Sweet Heat Chili

WARNING!  WARNING!  WARNING!

NO BEANS WERE CONSUMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS CHILI!

How long have I been blogging now and I have never shared my recipe for chili?  Everyone it seems has their "famous" chili recipe or "makes the best chili".  Well, yeah.....that has never been an issue for me.  It has taken me years to perfect how we like our chili.  Even then, it was sometimes not the same as the last time.   No consistency, always a crap shoot.  I finally nailed it down, wrote it down, and got it right, for GOOD!

This is a sweat chili with a good amount of heat.  Heat, as always, can be adjusted to your preference.  The sweet isn't overwhelming but definitely there.  I worked my sweetness so many ways sugar, honey, agave, and you know, nothing does it like the corn syrup.  So there you go.  If you happen to go a little over the amount on the recipe, no worries, just makes it better!  My husband will add in a couple of Thai chilies to his, but, that is how he rolls.

Let me get you started, to me, in this recipe, the order of the ingredients seems important.  I don't know why, please don't ask, because I have no sane explanation, it just seems that way!

2 lbs ground beef
1 lb ground Italian sausage (hot or mild)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to your taste)
1 can tomato soup
i can petite diced tomatoes1
1 tsp onion powder
3 tsp cumin
1 T chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 T light corn syrup

Brown your ground meats.  If it renders a lot of fat, drain it, if not, no worries.  And in your red pepper flakes.  Let cook for a minute while stirring.  Wake those babies up!  Add in soup, diced tomatoes, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.   Stir to combine and let simmer for abut 15 minutes.  Add in light corn syrup, and make those tablespoons heaping!  Adjust to your taste adding more if you want.  Stir and simmer on low for another 30 minutes.

If you are using a slow cooker, just put your browned meet and peppers in the slow cooker, add all other ingredients except corn syrup.  Cook on low for 4 hours, and add corn syrup in about 30 minutes before serving.

Obviously you can adjust the sweet or heat to your taste, this is how we do it, and sometimes end up adding more heat to individual bowls.  Don't forget the cheddar cheese on top!

PS.  If you prefer a thinner chili, please feel free to add water or beef stock!If you groove on beans, (erp) add those too!

ENJOY!

Farmer's Pie

Good evening!  It is finally starting to feel like winter around here.  Even a little white stuff on the ground, a very little.  I won't complain, at the same time, I feel like we need one of those big, "give it to me good" snow storms where you can't leave the house for a couple of days.  I know, I know, some of you want to slap me right now but, don't worry, I am on the other side of your computer, you temptation will die. 

This pie, I am so excited to share with you.  Honestly, I don't really know why, but the idea all started with, Hunter's Pie, a British dish.  My mother in law, who lived in England for several years would make Hunter's Pie with birds or game my father in law hunted.  Ok well, there are so many things wrong with that idea to me, that I won't waste your time or mine.  No game.  No "shot it myself" birds, and did I mention no wild game?  I know traditionally only venison is used, but this was my late mother in laws way of doing it. 

As my husband was telling me, I had thoughts of more domesticated meat, pork, chicken, and beef in my mind.  Almost like sugarplums, and far from the shiver causing, gag reflex inducing idea of wild game or pheasant, or any of that "stuff" we had to eat as kids.  Oh yea, you thought I was just being nasty because I didn't like the idea of it, when the truth is, this is a lot of what we ate as kids.  Deer meat, never mind, I can't even go there.  My mom would try to sneak it in everything.  My son still tries to get me to eat it.  No, No, NONONONO. 

 

So in a nutshell I decided if I used pigs, chickens and cows, it could be a farmers pie.  A few potatoes and veggies as most farmers or their wives have gardens, and a cast iron skillet and pie crust could round it out.  Perfect, a Farmer's Pie! 

At first I thought this was completely wrong.  Wrong as in, the idea of serving a fried egg on top of a chicken breast, but then I decided, pigs, cows and chickens all get along on the farm, why not in my pie?

You will need:
1 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. olive oil
8 ounces chicken, uncooked and diced
5 ounces beef, uncooked and diced
8 ounces pork, uncooked and you guessed it, DICED
1 tsp. minced fresh garlic
1/2 lb.  Yukon Gold potatoes, diced
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup green beans
1/2 cup beef stock
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tbsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
3 tbsp. flour
1 pie crust (I used a premade one for this)
1-2 tbsp. milk (to brush on crust)

While I did this in my cast iron skillet, I am giving you directions to do it in a pot first, then pour into cast iron.  Okey dokey?

First of all, in a large measuring cup pour your chicken and beef stock together.  Add in parsley, onion powder, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper.  Mix to combine and set aside.

In a large skillet or pot on high, add in butter and oil, let the butter melt and add in all of your diced chicken, beef and pork.  Stir and let brown for 3-4 minutes. 

Turn down to medium heat and add in garlic, potatoes, carrots and beans.  Stir and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Add in flour and stir until the flour is absorbed, stir for 1 minute to cook off the raw flavor of the flour.  Now, add in stock, and let simmer a until the stock has thickened stirring a few times to combine.  

