Tender Grilled Pork Chops

The flavor on these pork chops were perfection! I found this recipe on Mel's Kitchen Cafe Blog and decided to try it. This same marinade would be good on a steak too.

4 boneless pork loin chops
1/4 cup olive oil
2.5 Tbs. soy sauce
1 tsp. Montreal Steak Seasoning

Mix olive oil, soy sauce and steak seasoning ingredients in a gallon ziplock bag. Add pork chops and marinate in the fridge for 3-8 hours, flipping bag over halfway through marinating time. Heat grill to medium and grill for 6-8 minutes per side (depending on how thick they are) until they are no longer pink in the center. Remove chops from grill and tent them with foil and allow them to rest for 5-7 minutes. Slice the chops in 1/4 to 3/8 inch slices across the grain and serve. And there you have it, the best pork chops I have ever had!

Sides
Baked Potato - rub with olive oil and garlic sea salt and bake at 400 for 50 minutes
Rolls

Copycat recipe for Montreal Steak Seasoning
2 Tbs. paprika
2 Tbs. freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbs. kosher/coarse salt
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. coriander
1 Tbs. dill
1/2 Tbs. crushed red pepper flakes

combine all the spices in a small bowl.  Store in an airtight container and use as needed.

Kathleen's Chicken and Rice

My friend Kathleen recently made this recipe for a potluck and I will warn you it looks a little scary but holy crap it's GOOD!

Ingredients:
6-7 chicken breasts
1 bottle of italian dressing
8 oz. cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
Cooked Rice

Directions:
Throw chicken and italian dressing in crockpot and cook for 8 hours. Shred chicken and put back in the crockpot and add the cream cheese and cream of chicken. Stir and cook for an additional half hour. Serve over rice.

Aunt Elaine's Fudge

It is Christmas tradition in our family to enjoy this fudge each year. Thanks Aunt Elaine for introducing it to mom.

Ingredients:
4.5 cups sugar
1 can canned milk
12oz. bag of choco chips
2 cubes of butter
1 8oz. symphony bar (milk chocolate)
3 tsp. vanilla
1 7oz. jar marshmellow cream

Method:
In a large pan add sugar and canned milk, stir and bring to a boil (rolling). Boil for 8 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add choco chips, symphony bar, marshmellow cream, butter and vanilla. Use a hand mixer to whip. For darker fudge add more choco chips.

As an alternative, pour half of fudge batter into greased dish and add a layer of sliced snickers bars. Then pour the other half of fudge on top.

Frosting

This is a recipe for home made frosting. Works great on cakes, cupcakes and Paije's sugar cookie recipe. Enjoy!

32 oz. pckg. Powdered Sugar
3/4 cup of shortening (not butter flavored)
1/2 cup butter/margerine
1/2 cup of milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt


Method:
Throw all the wet stuff in first and add powdered sugar slowly.

Beef Stroganoff in a Skillet

Okay I just discovered this recipe today and made it for dinner. Everyone loved it, including Landon (who is super picky). It is one of Emeril's recipe and it is super quick and easy.

In the past every time I thought of Beef stroganoff I thought of Hamburger Helper and I wanted to hurl. I am glad Emeril changed my mind on Beef Stroganoff.

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. Essence (recipe to follow)
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced white button mushroms (I left out the fungus and it was still good)
Wide egg noodles, cooked
1/2 cup beef broth
1/4 plus cup of sour cream

Emeril's Essence Creole Seasoning

2.5 Tbs. paprika
2 Tbs. salt
2 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. black pepper
1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. cayenne pepper (Grandpa Palmer would like this!)
1 Tbs. dried oregano
1 Tbs. dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Directions:
Season beef with salt, pepper and Essence

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the seasoned beef and cook stirring until browned. Drain excess oil. Add the onions and cook stirring until soft. Add mushrooms and garlic and cook, stirring until the mushrooms have released their juices, about 2 minutes. Add the egg noodles, beef broth and sour cream. Cook, stirring until the mixture thickens slightly, 5-6 minutes.

Caramelitos

My sister-in-law Megan showed us this recipe and I can't make them too much because somehow I seem to eat most of them.

2 1/4 cups oats

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups butter

1 1/2 brown sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups Mrs Richards caramel topping

6 TBS flour

12 oz Chocolate chips

Melt butter and brown sugar, add oats, flour, soda, and salt. Press two thirds on the mixture in a 9 1/2 x 11 pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes

Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust, combine 6 TBS flour with caramel topping and pour over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining mixture over the top. Bake for 15-20 mins. cool completely

Homemade Waffles

Well I have been lazy lately and rediscovered this recipe from my mission and they are to die for good but I can't take credit I owe it all to Sister Day.

2 cups flour

2 cups milk

2 eggs

4 tsps baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup oil

wisk together and bake in waffle iron until golden brown