Category: Main Dishes


Jan
2015

Coq au Vin

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes
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You will LOVE Coq au Vin, a classic French dish, featuring braised chicken, served in a creamy wine sauce filled with bacon, onions, mushrooms and garlic!You will LOVE Coq au Vin, a classic French dish, featuring braised chicken served in a creamy wine sauce filled with bacon, onions, mushrooms and garlic!

Well, the New Year has started, and the first NEW recipe I’ve tried in 2015 is this one for Coq au Vin (Chicken and Wine).  And let me tell you, this was a fantastic dish! My husband is still raving about it (he studied French, so I had to ask HOW to pronounce the name of this dish)!

Coq au Vin (pronounced “kawk aw van”) is usually cooked in burgundy wine, but in one region of France (Alsace), it is typically cooked with Riesling (a white wine). This is THAT kind of recipe, and I love the color of this sauce, when paired with the browned chicken. The recipe is fairly easy… just a matter of following the steps in order, until you have this wonderful entree!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Coq au Vin Smells Amazing While It Cooks!

When I cooked this for dinner a couple of days ago, our house smelled absolutely incredible! I mean… how can you not love the smells of braising chicken, cooking away in a creamy wine sauce, complete with bacon, garlic, onions and mushrooms? Seriously ridiculous!

A few hours AFTER dinner, my husband went outside to get something out of our car, and when he came back into the house, he said, “Oh my gosh… the house smells soooo good! Yeah… trust me, it smells THAT good!

How To Make Coq au Vin

Here’s a few pics I took while making it:  First you melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet, and get the pan really hot.

Olive oil and butter melting in skillet for coq au vin.

Into the hot skillet go the chicken pieces (for this batch I used 4 thighs, 4 drumsticks). Let them sear (without moving them) for 3-4 minutes on each side, then remove from skillet.

Chicken pieces are seared in olive oil and butter.

The next thing to do is sauté the onions and bacon until the fat from the bacon has been rendered.

Chopped onions and bacon are cooked until fat is rendered.

Cook the sliced mushrooms in the leftover bacon fat.

Sliced mushrooms are cooked in bacon drippings in skillet.

Add The Chicken Back Into The Skillet

Now add the chicken and the cooked onions, bacon, and garlic back into the skillet… you will begin to smell this dish right about now!

Chicken, onions, garlic are added back into coq au vin sauce.

Add the white wine, then cover the skillet while the coq au vin continues cooking. The alcohol in the wine will dissipate as it cooks, but the flavor it adds to the dish is wonderful!

Wine is added to skillet for coq au vin sauce.

After 15 minutes of covered cooking, the whipping cream is added to the skillet and mixed in. Let the chicken continue to cook, uncovered for the remainder of the time. Now the coq au vin REALLY smells good, and looks good enough to eat!

Whipping cream is added to coq au vin sauce.

Serve the Coq Au Vin

The coq au vin is finished by sprinkling the tops of the chicken pieces with a handful of chopped parsley. Now this amazing dish is ready to serve!

Coq au vin is served, garnished with chopped parsley.

YUM! Serve this chicken and sauce (coq au vin) up with a side of rice or pasta… STAT! Be sure to spoon some of the amazing sauce over the dish, too!

Coa au vin is ready to serve!

I found this recipe on Pinterest a while back, and finally got around to trying it as my first “newbie” recipe of the New Year! I am positive I will be making this again. Not only does it taste wonderful, but it smells AMAZING, and looks rather elegant, also!  Sure hope you will give this delicious recipe for coq au vin a try. I think you are gonna love it!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of fantastic chicken recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe slightly adapted from: http://simply-delicious-food.com/2013/06/26/nigel-slaters-coq-au-riesling/

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Coq au Vin
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 
You will LOVE Coq au Vin, a classic French dish, featuring braised chicken served in a creamy wine sauce filled with bacon, onions, mushrooms and garlic!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: French
Keyword: coq au vin
Servings: 8 servings (or 4 if having 2 pieces each)
Calories Per Serving: 533 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium brown onions , finely chopped
  • 3 slices bacon , sliced into thin strips about 2" long
  • 4 garlic cloves , minced
  • 8 chicken pieces (with bone in) (I use 4 thighs and 4 drumsticks)
  • 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms (white button or mini portabella)
  • 2 cups dry white wine (I used a Riesling)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • salt & pepper (to season raw chicken with, and to taste, when chicken is complete)
  • handful of chopped parsley , for garnish, if desired
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, melt the butter and the oil. Heat skillet to medium-high.
  2. Lightly season pieces of chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken pieces into a very hot skillet. Do not move the pieces once you first put them in skillet. Let them sear on each side until golden brown (about 3-4 minutes per side). Once chicken is browned on all sides, remove to a plate and set aside.
  3. Add the finely chopped onions and the bacon pieces to the hot skillet. Let them both cook about 5 minutes or so, until onions become translucent and the bacon has rendered out it's fat. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, then remove & drain the mixture from the skillet, leaving the bacon grease in the pan.
  4. Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes.

  5. Add the onion/bacon mixture and the browned chicken back into the skillet. Add the wine. Allow the liquid to come to a boil. Turn the heat down to a low simmer and cover the skillet. Let the chicken cook for 15 minutes.

  6. After 15 minutes, remove the lid. Turn up the heat. Pour in the whipping cream. Stir, to combine. Let the chicken cook for another 10-12 minutes, uncovered, spooning up the sauce over the chicken pieces as they cook.

  7. When chicken is cooked through and is ready to serve, add the chopped parsley to the tops of the chicken pieces, and serve (1-2 pieces per person). Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Serve this tasty chicken with rice, pasta, along with a nice loaf of crusty bread.
This recipe makes 4 adult servings; you will have more servings if children are only having one piece of chicken. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Coq au Vin
Amount Per Serving (1 1 piece)
Calories 533 Calories from Fat 369
% Daily Value*
Fat 41g63%
Saturated Fat 17g106%
Cholesterol 148mg49%
Sodium 202mg9%
Potassium 403mg12%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 775IU16%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 48mg5%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You will LOVE Coq au Vin, a classic French dish, featuring braised chicken served in a creamy wine sauce filled with bacon, onions, mushrooms and garlic!

