Sunday, December 28, 2014

Pork Roll, Egg, n Cheese

It is really important to eat breakfast.  I know if I don't put something in my stomach before I leave for work I'm starving by 9am- not good.  Breakfast gets your metabolism moving and if you eat the right things it will keep you full until your mid-morning snack!  Since I live in New Jersey, we always have pork roll in the house. Some might call it taylor ham but in our house it's pork roll. But whatever you call it you can also call it amazing- ha!  It's SO good!! This breakfast is low carb and super simple.  It has only a few ingredients and it is a breakfast staple in our house.  Over the weekend you will almost always find this on Jason's plate.  All you need is pork roll, american cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, and a lil bit of butter.

I start with 2 pans. One for the pork roll and one for the eggs. I cut into the pork roll other wise the middle will puff up and not cook.  Cutting into it ensures it lays flat in the pan.  Today I used 4 slices.

In the second pan I melt a lil bit of butter. I make the eggs over easy and just when I flip them over I add a slice of american cheese to the top.  Then I sprinkle in a few drops of water to the pan and cover.  This steams the cheese and allows it to melt and get gooey all over the eggs. Once the cheese is melted I sprinkle on a tiny bit of salt- because the pork roll is pretty salty- and some pepper.
I remove the pork roll from the pan onto some paper towels to get the majority of the grease off. Then I lay them flat on a plate and arrange the eggs right on top. Mmm! The yolks will be runny and warm and this whole breakfast is the perfect start to a great day!!!  And look at that - no bread!

If you like green onion like I do I would chop it up and sprinkle it over the top!  
But Jason doesn't like green onion as much as I do so his was springs for a pretty presentation :)


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Fast Weeknight Meal- BBQ Pork Chops!


Let me start off by saying: I am not a huge fan of pork chops but what I have learned is-- I just wasn't cooking them right all these years! After Jason kept asking me why I never made them I bit the bullet and decided to try out some new recipes with some 'chops'. This one is my new favorite. I just got done eating it and I would literally eat it tomorrow. Plus you probably have everything to make this in your fridge.  I call it BBQ Pork because it is just that! You can use any bbq sauce out of a jar or your own recipe.  For the cheese you can sub cheddar or cheddar jack, mozzarella, the options are as endless as there are cheeses.  This is a super simple weeknight dinner but it also works well if you want to whip something up quickly for a dinner party. These pork chops are ascetically pleasing as well as super tasty! And you won't be wasting a ton of time in the kitchen because they come together so quickly!  I'll show you!


I start off with butter melted in a pan.  I love my cast iron skillet! I recommend using one! 
Once the butter has melted add in any BBQ sauce you like- homemade or jarred. 
Whisk together.

Add in your pork chops! Mmm- the ones above are for Jason i prefer mine trimmed *see below*
As you add them to the skillet quickly turn them in the butter/bbq mixture then allow to cook for 4 minutes per side. 

This is my lil trimmed pork chop.  I cooked it in a separate pan so I didn't over crowd the chops. I cooked mine for 3 minutes per side.

This is the BBQ sauce I used- tried and true- Mine and Jasons favorite! 
If you haven't already, you should try it!

So after I flipped the chops and cooked a few more minutes I transfered them to a foil lined baking sheet. Since I'm always worried about thing sticking I sprayed the foil. 

I grated up some Monterey Jack cheese and some jarred jalapeño slices- these are not spicy.  On the jar it says tamed- thats how you know.

Add on some slices of jalapeño.

Top with some extra BBQ sauce.

Top with Monterey Jack cheese.

Stick under the broiler for about 3 minutes and this is the lovely creation that comes out! 
All gooey and ready to be gobbled up!
I didnt broil them for too long, I just wanted to melt the cheese. Over cooking pork is very easy- as I know from experience.  Keeping it in the oven for a minimum is always best.

Plate these chops up and you're ready to go!
I served my chops with cauliflower mac n cheese!

Mac n cheese! 
No pasta! 


BBQ Pork Chops:

3 Bone- In Pork Chops
2 Tbsp Butter
1/2 cup BBQ Sauce, divided
1/4 cup Monterey Jack Cheese
1/4 cup Jalapeno Slices

Over medium high heat melt butter and 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce. Once heated up add in pork chops and coat in sauce then cook for 4 minutes per side if not trimmed. If trimmed cook 3 minutes per side.  Then add chops to a foil lined baking sheet.  Top with jalapeño slices and remaining BBQ sauce and shredded cheese. Broil for about 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey. 


hehe :)