At this point you can pour it into your cast iron skillet or just a 9 inch round casserole dish.  Now lay the pie crust over the top of the filling.  You can be sloppy!  Just bunch it up here and there so there is just a little bit hanging over, and gently push to adhere to the edges and let it hang. 

This is a rustic pie, let it look that way!  Cut a few vent slits on the top.   Brush the top of the crust with milk and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. 

Let sit for 10 minutes before serving!

ENJOY!

Crockpot O' Pintos

Ahh, so we meet again.  Me....and the bean. I mean, you and I as well, but that is a beautiful meeting.  Me and the bean have not had a relationship for 40 years.  I want to love the bean, my health wants to love the bean, and always having to pick beans out of chili at the parties of friends and family gets tedious.  This recipe, didn't make me love the bean any better. 

Let me clarify.  This is a great recipe.  It is especially great for someone who loathes beans, but wanted to learn to make a good pot of beans and has no idea what a good pot of beans tastes like.  Phew, did you get all that?  I listened to a lot of your comments and advice.  I even attempted this "method" that would make the room smell nice even after consuming the beans. 

Let's just cut to the chase.  I hope you give you these a try.  They are crockpot friendly for all of you crocky lovers out there and I hope you enjoy them as much as the beans lovers in my family did!

This is a bit of a process at first, but, well not really.  Ok for some of you it might be but just do it.  Trust me.

First off you will need:
4 cups dried pinto beans

Rinse these in a strainer.  Pick out any rocks, odd pieces, I even have heard of there being sticks in them.  Just clean them up and rinse a couple of times.  Now place in a pot, and cover with water.  Make sure the water comes up a few inches higher than the beans.  Place on high heat and bring to a boil.  Let boil for 5 minutes.  Immediately drain the water.  It will be brown and gross looking.  This is "supposedly" all the toxins that will keep your house from blowing up with gas from whoever eats these!   Now, rinse the beans again.  Place back in the pot, cover with water.  Again, make the water a few inches higher, cover and let sit for at least 8 hours.  Overnight is awesome, 12ish hours is even better. 

Now get up, get yourself going and get your crockpot out.   Here is what you will need for the rest:

1 ham bone (ham hock or bacon will work too) 
2 medium onions, peeled and quartered
2 cups beef stock (use veggie or chicken if you choose)
2 cups water
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. cumin
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Place beans in your slow cooker.  Add stock, water, and all seasonings.  Stir it up and then nestle your onions and ham bone down in the beanie bed of love.  Put the lid on, set on high and let it rip for 8 hours.  If you need to add water as it cooks, please do so.  (or stock).  Serve as you wish.  With cornbread, with cheese, with cilantro, with anything you please!

You can feel free to smoosh the life outta these babies, toss them in a skillet with a bit of oil, and make some homemade refried beans!

ENJOY!

PS.  What I failed to tell you when I wrote this post was that I actually used a CORNED BEEF for the first 2 hours.  I had leftover corned beef in the freezer sitting right next to the ham bone.  I saw pink and tossed it in.  When I went to stir it, I was like...hmm, this is NOT ham.  Holy cow, it was in fact, corned beef!  Of course this was after I forgot to turn the crockpot ON for an hour.  UGH!  See, everyone makes mistakes, especially in a hurry.  Moral of the story, MARK YOUR ZIPLOC BAGS! HAHA!

Omaha Roast Pork Sandwiches

Evening foodie friends!  I hope this finds you at the relaxing part of your day, ready to nosh on something delicious you have created! 

I have been hungry for some food from back east.  I grew to love it so much, and regularly can be found trying to recreate it in my kitchen for my sweetie bear and I.  From cheese steaks, to cannoli, to anything else we get a craving for, we recreate it all!  Tonight I was hungry for a roast pork sandwich.  A crusty Amorosa roll, piled high with roasted pork, dipped in Au jus, topped with provolone, some broccoli rabe and some long hots!  However, I realized I had no provolone, I can't purchase broccoli rabe out here, and no long hots.  You would think I would conclude with saying I didn't make them, right?  Well I did.  I let a Philly roasted pork sandwich inspire me.  Let me tell you how.

When I first married my husband, I would cook "farm food".  Being born and raised in Nebraska and then moving to New Jersey where the food is so different, always had my husband wondering what meal was going to be next.  He called anything with gravy or mashed potatoes "farm food".  Roast beast, (roast beef), DEFINITELY was farm food to him.  He never meant it to be negative or derogatory but when regional food is so different, it just was something he said, and we still laugh over it to this day.  SO, tonight when I wanted roast pork sandwiches and we didn't have the usual suspects needed, I decided to change it up.  I made it "Omaha" style, since I couldn't make "farm food" sound good in the title.   So while this is inspired by one of my favorites, it is definitely NOT a traditional roast pork sandwich as I know them. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  I think this is EXCELLENT for a crowd.  You COULD do this in a crock pot but why in the world would you make baby food out of a nice pork loin?  Your choice, just don't tell me!

