Category Archives: PORK RECIPES

BAKED TERIYAKI PORK TENDERLOIN

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And yes, I forgot to garnish the meat with sliced green onions before I took this picture. But I was hungry, and in a hurry to get dinner on the table. But the green onions were great in our scramble this morning. Sometimes the old lemons/lemonade thing is just what is needed.

I love teriyaki. I love chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, shrimp teriyaki, halibut teriyaki, the list goes on and on. But, and this is a big but, to make a great teriyaki dish, you have to start with a really, really good teriyaki sauce. And this my friends, is the best teriyaki sauce I have ever made. Or eaten for that matter!

I found this teriyaki sauce recipe (actually classified as a glaze) by Emeril Lagasse when I was looking for a new recipe for halibut. After making and posting Emeril’s fabulous halibut recipe (Baked Teriyaki Halibut), I thought at the time that the sauce would also work beautifully for other meat or seafood dishes. I hate to brag, but I was spot on in my thinking.

So yesterday I got a hankering for a teriyaki dish. I decided to use the lone pork tenderloin I had been eying every time I opened my freezer door. We love pork tenderloin BTW. So it sounded really yummy to combine the same teriyaki sauce recipe I prepared for the halibut dish, with this lean, mouth-watering hunk of succulent pork.  

So that’s just what I did. And I am so glad I prepared this last evening. It was an easy dish to throw together. And the flavor was beyond excellent. The pork was tender because I only baked it to 145 degrees. (Any longer in the oven and it would have tasted like teriyaki jerky. Which in and of itself is lovely, but not what I was going for last evening.) So be careful not to ever overbake a pork tenderloin.

Anyway, the flavor of the marinated pork was marvelous, the texture perfect, and the sauce lightly dolloped on plain steamed rice was like a gift from the teriyaki Gods. Served with Sunomono (Japanese Cucumber Salad), our evening meal was a pleasure. (See recipe below.)

So to all of you cooks out there who are valiantly trying to keep your family well fed through this most difficult time, I salute you. This coronavirus pandemic is crazy difficult. But don’t hesitate to prepare this recipe, although it’s crazy too. But in the case of this pork tenderloin dish, it’s crazy good!

As always – peace and love to all.   

1/3 c. mirin or rice wine

½ c. low sodium Tamari or soy sauce

1 T. sugar

2 tsp. minced fresh gingerroot

1 garlic clove, finely minced

pinch cayenne

1 pork tenderloin, silver skin* and extra fat removed, then cut in half lengthwise

sliced green onions, garnish

Combine the mirin, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, and cayenne in a small saucepan. Pour about a third of the mixture into the bottom of a baking pan. (I use a 9×9-inch Pyrex dish.) Place the tenderloin halves on the sauce and turn to coat. (If need be, cut the tenderloin halves to fit into the pan in a single layer.) Marinate for 1 hour on the first side. Flip the meat and marinate for another hour or 2, or until you are ready to place in the oven.

Meanwhile, bring the rest of the teriyaki sauce to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until reduced a bit. Remove from heat and set aside.  

Bake the tenderloin in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 9-15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Remove from oven and loosely tent with foil for about 5 minutes before slicing on the diagonal.  Serve garnished with green onions. Pass the remaining teriyaki sauce. Great served with Sunomono. (See recipe below)

* The silverskin is sinew on one side of the pork tenderloin and looks like thin, silvery fat.  You need to remove it because it will become tough and chewy when cooked.  To remove the silver skin, slip a very thin, sharp knife in between the silver skin and the meat, then cut it all away. Take care to just remove the silver skin and not a lot of the beautiful meat itself!

SUNOMONO (JAPANESE CUCUMBER SALAD)

2 T. white distilled vinegar (that’s right, the old fashioned kind)

2 T. sugar

pinch kosher salt

1 English cucumber, partially peeled and very thinly sliced

Combine the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Allow to cool to room temperature. When ready to serve, pour the cooled dressing over the cucumber making sure each slice is coated with the sauce. Serve immediately.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI

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You know the old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, well that doesn’t necessarily apply to “older” cooks like myself. Because I learned a terrific new trick when I found the foundation for this recipe on the inspiredtaste.net website.

Ever heard of dried mushroom powder? Well, if you have congratulations. But why in the heck didn’t you let me in on the secret? Of course if you’ve never heard of it either, you’re off the hook. But boy oh boy, regardless, you are going to be very glad you are reading this post today.  

