Hibiscus Lime Drumsticks

I was so excited to receive dried Hibiscus with my last Bountiful Basket order, but I have been having a hard time trying to use it.  This was an excellent way to use Hibiscus and added a light and delicious flavor mix with the lime. 

Ingredients:

 3 Tbsp Olive Oil

 Juice of 4 Limes

1-2 Handfuls of Dried Hibiscus

4-5 Leaves of Fresh Basil (Can be substituted to 1 Tbsp of dried Basil)

 Seasoning (Tarragon, Mediterranean Spiced Sea Salt)

5-6 Chicken Drumsticks

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the Oil, Lime Juice, Hibiscus, Basil. and seasoning together in a bowl. Roll the drumsticks one at a time into the mixture and place into a deep pan (I covered with tinfoil to make cleaning easy). Once complete, pour the remaining mixture over top of the drumsticks in the pan and the sprinkle with additional seasoning. Cook for 40-50 minutes or until done all the way through. Serve & Enjoy!

Getting ready to cook :)

Mix up the ingredients to coat the chicken into :)

Bake and enjoy!

Orange Brandy Pork

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love pork.  So what is better than to mix some delicious brandy into your pork?  Enjoy this succulent and easy recipe!

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp Butter (Unsalted)
3 Pork Loins
Seasoning (Mediterranean Spiced Sea Salt, Basil, Thyme)
1 Carrot (Outside peeled off and then peel the rest of the carrot down to the core)
2/3 Cup Orange Juice
1/3 Cup Grand Marnier

Directions:
Add the butter into a heavy bottom skillet. Season the pork generously and add to the butter.  Cook until barely pink in the center (about 4 minutes per side).   Transfer the pork to a plate and cover. 
Add the carrot to the skillet and saute over medium heat until softened (about 4 minutes).  Add the orange juice and liquor and scrape up and remaining bits on the bottom of the pan and cook for 1 minute.
Return the pork and any remaining juices to the skillet until heated all the way through.  Serve the pork with carrot on top and sauce spooned over.  Enjoy.

Add the seasoned pork to the skillet

Saute' the carrot slices

Add the remaining ingredients

Bring the pork back to the sauce

Serve & Enjoy!

Steak Au Poivre with Disaronno

It had been far too long since I had made a delicious rendition of Steak Au Poivre, so it was time to pull this bad boy out of storage.  I was definitely not left disappointed. 

Ingredients:
Seasoning (I used Alpine Touch, Mediterranean Basil,  Spicy Montreal Steak, and Garlic Powder)
3 Steaks (Cut of steak depends on your preference)
Unsalted Butter 3 Tbsp
2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
6 Package Mushrooms Sliced
2/3 Cup (3 fl oz) Amaretto (I used Disaronno)
2/3 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Tsp Tarragon

Directions:
In a Large Frying pan over med-high heat melt 2 Tbsp butter.  While the butter is melting season the steak on both side with the seasoning of your choice.  Add the steaks to the pan to cook.  Turning once for a total of 6-8 minutes for medium rare and longer if you like your steak done more.  Transfer the steaks to a plate and store in the microwave to keep warm. 
Add the remaining 1 Tbsp butter to the pan and melt over medium heat.  Add the mushrooms and garlic, saute' until softened (about a minute).  Stir in the amaretto, cream and tarragon.  Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to simmer until slightly thickened.  Simmer for about 1-5 minutes.  Turn the heat off and return the steaks to the pan to soak into the sauce.  Serve by spooning sauce over the steak onto the plate.  Enjoy!

Cook the steaks and you can also make garlic mashed potatoes at the same time

Saute' the garlic and mushrooms

Serve & Enjoy!

Goulash From The Garden

I have been craving some delish hearty goulash for a very long time, and had a ton of veggies to use up before they went bad, so I decided to mix it all together into some delicious goulash.  I tried perusing the internet for goulash recipes to get an idea of where I wanted to go, but everything that I found was very boring and looked the same.  In the end I deiced to just close the computer and the cookbooks and just create my own from scratch, so here it is:

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger
Seasoning (Garlic Powder, Spicy Montreal Steak, Alpine Touch)
10 oz Ditalini dry pasta (or elbow)
24oz basil, tomato sauce
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 carrot (peeled and chopped)
1 ear of corn (cook, and cut the corn off the cob)
6 grape tomatoes (sliced)
4 mushrooms (chopped)
1 zucchini (peeled and chopped)
1/2 eggplant (peeled and chopped)
1 red pepper (seeded and chopped)

Directions:
Add the hamburger to a heavy bottom skillet and cook on med-high, add the seasoning.
Boil the pasta until al dente.
Once hamburger is browned add the sauce and warm. 
Now add all remaining ingredients and cook on low until all ingredients are thoroughly cooked and warmed. 
Serve with the hamburger sauce over a plate of pasta and enjoy!

