Sunday, July 28, 2013

BBQ Pork Tenderloin


BBQ always reminds me of summer!  We enjoyed this pulled pork recipe last week.  A crockpot works great to keep the meat moist.  I looked at several recipes on the Internet & between them all came up with the following.

BBQ Pork Tenderloin

3 lbs pork tenderloin
8 oz BBQ sauce
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalepeno pepper, seeds removed

Place pork in crockpot.  Season with salt & pepper.  Add the garlic, onion & pepper.  Pour BBQ sauce over meat.  Cook on low for 6-7 hours.  When meat is done, use two forks to pull it apart.  Serve with hamburger buns.

I had a 2.2 lb loin & cooked it for 4.5 hours.  It was perfect.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Vegetable Dip , plus Lawry's Seasoning Salt Recipe


We were invited to a lovely potluck last week.  The hostess asked if we could bring a vegetable platter -- how fitting for us!  I always try to bring something healthy to a potluck, as we are not big dessert eaters & there seems to always be plenty of those.  We are not veggie dip people either, but I went scouring the Internet for some homemade recipes, realizing that most others enjoy it.  I adapted the following recipe from www.food.com  If you do not have access to fresh herbs, the substitution is 3:1 (fresh to dried).  Therefore for example, if your recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, chop up 3 teaspoons of fresh oregano.

Vegetable Dip
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp dried onion flakes
3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
3 tsp fresh dill, chopped
1 tsp seasoning salt (**)
1/2 tsp garlic powder

-----------------------------

Lawry's Seasoning Salt
2 Tbsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cornstarch

I put my extra seasoning salt in an empty glass herb container.  I plan on using it tonight on our fresh tilapia.  I do not know who to credit with the seasoning salt recipe -- it was all over the Internet, so kudos to whoever is responsible!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

"Unprocessing" Foods -- Entry 4 (Shredded Cheese)


Over half of the year is gone & I must finish out my New Year's Resolution of ridding our cabinets of six processed foods.  The list thus far goes as follows:

1.) Jams & Jellies
2.) Salad Dressings
3.) Taco Seasoning
4.) Shredded Cheese

Though shredded cheese is extremely tempting for its convenience, I have resolved to take the extra time to shred my own.  If I have a small amount to shred, I use my hand shredder.  If I have more, I use my Cuisinart Food Processor.  Personally, I do not like to do it ahead of time as it just doesn't seem as fresh.  Pre-packaged shredded cheese has a powdery substance to keep it from clumping.  I have been shredding my own cheese now for some time & don't even think twice about it.  Well worth the little effort!

Monday, July 8, 2013

A Fish Supper after a Day's Work

What can get much better than supper at home?
(Perhaps someone to do clean-up duty! My husband stars in that department.)


Sometimes coming in after a day of farm work, only my desire for a good meal motivates me to get cooking.  This particular evening I did not have anything specific in my mind for supper.  After taking inventory, this is what we had & enjoyed so much.

Whiting fillets with tomato, lemon & parsley
Black Japonica Rice
Fresh salad with Michigan dried cherries



Wash the fillets & rub with melted butter.  Sprinkle with garlic salt.  Mince fresh parsley & sprinkle over fillets.  Slice tomatoes & lemon, reserving a portion of the lemon.  With the reserved lemon, squeeze juice over all the fish.  Layer lemon & tomato slices.  Bake 400 F for about 10 minutes.
Fish should easily flake with fork with done.  Do NOT overcook fish -- it dries out & gets tough.  Perfectly baked fish should be very moist. 

Cook rice in chicken broth.  Sprinkle with lemon juice, if desired, once done.

Enjoy salad with Freddie's favorite dressing.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Tuna & Watercress Quiche




Watercress surfaces again!  Someone at market told me about ANDI scoring: Aggregate Nutritional Density Index.  Foods are scored from 1 to 1000 according to their nutritional density.  There are three foods (ie, Superfoods) that score a perfect 1000.  Can you guess them? (I'll post it at the bottom.)



After learning its terrific nutritional value, I decided to explore more watercress dishes.  I checked out the website I mentioned in a previous post (watercress.co.uk).  Though fresh watercress is quite strong-flavored, when cooked the flavor mixes in well.  (Please note, the full nutritional value comes when it is eaten raw.  Nothing wrong with tossing it in your salad!)  This recipe was a nice, elegant twist.  Freddie's response: This is very British.  And he can say that since he is 1/2 English!  We would like to try it again using salmon.

Tuna & Watercress Quiche
(adapted by yours truly)

4 oz (a little less than 1 cup) flour
1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated
2 oz (1/2 stick) butter, cubed & softened
1/3 cup watercress packed, finely chopped
2 egg
1 cup milk or cream
5 oz can tuna, drained
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

Preheat oven to 400F.  Rub flour, chesse & butter together.  Bind with a little cold water. (I used maybe a scant tablespoon.  Add little by little until you can work with the dough.)  Roll out & line the bottom of 4 individual flan dishes.  Mix cress, egg & cream.  Divide tuna amongst flan dishes.  Sprinkle with dill, salt & pepper.  Pour egg mixture into each.  Do not be afraid to pour clear to the top.  Place dishes on cookie sheet.  Bake 25-30 minutes until lightly browned & set.


ANSWER:  Watercress, Kale & Mustard/Turnip/Collard greens.  Baby Bok Choy comes 4th, scoring 824.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthy-eating/health-starts-here/resources-and-tools/top-ten-andi-scores#greenvegetables