You will need:
1, 4-5 lb pork loin
3 chicken bouillon cubes
2 beef bouillon cubes
3 cups of water
2 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp.. garlic powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. dried parsley
hoagie rolls
butter

(I started with a rock solid, frozen tenderloin so when I give you the time I cooked mine, remember it might be 30 minutes less if you remembered to take yours out, unlike myself! )

Preheat your oven to 325 F.  In a bowl combine, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and parsley.  Mix to combine.  Lay your pork into a 9x13 pan and add 3 cups of water and bouillon cubes.  Take your seasoning mixture and rub the pork loin all over.   Now, TIGHTLY cover with 2 layers of foil, and make sure to seal tightly to the pan.  Roast for 1.5-2hrs, or until your inside temp is about 125-130.  It will NOT be done (likely) at this point.  After you remove it to take the temp, you can remove the pork loin to a cutting board.  Let it sit while you make your gravy.

Gravy
1 cup cold chicken stock
Wondra flour as needed or 3-4 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp dried parsley

USING WONDRA
In a medium saucepan add 1 cup chicken stock, and all of the drippings/liquid from the pork pan.  Bring to a boil and sprinkle in Wondra while whisking until it reaches the thickness you want!

USING CORNSTARCH
In a medium saucepan, add in 1 cup COLD chicken stock.  Add to it, 4 tbsp. cornstarch and whisk it together.  Add drippings/liquid from the pork roast and whisk together on high until you achieve the thickness you want!

To either of these you may find you need a bit more or less of the thickening agent, depending on the way you like your gravy.  Add in 1 tsp. of dried parsley and stir and turn off heat, let sit until ready to pour it over the meat!

Now, slice your pork as thin as possible.  I mean, nobody is going to check but try to do it up thin.  No "pulling or shredding" of this meat or I will personally come to your house and "freak out" ! 

When it is sliced place it all back into your original roasting pan.  Put it in an even layer and then pour your gravy over the top. 

Cover tightly with the foil again and turn your oven to 350 degrees.  Roast the pork IN the gravy for 30-45 minutes.  When it is done remove from the oven, leave covered and prepare the bread!

Prepare your rolls.  You need some big hoagie rolls!  Cut them open and butter the inside generously.  Place buttered side up and put on a pan, place under the broiler until lightly toasted.  Flip the rolls over and place back under broil until slightly toasted on the outside as well.  Load em' up with your roasted pork, spoon over some gravy and there you have "FARM FOOD" style pork roast sandwiches!  And PLEASE use butter, you can literally taste it as you eat the roll, it is amazeballs.

Feel free to add some provolone and melt, or whatever you choose.  For this version, I am a plain girl, thanks.  Hubby was missing the provolone though!

Enjoy and make a ton, this is even better reheated the next day on ANOTHER hoagie roll!  Or over egg noodles, or rice, or quinoa (erp). 

ENJOY!!

PS.  If you can't find a hoagie roll or a roll marked as a "brat bun" just use hot dog buns, they will be smaller but the same excellent flavor as long as you butter and toast them!  Also,  if you didn't notice, I make pork gravy from a mix of beef and chicken stock and the pan drippings. 

Pork Braciole

Good evening friends, I hope this finds you all relaxing after a day hard at work or play!  Oh, I just considered it might find you with 2 screaming children, a barking dog, a ringing phone, and smoking oven, all at the same time.  Oh dear, if that is the case.... WHY are sitting reading this?!

Braciole.  My mother in law makes ZEE best.  Now I would like to say that this is traditionally made with beef.  Flank steak is my meat of choice on the regular but, I am not sure if that is REALLY traditional or just, what most people do.  Isn't that the same thing? HA!  Hey I had pork loin I wanted to use, so I went with it.  And might I say, I am so very glad I did!

This is a bit of a process, but not to bad.  You can use small pieces of meat and make small braciole, or use a larger piece and slice it to serve several.  What a great idea to get a lot of bang for your buck, one nice thick piece of steak to serve at least 4 adults.  We could be on to something here!  So do not let the size or instruction of the recipe keep you from trying it.  It isn't hard, it is just a few steps to perfection.  I used 2 small pork loins.  Wait, not small, just short.  I by the gargantuan size pork loins and cut them into 3.  This recipe will do a large steak, or 2 pork loins as I did.

First you must prepare the meat.  If you can't find a thinly pounded piece of beef or pork, you will need to do it yourself.  I butterflied my 2 smallish pork loins and then went to town pounding them out with a meat tenderizer.  You could also use a heavy skillet if you want.  Get it about 1/2 an inch thick or less all over.  You know, you can really pound it to whatever thickness you like.   If you do not know how to butterfly a piece of meet, just cut it horizontally, leaving about 1 inch at the end NOT cut, flip it open like a book and then start to pound it thin.  Easy enough?  This filling recipe will make 2 bracioles.  If you are using only ONE piece of meat, HALF the recipe!

Filling
1 1/2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs (I use fresh)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 egg
2 tsps. or 2 cloves of garlic grated or VERY FINELY minced
2=4 tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
4-5 cups of pasta sauce, homemade or purchased

Combine all ingredients together.  Use more or less olive oil depending on how dry or wet your filling is.  You want it to hold together when you squeeze it.  I trust you can eyeball this little detail.