 

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Jan
2015

Pinto Beans And Ham

categories: Main Dishes, Pork, Soups
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Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and shredded leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!
Well, here’s my first post in 2015. Nothing fancy or glamorous, but this meal is sure inexpensive, FILLING, and delicious! If you’ve ever had extra ham or ham bones left over after a meal, then this recipe for Pinto Beans And Ham is perfect for you!

This dish (besides being quite economical) is also totally easy to prepare, so consider that a win-win! Only a few ingredients are necessary to make a big soup pot full of these tasty, filling, tender pinto beans and shredded pieces of ham, flavored with salt/pepper, cumin, onion and garlic!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Make A Pot Of Pinto Beans And Ham With Leftover Ham

I prepare this meal often, usually any time we have leftover ham (always after a holiday like Christmas or Easter, and in the cold winter months). The recipe makes about 8 servings, so there is always enough left over for other meals.

Leftover ham is perfect to use in this soup.

If you have a large ham bone from a ham hanging around (with pieces of meat still attached), that’s PERFECT! If not, then just use slices of ham, cut into small chunks. The long cooking time will help the meat to be pulled off the bone or shredded easily!

Pinto beans can be found in just about every single grocery store in the country, and are quite cheap. Buy dry pinto beans (in a bag). They will cook and soften during the cooking process.

Dried pinto beans are used to make this recipe.

Why The Beans Need To Cook for So Long

The long cooking time helps the beans to soften. Find another activity to do while they are cooking, and just check on them every hour or so to make sure there is enough liquid in the pan, and give them a good stir!

During the last part of the cooking time, the liquid will begin to thicken. This is a GOOD thing! The ham also becomes very tender, so it is easy (especially if you added big chunks), to pull it apart into smaller pieces or shreds.

Pinto beans and ham is served!

Your house will smell GREAT while these pinto beans and ham are cooking! We love to eat this thick bowl of “soup” with some Copycat Marie Callender’s Cornbread or warm, buttered flour tortillas on the side… yum!

Cornbread goes perfectly with pinto beans and ham

When all is said and done, you will end up with a nice sized pot of pinto beans and ham, and not have to sped a lot on it, especially if you start with leftover ham!

If you like pinto beans or need other ways to use dried pintos, be sure and check out my blog post on how to can dried beans or how to make refried beans in the crockpot. Both recipes start with dried pinto beans!

Hope you’ll give this humble recipe for pinto beans and ham a try. I think you’re gonna love them! Sometimes simple can be so good! Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon. Be sure to check out ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

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Pinto Beans And Ham
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 5 mins
 
Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and shredded leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pinto beans and ham
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 289 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 bag pinto beans (regular sized - about 2-3 cups)
  • 1 large leftover ham bone (with meat attached), OR 2 cups chopped cooked ham
  • 1 medium brown onion , chopped
  • 1 heaping Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Water
  • Additional Salt/Pepper , to taste (I usually have to add more before serving)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Rinse the pinto beans in a strainer. Place beans into a large stockpot. Cover completely with water.
  2. Add ham bone (or chopped ham). Add additional water, if necessary to more than cover the beans and ham.
  3. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin.
  4. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low heat. Let beans cook for approximately 4 hours. For first half of cooking time, keep a lid on the beans, but with lid vented. After about 2 hours, remove the lid and continue cooking, uncovered for remainder of time. As water level begins to reduce, add a bit more water back into the pot so that beans remain submerged during cooking time.
  5. Check beans to make sure they are fully softened. Remove ham bone from pot; remove any ham meat from bone and add the ham back into the pot.
  6. Taste test the beans when fully cooked. Mixture will thicken slightly as the amount of water reduces through the long cooking time. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
  7. Serve hot with some cornbread or tortillas on the side, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Pinto Beans And Ham
Amount Per Serving (1 serving (1/8th of total))
Calories 289 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 671mg29%
Potassium 1028mg29%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 11g46%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin C 5.9mg7%
Calcium 87mg9%
Iron 3.9mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and shredded leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!

 

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Dec
2014

Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole

categories: Casseroles, Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern
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It’s easy to make this yummy layered chicken enchilada casserole, filled with chicken, corn tortillas, creamy sauce, onions, green chiles, and cheddar cheese.It's easy to make this yummy layered chicken enchilada casserole, filled with chicken, corn tortillas, creamy sauce, onions, green chiles, and cheddar cheese.
I received this recipe for a Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole from my Mom’s best friend over 35 years ago. It is a family favorite meal to this day. It’s a recipe I have made countless times over the years, and during my 30+ years of heading to work every day, really appreciated how quickly it can be assembled, cooked, and enjoyed!

I love Mexican food, and typically eat enchiladas with the traditional red sauce. However, this recipe has a white sauce, with onions and green chiles, so the very first time I made it years ago, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. I was wrong. This is a hearty casserole that can easily serve 8-10 people. It’s not too spicy, but has a wonderful flavor from the layers of chicken, corn tortillas, green chiles, onions, white sauce, and cheese. It is absolutely delicious (especially the second day, for leftovers!), and is a snap to prepare.

Since the baking time is only 30 minutes,  it is easy to prepare early in the day, cover and refrigerate it until ready to cook, then slam it (such a nice verbal picture, huh?) in the oven, and enjoy it a short time later. Here’s a few pics to show you the “ho-to’s of making this easy casserole:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Preparing The Sauce

Cook the onions and green chiles in a large skillet to begin making the sauce for this casserole.

Onions and green chiles are cooked to make sauce for casserole

The remaining sauce ingredients are added to the skillet, and now the sauce is cooking happily.

Chicken enchilada casserole sauce cooks until thick and creamy.

Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole Is Assembled, One Layer At A Time

3 layers are added, consisting of tortillas, chicken, sauce and cheddar cheese. Once fully layered, the casserole is ready to bake! This layering is easy to do, because you don’t have to fill and roll the tortillas, as you need to do with traditional enchiladas! You just have to tear the tortillas into pieces and LAYER them!

