Oven BBQ Pork Steaks

All the credit for this one goes to The Hubbs!   I came home from the j-o-b to find this in the oven, baking away.  It was sooooooooooooo good . . .very tender and absolutely sweet and delicious.  Best BBQ I've had in a long time.  I imagine this sauce would be good on other items too.  If you cannot find pork steaks, pork chops will be a great substitute.

Oven BBQ Pork Steaks

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2-4 Pork Steaks

1/2 Cup Ketchup

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon Low Sodium Soy Sauce

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

Liquid Smoke - just a couple drops

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Nature's Seasoning (or Salt and Pepper)

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Spray a baking sheet or pan with nonstick spray.

Step 2: Place the pork steaks onto the baking sheet.  Season with Nature's Seasoning.  Sprinkle with garlic powder and onion powder.

Step 3:  In a bowl, mix together the ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire and liquid smoke.  Pour over the steaks. 

Step 4:  Place in the pan into the oven and bake for 1 hour.  If making chops instead of steaks, you may need to decrease the baking time.

Cracked-Top Jello Cookies

Summertime.  We have a love-hate relationship.  I hate heat and humidity and sometimes even sunshine.  But I really do love the longer days and not wearing a coat.  As a child, I usually hid in the basement where it was cool and dark until the evening hours (my parent's house did not have air conditioning).  Then, in the cooler hours, I would go for long bike rides, hang out with friends and enjoy life.  One of the summertime staples that helped me through those long, dreaded, high humidity days - were these cookies.  They are definitely a summertime cookie - fruity, sweet and slightly tangy.  You can use any flavor Jello you want - experiment with your favorites!  I made a batch of orange ones and a batch of cherry lemonade as well.

Cracked-Top Jello Cookies

Yield: 3 - 4 dozen, depending on the size

Ingredients:

1 Cup White Sugar

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup Shortening

1 Egg

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Cups Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

2 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Small Package of Jello
Food Coloring (optional)

Step 1:  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.  Prepare your cookie sheets by greasing them.

Step 2:  In the bowl of a mixer, cream the sugars and shortening.  Add the egg and mix well.

Step 3:  Add the remaining ingredients and mix until incorporated.  Please note, the food coloring is optional.

Step 4:  Roll dough into a 1-inch balls.  This cookie dough is a bit more dry than a usual cookie, so make sure you really roll them well. DO NOT FLATTEN THEM.  

Step 5:  Bake for 13-15 minutes.  Remove from oven, remove cookies from the baking sheet and place on cooling rack.  Let cool.  

Can't help being overwhelmed with emotion each time I see my mother's handwriting!

Easy Clams Linguine

Mmmmm....a delicious, garlicky bowl of pasta  that will leave you slurping up the extra sauce from the bowl.  Very easy, amazingly delicious.

Easy Clams Linguine

Serves 4

Ingredients:

3 Cans of Minced Clams with Juice

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

3 Tablespoons Butter

1/2 Cup Onion, Finely Diced

4 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

1 Teaspoon Oregano

1 Tablespoon Basil

1 Tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning

1 LB Linguine, Cooked

Parsley to Serve

Parmesan Cheese to Serve

Step 1:  In a large pan, melt the butter and add the olive oil.

Step 2:  Add the garlic and onion to the pan.  Cook until the onion is soft, but not browned.

Step 3:  Add the lemon juice, crushed red pepper, oregano, basil and Old Bay.  Stir until combined.

Step 4:  Add the clams with juice.  Simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 5:  Pour the sauce over the cooked linguine.  Top with a little parsley and serve with Parmesan cheese.

Amazing.

Balsamic Glazed Asparagus

Delicious, tender asparagus glazed in a sweet, tangy sauce made of butter and balsamic vinegar.  What could be more tasty?  The earthy and bold flavors go perfectly with a tender, juicy steak.  You can thank me later.

Balsamic Glazed Asparagus

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 Pound Asparagus, cleaned and trimmed

1 Tablespoon Low-Sodium Soy Sauce

1 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Step 1:  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Lay out the asparagus on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Step 2:  Place baking sheet with asparagus in the oven and roast it for 12-15 minutes or until desired consistency.