With your piece of meat laying out flat, top it with your filling, spreading it evenly over the entire thing.  Carefully roll the meat up, and using some kitchen string, tie it in about 3-5 places, holding it together.  (I had already rolled my braciole and had to unroll it for a photo!)

In a large pot, brown the meat for 2-3 minutes on each side until nicely browned.

When browned, add your crushed tomatoes or pasta sauce!  I also add a bit of water to mine.  Cover and let simmer for 1-2 hours depending on the thickness of your meat and size of the braciole!  When it is done, remove and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing!

Use your sauce over some short cut pasta and call it a meal!

Mini Ravioli Minestrone

Soup!  You know my joy IS soup, right?  I don't know how many soup recipes I have for sure but I know it is several, and there are several more I need to add.  I can't live without it and I could live ON it. 

I have always loved minestrone, AFTER I pick out the beans, and add some grated Parmesan on top.  OK, I pick out zucchini too.  The point is, I just wanted to make minestrone soup MY way.  So I put the cheese in the pasta, took out the veggies I didn't like, added what I did and waaa-laaaa, even my veggie hating husband ate two bowls.  "This is amazing Christine!  This has to be my favorite soup you have EVER made.  It has SO MUCH flavor and it smells unreal!"  Yes, those were his own words.  I was floored.  I had no idea he would enjoy it but my heart swells when he tells me things like this!  If you are unable to find mini ravioli you can certainly use cheese tortellini.  The pasta I used is dried. 

I had this in the fridge for 2 days, and it was better after 2 days than it was the first day.  I KNOW.  But as with a lot of things, the longer it sits and has, you know, "relations" with the other ingredients, beautiful things happen!

Mini Ravioli Minestrone
1 lb bulk sweet Italian sausage
1 small red pepper, diced
1 small/med onion, diced
2 med carrots, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 14.5oz can of diced tomatoes
6 cups beef broth
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp black pepper
16 ozs. mini cheese ravioli (or tortellini)
salt if needed (depending on what you use for stock)

In a large pot, brown your sausage.  Mine rendered hardly any fat, if your renders a lot, drain some, if not, leave it as you will need some fat for cooking the veggies.  Add in, red pepper, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic.  Sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn't burn.  Add in tomatoes WITH juice, beef stock, and seasonings.  Put the lid on your pot and let simmer 5 minutes.  Add in ravioli and let boil with the lid partially cracked for the amount of time the pasta package suggests.  Mine recommended 15 minutes.  When the 15 was up, I closed the lid and turned it off. 
Best.  Soup.  Ever.

The ONLY thing you need with this soup is a crusty piece of buttered bread.  O. M. G.  I am so glad there is some left for lunch today.  All mine kids, ALL MINE!

Your "ssssssoup lovin'" Chefwannabe

Homemade Breakfast Sausage

Breakfast sausage........

Am I the only one with such a dilemma with it?  I mean, unless you can buy it fresh made somewhere local, it is either in those fat little tubes, or packaged bulk.  Usually to salty, to spicy, or to something.  Greasy, AWAYS so greasy!!

I have seen people make homemade sausage with anything from onions, to raisins, to apples, to maple syrup.  While I get that everyone has different tastes, the thought of any of these things in my sausage makes my knees wobbly.  I like plain seasoned sausage, nothing additional, just seasonings.  I am one of the rare people you will find that cringes at the thought of syrup of any kind on my sausage. Never have I been a fan of sweet and meat together. 

Anyway, I decided to give it a shot.  I bought a ridiculous amount of ground pork recently from my butcher because, well, frankly, it was to cheap not too.  I wanted to do something fun with some of it and this was it.  Homemade breakfast sausage on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning! A couple of fried eggs over medium, and a piece of English Muffin Bread! Breakfast of champions!  Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day.  I could eat it morning, noon and night!  (along with chicken noodle soup)

You could probably change up the ground pork to turkey or chicken.  That call is on you.  I suggest pork because that is what I tested the recipe with.  So get on your apron, and wash your hands, you have to get down and dirty with this one!

You will need:
1 lb ground pork
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp parsley
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp ground sage
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Mix all ingredients until well combined.  Use your hands, it works best!  Make sure all spices are incorporated, nobody wants to bite into a big pocket of spices!
I got 5 large patties out of mine, but just make yours the size you see fit and fry 2-3 minutes on each side!

Enjoy this mild, yet so full of flavor sausage!

Your "wakey wakey" Chefwannabe

Lumpia

What do you know about lumpia?  I never knew much about it, other than anyone who ate it raved how good it was.  It wasn't until some friends made it that I realized what it was.  It was AWESOME!
My husband also has a Filipino co-worker who makes them for him on occasion and he just RAVES over them.  Funny, NONE ever seem to get home to his adoring, WIFE, but that's OK but his adoring WIFE now knows how to make her OWN!  Pffft!