Layers of tortillas, chicken, sauce and cheese in pan, ready to bake.

Here is the layered chicken enchilada casserole ready to eat, with a small salad on the side. Cheesy, chicken enchilada casserole… for the win!

Layered chicken enchilada casserole served with side salad.

Hope you will give this layered chicken enchilada casserole a try. It’s EASY and DELICIOUS. I REALLY think you will like it, and the leftovers can be EASILY reheated, too!

Looking For More CASSEROLE Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have several casserole dishes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Have a wonderful day!

Author's signatureOriginal recipe source: Sandy Rohrbacher

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5 from 4 votes
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Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 
It's easy to make this yummy layered chicken enchilada casserole, filled with chicken, corn tortillas, creamy sauce, onions, green chiles, and cheddar cheese.
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Mexican, Southwestern
Keyword: chicken enchilada casserole
Servings: 10 servings
Calories Per Serving: 228 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) , boiled and cubed (save the broth!)
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
  • 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
  • 4 ounce can diced green chiles
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 small brown onion , chopped
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
Make the sauce:
  1. Melt the tablespoon of butter in large skillet. Add the chopped onion and green chiles. Saute these for 3-4 minutes, or until onion is translucent and tender. Add the chicken broth and the contents of both cans of soup to the skillet. Mix well to combine. Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes.
Make the casserole:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Layer the ingredients in this order: 1) 4 tortillas, torn into small pieces, 2) 1/3 of the chicken pieces, 3) 1/3 of the sauce, 4) 1/3 of the grated cheese.
  3. Repeat the layers 2 more times, ending with the grated cheese.
  4. Bake casserole, uncovered for 30 minutes or until heated all the way through.
  5. Remove casserole from oven. Let stand for approximately 5 minutes or so, to enable the cheese to firm up a bit (this will make cutting it and serving it up MUCH easier!)
  6. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

A whole rotisserie chicken can also be used as a substitute for the cooked chicken breasts, if you're pinched for time. Easy!

Nutrition Facts
Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/10 of total))
Calories 228 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 55mg18%
Sodium 349mg15%
Potassium 295mg8%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 290IU6%
Vitamin C 6.8mg8%
Calcium 199mg20%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!It's easy to make this yummy layered chicken enchilada casserole, filled with chicken, corn tortillas, creamy sauce, onions, green chiles, and cheddar cheese.

 

 

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Dec
2014

Classic Beef Stew

categories: Beef, Main Dishes, Soups
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Classic Beef Stew, a “comfort food” soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!Classic Beef Stew, a "comfort food" soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!

My husband and I just returned home after an 11 day road trip to San Diego for Thanksgiving.  It was freezing cold when we returned to our home in Oregon, so I decided to make some Classic Beef Stew for our first dinner home.

I found the recipe for this stew in one of my old copies of Taste of Home magazine years ago. I had cut out the recipe and saved it, but had never made this particular recipe before. I grew up in a home where my Mom made beef stew all the time, and that has been the recipe I have used for years, but decided to try this one, this time.

It turned out wonderful!  This classic beef stew is baked over a couple of hours time, so the entire house smelled so amazingly good! My husband and I enjoyed this beef stew; it was easy to make, and since it yields 6-8 servings, we have leftovers for another meal!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Classic Beef Stew

Here is how you make this hearty stew.  Start by browning the stew meat in an ovenproof baking dish.

Beef stew meat is browned in ovenproof pan.

Pan seared, browned stew meat is used to make classic beef stew.

Time To Bake The Beef Stew

Add chopped onions, tomatoes, beef broth, garlic, and spices to the stew meat in the pan. Give it all a good stir, to mix it together.

Tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices are added to classic beef stew in pan.

You will need to transfer the mixture to an ovenproof baking dish, if not already using one, then bake the stew (covered) for 1½ hours. Pretty positive you are gonna love the smell in your kitchen as this classic beef stew bakes!

Classic Beef Stew is baked for one and a half hours in oven.

Remove Stew From Oven, Add Veggies And Bake Again

Remove the hot stew pan from the oven. Add potatoes, celery, carrots, and green beans to the classic beef stew. Mix well, to combine. Bake for an additional hour (covered).

Carrots, potatoes, celery and green beans are added to classic beef stew, then baked.

Classic beef stew goes back into oven after veggies are added.Time To Serve And Eat Classic Beef Stew

When done baking, carefully remove the baking dish from oven, because it will be HOT. Dish this classic beef stew up into individual bowls, to serve!  I’m pretty sure you will be surprised at how tender the meat is!

Classic Beef Stew comes out of the oven, and is now ready to eat.

I sure hope you will give this classic beef stew a try! We love it, served with some crusty sourdough bread on the side. Hope you enjoy this perfect winter meal!

Looking For More STEW Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a couple delicious stew recipes you will enjoy, like West African Chicken and Peanut Stew, or a vegetarian friendly Lentil Stew. They’re both delicious and I highly recommend them!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe slightly adapted from: Taste of Home Magazine (year unknown), pg. 55, by Alberta McKay, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma

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Classic Beef Stew
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 45 mins
 
Classic Beef Stew, a "comfort food" soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: classic beef stew
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 349 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds beef stew meat (or chuck roast), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 can (16 oz) diced tomatoes, with liquid
  • 1 can (10-1/2 oz) beef broth, undiluted
  • 3 Tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca (or whisk in 2 Tablespoons flour)
  • 1 1/2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 medium carrots , cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 3 medium potatoes , peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 cup sliced celery , cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 can green beans , cut into 2-inch pieces
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a dutch oven or large pan, heat the oil until very hot. Add the beef cubes, and cook until all sides are browned. Drain the oil from pan.
  3. Add the onion, tomatoes, beef broth, tapioca (or flour), garlic, parsley, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Bring this mixture to a boil, then remove pan from the heat.
  4. Cover pan (or transfer to an ovenproof large baking dish). Bake mixture in covered dish at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. Remove from oven.
  5. Stir in carrots, potatoes, celery and green beans. Bake, covered, 1 hour longer, or until the meat and vegetables are tender. (mine took about 15 minutes longer). Remove bay leaf before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Classic Beef Stew
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 349 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 88mg29%
Sodium 527mg23%
Potassium 927mg26%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 8090IU162%
Vitamin C 20.5mg25%
Calcium 79mg8%
Iron 6.2mg34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Classic Beef Stew, a "comfort food" soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!