Dried mushroom powder is the real deal. And to think I’ve been using dried mushrooms for years, but never thought to grind them up. Bogles my mind to realize the number of things I do know about cooking, compared to the extraordinary amount of ingredients, techniques, cooking secrets, etc. I have yet to learn. It’s so exciting! I absolutely love to learn. And if it’s about food, well then, all the better! But before I learn and share any more culinary secrets with which to thrill and amaze you, let’s talk more about dried mushroom powder. And yes, it’s just like it sounds. Dried mushrooms finely ground in a blender or spice grinder.

But why bother to make dried mushroom powder you might ask. Why not just use re-hydrated pieces of dried mushrooms in this or any other recipe? Well there are two very good reasons. 1) Dried mushroom powder adds an extra depth of flavor to dishes without adding bulk or texture. Great in soups, stews, pasta sauces, or any dish that might benefit from a bit of umami* (savory or “meaty”) flavor. 2) Not everyone likes mushrooms. And finding a piece of dried mushroom in a dish might be enough to make them unwilling to even give the dish a try. But when added as an ingredient that they can’t see, well, all’s fair in love and fine dining as far as I’m concerned.

And speaking of fine dining – this pasta dish is so good as to be outrageous. Easy to prepare, takes little time to cook, and looks like a million dollars.

So please give it a try. And as far as dried mushroom powder goes, I really couldn’t taste any fungi in the sauce. But there was just this “something” that added richness without smacking you in the face with its inclusion. Some might use the word “subtle” even. But that may even be too strong a word. Oh heck, just make this dish and see for yourself. And yes, I will be adding mushroom powder to many of the dishes I serve from now on. Both new and old favorites.

So as always – peace, love, and great pasta to all.       

4 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 lb. bulk Italian sausage

1 c. chopped onion

3 garlic cloves, minced  

1 tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. fennel seed

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

½ tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

2 T. tomato paste

1 (28-oz.) can whole or diced tomatoes (Italian if possible)

1 c. drained and roughly chopped roasted red peppers

1 T.  mushroom powder, opt. – see note below (I used ground porcini mushrooms)

1 c. small chunks of zucchini or yellow squash

8 oz. spaghetti, cooked al dente (save some of the water)

4 loosely packed cups of cut spinach leaves

1/3 c. fresh basil chiffonade

grated Parmesan, Pecorino-Romano, or Asiago cheese for serving

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up as it browns. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage to a container. Set aside.

Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally until translucent; about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Stir in the oregano, fennel seed, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomato paste, canned tomatoes, roasted red peppers, mushroom powder, and zucchini chunks. Bring to a low simmer and cook for about 5-10 minutes. As the sauce cooks, use a spoon to break up the whole tomatoes into smaller pieces for a chunky sauce. Stir in the cooked sausage. Let burble for a couple minutes.

Take the sauce off the heat. Stir in the spinach and basil. Taste and adjust seasoning. Toss in the al dente spaghetti, and leave alone for a minute or so to allow the pasta time to absorb some of the sauce and to let the spinach wilt. (If the pasta seems dry, add about a quarter cup of the pasta cooking water. Still dry, a bit more water.) Toss again, serve, and pass the grated cheese. 

Dried Mushroom Powder: Can be purchased online or you can make mushroom powder at home. Start with any type of dried mushrooms. Place in your blender or spice grinder and let it whirl. (My spice grinder is an inexpensive coffee grinder dedicated just for the purpose of grinding herbs, spices, and anything other than coffee!)

Store mushroom powder in an airtight container. Great for adding depth of flavor to almost any dish that calls for mushrooms.

* Umami is one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, bitter, salty, and sour. It was classified as such over a century ago and is best described as a savory or “meaty” flavor. The word “umami” in Japanese means “a pleasant savory taste.”

BROWN SUGAR AND MUSTARD BAKED PORK TENDERLOIN

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So let’s talk pork tenderloin. One of the most delicious, reasonably priced, super lean, easily adaptable to either baking or grilling cuts of meat there is. And who doesn’t love those qualifications? Well maybe you. But for me, pork tenderloin is a lifesaver. There are just endless possibilities when it comes to preparation. Some recipes require marinating. Some require a fancy sauce. Some require you to baste the meat as if bakes or while it is being grilled. But lucky for you and me, this recipe that comes from theseasonedmon.com site, with my addition of granulated garlic, has no such requirements.