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

TV Dinner Nostalgia! Salisbury Steak & 2 Onion and Mushroom Gravy

Salisbury steak was always my go-to tv dinner.  Whenever I was little and was treated to one, that's just what I chose.  The juicy meat, the smooth gravy and chunky mushrooms ...Mmmmm - commence mouth watering! But now as a semi-grown up (hehe)- when you really think about it, tv dinners are not super healthy. I try as often as I can to recreate tv dinners or takeout and make the same thing at home with less salt, carbs, and preservatives. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of knowing exactly what goes into my meals. With a little bit of planning anyone can do it!  This salisbury steak recipe is sure to bring you back the same tv dinner nostalgia but the difference is, this one's healthy! The only thing that includes carbs that I consider "counting carbs" is the whole wheat flour and whole wheat breadcrumbs. Healthy and yummy! What makes it better is I serve it along side one of my cauliflower mash recipes and the meal is complete!

I start off with 2 eggs in a large bowl- makes for easy mixing.

Add in Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

Then add in the thyme, parsley, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Whisk together until combined.

Mix in some breadcrumbs- these are my favorite! 

With clean hands add in the ground beef and mix together.

Form the mixture into patties.  I did 3 but you could also do 2 big patties or 5 small patties. 
I also like to follow my friend Ree aka The Pioneer Woman. She puts the texture into the meat with the heal of her hand and ever since she did that, I do too. I think it makes it taste better ;)

Look at that meat mixture! Great colors!

Next its time to start the sauce!
While the meat patties are browning on the stove in a separate sauce pan combine beef broth, half and half, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and pepper and heat up and keep at medium low heat. We are going to add this mixture in slowly to the rue I'm about to make. This step allows these ingredients to meld together to enhance the flavors of my sauce!

After the meat is browned remove it from the pan onto a plate. Add onions into the same pan that the meat was browned in and sauce for a minute or so. Yummy already!

I am using a combination of red and white onions merely because there was a sale on the two kinds in one bag at the store. But you can use all white, all red, or a mixture- it doesn't matter!
Then add in the mushrooms!

Allow mushrooms to cook down for a few minutes...

...Until they are golden brown and have absorbed most of the liquid.
What a beautiful color! 
Then remove them from the pan.

To the same pan lower the heat and add in some butter. Once it's melted sprinkle with whole wheat flour.
Cook out the flour taste by whisking for about 3 minutes.

Add in the reserved stock that was keeping warm on the stove. Add in a little at a time whisking in each batch.

Then add the mushrooms and onions back in!
It's really coming together now! 

Then, place patties in the skillet and spoon sauced over each one. 
Cover and simmer on medium low heat for 15 minutes.

Then it's ready to eat!!!
I bet ya think those are potatoes... they're not! It's cauliflower :)

Salisbury Steak Patties:
1 lb Ground Beef
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp Pepper
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
3 tsp Parsley, dried
1/2 tsp Thyme, Fresh or 1/4 tsp dried
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs

Combine egg, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder,  Worcestershire sauce, parsley and thyme and whisk together until well combined. Add in ground meat and mix with clean hands. add in 1/4 cup bread crumbs, mix again and add in additional 2 tbsp and give one last mix. Form into 3 patties and score the top to resemble steak- you don't have to but its more fun that way.

Sauce:
2 cups Beef Stock
1/4 cup Half and Half
1/8 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 tsp Fresh Thyme
1/2 tsp Soy Sauce
8 oz mushrooms
1/2 white onion, slices thin
1/2 red onion, sliced thin
2 Tbsp Whole Wheat Flour
4 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Olive Oil

In a sauce pan heat up beef stock, half and half, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and pepper. Once warmed keep on medium low heat until its added to the sauce.

Melt 2 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp oil on a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.  Cook the patties 5 minutes per side then transfer to a plate. Into the same skillet add in onions and sauté for 1 minute then add in the mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes.  Remove the mushrooms and onions to a plate.
Add in remaining 2 tbsp butter and turn heat down to medium. Once the butter is melted add in 2 tbsp flour and whisk around for about 2-3 minutes. Then add in the warm broth mixture 1/4 at a time whisking after each 1/4. Then add the mushrooms back into the pan and stir.  Add patties back in and cover with sauce mixture. Turn heat down to medium low, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Then it's ready!
I am serving this dish over my cauliflower mash!
Enjoy!

... it can be healthy and low carb too!



