Finger Food - Black Pepper Triscuit, Cream Cheese, Cucumber and Tomato

Paired with a nice glass of Gewurztraminer, this was a refreshing, light dinner.  

Black Pepper Triscuits

Cream Cheese

Sliced Cucumbers

Sliced Tomatoes

S&P

Oregano 

Basil

Cheers! 

Blogging and Breakfast at Panera!

Out and about early for an oil change, I found myself feeling kind of social.  

There is no other breakfast place in Findlay with Wifi, so Panera wins.  

I'm not complaining though.  

This sandwich is fabulous!  

Mediterranean Roasted Veggie Egg White Sandwich on Ciabata

w/ Roasted Tomatoes, Spinach, Cheese and Pesto

Paired with my favorite Chai Tea Latte

Perfect! 

Dandelion Greens - New Ingredient

I have heard lots about the nutritional value in these greens so I just had to try them.  They are bitter to the taste but add a nice flavor to a salad.  I have seen quite a few recipes w/ these greens sauteed as well so I will be experimenting even more with them.

Bloody Mary Burger

My favorite Bloody Mary mix, Zing Zang, was on sale, as was lean ground sirloin....hence, this creative twist on my favorite sandwich, the all mighty burger.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Lean Ground Sirloin

2 Tbsp. Chopped Onion

1/8 C Chopped Green Spanish Olives w/ pimentos

4 Tbsp. Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix

Season with S&P and garlic powder 

Mix well and patty into 4 1/4 lb. patties

Fry em, Grill em, Broil em....however you prefer!

Top with Blue Cheese, Fresh tomato and leaf lettuce

I also made a simple vinegarette w/ Zing Zang, Red Wine Vinegar, Agave Syrup,Olive oil, S&P, Basil and Oregano.  I dressed a fresh salad of leaf lettuce and dandelion greens with the tangy vinegarette. 

Delish!!! 

French Dip Brisket Buns

Individually wrapped into little bread buns of brisket goodness, these little buns were amazing!  

Pre-heat oven @ 250 degrees.

Season with S&P, Garlic, and Cajun Seasoning. 

In the bottom of the baking dish add:

1 onion quartered

2 cloves of garlic 

1/2 bottle of dark porter beer

Lay the seasoned brisket, fat slab up, on top of the onion quarters.

Cover and bake for 4 hours.

Let cool, remove the fat slab and slice thin against the grain.

Strain the juices in the bottom of the pan and reserve for dipping purposes!

Use your favorite pizza dough.  

Here is a link to mine.

Thaw, let rise until it is coming out of the bag.

Spread it out slightly and cut into 12 pieces.

One at a time, press each piece out to the size of a small pancake. 

Pre-heat oven @ 425.

Now it's time to fill them!

Chop - sweet peppers, porcini mushrooms, onion, chives

Layer all of the toppings in the middle of each piece. 

Don't forget the sliced brisket and shredded cheese, of course.

Pull the sides of the dough over the fillings and slowly close the dough right around.  

Place the dough balls on a cookie sheet seam side down.  

Season the top with garlic salt.

Bake 13-15 mins. 

Prepare to be amazed!  

Dip and dive in! 

Enjoy!!! 

Grilled Cajun Pork Chops, Porcini Mushrooms & Sweet Peppers Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Honey

Heat up the grill!

Season the pork chops to your liking! Slit the peppers open and stuff with a mixture of goat cheese and honey! Clean porcinis!

Grill it, eat it, love it!

Paprika Chicken, Pickle and Cheese Stuffed Breadstix

I know....this sounds weird! It is weird but a great combination of flavors. I made a couple of these to bring to work for a quick, semi-healthy lunch.

The chicken was marinated in sweet Spanish paprika and S&P made into a paste with a little bit of olive oil. Pan fired, sliced thin and then layered inside strips of pizza dough with sliced dill pickles and Colby jack cheese. Bake @425 for 13 mins.

Done!

Cheesy Spaghetti Frittata

Left over spaghetti makes a perfect breakfast. Mix with your favorite breakfast meats, cheeses, and eggs. Viola!

I used eggs, S&P, a dash each of nutmeg and basil, parmesan, queso cotija and colby jack cheeses.

Breakfast is served!

Maple, Apple & Walnut Pork Tenderloin

As if one pork tenderloin wasn't enough....I tried another version!

1. Butterfly and season the pork.

2. Finely chop apples and walnuts, season with salt and a generous drizzle of grade B maple syrup. Mix together in a bowl.

3. Spread an even layer of the apple mixture on the pork.

4. Roll closed and secure with tooth picks.

5. Bake @ 350 for 1 hour. Let rest for 10 mins., slice and serve.

I don't eat many things cold, but these leftovers will be fabulous cold! Guaranteed!!!

Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Sweet Peppers, Chives and Gorgonzola

If my stomach had no limit I would have finished this entire tenderloin. This will be on the menu again soon.