This recipe is so darned simple I was almost reluctant to fix it the other evening. But I was tired (why I don’t know, since I have been practically inert while social distancing from the world) so I didn’t feel like spending much time in the kitchen. So I slapped the brown sugar, etc. together. Slathered the meat with this simple concoction. And threw the whole mess in the oven as instructed.

After the allotted baking time, I removed the pork from the oven, let it rest before slicing, and served it with – wait – I don’t even remember what I served it with. I was that tired. Anyway, I do remember that the pork was really, really delicious. And the next day when I warmed it for lunch, it was perfect. Still tender. Still tasty. In fact, I was really sorry when it was all gone. Next time I will fix 2 tenderloins so we will have planned overs for more than 1 meal. Yes – it was just that good!

So if you are looking for a really easy way to prepare pork tenderloin, prepare this recipe. It’s a real winner. Not the most gorgeous presentation you will ever lay your eyes on. But so what. Sometimes presentation is overrated. I know with my own personal presentation, the package sure ain’t what it used to be. But I’m still the same gal under all those wrinkles. So don’t judge this tenderloin just by the picture above. Just like with older people like me, there’s sometimes a lot more going on than meets the eye. (And in my case – thank God for that!)

As always – love, laughter, good health, and happy eating to all.   

1 T. brown sugar

1 T. yellow mustard (can use Dijon in a pinch)

pinch granulated garlic

½ tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 (1 lb.) pork tenderloin, silverskin* and extra fat removed 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix the brown sugar, mustard, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper together.

Line a small rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Lightly coat the foil or parchment paper with cooking spray. Place pork on the prepared pan and pat dry with paper towels. Rub brown sugar mixture all over the pork.

Bake pork for 20-30 minutes, or until a thermometer reads 145 degrees. Remove from oven and loosely tent with foil. Allow the meat to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing on the diagonal. 

* The silverskin is sinew on one side of the pork tenderloin and looks like thin, silvery fat.  You need to remove it because it will become tough and chewy when cooked.  To remove the silverskin, slip a very thin, sharp knife in between the silver skin and the meat then cut it all away. Take care to just remove the silverskin and not a lot of the beautiful meat itself!

CREAMY BACON, CORN, POTATO, AND CHEESE CHOWDER

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Sorry about the photograph. Just know that I am currently in contention for the worlds’ worst photographer award. Wish me luck!

So being a bit short on milk (and not wanting to make a special trip to the grocery store), but still wanting a cheesy bacon soup for dinner, I went searching for a new recipe for an old favorite. And boy am I glad I did. But before I go any further, I want to make an unpaid, unsolicited statement. I love that I can go online and find recipes like this one (thank you skinnytaste.com) without leaving the comfort of my desk chair. No fumbling through numerous cook books with the hope of finding what I need. No having to invent every aspect of a dish. (I’m getting lazy in my old age.) No having to pay even a single penny for a recipe. Just quick and easy access to wonderful recipes. So to all my fellow cooks out there sharing their recipes, I say thank you so much. You have made my life so much easier. And I truly appreciate all the effort you went into on my behalf. There, I feel better now because it just had to be said! But back to this recipe.

What I needed was a way to create a creamy consistency for chowder without using milk as the base for the creaminess. (I hope that makes sense to you.) So when I read this recipe that used pureed cauliflower as a thickening agent, I knew I had hit upon not only a great new concept for this recipe, but also for other recipes. The first one to come to mind was stew. Instead of taking out some of the broth and making either a flour or cornstarch slurry, I could use pureed cauliflower in its place. And cauliflower is good for us. It’s a cruciferous vegetable that is naturally high in fiber and B-vitamins. It provides antioxidants and phytonutrients that can protect against cancer. It also contains fiber to enhance weight loss and digestion, choline that is essential for learning and memory, and many other important nutrients.

So the end result of my using this recipe rather than my other recipe on this site entitled Bacon, Corn, and Cheese soup, is that I used only ½ cup of my precious milk rather than 2 cups. And bottom line. We could not taste the cauliflower at all. Plus I had cauliflower that really needed to be eaten. So joy of joys. I learned a new trick and used an ingredient that was both healthy and deserving of my attention.

So if you would like to make a lovely tasty chowder in the near future, this is the recipe for you. And yes, I still used some flour and cornstarch to thicken the chowder, but very little milk, which was my main concern. So enjoy this recipe my friends. And stay happy and focused on staying healthy. The old saying “this too shall pass” couldn’t be more relevant that what we are all living through right now.

