife to crush the cloves. This will also make it easier to peel the skin from the cloves.) and then coarsely chopped garlic
• approx. 1/4 cup of brown sugar (I don't really measure mine. I want the soy to thicken a little.)
• chopped ginger (optional, I add it when I have it.)

Stir all marinade ingredients together. Let sit for a few minutes so the sugar can dissolve. Then stir again before adding marinade to pork chops.

Place the pork chops in a 9x12 glass dish. Pour marinade over them. I usually marinate the chops for 24 hours in the refrigerator, turning them occasionally. The original recipe said to marinate for an hour at room temperature, but I think they have a much better flavor with the lengthened marinade time and leaving pork out on my counter for any length of time concerns me.

Then grill.

Pork Dumplings with Soy Ginger Sauce

I got off my lazy butt and made the dumplings. I smell like ginger and garlic. Mmmmmmm.

Dumpling Ingredients

1 pound of ground pork

2 scallions, chopped fine

1 garlic clove, chopped fine

2 tablespoons of finely chopped ginger root

1/4 cup of chopped bamboo shoots

1/4 cup of chopped water chestnuts

3 tablespoons chopped parsley

salt and pepper

1 package of won ton skins (60 count)

Mix all of the above ingredients together with the exception of the won ton skins. I usually mix it up and refrigerate for about an hour to let the flavors combine with the meat.



Place about heaping teaspoon of the meat mixture in the middle of the won ton skin. Follow the directions on the wont ton package on how to fold the won tons. (Don't laugh at my wrap job.)



I steam the dumplings. I'm afraid to boil them for fear they will fall apart. And this recipe is too much work to screw them up at this point. I line the steamer with lettuce for added moisture and so they won't stick to the steamer. Steam until pork is no longer pink. Sorry I can't give you a better estimate than that. I used the wrong pot today and my steamer didn't fit properly. The dumplings will become slick. I'd test after about 8 minutes.



Sauce Ingredients

2 tablespoons of sesame oil

2 tablespoons of chili oil

2 tablespoons of of vegetable oil

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons of of kecap manis (sweetened soy sauce, if you don't have this, just add some additional soy sauce and brown sugar)

1 tablespoons of ginger juice ( I use the Ginger People brand, but if you can't find it or don't have any on hand, just add additional ginger root)

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 inch piece of fresh ginger root, minced

2 scallions, minced

5 tablespoons of chicken stock

2 tablespoons of of brown sugar

I usually mix sauce ingredients before hand to allow flavors to mingle. To make the sauce, combine all ingredients in a non-stick pan and heat gently, without bringing it to a boil. Pour sauce over steamed dumplings.

Capellini with sausage and spinach

Quite easy and tasty. Hopefully you won't get e. coli from the spinach.

2 tsp olive oil
1 pound of sweet Italian sausage, sliced in 1/2 slices
1 large onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 cans (14 oz. each) chicken broth
1/4 cup of water
8 oz. of capellini or vermicelli pasta, broken in half
2 bags (10 oz. each) fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/3 cup heavy or whipping cream

Heat oil in Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook 3 to 4 minutes, turning as it browns. Add onion and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly browned.

Add broth and water to pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add spinach and pepper and cook, stirring spinach into pasta and sauce, 2 to 3 minutes more, until past is al dente and spinach is wilted. Stir in cream. Serve immediately.

Asian Flank Steak (Grill)

Easy grilling recipe.

¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
2 TBS fresh lemon juice
1 TBS fresh ginger
1 ¼ lb. flank steak (I've made it with London Broil too)

Whisk together first 5 ingredients. Add steak. Marinate overnight.

Drain marinade into small saucepan and bring to boil.. Reduce until sauce thickens.

Grill steak. Thinly slice across grain. Use reduced marinade as sauce.

NOTE - I buy my London Broil when it's on sale. I make the marinade when I buy my steak. I place the marinade and meat in a freezer bag and freeze. When I want to eat it, I allow it to thaw while still in the marinade. Very flavorful when I do it that way.

No Peek Beef Casserole (Crock pot)

It's a white trash cheap beef recipe, but it's goddamn good.

2 lbs of stewing beef cubes
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz)
1 can of mushrooms, 4 oz size
1/2 cup of red wine

Combine in crock pot. Cook on low 8 - 12 hours, or high 5 - 6 hours.

Serve over noodles or green beans.