From what I gather from some of my readers, my version is a pretty plain Jane variety.  I actually look forward to experimenting more with them next time but I wanted to get a good, generic version down, well.  I hope that you give these and try, and even experiment with them.  You can make the mixture and wrap them with the meat raw and then it cooks when they are fried.  This kind of makes me cringe  on a "just in case" basis, so I cook my meat first.  I believe from what I have seen you want them very thin, no matter which way you do them, but that being said, I am sure there is plenty of time for the meat to cook if you choose to do it raw.  (fingers crossed)

I also am advised after you roll up your lumpia, you can freeze them in an airtight container and just take some out when you want them and they will last up to a month.  Anyone else ever tried this?  Let me know in the comments or let me know if you have a great filling combination!  I would LOVE to learn more!

UPDATE: They are perfect frozen and just taking a few out when you want them.  I have now been blessed to have 2 different batches of of lumpia from Lacretia (my husbands coworker) and oh my goodness.  Perfection.  Also, in my photo, it appears I used egg roll wrappers on accident.  You should use spring roll wrappers.  Although I swear I did, but they don't look like it, and well, anyway, get up with the lumpia making!

What you will need:
1 lb ground pork
1 carrot finely grated
2 green onions sliced fine
1-2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp garlic powder
1 pkg spring roll wrappers

Combine all ingredients in a large skillet.  Brown/cook until pork is completely done and all ingredients are soft and well combined.  Let cool!

 

After mixture has cooled, it is time to get making your lumpia.  You can either use the shells whole, for your lumpia, or as I did, and cut them in half diagonally and wrap them that way.  I prefer that method, and it is the one I see most used.   Add a tablespoon (approximately) of your filling, like I did below.  Roll 1/2 roll, and then pull the sides in, and continue to wrap.  Using 1 beaten egg to seal the end.  It may seem that you don't need to, but just do it, the grief it causes if you don't is annoying!  Do this until all lumpia are wrapped!  Please on a platter and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to fry them!

To Fry:
Add oil to a medium saucepan.  You need about 2 inches of oil.  Heat to 350 degrees.  Your lumpia filling is already cooked so all you need to do is heat the inside and fry the shell.  Add about 4 at a time, and watch closely, they won't take long, when they are golden brown they are ready!  Make sure to place on a platter with paper towels to drain the grease!

Dip these bad babies in some sweet chili sauce and kids...........you got a HIT on your hands!

Your "lumpia lovin'" Chefwannabe

Wienerspaetzle Soup

Clever name huh?  I know.

You know what time of year it is, don't you?  Cooler weather, FINALLY.  Leaves falling off the tree.  Chilly breezes at night, rain and clouds.  You are right, it is SOUP season!  Some people call it fall or autumn, I call it soup.  Soup weather, soup season, soup, soup, soup.  I especially like soup with noodles.  TONS of noodles.  BUT, have you ever had leftover soup and the noodles soak up all the broth and get mushy and overcooked and, oh what a pot of gross it becomes.  Well, I found something that won't do that. 

OK, my 4 year old great niece is laying here by me.  The rest of the Husker fans are in the living room, we choose NO Husker game.  So I just said to her, "What do you have to say about soup Leyana"   Here is what she has to say, "Chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side".

I love spaetzle.  I am seriously like....addicted!  Have you ever used it in place of noodles in soup?  I wanted to combine Wienerschnitzle and Spaetzle into a soup, but you can use them as noodles in any soup!  They never get mushy, never bloat.  They freeze and store beautifully!  Give this soup a try, it is so good, nice texture and flavor.  Make sure to salt and pepper to your taste!!

4 cups beef broth/stock
4 cups chicken broth/stock
1 lb pork, cut into strips or chunks.
1 large carrot, chopped
1 batch of Spaetzle
1/2 cup of parsley (minced fine or just ripped)
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, bring beef and chicken stock to a boil, add in carrots and pork.   Let simmer, covered for 15 minutes.  Prepare spaetzle dough and after the soup has cooked 15 minutes, make your spaetzle right into the pot.  Gently stir, and when all spaetzle is made, let cook for 5 minutes covered.  Add parsley just before serving. 

Enjoy!

Your "soup-izing everything"

Hoss's Carolina BBQ Sandwich

Greetings from me and my adorable husband!  He has been wanting to make some BBQ for awhile, he has wanted to replicate one he had as a kid, that he swears he can still taste!  We added coleslaw to the top, with the spicy of the pork and the sweet of the coleslaw, holy cow, amazing!  Here is my recipe for coleslaw. 

 

Get a 4 to 5 pound pork butt or shoulder and cover it with my dry rub,  ( or choose a rub of your choice). Place the rub covered pork in a zip lock bag or a covered bowl overnight. Try to rotate the pork from one side to the other every 2 to 3 hours until you go to bed. It really makes the pork tasty! Early the next day pull out your crock pot ( I would use a smoker if I had one but this works well too). Place the pork into the crock pot with the fattier side down. Pour in one cup of cider vinegar and one cup of water onto the pork. Cover it with the lid and turn on low if you plan on being gone for at least 8 hours or high if you want it done in 4-6 hours

Please note: this is NOT I repeat NOT a traditional BBQ sauce. It is thin and spicy. Not thick and smoky. This sauce in it’s perfect form is only slightly thicker than water.