6 lean thick strips of bacon, diced

½ c. chopped onion

2 lg. garlic cloves, finely minced

2 T. all-purpose  

1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

1 tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

4 c. chicken broth

2 small potatoes, diced

12-oz. cauliflower, including stem, cut into 3 or pieces

2 c. frozen corn kernels

½ c. whole milk

1 T. cornstarch

3 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese (loosely packed), or more to taste

Place bacon in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot and sauté over medium heat until well cooked and crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and place in a small bowl. Set aside.

With the pot still over medium heat, add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle the flour over the onion and garlic, add thyme, salt, and pepper; cook for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the broth, potatoes, and cauliflower pieces. With a wooden spoon, stir and scrape the bottom of the pot to get all those delicious brown bits. Bring the pot to a boil then decrease to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. (You want the cauliflower to be fork tender.)

Transfer the cauliflower and 2 cups of the broth to a flat bottomed bowl. Using an immersion blender, whirl the cauliflower and broth until pureed. Transfer puree back to the pot.

Add the frozen corn and a slurry made with the milk that has been whisked together with the cornstarch. Mix, then simmer until the soup is hot and thick. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese and cooked bacon. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Nice served with garlic toast or homemade bread that has been toasted and liberally spread with butter.

PANCETTA AND KALE PASTA WITH GARLIC AND LEMON

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OK, I know some of you don’t have pancetta just lying around, or kale for that matter. But if you do, you just have to make this dish. I found it (slightly modified by yours truly of course), on the – theviewfromgreatisland site.

OMG – this is one of the best pasta dishes I have ever tasted. And to think, one of the main ingredients is that annoying green veggie kale that every health conscious cook is trying to slam down everyone’s throat! How is it even possible that kale is so good in this dish? (I can hear what you’re thinking, because I was a bit concerned myself.) Not only is it completely possible; it’s the reality! Kale is perfect in this dish. Really! In fact, next time I plan to use even more kale (and yes you read that right) in with the same amount of other ingredients. It was that darned good!

I frankly have no more to say about this recipe. Just make it at your earliest convenience. Except I should add one more piece of advice. Mr. C. and I ate every bit of this pasta last evening. So if you are fixing for a family or you want to have planned overs, you better double the recipe. Consider yourself warned!

Stay healthy everyone. And keep cooking. It helps keep you grounded (in more ways than one!)

2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

½ c. chopped pancetta* (the leaner the better)  

3 cloves garlic, finely minced

2-3 c. thinly sliced kale (loosely packed)  

¼ c. whole milk

¼ tsp. lemon zest

4 tsp. lemon juice  

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

freshly ground black pepper

¼ to ½ c. pasta cooking water

8 oz. spaghetti, cooked al dente

grated Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, or  Asiago cheese, for serving

Heat the olive in a large frying pan. Add the pancetta and sauté over medium-low heat until crispy and fully cooked. Add the garlic and sauté for a minute.  

Add the kale to the pan, toss with the pancetta and garlic, and cook for a couple of minutes or until the kale is wilted and lightly cooked.

Add the milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Stir well to combine. While the pasta finishes cooking, ladle about a quarter cup of the pasta water into the frying pan. Bring to a light simmer. Using a pair of tongs, lift the al dente pasta into the frying pan. Toss to combine. If needed, add additional water. (I found that I needed about a half cup of the pasta water last evening.)   

Serve with grated cheese.

*I find great pancetta at Grocery Outlet. It comes in a large package that contains several end pieces. The pancetta is lean and I like the fact that I can cut the meat into the size pieces I need for whatever dish I am preparing. I also like the fact that buying it at Grocery Outlet saves me about 90% off regular grocery stores.  

CREAMY ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA

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Because of the coronavirus and being quarantined for God know how much longer, I am being super diligent about cooking with ingredients that need to be used right now! I simply don’t want to go to the grocery store any more often than is absolutely necessary. Even though I was a really good girl this morning and learned how to make masks for us using Mr. Cs handkerchiefs and rubber bands. I still don’t want to leave the relative safety of our home for purchases that could be saved for a later date. I figure the more I stay away from people and places, the more likely I won’t either contract the disease or God forbid, unknowingly spread the disease to my fellow Camano Islanders. (And yes I know there is every likelihood that I will eventually contract the disease. I haven’t been burying my head under my pillow. I read the news and various articles daily. But I have confidence that in time the medical community will come up with a vaccine. And hopefully before that, ways to relieve symptoms and save lives. But for now, I am using the ingredients that I have on hand. Period!)   

