Honey-Mustard Butterfly Pork Chops

I remember, when I was young, Grandpa tearing off a hunk of bread, slathering it with yellow mustard, not butter, and devouring it. 

He also ate 2 scrambled eggs, in lard, 3 meals a day forever.  He was a hard-working farmer who died in 1975, when he was 85 years old.

Back to the mustard ~ it’s hands down my favorite condiment also.  Use your favorite mustard in this recipe; be it yellow, Dijon, or stone ground.

I guarantee if you spread this tangy sauce of Dijon mustard, honey and seasoned pepper over your pork chops, it will jack them up into a tender moist goodness!

It doesn’t get much easier than that, nor “tastier!”

Honey-Mustard Butterfly Pork Chops

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons yellow or Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons honey

Seasoned pepper, to taste

2 butterfly pork chops

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.

Place pork chops in pan and spread sauce over chops.

Bake 30 minutes or until done.

ENJOY!!!

Pan “Fried” Ocean Perch

It’s MAY 16, snowing like mad, and all of 33 degrees! We thought it was Spring last week, but we were mistaken!  The crabapple tree in the background is just starting to blossom.

This is why we don’t plant flowers, nor have pots of flowers on the deck, etc. until after Memorial weekend; although, new shrubs and bushes are supposed to be planted today.  We’ll see…

As for the ocean perch:  it’s also known as “redfish,” “rockfish,” or “redbream,” with its red skin and white flesh, and a hint of the saltwater it resides in. 

It’s closely related to haddock and is found in the North Atlantic Ocean near North America and Europe.  It’s small and has a somewhat delicate texture; usually not firm enough to grill.

I pan-fried the perch with a light breading in a small amount of oil, about 4 minutes per side. It cooked into a crispy golden hue that gave a crunch with every delicious bite!  It was mouthwatering good, easy and quick ~ it hit the spot!

Pan-fried Ocean Perch

Ingredients:

1 pound ocean perch fillets

¼ cup each flour and cornmeal

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon basil

½ teaspoon seasoned pepper

2-3 tablespoons canola oil

Method:

Combine flour and cornmeal.

Blend in next 4 ingredients.

Dredge fish in flour mixture.

Heat enough oil to coat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.

Cook fish about 4 minutes each side, until it is cooked through and flakes easily.

Serve

ENJOY!

Pork Tenderloin Paprikash over Egg Noodles

We’re still having cool weather here ~ heavy thunderstorms last evening, so this dish was flat out delicious for the circumstances:  bites of tender pork topping egg noodles that soak up the rich-tasting tangy sauce!

Pork paprikash is native to Hungary, and a close cousin of goulash.  I make it using sweet paprika; you make it with hot paprika, if you like the heat.

Chunks of pork are browned, and then simmered, in a sauce of paprika, onions and bell peppers.  Sour cream richens the savory flavors of the dish.  Unfortunately, I don’t recall the source of the recipe.

We fall for this dish every time I make it ~ it’s comfort food of the highest order!

It’s definitely a delicious vivid colorful dish!

Pork Tenderloin Paprikash

Ingredients:

8 ounces egg noodles

1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, timed and cut into 1-inch chunks

½ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon pepper

5 teaspoons olive oil, divided

1½ cups chopped onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

2 teaspoon garlic, minced

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika

1½ cups unsalted chicken stock

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

3 tablespoons low-fat sour cream

Method:

Cook noodles according to package directions.  Drain, set aside and keep warm.

Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add 2 teaspoons oil.

Add pork, cook 4 minutes, browning on all sides.

Remove pork from pan.

Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pan.

Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic.

Sauté 4 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Add flour, tomato paste and paprika, combine well.

Add stock and vinegar, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.

Add pork, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until pork is tender.

Remove skillet from heat, stir in sour cream.

Adjust salt and pepper, if needed.

Serve over hot noodles.

Serves 4

ENJOY!