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Dec
2014

Vegetarian Spicy Noodles in Peanut Sauce

categories: Asian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Pasta
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Vegetarian or not, you’ll enjoy these spicy noodles in peanut sauce! Pasta with water chestnuts, peanuts, cilantro and carrots in a creamy Thai sauce!Vegetarian or not, you'll enjoy these spicy noodles in peanut sauce! Pasta with water chestnuts, peanuts, cilantro and carrots in a creamy Thai sauce!
The recipe I am posting today is for Vegetarian Spicy Noodles In Peanut Sauce.  The recipe is yummy, and is SO EASY to make! The plus side is that it is a vegetarian entree, for my friends and family who choose to not eat meat. However, it’s fabulous and filling for meat lovers, also!

A couple of years ago, our youngest son (a big steak and burger loving guy),  decided to become a vegetarian. We were surprised, but respect his right as a grown man to eat or not eat whatever he chooses. I’ve had to adjust my menus when he comes over for a meal, but that’s really no big deal for the most part. Well, THIS recipe for spicy noodles in peanut sauce is one he would LOVE!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Spicy Noodles In Peanut Sauce Are EASY To Make!

The Thai-inspired peanut sauce is easy to make, full of flavor and coats the noodles well. This dish is on the table in a flash (20 minutes), and is a cinch to make. The recipe uses angel hair or spaghetti pasta for quick cooking noodles, AND will delight your taste buds, even if you are not a vegetarian.

You will make a simple peanut sauce by mixing the ingredients together, and use it to coat cooked pasta noodles, carrots and water chestnuts. Each serving of spicy noodles in peanut sauce is also garnished with chopped peanuts and cilantro. 

Peanut sauce is mixed together in a small bowl before adding to noodles in peanut sauce.

Trust me- even though I don’t have lots of photos, this recipe for spicy noodles in peanut sauce is GOOD! Hope you’ll give it a try, and I bet you will be surprised how very easy it is to make.

 

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a variety of yummy pasta recipes you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Author's signatureSauce recipe source: http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com/pasta/thai-chicken-pasta/

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Vegetarian - Spicy Noodles in Peanut Sauce
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Vegetarian or not, you'll enjoy these spicy noodles in peanut sauce! Pasta with water chestnuts, peanuts, cilantro and carrots in a creamy Thai sauce!

Category: Main Course, Vegetarian
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: noodles in peanut sauce
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 674 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the Peanut Sauce:
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 3 tsp. chili paste (also may substitute 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce)
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 limes , juiced
  • ½ cup hot water
  • 1 clove of garlic , minced
  • 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
For the Pasta,etc.:
  • ½ lb. spaghetti or angel hair pasta
  • 1 large carrot , julienned (matchstick cut)
  • 1 small can water chestnuts , drained
  • Handful of roasted peanuts , chopped for garnish
  • ½ bunch of cilantro , chopped (stems discarded) Save small amount for garnish on top of dish.
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Make the sauce: Put all sauce ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk or mix until fully combined. Cover and store in the refrigerator until needed (can be made ahead).
  2. Blanch the sliced (matchstick) carrots in boiling water for approximately 3 minutes, pulling them out and draining while they are still bright and crisp.
  3. Cook pasta noodles per package directions. Place drained, hot pasta in a large bowl with the carrots, water chestnuts and cilantro (save a bit of cilantro for garnish!).

  4. Pour the peanut sauce over the cooked pasta and toss well, to coat. To serve: Top pasta with additional cilantro and the chopped peanuts. Serve hot, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Vegetarian - Spicy Noodles in Peanut Sauce
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 674 Calories from Fat 243
% Daily Value*
Fat 27g42%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Sodium 1180mg51%
Potassium 795mg23%
Carbohydrates 84g28%
Fiber 8g33%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 28g56%
Vitamin A 2630IU53%
Vitamin C 12.2mg15%
Calcium 68mg7%
Iron 3.3mg18%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Vegetarian or not, you'll enjoy these spicy noodles in peanut sauce! Pasta with water chestnuts, peanuts, cilantro and carrots in a creamy Thai sauce!

 

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Nov
2014

Fully Loaded Potato Soup

categories: Bacon, Main Dishes, Soups
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Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions…tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato! Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions...tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato in SOUP form.
Do you love to make soup when it is cold outside? I sure do! One of the things I love about the crisp and cool weather in Fall is making Potato Soup… Fully Loaded Potato Soup!

Fully LOADED Potato Soup is packed with all the good things you would stuff a baked potato with, given the chance. Bacon, cheese, chives, sour cream… well, you get the picture! A hot bowl of this flavor-packed potato soup on a cold day is just what you need to satisfy a growling stomach.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Trying Out This Soup Recipe On Friends

A couple of years ago I had about 9 ladies from a Bible Study group I was in, over for lunch. I made a big pot of fully loaded potato soup. No recipe was used, I just put it all together (had made it many times from scratch!) and it was wonderful! I received several compliments on the soup. My friend, Judy asked me where I got the recipe, and told her I just made it up as I went along. I couldn’t even give her the recipe because I didn’t write anything down as I cooked. Epic FAIL.

Sooo… it’s now two years later and I finally remembered to document with PHOTOS the making of this delicious and filling, fully loaded potato soup. I made a big batch recently on a rainy, cold, dismal day (aren’t those the BEST days for making a big pot of soup?)

It’s easier than you think to make fully loaded potato soup… and IT IS YUMMY! Perfect for a cool evening’s meal (very filling) and lunch leftovers the next day! Hope you will give this recipe a try… I am confident you will LOVE it!

Making Fully Loaded Potato Soup

Chop peeled Russet potatoes into planks, then cut into small cubes. Smaller potato cubes will cook a lot faster than large chunks!