The other evening I made stuffed green peppers and used half a pound of bulk Italian sausage from our freezer in the filling. Our local grocery store makes and sells bulk Italian sausage (really good BTW), but only by the pound. (See where I’m going with this?) So I decided to work up a recipe using the remaining half pound that kept calling to me every time I opened the refrigerator door. And because I love Italian food and it being Italian sausage after all, pasta immediately sprang to mind. (The greater question being, when doesn’t Italian food come to mind?) Anyway – I came up with this dish and we both enjoyed it. And it was very easy to prepare. Enough said.

I guess the main thing I want to leave you with, is that this is a perfect time to be inventive. Really delicious dishes often times come from what’s already in your fridge or freezer. And now more than ever, use what you have on hand. I’m not saying you should stop buying groceries. Our economy needs shoppers. But be wise about it. And please be kind. Don’t hoard. Chickens don’t stop laying eggs during a pandemic. Cows still need to be milked. And truck drivers are on the road every day of the week bringing products to our stores, including toilet paper. What the heck was that about anyway? Now chocolate, I could understand hoarding chocolate. But a paper product! Anyway, as always – peace and love to all. And of course – happy eating.

  • 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ lb. bulk Italian sausage
  • ¼ c. finely chopped onion
  • 1 lg. garlic clove, finely minced
  • pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • pinch kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes (preferably Italian brand)
  • ¾ c. whole milk
  • ⅓ c. chopped fresh basil, or more to taste
  • ½ c. grated Parmesan, Pecorino-Romano, or Asiago cheese – plus more for passing
  • ½ c. shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 6 oz. al dente pasta of choice*

In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil. Add the sausage and break it apart with your spatula or a wooden spoon as it browns. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes or until nicely softened. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; cook for 1 minute.

Stir in the diced tomatoes and milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the sauce has thickened a bit. Stir in the fresh basil and al dente pasta. (Use a bit of the pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Add pasta water a tablespoon at a time.) Remove from heat and stir in both cheeses. Serve immediately. Pass additional cheese as garnish.

*As always, the success of most hot pasta dishes is in the quality of the pasta. Not necessarily the brand, but more how the pasta is cooked and when the pasta is added to the sauce.

My number one pasta rule: Never make the pasta wait for the sauce to finish cooking. If anything, the sauce can wait for the perfectly cooked al dente pasta to be added right at the last minute.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, MUSHROOM, SPINACH, AND CHEESE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

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Well I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. I LOVE stuffed bell peppers. Love them I tell you. With a passion even. Could eat them every week for the rest of my life! So there. Now you know how I really feel about stuffed peppers. But have I ever mentioned that I like preparing them too? No, probably not. But it’s true. I like fixing them as much as I like eating them! And why is that you might wonder? Well……they are quick and easy to prepare. And really you can’t go wrong with whatever you choose to plop into the mix. Oh OK, chocolate chips might not work so well. But anything in the savory, cheesy, meaty, vegetative, starchy arena most likely would work. Stuffed peppers are kind of the quintessential “clean out your refrigerator baby!” dish for the masses. (Can you really ask more from a lowly vegetable than that? I think not too.)

So yesterday, while I was wondering what to stuff the last two beautiful green peppers I had in my fridge, I decided to “shop” my freezer and fridge. (God knows I don’t want to go to a grocery store any more than absolutely necessary during this coronavirus crisis. I don’t want Mr. C. to have to go either. We only have 3 masks to our name, and we want to save them in case of an emergency. But I digress….)

Anyway, I started with some frozen bulk Italian sausage I had been meaning to use for a while now. The sausage led to mushrooms, which led to the scant remains of a large plastic container of spinach, which naturally paved the way for cheese to enter the game. The rest as they say is history. But unlike some of the horrific history that is currently being made, I plan to repeat this dish in the future. Maybe not until I can get my well-scrubbed hands on more bell peppers, but as far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better!

So if you happen to have a couple of bell peppers in your fridge (who cares what color they may be), stuff those suckers with either this mix of ingredients, or go shopping in your freezer or refrigerator as I did and come up with your own combination of ingredients. Just don’t add chocolate chips. Trust me on this one.

As always – peace, love, and happy cooking to all.

