Small Plates

Summer Meal

One evening we decided to have a lighter leftover dinner.  Grilled brussels sprouts with ham, cracker - cheese - salmon - wasabi, watermelon and red wine. 

Be creative, have fun.

Good Eats!!

Dogs on the Grill

I'm doing some catch up from the summer!  

 

This was in preparation for The 4th Annual "Pie and Beer Day" held each July 23rd.  It was a roaring success!!

Good Eats!!

New Cooking Device

I acquired a new cooking device earlier this year.  It is a Traeger smoker and it's the bomb!!  Below it are a couple of results.

On the right - Whole Chicken - super tender and juicy.

On the left - Louisiana Style baby back ribs.


Good Eats!!

Ham, Cheese and Spinach Omelet & Cheese Grits

Breakfast the other morning!

Good Eats!!

Hamburger Gravy with Mashed Potatoes

Hamburger Gravy
1 pound of extra lean hamburger
1 chopped medium onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 oz chopped mushrooms
1 cup water
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Fry hamburger with onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  Add soup, water and mushrooms.  Bring to boil then simmer 15 minutes.

Mashed Potatoes
4-5 medium peeled and sliced
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream

Boil potatoes 15-20 minutes in pot of salted water.  Drain, add butter and sour cream, mash to desired consistency.  Some like it chunky, some like it smooth and creamy.  You can substitute milk for the sour cream if desired and you can use additional milk if potatoes are too dry ( usually just add a little more sour cream. 

For a quick easy meal you an add any vegetable to complete.  You can double the recipe and have left overs which are fantastic heated in the microwave.  Nothin' more home cookin' than mashed potatoes and gravy!

Good Eats!!

Bone-in Pork Chops with Stir-Fry Veges

Pork Chops:
4 cut pork chops with bone
3-4 medium potatoes sliced 1" thick with skin on
1 10 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 medium onion sliced in rings


Dredge pork chops in a mixture of flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  In a heated skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil, sear chops on both sides.  Add soup, an additional can of water, potatoes and onions.  Liquid should cover most of ingredients (if not add a more soup and water).  Bring to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft (20 - 30 minutes).

Stir-Fry Vegetables:
Mini carrots
Broccoli heads
Pea pods
Mushrooms
Cherry tomatoes
Juice of a lemon

In a heated skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil start with carrots, broccoli, and pea pods, salt and pepper to taste and cook on medium heat until carrots soften.  Add mushrooms and cook until they reduce.  Add tomatoes, cook until they are warm.  Finish with the lemon juice and toss to coat the veges.

This simple recipe makes a very hearty meal.  As an option you can add the carrots to the chops, forgo the rest of the vegetables, and have it done in one pan. 

Good Eats!!

"Hottie Dogs" by Sydnie

This is a kids recipe by my granddaughter Sydnie.   

Hottie Dogs:
hot dogs
thin ham slices
shredded cheese
tooth picks


Cut hot dogs in half and grill.  Place 2 ham slices on microwave safe dish.  Lay hot dogs on ham slice and sprinkle with cheese.  Roll ham and cheese around hot dog.  Microwave for 30 seconds on high melting cheese.  Slice and insert toothpicks. 

Good Eats!

Sydnie and her grandmother, Susan.