let's talk pork

I dug around in my big freezer trying to decide what to fix for dinner tonight. I decided on a boston pork butt. Now, how was I going to prepare it? After looking in the pantry and scrounging my brain I came up with something. I put some worcestershire sauce, bbq sauce, hot pepper sauce, onions, carrots, garlic, and celery in the crockpot. Then I added about 1 1/2 cups of water 1/2 cup sugar, salt & pepper, and some sage. I added the pork butt and turned it on to cook high for 6 hours. It has been cooking for almost that now and I just checked on it. I had to pinch off a piece of meat and it was so tender and flavorful! I think you could put just about anything in a crockpot and have it turn out good.

I am also going to try something with some hot peppers that were given to us. I was told that one particular pepper was good when battered and fried so I am going to try a cornmeal batter dip that is slightly sweet to offset the heat from the peppers. I have four different pepper types to try this with and I am really hoping that it turns out. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I believe I need to create some kind of dip for it as well. I will have to think on that one and make another post.

For another side dish I am going to make some mac n cheese and am going to top it with some bread crumbs and then bake it in the oven. Wow, I need to stop writing and start cooking on the rest. It is making me hungry talking about it.

Talk to me people! Tell me what you think.

more appetizers

I know it has been a couple of days, but sometimes things just happen. I just made a very simple chicken salad for tonight. I used the leftover rotissiere chicken from 2 nights ago. Works great and very easy to put together.

Here are a couple of appetizer recipes.

CHEESE SQUARES

CHEESE SQUARES

6 eggs

3 oz evaporated milk (carnation)

1 8 oz Jalapeño Jack cheese (adjust for pepper taste)

3 oz. blocks Cheddar (sharp/med.)

Grate cheeses( keep separate.  In 13X9 pan layer cheddar, Jack cheese and last top layer is cheddar.  Beat eggs with milk; slowly pour over cheeses.  Bake at 350 approx. 45 min.

Cool slightly, cut in 1" squares. 

Garnish w/black olives sliced (1 piece on each square.

My ex mother in law used to make these whenever the family got together and they were yummy! They are a heart attack waiting, but just eat a little and pass the rest on to your guests. 

Sausage Balls

1 pkg. Mild sausage

2 handfuls of a pkg. of ground beef

½ sm. onion chopped

1 egg

½ cup grape jelly

2 Tbsp. Teriyaki sauce or Worcestershire sauce

2 Tsp. Garlic powder

2 Tsp. Crushed red pepper flakes

2 handfuls crushed crackers (or use bread crumbs – comes in a container)

salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients, except for jelly and sauce, with hand in a bowl. Yes, it’s messy. Be sure to get the egg mixed in real well. Shape into small balls. Heat skillet to med/high heat. Place balls in skillet and let brown. You may have to cook your balls in shifts. Once the first side is brown, flip over and brown the other side. Make sure the meat is done completely before removing from heat. Pour out any excess grease. Put balls back into skillet (at this point you can squeeze them all in at one time). Turn heat down to low.

Add the Jelly and sauce to the skillet. You can also use apple jelly. Let simmer about 30 minutes or put in your crock-pot on low to serve as hors douvres.

This is one that my mother used to make all the time and I have adjusted it to my own a little. Good little hors douvres for small gatherings.

Here is one more just because... 

Creamy Garlic Chicken

Makes: 4 servings

2 tsp. vegetable oil

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

1/4 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing

2 cups frozen stir-fry vegetables

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups hot cooked MINUTE White Rice

HEAT oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 6 min., turning after 3 min.

ADD dressing, vegetables, soy sauce and garlic; stir. Cook, covered, 7 min. or until chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

SERVE over the hot cooked rice.

KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS

Special Extra

Sprinkle with 1 sliced green onion just before serving.

Great Substitute

Prepare as directed, using MIRACLE WHIP Light Dressing and lite soy sauce. Substitute 2-2/3 cups hot cooked MINUTE Brown Rice for the white rice.

