Thanksgiving

The meal that is probably the most anticipated all year is Thanksgiving.  It is a day of family, traditions, and great food.  It's funny how so many people celebrate the exact same holiday, but celebrate it in so many different ways.  My family and I always watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning.  We watch football all day long and wait for that turkey to be done.  Served on my dinner table is turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, cranberry sauce, and biscuits.  Dessert is also very important in my family.  My grandma makes all of our pies from scratch.  They include apple, pumpkin, and chocolate pudding pie.  My favorite part of Thanksgiving is leftovers.  Gobble gobble.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Cal Tort

If you are looking for a quick meal and you love Mexican food, then California Tortilla is the place for you.  They offer an array of items that can be turned into a meal.  A meal consists of an entree, chips and queso, and a fountain beverage.  The chips and queso really make the meal.  The tacos are to die for, especially with California Tortilla's original chipotle sauce.  The burritos are also excellent.  The Franchise offers a "Burrito Elito" rewards card, which offers one point for every dollar spent.  For every fifty points you acquire, you receive $5 to spend at California Tortilla.  For the month of November they are offering a free taco to all Burrito Elito members.  Click here to view their website for more information and for store locations.

Tex-Mex Pork

"Salsa simmers to create a surprisingly complex and zesty sauce in this quick entree."  One of the simplest pork recipes that Julia and I have discovered over the last few years is Tex-Mex Pork.  It is easy enough that I can even make it and it is so delicious.  It comes from the December 2010 issue of Cooking Light.

Ingredients: 1lb pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

1 1/2 cups refrigerated salsa

2 cups hot cooked long-grain rice

1/4 cup light sour cream

Directions: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and coat it with cooking spray.  Add pork to pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Saute for eight minutes or until lightly brown.  Add salsa and 1/4 cup water to pan; bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer five minutes or until slightly thickened.  Serve pork mixture over rice; top with sour cream.  Enjoy!

Tex-Mex Pork

Chicken Piccata

If you are are looking for a new chicken recipe, I have a perfect one just for you.  Chicken Piccata has been one of my family's favorite meals for years now.  It's a meal that takes only a few ingredients and about half an hour cook time.

Ingredients: 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cutlets
2T vegetable oil
1/4 cup dry white wine
1t minced garlic
1/2 cup chicken broth
2T fresh lemon juice
2T capers, drained
2T unsalted butter
Fresh lemon slices (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions: Season cutlets with salt and pepper, the dust with flour.  Coat a saute pan with nonstick spray, add vegetable oil, and heat over medium-high.  Saute cutlets for 2-3 minutes on both sides; transfer them to warm plate.  Deglaze pan with white wine and add minced garlic.  Cook until garlic is slightly brown and liquid is nearly evaporated.  Add broth, lemon juice, and capers.  Return chicken to pan and cook for 1 minute on each side.  Transfer chicken to plate.  Finish sauce with butter and lemons.  Once butter melts, pour sauce over cutlets.  Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

*Tip: Serve with fettuccine noodles and pour the extra sauce on them!

Chicken Piccata with fettuccine noodles

It's Getting Chilly

When the weather starts to get chilly, one of my favorite meals that my dad makes is Beef Stroganoff.  Since he is at home in Pennsylvania and I am down at school in Virginia, he obviously can't make it for me.  However, I shared the recipe with Julia and she made it for the two of us.  The recipe that my dad follows is Paula Dean's.  It can be found here.  It is a perfect meal to make when it is cold outside and you need some good comfort food.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Paula Dean's Beef Stroganoff

Breakfast

I would have to say that breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day.  This morning Julia made a frittata.  It is a simple and delicious meal to make in the morning.  Cut up peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Saute them in a little bit of olive oil.  Scramble some eggs and pour them in the pan with the vegetables.  Reduce the heat and slowly move it around.  Add cheese on top.  Bake in the oven for 10 minutes on 350 degrees.  Add toast on the side.  Enjoy!

frittata & wheat toast

A Change in Chefs

This evening, for a change, I cooked.  My roommate Julia and I always eat together and she always does the cooking.  She has two tests tomorrow though, so I offered to cook.  I made a nice and easy meal.  Breaded pork, mashed potatoes, and frozen vegetables.  All you have to do is combine flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper together on a plate.  Scramble eggs in a bowl and put bread crumbs in another bowl.  Flatten out the pork into thin pieces and toss them in the flour combination.  Then dip them in the eggs and cover them in breadcrumbs.  Once you have done that to all of the pieces, place them in a pan of hot oil and cook until light brown on both sides.  While they are cooking, heat up the mashed potatoes.  I recommend getting Wegman's brand and adding butter, sour cream, and milk.  Steam your vegetables and you're all done!

Pork, mashed potatoes & veggies