Cubing potatoes for fully loaded soup

Cook the potatoes with green onions, salt, pepper, and part of the bacon pieces until the potatoes become tender. Let me tell you, it sure smells GOOD, because of those onions and bacon!

Potatoes are cooked with green onions, bacon, etc. for soup

Add a little bit of flour to the cooked potatoes. The ingredients will continue to cook and soften. This flour will act as a thickening agent for the fully loaded potato soup, making it thick and creamy!

Flour is added to potatoes to act as a thickening agent for soup.

Time To Turn The Ingredients Into Fully Loaded Potato Soup!

Pour milk and whipping cream into the pan with the fully loaded potato soup. Once the soup has thickened, add grated cheddar cheese. Continue to cook the fully loaded potato soup, and the cheese will melt into the thickened soup. This will add another layer of flavor and creaminess.

Milk, whipping cream and cheddar cheese are added to potato soup.

Here you can see the thickened fully loaded potato soup, with the bacon and potato chunks! It looks so good, but is not quite finished!

Fully loaded potato soup is thick and creamy.

Right before serving, stir sour cream into the hot, thick fully loaded potato soup! The sour cream will add yet another layer of flavor and creaminess to the soup.

Sour cream is added to fully loaded potato soup just before serving.

Serve The Fully Loaded Potato Soup

Ladle the hot, fully loaded potato soup into individual serving bowls. It looks good just like that, but the garnishes for the soup is what helps put it over the top! Garnish each bowl of soup with crispy bacon pieces, additional cheddar cheese, and chopped chives. That REALLY pretties this soup up, and adds even more flavor! ENJOY!

Fully Loaded Potato Soup is garnished with crisp bacon, cheddar and chives.

This fully loaded potato soup is one of our family’s all time favorite soups. I hope it will become one of your favorite soups, too! Have a great day!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, at the top of the page. A few of our favorites include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

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Fully Loaded Potato Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 
Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions...tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fully loaded potato soup
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 478 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 5 large Russet potatoes , cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • Salt and Pepper , to taste
  • 2 heaping Tablespoons flour
  • 5 pieces bacon
  • 5 green onion stalks , sliced (green stem and white bulb),
  • 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese (reserve a bit for garnish)
  • 5 cups milk
  • 3/4 cup whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 Tablespoons chives , chopped (for garnish)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Cook bacon in skillet. When half way cooked, remove 2 slices. Chop into small pieces and place into a large soup pot. Continue cooking the 3 pieces of bacon remaining in the skillet until crispy. Drain, crumble, and set aside (2 slices will go into the soup later, one will be used for garnish),
  2. Melt 3 Tablespoons butter in the soup pot with the 2 slices of chopped, half-cooked bacon. Add cubed potatoes, and chopped green onions,, and stir to combine. Cook potatoes, stirring frequently for about 7-8 minutes, or until softened slightly.
  3. Generously salt and pepper the potatoes. Sprinkle potatoes with 2 heaping Tablespoons of flour. Stir well to combine..
  4. Add milk to soup pot and stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
  5. Add whipping cream (do not boil), cheddar cheese, and 2 slices crispy, (chopped) bacon. Stir to combine.
  6. Simmer on low for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.
  7. Right before you serve the soup, add the sour cream and mix well.
  8. Ladle the soup into serving bowls, and garnish with a bit of crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, and the chopped chives. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

**I usually add 2 slices of halfway cooked bacon to the soup pot to cook with the potatoes for extra flavor, BUT If you prefer, you can cook ALL the bacon until crispy. Add all but one piece to the soup at one time (saving one slice to crumble for garnish!)

Nutrition Facts
Fully Loaded Potato Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 478 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 17g106%
Cholesterol 93mg31%
Sodium 352mg15%
Potassium 872mg25%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 1075IU22%
Vitamin C 9.7mg12%
Calcium 384mg38%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions...tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato!

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Nov
2014

Crock Pot Parmesan Honey Pork Roast

categories: Main Dishes, Pork, Slow Cooker Recipes
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Make a delicious Parmesan Honey Pork Roast in a crock pot, and enjoy tender meat coated in a flavorful soy, honey, garlic, and Parmesan sauce.Make a delicious Parmesan Honey Pork Roast in a crock pot, and enjoy tender meat coated in a flavorful soy, honey, garlic, and Parmesan sauce.
It’s a rainy morning here in Oregon. I’m sitting here in my home office writing the Pork Roast I cooked in my crock pot recently, and I’m getting hungry!

We loved this new pork roast recipe I found on Pinterest, from Six Sisters Stuff. What cracks me up about the picture I took of our meal is that, while I normally add color to our meal, with salad or veggies, this one is hysterical looking.

The night I made Parmesan honey pork roast, my husband asked for baked beans to go with the meat and mashed potatoes, so everything I served us that night was BROWN. I should have re-named this meal “The Entirely Brown Meal”. Oh well- even though the color scheme on our plates was beyond boring, at least it tasted fantastic!

The pork roast only took 10 minutes to get ready, then cooked all day in my crock pot. By dinnertime the house smelled wonderful and all I had to do was slice it, make a quick gravy with the juices, and serve it. How hard is that?

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Why We Enjoy This Crock Pot Parmesan Honey Pork Roast

The sauce is wonderful. It’s made with Parmesan cheese, honey, basil, garlic, soy sauce, etc. The meat is packed with flavor and is amazingly tender!

All the juice remaining in the crock pot is made into a wonderfully delicious gravy to spoon over the pork (and mashed potatoes on the side).

Sure think you’re gonna love this easy meal as much as we did. I hope you will give it a try! But for heaven’s sake… get some color on that plate!!! Here area few pics.

Making The Pork Roast

Here is the pork roast, already in the crock pot. Now all it needs is the spice mixture to give it some flavor!

The pork roast in the crock pot, waiting to be seasoned.

This a picture of all the spices and other sauce ingredients, ready to be combined.