Brown the seasoned hamburger

Add the sauce to the hamburger while the pasta is cooking

Add all remaining ingredients

Serve the hamburger sauce over the pasta and enjoy!

Orange Mint Chicken Drumsticks

I was wanting to do something with mint, and happened to have drumsticks needing to be cooked.  Viola; Orange Mint Chicken sounded delicious, and here you go:

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Orange Juice
1 tsp Orange Emulsion
1 Tbsp Dried Mint (Juiced)
Seasoning (Alpine Touch & Tarragon)
5-6 Chicken Drumsticks

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the Oil, Orange Juice, Emulsion. and seasoning together in a bowl.  Roll the drumsticks one at a time into the mixture and place into a deep pan (I covered with tinfoil to make cleaning easy).  Once complete, pour the remaining mixture over top of the drumsticks in the pan and the sprinkle with additional seasoning.  Cook for 40-50 minutes or until done all the way through.  Serve & Enjoy!

Mix the Oil, OJ, Emulsion and Spices together in a bowl

Roll the Drumsticks in the mixture and place on a foil covered cookie sheet

Take out of the over after about 50 minutes

Serve & Enjoy!

Sloppy Joes

I hadn't made any sloppy joes in about 4 months, so I figured it was about time to do some tweaking to the delicious recipe.  Here it is!

 Ingredients:

1 lb ground hamburger
Alpine Touch

2 Tbsp Butter

3 Carrots (Peeled & Minced)

3 Garlic cloves (minced)

2 Celery Stalks (Minced)

1 Tbsp Vinegar

1/2 Tbsp Crushed Red Pepper

1/2 Tbsp Thyme

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar Bourbon Grill Mate (or another great steak seasoning) 

1/2 Tbsp Parsley

3 Tbsp Brown Sugar

3 Tbsp Tomato Paste

1/2 Cup Ketchup

1/2 Cup BBQ sauce (Hickory Mesquite Smoke for a delicious smokey flavor)

Directions:

Brown the hamburger.  Drain and set aside.

In a separate pan add the Butter, minced carrots and garlic and saute' for 2-3 minutes.  Add the minced celery and cook for another minute.  Add the Vinegar and seasoning and cook for another minute or two to thoroughly season the veggies.  Add all remaining ingredients and thoroughly mix.  Add the hamburger to the mixture and simmer for about 15 minutes.  Sauce will be ready to serve.  Serve on your favorite bun, roll or bread for the best eating experience. 

Season and brown the hamburger

Add the butter, minced garlic and minced carrots to a heavy bottom skillet

Add in the minced celery and cook on medium heat

Add the spices

Add the remaining ingredients

Mix thoroughly

Add in the hamburger and stir to warm

Serve & Enjoy

Potato Pesto Soup

This is one of my all-time favorite recipes, as it always turns out amazing.  It saves well and has great repeat meal value. 

Ingredients:

10 slices of Maple Bacon (Chopped)

5 Large Red Potatoes

1 Large Red Pepper (Seeded)

2 Tbsp Butter

2 1/2 Cup Chicken Stock

2 1/2 Cup Milk

6-8 oz Conchigliette (small shell pasta)

2/3 Cup Heavy Cream

Chopped Parsley

Garlic Salt

Basil

Pesto Sauce Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley (Chopped)

3 Garlic Cloves (Crushed)

1/2 Cup Pine Nuts (Crushed)

2 Tbsp chopped Basil

1/2 Cup Grated/Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

2/3 Cup Olive Oil

Directions:

To make the pesto sauce, put all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend for about 2 minutes. 

Chop the bacon, potatoes, and red pepper.  Cook the bacon in a large pot over medium heat for about 4 minutes.  Add the butter, potatoes, and red pepper and cook for 12 minutes, frequently stirring. 

