A Meal Down Memory Lane

Some meals remind me of special people in my life. Last night I fixed fried pork chops and that reminded me of my Dad. Dad loved fried pork chops and he fixed it at least once a week when I was growing up.

I also fixed some fresh green beans and new potatoes. Yum, nothing like a good home cooked meal with fresh veggies!

Fried Pork Chops
Source: My Dad

4 Breakfast Chops or Boneless Pork Loin Chops (sliced thin)
Olive Oil
3 Tbsp Butter
1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
1-2 tsp Lawry's Seasoned Salt

In a large skillet heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat.

In a bowl, mix flour, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and Lawry's salt.

Sprinkle each chop with salt and pepper - dip in flour mixture and coat both sides.

Put chops in the pan and fry until golden brown on each side.

Green Beans and Taters
Source: Me

1 pound fresh green beans (snip off ends)
New baby potatoes (as few or as many as you like), quartered (I leave the skin on)
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 red pepper, diced
1 sweet onion, diced
water
salt
pepper

Add green beans, taters, red pepper, and onion to a large pot. Cover with water. Add the bouillon cube, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer until tender.

Post-Surgery Potato Soup

I had surgery on Monday to extract a stone in my kidney.  It was a long day because the surgery didn't actually occur until 4 hours after it was scheduled.  That night when I got home, I was thinking that a bowl of potato soup and some corn bread would really hit the spot. 

I asked my friends on Facebook to send me good potato soup recipes but I didn't get their replies until after I'd already made my soup.  But I plan on writing down their recipes and giving them a try.  Here's how I made my soup.  It was pretty tasty.

Potato Soup

Approx 5 lbs of Russet Potatoes, peeled and diced
2 cups of chicken broth
water
1/2 small red onion, diced really small
salt, pepper, Lawry's season slat, ground red pepper  (season to your taste)
1 (8oz) block of cream cheese, cut into chunks

Place the potatoes, onion, spices, broth in a large pan.  Then add water, just enough to barely cover the potatoes.  Bring to a boil, then turn down to medium heat, cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender but not falling apart.  Remove from heat and mash part of the potatoes.  Then put the cream cheese chunks in and stir until melted.  Taste and add more salt and pepper if it needs more.


The soup was really good and nothing fancy, next time I'll probably fry some bacon and put in it and maybe some cheese.  But my tummy was still a little sensitive from surgery so I wanted something that would be soothing and comforting.

Sweet and Tender Corn

The kids in my family are picky when it comes to eating vegetables.  Sound familiar?  Corn is one of their favorites and it is usually what I fix when we have a family gathering. 

My Grandma Esther shared some wisdom with me when I was a kid and it seems to really make my corn very tasty.  Grandma said to never add salt to water when  you boil corn.  She believed that adding salt to the water would make your corn less tender.  Instead add some sugar.  I don't know how much she used, so I just dump some into the water, probably around 1/4 cup.

My family loves Green Giant Nibblers.  (mini ears of corn on the cob).  I buy the giant bag that contains 24 ears.  Just bring a large pot of water, with sugar added, to a boil.  Drop in the nibblers....bring back to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes.  Then butter up....salt....and enjoy!

Almost Home Made Pizza

Sometimes when we go to visit Dan’s parents, I’ll make lunch, freeing up Granny Lois to play with Katie. One of their favorite things for me to make is a pizza. I can’t say it’s homemade because I do cheat and buy the crust. But it’s pretty close to homemade. And it’s a lot better than any pizza at Pizza Hut!

Here is how I make my pizza….but you could make yours with whatever toppings your family likes. The possibilities are endless.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Prep the veggies you want to put on the pizza. (Dice the onion, bell pepper, etc)

In a large skillet brown:
1 pound of ground beef
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, pizza seasoning (just sprinkle some in while the hamburger is cooking, I don’t measure, just sprinkle.)
1 onion-diced

Meanwhile, spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray. Then unroll your pizza crust onto the pan. (I like to use the Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza Dough.) Put in the oven and bake 7-10 minutes, just until it starts to slightly brown. Don’t fully cook the crust! Remove from oven and set aside.

Put a jar of pizza sauce on the crust. I like the Prego Pizza Sauce (the Pizzeria Style). Then add the hamburger. Then add pepperoni slices. Then all the toppings, we always add diced onion, sliced mushrooms, diced red or orange bell pepper, and of course mozzarella cheese.