A seasoning sauce made up of spices, honey, garlic, etc. is mixed to put on the pork roast.

the spices are all mixed together and are ready to put onto the pork roast before cooking…

Seasoning sauce is mixed, and ready to add to crock pot with pork roast.

Ready To Cook The Parmesan Honey Pork Roast

After being coated with spice mix, the Parmesan honey pork roast is cooked in a crock pot until fully cooked and nice and tender.

The parmesan honey pork roast is coated with the spice sauce.

The crock pot parmesan honey pork roast is almost fully cooked, and is looking good. It also smells quite wonderful!

Crock pot parmesan honey pork roast is almost done cooking.

Once fully cooked, the parmesan honey pork roast rests for a couple minutes, then it’s ready to slice. Yum!

Ready to slice and serve this tender parmesan honey pork roast.

Hope you will consider making this delicious parmesan honey pork roast! It definitely tastes very good, and is really tender, because of the slow cooking in the crock pot! Thanks for stopping by today- I hope you will come back soon.

Looking For More PORK Recipes?

You can find ALL of my pork recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some absolutely delicious pork recipes for you to enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureOriginal Recipe Source: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/12/slow-cooker-parmesan-honey-pork-roast.html

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Crock Pot Parmesan Honey Pork Roast
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Total Time
6 hrs 10 mins
 

Make a delicious Parmesan Honey Pork Roast in a crock pot, and enjoy tender meat coated in a flavorful soy, honey, garlic, and Parmesan sauce.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pork roast
Servings: 5 servings
Calories Per Serving: 595 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 (2-3 pound) boneless pork roast
  • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons dried basil
  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup cold water
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
To prepare/cook the pork roast:
  1. Lightly spray a crock pot with a non-stick cooking spray. Place the pork roast in the crock pot.
  2. In a small bowl, place the Parmesan cheese, honey, soy sauce, basil, garlic, olive oil and salt. Mix these ingredients well until fully combined. Pour this mixture over the surface of the pork roast to cover.
  3. Place the lid on the crock pot. Cook the pork roast for 6-7 hours on LOW (or until meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees).
  4. Once the meat is done cooking, CAREFULLY remove the pork roast from crock pot and place it onto a serving dish. Place aluminum foil over top of the roast to keep it warm while you make the gravy.
To make the gravy:
  1. Skim the fat off the top of the cooking juice left in crock pot. Place the juices into a medium sized saucepan. Cook the juices on medium heat until they come to a boil. In a separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch into the cold water. Mix well to remove any lumps, until mixture is smooth. Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the boiling juices. Make sure the gravy comes to a boil again, then cook and stir it for approximately 2 minutes (or until it thickens up!).
  2. Remove foil from pork roast, then cut into slices. Place slices onto individual plates and spoon some of the gravy over the meat. (I also served mashed potatoes with the gravy on top...they were a delicious side dish with the pork, and especially with the flavorful gravy!)
  3. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Crock Pot Parmesan Honey Pork Roast
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/5 of total))
Calories 595 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 183mg61%
Sodium 893mg39%
Potassium 1124mg32%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Sugar 28g31%
Protein 67g134%
Vitamin A 125IU3%
Vitamin C 1.2mg1%
Calcium 205mg21%
Iron 3.4mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Make a delicious Parmesan Honey Pork Roast in a crock pot, and enjoy tender meat coated in a flavorful soy, honey, garlic, and Parmesan sauce.

 

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Oct
2014

Pork Tenderloin With Apples And Apple Cider Sauce

categories: Apples, Main Dishes, Pork
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Pork tenderloin with apples features tender pork cutlets with cooked apples, drizzled with a lovely apple cider sauce. Delicious!Pork tenderloin with apples features tender pork cutlets with cooked apples, drizzled with a lovely apple cider sauce. Delicious!
This recipe for Pork Tenderloin With Apples And Apple Cider Sauce has FALL written all over it! It’s surprising how well pork and apples go together! My husband and I had dinner recently at a friend’s home. Our friend Shari prepared a wonderful meal for us and it was FANTASTIC! It was absolutely delicious, and a wonderful recipe that was perfect for a cool, Fall evening.

This week we have a friend (a friend for 40 years) staying with us in our home. Her first night here, I decided to try making this recipe for our own dinner. I found the original recipe online at Epicurious, and prepared it for us. Miracle of miracles, it turned out GREAT (guess even little old me can’t hurt a good recipe, right?)

The original recipe from Bon Appétit, calls for Calvados, which is an apple brandy from France. I didn’t have any, and didn’t want to go buy an entire bottle for the small amount needed, so I substituted dry white wine (which I did have), and it turned out fine, as well. I followed the rest of the instructions as written, and was very pleased with the results (as was our guest).

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Pork Tenderloin With Apples

Pounding pork slices out with a meat mallet is a great stress reliever, yes? This helps to tenderize the pork.

Pounding the pork thin with a meat mallet helps tenderize the meat.

Peel and slice Golden Delicious apples, then they are ready to cook.

Golden delicious apples are peeled and sliced before cooking.

Apple slices are cooked in butter in a large skillet.

Cooking the apples in melted butter in a skillet.

When the apples are light golden brown, they are removed from the skillet.

Apples are cooked in a large skillet until golden brown on the outside.

Cooking The Pork Cutlets

Pork tenderloin cutlets are cooked in melted butter for a few minutes on each side.

The pork cutlets are cooked in melted butter in a hot skillet.

Halfway through the cooking time, they are turned to the other side to finish cooking. They are so thin, they only need to cook a few minutes on each side.

Pork cutlets are cooked on both sides in butter in a large skillet.

Preparing The Apple Cider Sauce

After removing the cooked pork cutlets, an apple cider sauce is made in the same skillet. Wine or Calvados is used to deglaze the skillet, then shallots and thyme are added to the mixture.

Shallots, thyme and wine are added to the sauce in the skillet.

Apple cider and whipping cream are then added to the sauce, and stirred to incorporate them into the sauce. By now the sauce is looking  and smelling delicious!

Apple cider and whipping cream are added to the sauce for the pork cutlets.