Mother’s Day is a Twofer for Me

Dad reminded me every May 11^th ~ about the twin heifers born on our farm ~ the same morning I was born.  

I never did ask where he spent most of the day, in the hospital, or in the barn.  ☺

This May 11^th, it has happened 11 times during my lifetime…

My birthday falls on Mother’s Day.

That makes it easy for the family, it’s a twofer!

Here’s wishing all you moms a

Happy Mother’s Day

full of  

happiness, love and relaxation

doing what you like to do best

because it’s

YOUR day!

ENJOY!!!

And especially to you, Mom!

Happy Mother’s Day!

I miss you…

Asparagus with Toasted Black Sesame Seeds and Roasted Garlic Sea Salt

Asparagus season is here!

I see asparagus growing wild in the countryside around our area ~ it’s spindly, pencil-thin, and easily entangles itself in briars and grasses.  Through growing methods and knowledge, grocery store asparagus has a thicker stem and more edible flesh for cooking, not like wild asparagus at all.

There are records of asparagus being grown in ancient Rome and Greece.  Over 2,000 years ago, Egyptians cultivated asparagus for medicinal reasons, and it was apparently so revered, that they ceremoniously offered it up to the gods.

Aside from its delicious taste, it’s a popular veggie because of how speedily it cooks.  The saying, “as quick as you can cook asparagus” is an old Roman expression.  The Romans were so enamored of asparagus, that legend tells us they engaged a whole fleet of ships just for fetching it.

And, now for the recipe:  it’s a quick side dish filled with tasty flavors.  Garlic sea salt enhances the asparagus while roasted sesame seeds deliver a nutty flavor.  This is a delicious way to enjoy your asparagus and eat your veggies! 

Kudos to the asparagus gods!

Black Sesame Seed Asparagus

Ingredients:

1 pound asparagus

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

½ teaspoon Morton Roasted Garlic Sea Salt*

½ teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, toasted**

 Method:

Snap off woody ends of asparagus, rinse, slice into 2” pieces.

Fill a large saucepan with an inch or two of water, and bring to a boil.

Add asparagus, cover and cook for about 4-5 minutes, or until fork tender.

Drain well.

Combine remaining ingredients and toss lightly with asparagus.

3-4 servings

*This is a new item in the stores here; I think it’s great! 

**Toast black sesame seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cover pan with a lid.  Some seeds will pop and the lid keeps them in the skillet.  Shake skillet after a minute, and then let heat for another minute or so, until there is a nutty aroma.  Pour seeds in a bowl until ready to use.

ENJOY!

Veal Cutlets with Tomato and Basil

When we want veal for dinner, this is my go to recipe ~ it’s quick and easy ~ a delicious entrée.

I slightly adapted an Epicurious recipe.  The main difference is in the cheese.  I topped the veal with grated Parmesan before serving, while the original recipe calls for topping the veal with slices of Mozzarella cheese, and allowing it to melt before serving.

The dried red pepper gives it zip, and you may like adding red wine as a deglazer after the veal is sautéed.  Serve it with angel hair pasta and a little mesclun salad, and there you have a complete scrumptious meal!

Veal Cutlets with Tomato and Basil

Ingredients:

1 pound veal cutlets

Flour

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

Non-stick olive oil cooking spray

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 garlic cloves, chopped

2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, in juice

¼ cup (packed) chopped fresh basil

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1 teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Method:

Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat.

Dust veal with flour and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Sauté until brown, about 2 minutes.

Transfer veal to a plate and keep warm.

If needed, coat skillet with cooking spray.

Add garlic and sauté for a minute or so.

Stir in tomatoes and next 4 ingredients; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium-low.

Simmer until flavors blend and sauce thickens slightly, about 8 minutes.

Top with cutlets and allow to simmer until veal is tender.

Arrange veal over tomato mixture on a platter.

Sprinkle with Parmesan.

4 servings

ENJOY!