NC BBQ Sauce (non-Traditional Eastern NC BBQ sauce- The traditional Eastern NC does NOT have Ketchup, sugar, salt or even Tabasco- But Western does and I like to mix them both and this is my recipe)

1 cup of cider vinegar
½ cup of water
¼ cup of ketchup (sometimes I go with ½ cup if I want it thicker- remember though this is a THIN sauce)
2 heaping TBS of brown sugar
1 TBS white sugar
1 TBS Kosher salt
1 TBS Tabasco sauce
1 TBS Black Pepper
1 TBS cayenne pepper ( if I am making this for me I add 3 more TBS- 1TBS for me per pound of Pork)
1 TBS Red Crushed pepper

Place all of your ingredients into a 5 quart pot. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Now add the 4-5 pound pork shoulder or butt (from the crock pot) ( I use boneless because I hate the little bones from a bone in roast even though it gives you better flavor with the bone in)  into the pan and pull your pork apart with 2 forks incorporating the pork into the sauce.  

Place a generous amount of pork on a roll of your choice and place Cole slaw on top of the pork.

This recipe makes at least 12 to 16  good sized BBQ sandwiches.

I know this may not be the traditional Eastern or Western North Carolina BBQ sandwich, but I lived there for over 4 years and it’s a pretty close blend of one of my tastiest memories as a kid so please enjoy one with me and let me smile without the arguing on which one is better!

"HUSBAND TO ONE CHEFWANNABE" 

George (aka Hoss)

 

Geo's Famous Spice Rub (All Purpose)

Brrrrrr!!  Yes, I am serious, it has been CHILLY here in the big O!  Mother nature has straightened herself out but I will take a 53 degree morning ANY July day!! 

As most of you know, my husband is not only supportive of my blogging habits,  he loves to take part whenever I ask him too.  Is it genuine?  I am not sure.  I think he loves to take part because in his mind, he thinks one of HIS recipes is going to change the world.  He reminds me often that my most popular recipe is actually HIS recipe.   Do you know what it is???  You can find it here.   HA!!  Really he does love to cook as much as I do,  and he is a real "rubber".  I mean, let me clarify.  While he does give the BEST nightly foot rubs (for 13 years now, EVERY night), I mean this in an entirely different way.  He has made this spice rub for as long as I can remember.  He started out basic and used Alton Brown's spice rub method/ratio but over the years he perfected it to his taste and to the taste of many who constantly mumble while eating, "OMG, what is ON this".    We have switched up, switched down, omitted totally and doubled ingredients until he got this perfect combination of sweet and spicy, but not TO spicy.   I think he finally perfected it about 10 years ago.  Perfected it in OUR opinion anyway!  He uses this for pork, beef, chicken and has even used it on fish and to flavor hamburger for any number of things.   This sandwich you see pictured above is probably my favorite way, which is why I chose it to be the vessel for the rub!  You can't beat it with a stick, fresh tomato, some butter lettuce, a grilled bun, I mean get outta here.  He even used the rub to flavor his mayo for slathering on the sandwich. 

You can rub your meat and let it sit for hours, or days.  Yes, I said days.  We rubbed this chicken and let it sit about 5 hours, but the longer it sets, it changes the texture of the chicken to a tender beautiful thing.  We have let things marinate in this for days.  Ribs, steaks, etc, we prep a few days ahead and there ya go.  It is up to you how much flavor you want your food to have but I promise even just an hour will change your life!  We use cheapo dried herbs and spices, so hit up someplace cheap! 

While I would like to let him take the keyboard and blow himself up into the king of the rub, I am writing this while he is at work so he can't.  But the truth is, he IS the king of the rub my friends!  Here is how he makes it!

4 cups brown sugar
1/4-1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup of the following:
cumin
garlic powder
paprika
onion powder
seasoned meat tenderizer
Italian seasoning
1/4 cup crushed red pepper flakes (this is optional and the measurement is up to you, more or less if you wish but we find this perfect)

Combine all ingredients in a Ziploc bag and smoosh to combine.  Break up any bits of brown sugar and make sure all ingredients are well mixed!!  Store in an air tight container or Ziploc bag in your cupboard for up to 4-5 months!!  (we usually make a double batch)

Now to get this sandwich!

3 chicken breasts (cut in half so 2 fillets out of one breast, or buy thin cutlets or pound these thin)
1 sliced tomato
1 head of butter lettuce
6 large rolls, butter or oiled and grilled on both sides.

In a large Ziploc bag pour 1 cup of of your dry rub.  Add in 3 (cut into 6) chicken breasts.  Close up your bag and smoosh until the chicken is completely covered. 

Put in the fridge to marinate however long you want it to go!  Before grilling, just butter or oil your buns and grill or toast on both sides.  Set aside.  Grill your chicken breasts for approx. 3 minutes per side.  I used my George Foreman and cooked them 4 minutes total.  They were perfect!

Stack on your bun with any veggies you like, (or cheese).  Enjoy a beautiful sandwich!!

Your "wants a foot rub while I eat my dry rubbed chicken" Chefwannabe

Just For 2 - Pork Medallions In Cream Sauce

Well here we are, the first recipe in a series of "Just For 2" recipes.  Thank you for your overwhelming response to my request on Facebook for recipes you would like to see made just for two!  I know so many of you are single, empty nesters, or just wanted maybe a romantic meal to fix that special someone!