Add the chicken stock and the milk to the pan and bring to a boil.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  add the conchigliette and simmer for an additional 10-12 minutes.  

Blend in the cream and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add the parsley and mix thoroughly.  Stir the pesto into the soup until mixed all the way through.  Serve topped with a sprinkle of the shredded cheese and a dash of basil or parsley on top.

Add the pesto ingredients into a blender

Blend until thoroughly mixed

Add the chopped bacon into a large pot

Add the butter, potatoes and red pepper

Add the milk and chicken stock

Add the conchigliette

Simmer with the cream

Add int he pesto and the parsley

Serve & Enjoy

Vote For My Menu: June Edition

I took a month off to catch up on being a full-time student, but it's that time again, come vote for my menu!  This decision is based solely on 4 main course and 4 dessert recipes that I choose and then you vote to come to a FINAL decision.  After a week's time I will cook my version of the selected recipe and provide step-by-step instructions along with photos!  To vote just comment your Number and letter choice.  Thank you all in advance for your continued support and participation!

Main Dish Options

Option 1: Pork Tenderloin with Pomegranate Glaze
I can only imagine how delicious these flavors would compliment one another.







Original Recipe: Pork tenderloin with pomegranate glaze












Option 2: Cheese Tortellini with Spinach & Slow Roasted Tomatoes
After many requests I have promised to always provide a vegetarian choice.  As much as I love meat, there are so many amazing recipes that do not need it, such as this one.

Original Recipe: Cheese Tortellini with spinach & slow roasted tomatoes








Option 3: Sweet & Sour Chicken-Apricot Skewers
I am intrigued by this recipe and would love to try it.

Original Recipe: Sweet & Sour Chicken Apricot Skewers










Option 4: Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa
This could be really awesome or really weird, let's try it!

Original Recipe: Salmon with Avocado








Dessert Options

Option A: Gooey Crock Pot Monkey Bread
I have been saving this amazing recipe for months, and can't wait to try it out!

Original Recipe: Gooey Crockpot Monkey Bread









Option B: Pear & Pistachio Crisp
I really wonder what this combination would taste like.

Original Recipe: Pear & Pistachio Crisp









Option C: Rice Pudding with Cherries

Rice Pudding AND Cherries, and there is also WHITE chocolate, I am salivating just thinking about it!

Original Recipe:

Rice-pudding-with-cherries

Option D: Bourbon Cake with Caramel Glaze
This sounds so exciting and yummy

Original Recipe: Waterford Reserve Bourbon Cake with Caramel Glaze

Roasted Lamb with Orange-Honey-Thyme Glaze

I got inspiration from a couple different recipes when perusing lamb and decided to take some of their ideas on glaze and roasting and then completely change them haha.  Which is usually how I cook.  And I must admit that this recipe turned out to be amazing delicious!  I love lamb and any time I can find it on sale, I will buy it.  Hope that you can enjoy this delicious recipe as much as I did.

Lamb
Ingredients:
3 Lamb Loin Chops
1 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Orange Peel (Grated)
1 Tbsp Thyme
1/2 Tbsp Dried Mint
1 tsp Oregano
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
*Optional  Cutie Oranges (peeled & separated to garnish)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.  Combine all ingredients except for the lamb and orange garnish and mix together.  Set up a deep baking pan lined with foil.  Put a roasting rack on top of the foil.  Take the lamb one at a time and completely cover it in the glaze and place on the roasting rack.   Roast for 25 minutes and check the temperature.  Cook for another 10 minutes and you should be around the 125 degree mark for medium rare.  Continue to cook as desired.  Serve with optional orange garnish and honey drizzle on top.  Enjoy!

Sweet Potato
Ingredients:
1 large sweet potato (peeled & chopped)
1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
Dash of Nutmeg
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Mini Marshmallows

Directions:
Place the chopped sweet potato in a pan and cover to the top of the potatoes with water.  Cook on high and boil until water is almost completely gone.  (Potatoes should be soft and easy to mash) Turn heat to low and add remaining ingredients.  Mix thoroughly and serve with a dash of cinnamon on top. 

Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl

Cover the lamb with the glaze and place on the roasting rack and put into the oven

Add the potatoes to the pan and cover with water

Add remaining ingredients to the potatoes and mix thoroughly

Remove the lamb from the oven

Ready to eat

Serve & Enjoy!