Weekend Afternoon Pork Roast

This is perfect for the weekend or anytime. 

2 - 4 lb. pork shoulder
1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar 

1/8 tsp. each: red pepper flakes, turmeric
nonstick cooking spray
1/4 - 1/2 c. water

4 - 6 carrots chopped

3 shallots, peeled & chopped

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. each: brown sugar, granulated garlic

Preheat slow cooker to 350 F'.

Spray inside of  slow cooker with non stick spray.

Peel, rinse, chop shallots, set aside

Rinse, cut ends from and chop carrots 

Remove roast from refrigerator, let it set out for a few minutes. 

Place roast in slow cooker.

Sprinkle some of the seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, brown sugar  over roast.

Turn roast over. 

Repeat prior process with seasonings.

Pour water in bottom of pan.

Add carrots to pan. 

Place lid on pan and cook for 2 - 3 hrs. approx or until desired doneness & size of roast 

Halfway through cooking turn roast over and add shallots. 

Put lid back on slow cooker.

When roast's done, let rest for a few minutes before carving.

Serves 4 - 8 approx.

Sweet And Sour Sauce

This is perfect to serve along Chinese food, as a dipping sauce or anytime.

I've used brown sugar, but you can use honey if needed.

If you're using, honey, you can omit the cornstarch.

You can also adjust the amounts used to taste.

1/8 - 1/4 c. pineapple juice

1 T. apple cider vinegar

1/8 c. brown sugar or honey

1 - 2 T. ketchup

1/2 - 1 tsp. low sodium soy sauce

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. cornstarch

In a measuring cup, combine ingredients.  Stir with a clean fork.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to thicken. 

Serves 4 - 6. 

Sweetheart Popcorn

Happy Valentines' Day all! 

This is perfect for Valentines' Day, movie night or anytime. 

I used dark chocolate for this, but you can use milk chocolate instead if desired.

1 - 2 package microwave popcorn

3 oz. dark chocolate bars (you can also use chocolate chips if desired)

Pop microwave popcorn according to direction on package.

Transfer popcorn to large serving bowl.

In a microwave safe bowl break apart chocolate bar.

Microwave on high for 30 sec - 1 min.  Stir and microwave for 30 seconds more or completely melted.

With a spoon drizzle chocolate over popcorn.

Let cool to harden before serving.

Serves 4.

MVP Sliders

Who's ready to watch football? 

There's nothing better than burgers to enjoy it with.

 I've used ground round beef for this.

1 lb. lean ground beef (ground round)
1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper (adjust to taste)
1 T. Worchestshire sauce (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp. granulated garlic (adjust to taste)
1 - 2 T. oil

1 package Hawaiian rolls

Non stick cooking spray

In a bowl combine meat, salt, pepper, Worcestershire  sauce, granulated garlic. Mix well. 

Cover bowl with plastic wrap, place bowl in refrigerator to marinate for a bit. 

When you're ready to serve:

Preheat grill pan to medium high heat.

Lower heat to medium low. 

Spray grill pan with non stick spray.

Place buns on grill pan to toast for a couple of minutes. 

Remove buns,  set aside. 

With clean hands, form beef into small patties. 

Add oil if needed. 

Add burgers and cook on 1 side for a few minutes or until done. 

Flip burgers over and repeat cooking process until done. 

Place burgers on buns and top with your favorite fixings. 

Serves 4 - 6. 

Tomato Soup

This is perfect for a cold day or anytime.

Once you make your own tomato soup, you'll never go back to eating canned soup.

I've used onions in this recipe. You can omit onions and use shallots instead. 

4 roma tomatoes, chopped

2 - 3 each: carrots, celery, chopped 

1 onion, chopped

1 - 2 cloves garlic, crushed, chopped

Non stick cooking spray

1/4 tsp. each: salt, balsamic vinegar, pepper

1 - 2 tsp. flour

2 T. olive oil, butter

4 c. low sodium chicken broth

1/2 - 3/4 c. sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Rinse cut ends from, chop celery, carrots.

Rinse, chop tomatoes.

Peel, rinse, chop onions.

Peel, crush, chop garlic.

Arrange vegetables on cooking sheet, place cooking sheet in oven, bake for 20 min.

When vegetables are cooked remove baking sheet from oven with an oven mitt, let set for a few minutes. 

Preheat soup pot to medium high heat,  lower heat to medium low, add oil and butter, stir flour to make a roux. 

Add vegetables, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, sauté for a few minutes.

Add chicken broth reduce heat to low, let simmerfor about 10 to 20 minutes.

Remove soup pot from stove, using an immersion blender blend soup for a few seconds.

Add sour cream and blend for a few seconds more until blended.

Serves 4. 

Mini Blackberry Pie

Happy National Pie Day all!

I used a large muffin tin (6 muffins), but if you're going to use a regular muffin tin (12 muffins) don't put a top crust on the pies.

1 - 2 c. frozen or fresh blackberries 

1/8 c. butter, cut up
1 /8 - 1/3 c. sugar
Non stick cooking spray
1 pkg. pie crusts

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: lemon juice, cornstarch

1/8 - 1/3 c. flour (enough to dust work board and rolling pin)

Preheat oven to 350 F'.

Spray a muffin tin with non stick cooking spray. 

If you're using fresh blackberries, rinse berries under running cold water through a strainer.

In a clean bowl add berries, sugar, lemon juice, corn starch, mix. 

With clean hands sprinkle some flour on work board and rolling pin.

Roll dough out to desired thickness. 

Put the rim of a large clean glass on pie crusts to cut out 12 circles.

Place 1 of the crusts in each of the muffin tins.

Remove butter from refrigerator and cut into pieces.

Spoon blackberries in muffin tins and add butter into each of the muffin tins.

Top each pie with remaining crusts.

Use a clean fork to prick the crust. 

Place in oven and bake for 20 min. or until done.

Serves 6 mini pies.

Grilled Peach Melba

Happy Peach Melba Day all!

This is perfect for dessert or anytime.

 4 peaches halved

1 - 2  T. canola oil

1/2 - 1 tsp. cinnamon sugar

1  - 2 c. ice cream

1/3 - 1/2 c.  frozen cherries

1/8 c. sugar 

1/2 - 3/4 c. water

Cut peaches in half and remove pits, discard pit.

Brush cut side of peaches with oil.

Use a spoon to sprinkle cinnamon sugar over cut side, set aside. 

Heat saucepan to medium high heat.

Lower heat to medium, add cherries, sugar and water. 

Cook cherries for a few minutes or until sauce is reduced. Remove cherry sauce from stove.

Heat grill pan to medium high heat, lower heat to medium.

Place cut side of peaches on grill pan. 

Grill peaches for 2 - 4 min.

Remove peaches from grill and arrange in a dessert dish. 

Arrange ice cream, peaches,  spoon sauce over peaches and ice cream. 

Serves 4.