•Butterfly a pork tenderloin - season both sides with S&P
•Finely chop sweet peppers, onion and chives - mix in a bowl with a little olive oil, S&P
•Spread an even layer of the pepper mix on top of the tenderloin
•Sprinkle with a layer of Gorgonzola cheese crumbles
•Roll the tenderloin closed and secure it together with toothpicks
•Bake at 350 for 1 hour in a baking dish with a foil tent
•Remove from oven, let rest for 10 mins., slice and serve

Baked Brie w/ Pecans, Honey and Apples

This is by far the easiest, most delicious appetizer you could ever make.

Chopped pecans and honey drizzled over a wheel of Brie. Bake 15 mins. @ 350. Serve with slices apples!

So, so delicious!

Peep Deviled Eggs

Although this was quite a messy presentation, the flavors were not disappointing. I am a big fan of deviled eggs, most of the time. I thought I would change them up a bit today.

My family likes a simple deviled egg made with mayo, salt, vinegar and a hint of mustard. I added some sweet relish and a sweet red pepper. The eyes are made with pimentos and the beak with black olives!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Bánh Mì Pork Meatball Sliders

These little bite size sandwiches were a twist on my rendition of the authentic Vietnamese sandwich.

The meat balls were made with:

1 lb Lean Ground Pork with:
1/8 C Soy Sauce
2 T Hoisin
2 T Oyster Sauce
2 T Sriracha
2 T Agave Syrup
1 tsp Fish Sauce
A dash of: Ground Ginger, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper and Chinese 5 Spice
A handful of: Chinese Chives, Green Onion and Thai Basil
Form into balls and bake uncovered for 20 min @ 325 degrees.

In light, fluffy dinner rolls layer:

Sriracha mayo
Sliced Cucumber
Pickled Carrot
Cilantro
Meatballs
Thai Basil
Sriracha Mayo

Enjoy!!

Mexican Veggie Omelet w/ Black Beans

I had to use the new cheese, Queso Cotija, in something and breakfast was the first opportunity.

Veggies: Sauté sweet peppers, onions, garlic, tomato with a little olive oil, S&P, and Mexican oregano.

Beans: Sauté onion, garlic, 1 can of rinsed black beans in olive and flax seed oil w/ S&P, Spanish paprika, cumin and Mexican oregano

Tortilla wedges: Sprinkle with Queso Cotija and broil

Omelet: Wisk 1 egg and 2 egg white in a bowl. Pour into hot, oiled pan. Cook one side, flip, sprinkle with Queso Cotija, add sautéed veggies, fold over, sprinkle with more Queso Cotija and garnish with green onion and grape tomatoes.

Breakfast is served!!!

Queso Cotija - New Ingredient

This is a light grated Mexican cheese. The flavor reminds me of a dry mozzarella cheese!

Delicious!

Okonomiyaki - Japanese Seafood Pancake

This was amazing! I now begin my mission to make something similar! So, so good!!!

OMG...

I want one!

Thai Taco

Ummmm....Yummmm!

Ground pork always puts me in an Asian food mood. If I'd planned ahead better I would have made my dumplings but since I didn't have any wonton wraps I just made a similar meat recipe. I love to play with ingredients.

Mix 1 lb Lean Ground Pork with:
1/8 C Soy Sauce
2 T Hoisin
2 T Oyster Sauce
2 T Sriracha
2 T Agave Syrup
1 tsp Fish Sauce
A dash of: Ground Ginger, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper and Chinese 5 Spice
A handful of: Chinese Chives, Green Onion and Thai Basil

Let this sit covered in the fridge for an hour or so. I always test the flavor of the meat by cooking a 2 bite piece in a skillet to make sure it doesn't need any additional spices.

Patty up a burger, sear in a non-stick pan and stuff into a whole wheat pita with lettuce, bean sprouts, thai basil and top with Sriracha mayo!

SOO gOOd!

BBQ Pork Pita Pizza

This is a quick snack or dinner on the go!

1. In a non-stick pan, brown lean ground pork seasoned with S&P, garlic powder and onion powder.
2. Add your favorite BBQ sauce.
3. Layer shredded cheese, pork, more cheese and green onions on top of a whole wheat pita.
4. Broil until golden brown.

Off to soccer practice....

Simple Asian Salad

This was a nice, light salad with bright Asian flavors!

In a bowl mix:
Cucumber- chopped
Fresh Thai Basil- julienned
Fresh Chinese Chives- chopped
Bean Sprouts
Scallions- chopped
Romaine Lettuce- chopped
Fresh Grated Ginger
Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

A Drizzle of:
Agave Syrup
Rice Vinegar
Sesame Oil

A sprinkle of:
Salt
Chia Seed
Flax Seeds

Mix, serve, enjoy!

Pot Roast Hash

This is a great breakfast anytime you have left over roast. Although I'm not a big fan of Bob Evans, their pot roast hash is pretty damn good. This was my take on their crowd pleaser.

Serve beef roast, red skin potatoes w/ sweet peppers, an over easy egg...all topped with shredded Monterey jack cheese.

Delish!!