The finished pork tenderloin with apples is surrounded by lots of cooked, tender apples. It is then covered with the apple cider sauce, and is now ready to serve.

Apple cider sauce is poured over the cooked pork tenderloin with apples.

Pork tenderloin with apples is served. We usually give a couple of slices per person. Spoon some of the sauce on top of the pork, and serve, accompanied by apples on the side. We also like this dish with mashed potatoes on the side (with some of the sauce on top). Dig In!

The pork tenderloin with apples is served with mashed potatoes and a salad.

Sure hope you will give this wonderful meal a try. I know I will definitely make this again and again. It’s really very simple to make, and is full of flavor!

Looking For More PORK Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have many delicious pork recipes for you to enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Slightly Adapted From: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pork-with-Apples-Calvados-and-Apple-Cider-1797

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Pork Tenderloin With Apples And Apple Cider Sauce
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Pork tenderloin with apples features tender pork cutlets with cooked apples, drizzled with a lovely apple cider sauce. Delicious!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pork tenderloin
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 595 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the pork and apples:
  • 1 lb. pork tenderloin , cut into 1 inch thick slices
  • Salt & pepper (to season pork)
  • 5 Tablespoons butter
  • 3 medium Golden Delicious apples , (peeled, cored, sliced into 1/3 inch thick slices)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
For the Apple Cider Sauce:
  • 2 large shallots , chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme , chopped (or use 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1/4 cup Calvados or other apple brandy (I substituted 1/4 cup dry white wine)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup apple cider (not apple juice)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Put the pork slices between two sheets of plastic wrap. Pound them out, one at a time, until they are about 1/4 inch thick. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter. Add the apple slices, then sprinkle the slices with the sugar. Saute the apple slices until they are golden brown, on both sides (approximately 5-6 minutes). Remove apples from skillet and set aside. Cover and keep warm.
  3. Add 2 Tablespoons butter back into the large skillet. Melt butter over high heat. Season the pork with salt and pepper. Add pork slices to the hot skillet. Cook the slices until they are lightly browned and cooked through (about 3 minutes per side). Cook pork in batches, if necessary. Once pork has cooked through on both sides, remove to a platter, cover and keep warm. DO NOT CLEAN SKILLET OUT!
  4. Melt 1 Tablespoon butter over medium heat in the same skillet you cooked the pork in. Add the chopped shallots and thyme; saute these for 2 minutes.
  5. Add the Calvados (if using) or the white wine to the shallots, butter and thyme. Boil until the liquid is reduced to a glaze like consistency, scraping up the browned bits into the sauce as you go.
  6. Stir in the apple cider and whipping cream. Cook until the mixture thickens to sauce consistency (about 2-3 minutes). Lightly season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  7. Reheat the apples in another skillet or microwave, if necessary.
  8. Place pork slices on platter. Spoon the sauce over the top of the pork slices. Top with the apple slices, or place the apple slices around the pork.
  9. Serve and enjoy. This dish is perfect with mashed potatoes on the side. Use some of the apple cider sauce on top (like gravy) of the mashed potatoes for a perfect entree!
Nutrition Facts
Pork Tenderloin With Apples And Apple Cider Sauce
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 595 Calories from Fat 360
% Daily Value*
Fat 40g62%
Saturated Fat 24g150%
Cholesterol 192mg64%
Sodium 210mg9%
Potassium 703mg20%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 1470IU29%
Vitamin C 10.4mg13%
Calcium 70mg7%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Pork tenderloin with apples features tender pork cutlets with cooked apples, drizzled with a lovely apple cider sauce. Delicious!

 

 

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Oct
2014

Easy Crock Pot Refried Beans

categories: Mexican / Southwestern, Side Dishes, Slow Cooker Recipes, Vegetable Dishes
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Easy crock pot refried beans – It is EASY (and economical) to make your own delicious and inexpensive Mexican refried beans, using a slow cooker!Easy crock pot refried beans - It is EASY (and economical) to make your own delicious and inexpensive Mexican refried beans, using a slow cooker!
I made some Crock Pot Refried Beans recently. From scratch. No cans involved. Guess what? They were absolutely delicious!  Really… these refried beans taste fantastic, they are inexpensive to make, and EASY!

I have been reading through a great book I own called “100 Days Of Real Food”, by author Lisa Leake, and came across this recipe for non-fried, refried beans, made from scratch.

The recipe can be thrown together in about 10 minutes in a crock pot. The pinto beans and spices are slow-cooked for 8-10 hours, lightly mashed, then served. How easy is THAT???

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Crock Pot Refried Beans Are EASY To Prepare

I started my crock pot when I got my morning coffee, and we enjoyed them with our evening meal later that day. They were so good! When the beans were ready, I took out half of them, mashed them and served them with cheddar cheese melted on top.

I took the other half of the beans (which were still in the flavored broth and served them just as they were (un-mashed) to my husband (because that is his favorite way to eat pinto beans).

Pinto beans are used to make refried beans... very economical!

The cost of a bag of dry pinto beans is minimal, and this recipe produces just under 4 cups of refried beans, so it is a great budget item, too! And, seriously, these beans are amazingly good!

We have used crock pot refried beans with tacos, burritos and tostadas, all with fantastic results. Here are some pics from while I made them:

How To Make Crock Pot Refried Beans

Here are the ingredients in my crock pot with the onions and other spices. The beans are ready to start cooking. This step will only take about 10 minutes or less!

Let them cook all day (9 hours), because you won’t have to mess with them! You just need to start them cooking, then go about your business! EASY!

Refried beans cook in crock pot all day.

After 9 hours in the crock pot this is what the crock pot refried beans looked like. Drain the beans over the crock pot, removed, and then mash the beans, using a potato masher. You can add a little broth from the crock pot to the beans if you don’t want them too thick.

Refried beans are ready to mash after cooking all day in the crock pot

The Crock Pot Refried Beans Are Ready To Serve

This was such an easy, economical way to make refried beans, and I will make them this way quite often. I really hope you will try making refried beans from scratch. They are so inexpensive to make, and taste absolutely delicious!