Just before serving cut a green onion and sprinkle over top of the dish.

I hope these will help with some cooking choices and party ideas. They are all good. 

Remember - If you have any cooking questions, ideas, or suggestions, just send me a message. Thanks and Happy Cooking!

Southern

So tonight I needed something comforting, easy, and affordable. Southern cooking at its best.
Soup beans and cornbread.
Tonight is Great Northern beans. Very simple, very easy, and definitely affordable.  Soak your beans overnight if you can. Rinse and then put into a pot of water to boil. You can also rinse them off and put them in a pot of water and hard boil for an hour, then dump the water, rinse the beans, and start off with the beginning.
Pot of water to cover the beans and then some. Season with salt, pepper, onions, garlic, and if you have a ham bone or salt pork add that. Let it all come to a boil and reduce heat to medium. It should still have a nice boil to it, just not hard. Check it often as the water will boil down. Simply add a little more water to the pot. It should cook for about 3 - 4 hours. Check your beans at this time by pulling a few into a spoon and blow on it. If the skin peels back from the beans they should be done. Taste it.
You can turn your beans down to low or turn them off completely and make your cornbread.

SWEET SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

PREHEAT OVEN TO 400.

2 CUPS CORNMEAL

1 CUP SELF RISING FLOUR

¼ CUP DOMINO SUGAR

1 EGG

3 TBSP. OIL (I USE LEFTOVER BACON GREASE) + 1 TBSP.

MILK - JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE CONSISTENCY OF CAKE BATTER BUTTERMILK IS BETTER FOR TASTE IF YOU HAVE IT.

IRON SKILLET --- 8 - 10 INCH

FIRST, ADD 1 TBSP. GREASE TO YOUR IRON SKILLET AND PUT IT IN THE OVEN AND LET HEAT UP. WHILE IT IS HEATING MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER MAKING SURE IT IS MIXED THROUGH. WHEN MIXED IT WILL HAVE A CAKE BATTER CONSISTENCY.

REMOVE SKILLET FROM OVEN AND POUR BATTER INTO HOT SKILLET. PUT BACK IN OVEN AND BAKE UNTIL TOP IS GOLDEN BROWN AND WHEN YOU INSERT A TOOTHPICK OR A KNIFE IT COMES OUT CLEAN.

THERE’S JUST NOTHING LIKE A GOOD POT OF BEANS AND SOME CORNBREAD ON THE SIDE. WATCH CAREFULLY BECAUSE NOT EVEN LOVE CAN FIX BURNT CORNBREAD.

** YOU CAN ALSO ADD OPTIONAL ITEMS TO CHANGE UP THE FLAVOR TO YOUR PERSONAL TASTES.

(JUST A FEW IDEAS)

1 CUP WHOLE KERNEL CORN

1 CUP SHREDDED CHEESE

2 TBSP. CUMIN

CHOPPED JALAPENO PEPPER

Where to start

I have been cooking for many years now and as with most things I have improved over time. I have a pretty large collection of recipes and enjoy every one of them. I was sitting here wondering what I would write about on the days when I just have leftovers or maybe don't feel like cooking. (yes, it does happen on rare occasions) I came up with a plan. When I am not cooking I will just pull up one of my old recipes and post it here. I figure with my facebook page getting tons of comments from so many over the meals I prepare that once people start checking out my blog it would be nice to have something more than just my rambling on about how I love to cook.
Now here is the next hard part. I have been going over so many different recipes in my head. Do I post a dish for chicken, beef, seafood? Where do I start? Then it hit me. - I will start with appetizers and work from there. <ka_ching... the light bulb came on>
My first appetizer dish will be:
appetizer triangles
This one is so very simple and can be changed up in various ways. It is sure to please many at your next party.

CRESCENT ROLLS

REMOVE DOUGH FROM CAN AND ROLL OUT.