  • 2 lg. bell peppers (green, red, orange, or yellow)
  • 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ lb. bulk Italian sausage
  • ¼ c. finely chopped onion
  • 4 medium sized button mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp. tomato paste
  • ½ c. dry white wine
  • ½ tsp. paprika
  • ¼ tsp. seasoned salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 c. baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
  • ½ c. cooked rice (I use whatever leftover rice mix I have in the fridge)
  • ⅓ c. grated Parmesan, Pecorino-Romano, or Asiago cheese
  • 1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, plus more for on top

Cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise. Discard the seeds. Place in a lightly greased shallow baking pan, preferably one with a lid. (If you don’t have a pan with a lid, you can cover the pan with aluminum foil.)

Heat the olive oil in a large fry pan. And the sausage and crumble as it cooks until it’s nicely browned. Add the onion and chopped mushrooms. Cook until the onion is starting to soften. Add the garlic and parsley. Cook for one minute. 

Add the tomato paste and white wine. Cook until no liquid remains.

Add the paprika, seasoned salt, black pepper, spinach, and cooked rice. Stir to blend all the ingredients.

Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Taste and adjust seasonings. Stuff the half peppers with sausage mixture, dividing equally and gently packing the mixture down.

Bake covered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 60 minutes or until the peppers are tender. Remove from oven, remove lid, and add a bit more mozzarella on top of the peppers. Return to the oven uncovered, and bake for a few minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve hot out of the oven.

Bonus – pictures of 2 of our cats

Squeaky (on stairs) and Max (behind bars) diggin’ the sunshine. And yes, the sun does shine in this part of the world!
Max thinking – “yes I am a good boy. After all, I’m “letting” her sleep on the carpeted stairs while I have to sit on the hardwood. Heavy sigh….”
Suns gone away – might as well just sleep on mom and dad’s bed.
Later on – Max (forefront) and brother Miles enjoying the sunshine on the guest bed.
Close up of Miles

CREAMY ITALIAN SAUSAGE SPAGHETTI

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I love bulk Italian sausage. That’s why you will find it featured in several dishes on this site. It’s relatively inexpensive and the flavor just can’t be beat when it comes to a pasta recipe like this one. I’m even considering creating my own mix of herbs, spices, vegetables, and meats to help me better maintain control of the quality of ingredients used in the process of making Italian sausage. (I’ll publish the results if and when I figure it out!) But for now, I’m going to stick with the bulk sausage that is always available at our local IGA. Because, it’s affordable and dependably good. And they use enough fennel seed, which in my opinion should always be of utmost importance. But back to this recipe.

We were hungry for pasta the other evening, but I was short on time. So I threw this dish together and we both agreed that it was blog worthy. Now if you are new to this site, you need to know that I am picky about food. Not picky when it comes to trying new dishes, but picky about whether or not I would enjoy eating any new preparation again. If I have any doubts, you never hear about the recipe. If you find the recipe on this site, it’s because I look forward to eating the dish again. Of course as Mr. C. often remarks to friends, with me always trying new recipes, he may never have a new dish he loves prepared for him again. But such is the life of any spouse married to a recipe developer. With time he has learned to adapt. And starvation has never been a worry. But in all honesty, he will get a chance to enjoy this dish again because I truly loved it too. And it was easy to prepare.

So if you too would enjoy an easy to fix, relatively inexpensive new take on spaghetti in a creamy, meaty sauce, give this recipe a try. Make a simple salad to go with the pasta, open a nice bottle of wine, light a couple of candles, and sit back and enjoy the flavors all of us associate with lovely days and nights spent in a sunny clime. Cheers to Italy and all the flavors it has brought us. And cheers to you for all you do in the kitchen for your loved ones. Love and peace to all.

  • 1 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb. bulk Italian sausage
  • ½ onion, finely chopped  
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp. dried oregano
  • ½ tsp. Italian seasoning
  • pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 2 tsp. flour
  • ½ c. white wine
  • 1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes with juices (preferably Italian canned tomatoes)
  • 2 T. tomato paste
  • ½ c. whipping cream
  • 8 lg. basil leaves, sliced (chiffonade*) 
  • 8 oz. al dente spaghetti (reserve some of the cooking water)  
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the olive oil in a large covered pan. Add the sausage and cook until brown. Remove from pan and set aside.

Add the onion and cook until soft. Don’t let the onion brown. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Stir in the oregano, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, a smidge of black pepper, and sugar.