Then put in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes. Or until the pizza cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned. Take out of the oven, slice, and enjoy. Excellent when served with a great big salad!

Easy Cheesy Chicken Wraps

Ever have days when you don’t know what to fix for supper? You know when you open the pantry and stare. Then open the fridge and stare. And nothing jumps out at you. I had that happen about a week ago. Then a light bulb flashed on and I decided to whip together this concoction. I didn’t have a recipe; I just put it together by grabbing things I already had on hand. It turned out really good and we’ve made it again since the initial creation.


Easy Cheesy Chicken Wraps


Cooked Chicken - I had a rotisserie chicken in the fridge from our local grocery store so I used that. I picked the meat off from the bones and tore into bite sized pieces


Small Flour Tortilla Wraps


1 or 2 pkg of the Uncle Bens Santa Fe Rice (use 1 or 2 depending on how much rice you want)

1 can of  Bush Seasoned Black Beans (drained)

1 can of Green Giant Mexicorn (drained)


1 can of Stewed Mexican Tomatoes  (optional, I made it one time without it)


1 pkg of  Santa Fe Philadelphia Cooking Creme

Shredded Cheese – any kind, I used the Mexican Cheese blend

1. Cook your chicken or use a rotisserie chicken like I did. Tear into bite sized pieces.


2. In a med sauce pan, dump the black beans, mexicorn, stewed tomatoes, and cream cheese. Heat on med heat until bubbly.


3. Cook the rice according to the directions, then stir it into the bean mixture.


4. Heat a wrap. Put some chicken on it. Then top with the cheesy rice mixture.


5. Sprinkle on some shredded cheese and wrap up and enjoy.


You could also add lettuce, diced onion, diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, etc if you wanted more toppings for your wrap.

Beanie Weenies

When I was a kid my best friend was Michele Poynter and she would often come over for a sleepover. My Mom had certain things that she would make for us and I remember one of the first times she made us "Beanie Weenies."  Something about weenie being in the name cracked Michele and I up.  I remember us giggling because my Mom said weenie!!!   Good times!!

Beanie Weenies
Source:  My Mom

2 (16oz) can pork-n-beans
2 tsp mustad
10 weenies (chunked)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
(1/4 cup of water, if needed)

Mix all ingredients except brown sugar and put in a shallow baking dish.  Sprinkle with brown sguar and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  (can also dump in a crockpot and cook until hot.)

CrockPot Meatloaf

Since I just posted my meatloaf recipe, I thought I should share this one as well.  This is my Mom's recipe.  She's made it off and on all my life and I've made it a handful of times. It's really good and I should dig out the crock pot and make it more often!

Crockpot Meatloaf
Source:  My Mom

2 pounds ground beef
1 cup crushed frito corn chips
1/3 cup taco sauce
2 tbsp taco seasoning
1 egg lightly beaten


Mix together and shape into a loaf.  Place in Crock Pot.  Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 3 1/2 -5 hours.

My Meatloaf

My meatloaf is based on my Grandma's recipe that I have tweaked.  I really like to think I've fine tuned this into the best meatloaf ever.  But everyone has their own opinion when it comes to meatloaf; my family loves my version so that's all that matters.  Give it a try someday, you might like it too!

Meatloaf
Source:  Me and Grandma Esther

2 pounds ground beef
1 1/2 cups tomato juice (I usually use V-8)
3/4 cup quick or old-fashioned oats
seasoned bread crumbs (I don't measure, just dump some in!!  Start with about 1/4 cup and can add more later to get the mixture to the right consistency.)
2 eggs, beaten
1 onion, finely diced
1 red pepper, finely diced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
few dashes of worcetshire sauce

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients, mix lightly but thoroughly.  Press into a 13x9 pan, top with ketcup and honey.  Bake about an hour, until meat is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Salmon Patties

I found this recipe probably 20 years ago, I think I was still in high school when I found it.  It was in an Amish cookbook I had checked out from the library.  (my obsession with recipes isn't a new thing!)

They key to this recipe is to fry the patties in hot butter.  Real Butter.  Not oil.  Not margarine.  REAL, DELICIOUS BUTTER!  OH YEAH!

Salmon Patties
Source: unknown Amish cookbook from years past

2 cups cracker crumbs
1 cup salmon
1 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup milk
dash of worcetshire sauce
pepper to taste
pinch of parsley

Mix together and form into patties.  Add a stick of butter to a large skillet and heat.  Cook patties on both sides until golden brown and delicious!

Best served with fried taters!!