TAKE ONE PRECUT TRIANGLE AND CUT IN HALF TO FORM 2 TRIANGLES. REPEAT THIS STEP ONE AT A TIME WITH EACH PRECUT SECTION.

USE VARIOUS FILLINGS AND DIP OR ROLL IN DIFFERENT TOPPINGS TO GO WITH FILLING INSIDE.

1. SHREDDED CHICKEN, SPINACH, AND FETA CHEESE
2. GROUND PORK, JALAPENO, AND JACK CHEESE
3. GROUND BEEF, TOMATOES, BASIL, AND MOZZARELLA
4. APPLES, CINNAMON, CREAM CHEESE, FLOUR, AND SUGAR

THE VARIANCES ARE ENDLESS WITH THIS ONE. AS WELL AS THE TOPPINGS

ROLL IN SESAME SEEDS, POPPY SEEDS, DIFFERENT HERBS/CHEESE, SUGARS, SPICES.

JUST USE YOUR IMAGINATION

COOK ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS ON THE CRESCENT ROLLS

**Give this one a try and let me know what you think, how it turns out for you, what your guests thought of it. My favorite is #3 and then roll it in a parmesan/oregano mixture and bake.

Who likes Italian?

Tonight I am making a red sauce, meatballs with onions and peppers, penne pasta, and  some garlic bread.  My sauce is quite simple. I use diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, basil, and a couple tablespoons of sugar. Let it slow cook for at least an hour.
The meatballs - Ground chuck, diced onions, diced bell pepper, minced garlic, bread crumbs, one egg. Mix it all together with a little salt and pepper and shape into balls. Bake in oven on a rack sitting on a pan at 350. The length of time depends on the size you make the meatballs. Check them at 30 min and adjust your time accordingly. When they are cooked through, take them out of the oven and drop into your red sauce. Let it all combine together on low heat for about 10 min.
Cook your pasta about 8 minutes or just to al dente. The pasta should be soft enough yet have just a slight chewiness.
Garlic bread is easy. Either buy a loaf of garlic bread and cut into slices or you can get a loaf of italian bread from the bakery section, slice it down the middle, melt some butter and flavor it with garlic powder, drizzle the garlic butter over the bread. (optional - sprinkle with paprika and basil and some mozzarella), put in oven at 350 for approx 10 - 15 min or until golden brown on top.
This dish can be made and used with any type of pasta you like.
Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Trying

Hello everyone, Glad you came back. I have had a couple of busy days and have not done any cooking. I am starting to have withdrawals. Not to worry though. I should be back to cooking something by tomorrow.
I was thinking about maybe posting just some simple tips and techniques in one of my blogs. I would like to get some feedback from people to see if anyone would be interested in that information. Cooking doesn't have to be an elaborate time consuming event. You can make some easy dishes that taste good and look good without having to get out all your "best dishes" or taking special courses.
It is getting late and my husband has already gone to bed so this post is going to be a short one. Time for me to go to bed so I can get up, go to church, come home and cook up something yummy. Wonder what it will be tomorrow?
Have a good day/night all.
T

Cook with me

Hello folks! My sister suggested I start a blog about cooking since I like to do it so much. I put up a post daily on Facebook about what I am making for dinner and have gotten lots of responses on it.
I will fill everyone in on what I am making and you can give me feedback or ask questions.
I just really love to cook and if I had the ability to start my own restaurant I would. Until then... you can read about what I make for myself and my husband right here. I welcome all comments, good, bad, suggestions, questions.
We all have our own opinions and our own ideas on how things should be so I take things with a grain of salt and just do what I do. I am not starting this to prove anything or to start a big debate over how to cook. I am just simply passing on my love of cooking and if it helps someone who is not as experienced, then that's great. If I learn something from someone else, that's even better.
There won't be anything posted about dinner tonight as we are having dinner out with friends, but check back tomorrow for a new posting.
Thank you all for reading and I hope to start getting some feedback soon.