Whisk in the flour and let burble for a couple of minutes. Whisk in the wine. Add the canned tomatoes and tomato paste. Cover the pan and gently simmer the sauce for about 15 minutes.

Stir in the whipping cream and cooked sausage. Adjust seasoning. Bring back to just under a boil. Just prior to serving, add the basil chiffonade and al dente pasta. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems dry. Serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

*Chiffonade (pronounced “shif-oh-nod”) is a knife technique used for cutting herbs and leafy vegetables such as lettuce into thin strips or ribbons. To chiffonade leaves of basil, stack the basil leaves and roll them into a tube. Then carefully cut across the end of the tube with a sharp knife to produce fine strips.

BACON, SPINACH, MEXICAN SHREDDED CHEESE, AND GREEN ONION QUICHE

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This quiche recipe calls for a homemade crust. But I know what it’s like to be short on time (and energy) in the kitchen. So if you must – start with a crust you purchased at your favorite grocery store. Or use your own favorite crust recipe. It really makes no never-mind. But if you intend to make your own crust or want to try a new recipe for crust, the recipe below is about as easy as it gets. So much so, that I never plan to build another quiche with any other recipe. (You heard it here first folks!)

Anyway, what drives my choice of what to cook for dinner a lot of times is what’s in my fridge. And the other day what I had at my disposal was a half-pound of bacon, a big container of fresh spinach, a couple sad looking (starting to get kind of slimy) green onions, and part of a large bag of shredded Mexican blend cheese. OK Patti, you’re fairly smart (on a good day), so what to do with these prime ingredients?

To my astonishment, quiche popped into my mind. I consulted Mr. C. about my choice for our dinner that evening, and as usual he was receptive to my suggestion. No dummy Mr. C.! But, and here’s the interesting part, I didn’t have any Crisco for my pie crust. Horror of horrors. How could this have happened? So now what to do? Well – when times get tough, the tough get going. So I got on line and did me some research. And I found an abundance of recipes for pie crust that were made with a fat other than Crisco or lard. Imagine my delight! But do I dare make a pie crust not using the same recipe I’ve been making for 55 years? Would a bolt of lightning hit me? (We do live on Lightning Way after all!) Or would I have to turn in my Girl Scout baking badge? I even feared retribution from some unknown deity. (There could be a God of pastry. Well there could!!) But I decided to flaunt my desire for quiche in the face of whatever unknown force might take exception. And I’m proud to say, I came out the other side unscathed. And, this is the good part too, a lot wiser about pie crust in general.

Not that I am going to throw away my old recipe. Because in 55 years it has never failed me. Never! But, for something like a quiche, this new recipe is going to make it possible for us to enjoy quiche more often. It’s just that much less effort to prepare.

I guess I should mention that not only was the crust really tasty, the filling stood up to our demanding standards as well. So if you love quiche as much as we do, get thee to your kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. And remember, you don’t have to use all the same ingredients I used. Be bold. Use ham or smoked salmon, cooked breakfast or Italian sausage, or whatever you happen to have on hand. And vary the type of cheese you use. Swiss, Gruyère, or Emmenthaler cheese are absolutely perfect in quiche. And the true beauty of quiche is that it is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Pretty cool huh?

And if you are interested in preparing my No-Fail Pie Crust, I have printed it at the bottom of this post for your convenience. And yes I know it’s a strange recipe. You have only to consider the source and all will make perfect sense. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving.

8-inch pie crust (see recipe for No-Roll Pie Crust recipe below)

8 slices thick, meaty bacon, chopped and cooked until crisp

1½ c. chopped fresh baby spinach

1½ c. Mexican-blend shredded cheese

1/3 c. thinly sliced green onions

freshly ground black pepper

¾ tsp. dry mustard

1 1/3 c. milk (whole milk is best)

4 eggs

ground nutmeg

Scatter cooked bacon over pie crust. (If you are using the recipe below, remember it has to semi-bake before you add this filling.)

Layer spinach and cheese on top of bacon. Add sliced green onions. Whisk together the pepper, dry mustard, milk, and eggs. Hint: Place pepper and dry mustard in bowl and add just a tiny splash of the milk. Whisk until there are no mustard powder lumps. Then add the remaining milk and eggs; whisk all together. (If you add all the ingredients together at once, you often end up with mustard lumps that, trust me, are very hard to incorporate with the other ingredients.)

Pour liquid mixture over all. Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg. Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven until set, about 30-40 minutes.