My parents are home alone these days and when I am visiting or when someone is heading to their house I like to send meals made just for 2.  They don't need enough for an army, not even a small army.  I like knowing they have healthy, homemade food in the freezer they can take out and just heat up.  My mom cooked for 12 for about 40 some years, I think she can take a break now!  So if you have parents who are getting older, or don't get around like they used to, this is a great meal idea to make in individual foil containers, and put in their freezer!  Always make sure to give them directions on reheating too!!  As I mention below, I made this in 2 individual size, oven safe dishes I have, but it can easily be put in just a very small casserole dish as well! 

I also think this is a great romantic evening at home meal.  It isn't difficult, even a cooking novice can do it, and do it well.  Light some candles, dim the lights, put on some good soft music and.........EAT!!

This is actually a bit of a figure friendly recipe.  The cream sauce is chicken stock and skim milk.  Nothing heavy about it.  The pork is lean and the breadcrumb topping, well, sorry but it must not be skipped!

Here is what you will need:

2 boneless pork chops (mine were just over 8oz a piece)
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp dried basil
salt and pepper to taste (be careful especially if your stock isn't low sodium)
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups chicken stock
3 tbsp skim milk
1 tbsp cream cheese
1/4-1/2 cup bread crumbs
olive oil (any kind will do)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Thin slice your pork chops into "medallions".  However you choose to do that, go for it!  When both chops are thinly sliced, place in a bowl and sprinkle with onion powder, dried basil, and salt and pepper.  Be careful with the salt, especially if you aren't using low sodium chicken stock.  Use a light hand, remember everyone can salt their own to taste. 

Now heat a medium skillet up with some olive oil, place your pork in the skillet and let it brown.  It will likely cook all the way through depending on how think you cut your pork, but if it doesn't, it will be going in the oven so don't sweat it!  Cook until nicely browned and nearly cooked through.  Place unto a plate and set aside. 

In the same skillet, with all that flavor stuck to the bottom, add in butter and flour, whisk together until butter is melted and flour has cooked about 1 minute.  Add in chicken stock and whisk, scraping up all the good bits of flavor from the bottom of the skillet!  Let simmer for 2 minutes whisking constantly, add in milk and cream cheese and whisk until combined.  Now take your pork, add it back into the gravy and stir to coat.  Place half of the mixture in each individual serving dish.  You can also add to a small 2 serving size casserole dish.  Top with breadcrumbs and drizzle the top with olive oil.  Bake for 20-25 minutes. 

Into the oven they go!

You will have tender meat with a light gravy, topped with crunchy breadcrumbs.  SO delicious!  I served with with a side of egg noodles.  For 2 I used 8 ounces of dried pasta, cooked according to package directions and tossed with fresh parsley, butter, and black pepper. 

I am so glad you all seemed interested in a few of these "Just for 2" meals.  I hope you love this first one and give it a try.  It is a little fancier than plain chops, a few more steps, yet, as easy, and doubly delicious!!

Your "made this just for 2 today" chefwannabe

PS.  This can be also be made for more.  Just double or triple the recipe as needed. 

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Hey guys!!!  It is 2 days before I turn 39.  This is NOT easy.  My husband is concerned already about a year from now when I am about to turn 40.  He is sure we will be spending it in my padded cell.  We might be, I mean, might as well bring 40 in, in a memorable way. 

Anyway, this Chicken Cordon Bleu is so easy.  It is one of the first meals my husband cooked for me.  It is a favorite of me, Cody and George.  We use to have it on special occasions mostly.  We used to make it the "real" way.  Pound the chicken thin, lay the meat and cheese on top, roll it up, blah, blah blah.  Cody would LOVE for George to double Ziploc the chicken, let him put a newspaper on the kitchen floor and whack at it with the meat mallet.  Ya know, a boy with permission to hammer stuff until it is paper thin?  Yea, loved that.   However, recently we started doing it this way, just because it seemed easier and less time consuming.  You might have to use your fingers to make the opening a bit wider, but I promise it works beautifully.  As long as you seal up those ands well with flour, egg and breadcrumbs, it is all good!  We love it and hope you do too.  As you can see it is gorgeous AND delicious. 

Now these ARE fried for a minute.  They in NO way are greasy.  You just have to brown up that breading and we prefer doing it the old fashioned way.  We don't eat this often so I don't mind frying and then baking them off.  If you don't roll like that, you can try just baking them all the way, but I have no idea how they will come out.  We have always used regular dried Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, but this time we used seasoned panko and loved it!!

I have written this out, perhaps in a bit of an unconventional way.  All of the ingredients are in BOLD PURPLE lettering.  Maybe I should change it to red so you can see it better.  Ok, done, it is now bold and red.  Anyhoodle, enjoy this Chicken Cordon Bleu made easy!

Here is what you will need:
6 large chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
6 slices Swiss cheese
12 thin slices of ham

Before anything else, make your meat and cheese rolls.  Sandwich your cheese between 2 slices of ham, roll into a tight log.  Do this with all of the meat and cheese so that you have 6 meat/cheese rolls.  Set aside and prepare chicken.