Monday, December 15, 2014

Chunky Chicken Pot Pie Soup

I think its safe to say that I am on a soup kick.  It's been happening this time of the year for the past few years now. I crave soup! Any kind... all kinds! There's something about a cold December night that makes me want to curl up with a yummy bowl of soup. This recipe is a good 'make ahead and reheat soup' or easy enough to pull together on a weeknight; plus I make it with very little carbs so the hubby is happy too!  The garnish isn't exactly low carb but it is the holidays and I am a lil less strict with myself.  Plus who has pot pie without pie crust?! ;) I also subbed out some of the traditional veggies for some lower carb versions. But trust me, you won't miss them! But if you do you can certainly sub them back in. I also decided to use fresh herbs versus dried. I think it adds a welcome freshness to the soup.  Lets get started!

First comes celery!

Followed by carrots- I love the flavor from baby carrots! Chop them in half and then into thin slices.


Next a whole white onion chopped.

Just look at those lovely veggies! 
Melt some butter in a soup pot and add in those chopped veggies along with a couple cloves of minced garlic.  



Next add in the mushrooms to the pot! Mmmm

Next add in the fresh herbs! Italian parsley, thyme, and rosemary.  I must say I'm partial to rosemary- its my favorite! Also throw in a bay leaf.


Sprinkle with salt and pepper and let the veggies cook for a few minutes.

Next comes the chicken stock! 
Add it in and bring to a boil and let it cook down for 10 minutes.

Then I add in 1/2 head of cauliflower- this is what I subbed 2 boiled potatoes for.  Keeps the carb count lower. 

Next is one package of frozen peas.

Followed by one rotisserie chicken with all the meat removed and cut into chunks.

Mmmm my kitchen smelled SO good right about now. 

While the soup is bubbling away, in a cast iron skillet we're going to make the rue to thicken the soup.
Add in half and half and whole wheat flour along with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.  Whisk together until the flour is dissolved and bubbly. Whisk in some butter to enhance the flavor even more. 

Add that mixture into the soup!
And season with some more salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil then lower the heat to a simmer for 20 minutes to reduce and thicken the soup.

In the meantime I made my garlic parmesan pie crusts croutons- say that 5 times fast! 
I started by melting butter on low heat in a small saucepan.  Then I added in chopped garlic to flavor the butter. Once it melted together I let it cook for 5 minutes or so and took it off the heat to let it sit. 

Take a store bought pie crust and cut it into whatever shapes you desire. I did some squares and some strips.
Use a silpad if you have one! If you don't, buy one! It is my favorite kitchen tool. It fits right on top of your baking sheet and helps to bake everything evenly. 


Brush the pie crusts with the garlic butter. 

Bake for 15 minutes.  Then take them out and brush with another layer of garlic butter. I love garlic so I put some of the garlic on the croutons.  Then I sprinkled on parmesan cheese- garlic, parmesan, butter... this can't possibly go wrong... unless of course I burned them- but don't worry, I didn't.

Put them back into the oven for 5 minutes until the cheese and crusts are golden brown.



Check the soup for seasoning, add more salt and pepper to taste. I like to sprinkle in a lil garlic salt!
Soup is done! Take out the bay leaf and scoop out the soup into bowls.  Garnish with the pie crust croutons.

Now go and enjoy this soup! 

Chunky Chicken Pot Pie Soup 
(Serves 4-5)

5 Tbsp butter, divided
1 white onion 
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 heaping cup carrots, diced
1 heaping cup celery, diced
8 Oz package mushrooms
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 head cauliflower (3 cups), cut into small florets
9 Oz frozen peas
1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried
1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley OR 1 tsp dried
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary OR 1 tsp dried
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups half and half
3 Tbsp whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt plus more for seasoning
1 tsp pepper plus more for seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder

Melt 3 Tbsp butter in a soup pot over medium high heat and sauté onion, carrot and celery for about 3 minutes until they begin to soften. Add in the chopped garlic and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook another minute. Add in the mushrooms, bay leaf, and herbs- parsley, thyme and rosemary- cook another 2 minute. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil.  Cook at a simmer for 10 minutes. Next add in the peas, cauliflower, and chopped chicken. In a cast iron skillet heat the half and half with garlic and onion powder and a tsp each of salt and pepper. Whisk in whole wheat flour. Continue whisking until thick and bubbly then add in remaining 2 Tbsp butter and whisk until combined. Add the rue into the soup pot and stir until combined. Bring soup back up to a bubble and cook for another 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, check for seasoning add more salt and pepper then spoon into bowls. Garnish with garlic parmesan pie crust croutons (recipe below).


Garlic Parmesan Pie Crust Croutons
1 sheet of store bough pie crust
2 Tbsp butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat butter on low heat until melted. Add in garlic and stir. Continue heating on low for about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Cut dough into desired shapes, place on a cookie sheet - a silpad works best! Brush with garlic butter and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and brush on another layer of garlic butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake another 5-8 minutes until cheese and pie crust is golden brown. 

'H' for Hart!