NO-ROLL PIE CRUST

2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour   

heaping ½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

scant ¼ tsp. baking powder

7 T. vegetable or canola oil

¼ c. cold water + 1 T. if the mixture seems dry

Whisk the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder together. Whisk the oil and 1/4 cup water together. Pour over the dry ingredients. Stir with a fork until the dough is evenly moistened. Add additional tablespoon water if necessary.

Pat the dough across the bottom of the pie pan and up and a little over the sides. Crimp or mold the pie crust around the edge to make it pretty.

Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool while you prepare the filling for your quiche. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

For great “how to crimp piecrust” instructions visit www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-crimp-pie-crust-4123830

NO-FAIL PIE CRUST (makes a double crust)

¼ c. very cold water

2 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

heaping 2/3 c. Crisco

Step 1 – Pour cold water into a small bowl.

Step 2 – Measure flour and salt into a mixing bowl.

Step 3 – Take 1/3 cup of the flour back out of the mixing bowl and stir it into the water. Make a paste. Set aside.

Step 4 – Add the Crisco (heaping 2/3 cup) to the flour and salt mixture. Mix together. (I use my KitchenAid mixer.)

Step 5 – Add the water/flour paste to the flour/shortening bowl and mix just until blended. Do not over-mix. Roll out dough and place in pie plate. This recipe makes enough dough for a double crust 8-inch pie, or one large bottom crust with a little left over for pastry cookies or a free-form small tart.  

Helpful hint: Use a pastry cloth to roll out your pie crust. It really makes a difference. You can find pastry cloths in almost any kitchen wares shop. Well worth the $10 or so.

ĆEVAPČIĆI (SERBIAN GRILLED SAUSAGES)

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Although this is basically a Serbian recipe, Ćevapčići – pronounced chae vap chee chee (or something like that) is served in some form or another throughout the Balkan States. Basically Ćevapčići is just a wonderful combination of 3 types of ground meat, spices, and veggies. When formed into patties, or into the more traditional shape of small sausages, grilled, then laid in a warm pita and smothered with Tzatziki, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and chopped white onion, there is just nothing finer.

And who told me about this wonderful dish? My PA (Randy) at my dermatologist’s office. (You just never know when you might meet a foodie.) Life is wonderful. Right!

Anyway. You need a new taste sensation? You need a new way to fill a pita bread pocket? You need an amazing new way to justify eating an inordinate amount of Tzatziki at a single meal? Well thanks to Randy, you now have it! And while you’re at it – make some hummus to go along with the meal. (You can never have too much “Mediterranean” food around. In all our travels, we have never found anything that was made, grown, or served around the Adriatic and Mediterranean oceans that we didn’t love!)

So go a little out of your comfort zone, and treat yourselves to some Ćevapčići. Even if you just grill this mixture up and serve it like you would a regular all beef hamburger, you will not be disappointed. Even go without a pita pocket or bun of any kind! Set a new trend. Be the first on your block! So stop balking and go Balkan in the near future. You will thank me. I know you will.

Oh, and sorry I haven’t posted any new recipes for a while. We were on vacation and posting our trip report when we got home took precedence over posting a new recipe. But I have some fun recipes to share with you, so keep tuning in.

1 lb. pork sausage

1 lb. ground beef  

1 lb. ground lamb

1 egg white

1 T. Hungarian paprika

1 tsp. baking soda  

1 tsp. kosher salt

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

freshly ground black pepper

1 c. finely chopped onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 T. finely chopped Italian parsley

warm pita bread, opt.

Tzatziki (recipe below), opt.

shredded lettuce, opt.

chopped tomato, opt.

chopped white onion, opt.

Combine the pork sausage, beef, and lamb together in a large bowl. Whisk the egg white, garlic, onion, parsley, paprika, baking soda, salt, cayenne, and black pepper together in another bowl. Pour the egg mixture over the meat and mush together with your hands.

Form into fairly thick patties about 3½-inches in diameter. Place on a waxed paper lined platter. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.

Grill over 350 degree heat, 4-5 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and kind of spongy. Serve in warm pita bread with Tzatziki, shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, and chopped white onion.

TZATZIKI  

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

2 c. plain Greek Yogurt

3 small or 2 medium garlic cloves, finely minced

½ tsp. dill weed

¼ tsp. kosher salt, or more to taste

freshly ground black pepper

1 English cucumber, partially peeled, seeded, grated, and allowed to drain for a few minutes in a colander

Combine all ingredients. Adjust seasoning. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.