Take your chicken and stand it on end, place a long thin knife on top and pierce all the way to the bottom, in the center of the chicken.  When you reach the bottom rotate your knife, making the whole big enough for the rolls to slide into.  Repeat with all chicken, slide 1 roll into the center of each and place on a platter.

Now to dredge the chicken and prepare for frying. 

Shallow Bowl #1 - Combine 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
Shallow Bowl # 2 - beat 4 eggs well.
Shallow Bowl # 3- 3 cups bread crumbs (seasoned panko OR regular dry Italian seasoned)

Cover chicken in flour mixture completely, dip into egg mixture and pay special attention to the ends where the ham and cheese can be seen since you will want that sealed well with bread crumbs.  Then cover heavily in bread crumbs.  Set aside until all are done. 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  In a high sided skillet, add in 2 cups of oil (your choice), when the oil is ready (toss a bit of flour in, if it sizzles it is read) place 1 or 2 pieces of chicken into the oil and fry only long enough to brown it.  We aren't cooking it all the way through, just beautifully browning our chicken, about 2-3 minutes on each side.  Do this over a medium heat as to not burn the chicken.  Place until parchment lined baking sheet.  Repeat with all pieces of chicken.

Place in the oven for 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breasts. 

When they are done, allow to rest 10 minutes before serving!!!

We almost always serve this with asparagas or green beans.  Sometimes a little side of pasta.  You do what you want, just make sure you do it soon!!

Your "my GOD why is turning 29..eerr 39, so difficult"chefwannabe

 

PS.  By the time you read this I will have turned 39.  My life will be OVER. LOL

"Faux" Mein

Great name, isn't it?  Thanks honey!  My husband came up with this, during our discussion on what to name it.  I love it!  And it is exactly what it is!  I labeled the photo as CHICKEN but, that is because I used chicken, you will see you can choose any protein you wish!

I LOVE lo mein.  I was out of the usual pasta I use for lo mein.  I use soba noodles or pancit canton noodles.  I realize not everyone has access to specialty pastas and since we didn't feel like running to the Asian Market, I used spaghetti.  I also am trying to reduce my sodium.  When I spent a couple of days really paying attention to the amount of sodium in my food I almost died.  I wanted to cut down on the amount of sodium, I mean using soy sauce, you can't cut it all out, but all of my products are low sodium.

You all know I am a carb fein, it is impossible for me to say no to pasta.  You can keep trying to convince me all you want about wheat pasta, but I tried it.  I don't buy your "you get used to the flavor".  Nope, I have made enough changes in our diets, to NOT have to choke down whole wheat pasta.  I made like 12 typos in that last sentence just trying to get my fingers to TYPE "whole wheat pasta".  The point is, that is not going to change for me.  This isn't of course all of your usual lo mein suspects but it is what I had on hand and what I love is that you can add any veggies you like or need to use up.  Same with the protein, use pork or beef or no meat!  This is just a method you can use, when you need a quick, VERY budget friendly meal.  I also added some heat to mine, but as always, that is easily omitted. 

Here we go for this easy, budget friendly, tummy satisfying, faux mein!

12 ounces spaghetti
2-3 chicken breasts, thighs, pork, beef, or tofu.
2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 cloves garlic minced/crushed
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 cup grated carrots
OPTIONAL-
2 cups veggies of your choice.  Divided or all the same, no matter. 
1 tsp red pepper flakes or minced dried red chili's
1 cup low sodium chicken stock
Additional 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp Unagi Sauce (if you can't find this, just use dark soy sauce, or extra reg soy)

Cut your meat into think slices and then strips.  You want them to cook quickly while you stir fry them.  When you have them cut, place them in a bowl, add 2 tbsp soy sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes and garlic.  Mix together and let sit at least 15 minutes.  In the meantime boil your spaghetti.  Drain it and then rinse immediately with cold water for this recipe.  Let is sit in the colander and just drain and dry while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.  In that same pot you boiled your pasta in or a large wok, add in 2 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil .
In a large wok or same pot you boiled your pasta in, add in 2 tbsp peanut oil.  Add in your meat and stir fry until it is cooked completely through.  Add in veggies of your choice and cook another 2 minutes.  Now add in your chicken stock.  Let simmer a couple of minutes to slightly reduce.  Add your pasta and toss, also add in 2 more tbsp soy sauce and unagi sauce.  When all the pasta is covered in the "sauce" it is ready to serve! 

I LOVED this, I would loved it more with green onions and bok choy but, next time.  There is no heavy "sauce", it just is really good and light.  I enjoy writing you recipes that you can change up to meet your families tastes and dietary needs.  My husband was dying for mushrooms in it.  My goal is to add more lean protein and veggies than pasta.  I am not there yet, because I was low on veg, but that is my ultimate goal with this recipe.  I say to add 2 cups of veggies as an option but the reality is, add all the veggies you want! 

Easy, quick and really stretches the buck.  Try my FAUX MEIN soon!

Your "how can you go wrong with Faux Mein" chefwannabe