Step 3:  While the asparagus is in the oven . . . on the stove top in a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, butter and balsamic vinegar.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, and then turn to low once the butter has melted.

Step 4:  After the asparagus has been pulled from the oven, place on or in your serving dish of choice and pour the sauce over the asparagus.  Serve!

Hot Fudge Sauce

Sometimes, you just really want hot fudge sauce....or specifically a Peanut Buster Parfait . . .which is basically all about the hot fudge sauce.  Just sayin'.  And truth be told, you are too lazy to go drive to DQ to get a PBP.   And hot fudge is kind of spendy at the store.  So instead, just make up a batch of this easy and decadent hot fudge sauce.  Pour it over ice cream while the sauce is still warm....mmmmm.  Or, eat is straight from the pan - I'm not here to judge.  Just sayin'.  

Please note that this recipe does use a little instant coffee.  It is not enough to make it coffee or mocha flavored.  Rather, it just adds a little bit of dimension to the flavor.  If you've ever worked in a restaurant that serves hot fudge, you likely may already know that it is very commonplace to thin out the fudge sauce with coffee when it gets too thick.  So, don't be afraid!  You will love it!

Hot Fudge Sauce

Yield:  1 Pint

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Salted Butter

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/4 Cup Half and Half (or whatever kind of milk you have on hand)

1 Teaspoon Instant Coffee (optional)

Step 1:  In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.  Once melted, add the Half and Half, cocoa powder and instant coffee.  Stir until the instant coffee and cocoa powder is dissolved.  Remove from heat.

Step 2:  Add the sweetened condensed milk to the pan and stir until combined.  If it seems too thin - place back over low heat and stir until desired consistency.  Too thick?  Add a little more Half and Half if necessary.  Serve warm.  Store any leftover in the fridge.  This will keep up to a month if stored in the fridge.

Baked Potato Salad

Here is a quick and easy side dish or small meal.  All the wonderful flavors of a yummy loaded baked potato, except in salad form and served cold!  Sour cream, chives, garlic, onion, bacon . . .oh my!  I'm filing it under single-serve, but it could be two servings  . . .if you were the sharing type of person! 

Baked Potato Salad

Serves 1-2

Ingredients:

1 Large Potato, Baked and Cooled

1/2 Small Onion, Diced Fine

1 Teaspoon Chives

1/4 Cup Sour Cream

2 Tablespoons Milk

1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Nature's Seasoning

1 Tablespoon Bacon Bits

1 Tablespoon Cheddar Cheese

Step 1:  Cut the cooled, baked potato into bite-sized pieces.  Place in a medium sized bowl.

Step 2: Add the diced onion, chives, bacon bits and cheese to the bowl.  Set aside.

Step 3:  Time to make the dressing!  In a small bowl:  combine the sour cream milk, garlic powder, and Nature's Seasoning.  Stir well.

Step 4:  Pour the dressing over potatoes etc.  Gently stir to combine.  You can serve immediately - but if you let it chill for about a half hour, it tastes even better!

Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

Mmmmmmm....warm banana bread with chocolate chips.  Always a favorite.  But sometimes you just don't have an hour or two to commit to baking a full loaf of banana bread!  In this mug cake - you'll find all same flavors . . .just pared down to a few ingredients.  Look at that lovely color on mine!  That comes from a farm fresh egg :)  Regardless of if your eggs are store bought or from a local farmer . . .this mug cake will make your tummy smile and leave you feeling satisfied (without the hour long wait!).

Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

Serves 1 (Generously!!!)

Ingredients:

1 Medium Ripe Banana, Mashed

1 Tablespoon Applesauce

1 Egg

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 Tablespoon Milk

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

3 Tablespoons Flour

1 Tablespoon Chocolate Chips

Step 1:  In a large mug, combine the mashed banana, applesauce, egg, milk and honey.  Stir well with a fork to combine.

Step 2:  To the mug, add the flour, baking powder and chocolate chips.  Stir with the fork until well combined.

Step 3:  Place in microwave and cook for 1 minute.  If the center is firm (not jiggly) - it is done.  If it still appears jiggly - cook another 30 seconds.  Repeat in 30 second intervals until the center is no longer jiggly.  Mine took 2 minutes.

Step 4:  Let cool for 5 minutes.  Enjoy!