Here are the finished crock pot refried beans ready to eat! They were garnished with a little grated cheddar cheese and cilantro leaves on top, to serve! Muy bueno!

Crock pot refried beans are garnished with cheese and are ready to ea!

Crock pot refried beans are served with a garnish of grated cheddar cheese and cilantro.

Hope you enjoy this recipe for crock pot refried beans. Have a great day, friends! Make it count for something GOOD and courageous!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you… and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More Mexican-Style Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a good variety of Mexican-style recipes you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: “100 Days Of Real Food”, by Lisa Leake (page 155), Published 2014, William Morrow Publishers.

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Easy Crock Pot Refried Beans
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 5 mins
 

Easy crock pot refried beans - It is EASY (and economical) to make your own delicious and inexpensive Mexican refried beans, using a slow cooker!

Category: Side Dishes
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: crock pot refried beans, refried beans
Servings: 8 (1/2 cup servings)
Calories Per Serving: 174 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups dried pinto beans , rinsed
  • 1 yellow onion , peeled, and cut in half
  • 1/2 medium jalapeno , cored, seeded, and diced
  • 2 garlic cloves , peeled and crushed
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 6 cups water
Optional toppings:
  • Grated cheddar or monterey jack cheese , cilantro, or sour cream
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients (except for optional toppings) into a crock pot.
  2. Cover pot and cook beans for 8-9 hours on high.
  3. When finished, remove beans from crock pot, drain, and mash them with a potato masher until they reach the correct consistency. Add a little broth from the crock pot to the beans while mashing, if they seem a bit dry. That's it! You just made refried beans from scratch!

  4. Serve with a garnish of grated cheese, cilantro, or sour cream, if desired. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: Caloric calculation does not include optional garnishes (sour cream, cheese or cilantro)

Nutrition Facts
Easy Crock Pot Refried Beans
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 174
% Daily Value*
Sodium 369mg16%
Potassium 692mg20%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Vitamin C 5.4mg7%
Calcium 59mg6%
Iron 2.5mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Easy crock pot refried beans - It is EASY (and economical) to make your own delicious and inexpensive Mexican refried beans, using a slow cooker!

 

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Oct
2014

Hoisin Asian Meatballs

categories: Appetizers, Asian, Beef, Main Dishes
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Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, baked not fried, and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. They are a great appetizer or main dish.Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, are baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.

I found this recipe for Hoisin Asian Meatballs a couple of years ago on Pinterest and thought I’d give it a try. It didn’t disappoint!

The ground beef meatballs are easy to make. To make it even easier, they are cooked in the oven, so they are baked, not fried. The baked hoisin asian meatballs are then coated with a wonderful sweet and mildly spicy Asian-inspired Hoisin glaze before serving.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

What Is Hoisin Sauce?

Hoisin sauce is a commonly used Asian glaze for meat or as an addition to a stir-fry dish… think “Chinese BBQ Sauce”… a bit sweet and a bit spicy. It is commonly made from soybeans, peppers, garlic and sugar. This sauce is widely used in Chinese cooking. When used in this recipe as a base and combined with a few other Asian-inspired ingredients, creates a pretty tasty sauce for the meatballs.

Hoisin sauce is commonly found in most grocery stores in the Asian foods section.  It is also very easy to make at home. I’ve done it, and posted the recipe for hoisin sauce here.

How To Make Hoisin Asian Meatballs

This recipe could not be any easier!  Basically, you mix up the meatball ingredients, roll into meatballs, then bake them for about 15 minutes. While the meatballs bake, mix up the sauce.  Once the meatballs come out of the oven, you simply drizzle each of the meatballs with the hoisin sauce mix, then serve.

See how easy it is to make hoisin Asian meatballs? About 15 minutes total for the prep time, and 12-15 minutes to bake. That’s it!!

How Many Meatballs Does This Recipe Make?

The recipe yields approximately 18 one and a half inch meatballs. Because of the short cooking time, they can easily be ready to serve in 30 minutes, which is an added bonus, right? Right!

Hoisin Asian meatballs can be used solely as individual appetizers. Just stick a fancy toothpick into each one, and serve them on a pretty platter. You can also serve them as a main course (which is how I served them), paired with some rice and a vegetable.

Hoisin Asian Meatballs are served as a main dish, on a bed of rice, with asparagus on the side.

Hope you will give these yummy Hoisin Asian Meatballs a try… I think you will like them! I know we did! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon. Have a great day.

Looking For More Meatball Recipes?

There are several other meatball recipes, using ground beef on this website!  They include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureOriginal Recipe Source: http://damndelicious.net/2012/12/16/hoisin-asian-meatballs-sundaysupper/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Hoisin Asian Meatballs
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, are baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: hoisin Asian meatballs
Servings: 18 meatballs
Calories Per Serving: 88 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • 4 green onions , thinly sliced (stem and bulb), divided (3 for meatballs, 1 for garnish)
  • Sesame seeds , for garnish
FOR THE HOISIN GLAZE:
  • 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce (found in ethnic section at grocery store)
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Before making meatballs, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place a sheet of parchment paper onto a large baking sheet.
  2. Prepare the meatballs: Mix the ground beef, sesame oil, Panko bread crumbs, ginger, egg, garlic and green onion together in a large bowl. Make sure the ingredients are fully incorporated together. Once combined, use your (clean) hands to form the meat mixture into approximately 18 one and a half inch wide meatballs.
  3. As each meatball is formed, place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the meatballs at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes (meatballs should be browned and cooked through).
  4. Prepare hoisin glaze while meatballs are baking: Mix the glaze ingredients (hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and garlic) in a small bowl until fully combined.
  5. As soon as meatballs are done, drizzle hoisin glaze over the top of each meatball, garnish with reserved green onions and sesame seeds and serve while hot.

  6. If serving as appetizer, insert toothpicks or small skewers into each meatball on serving tray. If serving as main dish, serve it along with rice and a vegetable. ENJOY!

Nutrition Facts
Hoisin Asian Meatballs
Amount Per Serving (1 meatball)
Calories 88 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 124mg5%
Potassium 86mg2%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 40IU1%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.

 

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