Orange-Soy Pork with Apple Sauce, and Roast Potatoes and Green Beans

A delicious complete meal from Rachael Ray's "Yum-O!" cook book.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. baby red-skin potatoes, halved
5 Tbs. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb. green beans, trimmed and cut into 1.5 inch pieces
1/4 cup fresh chopped flat-leaf parsley
5 apples, peeled, cored and diced (RR suggests McIntosh, Honey Crisp or Gala)
1 cup apple cider (or juice plus some spices)
3 Tbs. dark brown sugar
4-6 boneless pork loin chops
zest and juice of one orange (1 1/2 oranges if using 6 chops)
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce

Instructions:
Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 3 Tbs. oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes then add the green beans to the baking sheet, toss to combine and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Once cooked remove from the oven and sprinkle with the parsley.

While the potatoes roast, combine the apples, cider/juice and brown sugar in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Cook down to a chunky sauce, 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  If the sauce begins to spatter as it bubbles, reduce the heat a bit.

Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the remaining oil. Season the chops with salt and pepper, add to hot pan and brown chops for 4 minutes on each side. Remove chops from the pan. Combine orange zest, orange juice and tamari/soy sauce in the pan, mix and then return pork chops to the pan and cook for an addidtional 2 minutes, until the sauce has reduced. Serve the chops with some sauce drizzled on top and the apple sauce and vegetables alongside.

Please note:
I didn't have apple cider so I used apple juice but to make up for the missing bite that cider has I added a bit of cinnamon and/or nutmeg would also be good.

Love Meatballs

A Traditional Italian Family Meal, Made With Love!


When my Daddy was still alive (and healthy) he and my step-mom, Lisa loved to cook together. One thing they loved making together which I really loved eating together was a traditional Italian pasta meal with sauce and meatballs...plain and simple! They were always delicious and I mean like "Little Italy" delicious! Daddy and Lisa said it was because they were made with love and so they called them "Love Meatballs".

I don't know about you but...i love it! ;-)

Lisa and I got together about 2 weeks ago now and she showed me the love - meatballs that is! LOL! Anyway, it was a great day and a great meal and I felt Daddy with us the whole time! Now I will attempt to share the love with you. However, as is often the case in a "traditional" kitchen there are no measurements for this ~ You eye-ball it! So good luck! But I will at least list the ingredients and basic instructions - mostly to drill it into my own head. (-:


Sauce Ingredients:
2 28 oz. cans kitchen ready tomatoes
3 cans tomato paste
1 medium/large onion, minced
garlic, minced
chopped fresh basil, to taste
olive oil
sugar


Instructions:
Add a heavy coat of oil to a large pot or Dutch oven and heat over a medium flame. Add the onions to the hot oil, sauté lightly then add garlic and continue to sauté until both are golden. Then add the paste and brown it until thick and kind of clumpy. Add a little sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes, I think about 1-2 Tbs. Then add the kitchen ready tomatoes and one paste can-full of water. Simmer until heated through - bubbly and delicious. ;-)


Love Meatball Ingredients:
2+lbs ground beef (Daddy and Lisa say "more fat = more flavor" but you can make your own call IMO)
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Italian bread crumbs
add the following items to the breadcrumbs to taste:
    salt
    pepper
    grated cheese
    garlic and onion powders
water
milk


Instructions:
OK this is where it gets really hard to know how much. I'll have to play around a bit and let you know how I do in my first few solo attempts! ;-) Wish me luck!

Anyway, let the meat come to room temp. (so you don't freeze your hands off) and add to a large mixing bowl. Combine seasonings with the breadcrumbs and add to the meat along with the eggs mixing well with your hands. Add a splash each of water and milk (best to go slowly) until the meat mixture is moist and sticky but not too wet. Be careful not to over mix. Form into approximately 20 love meatballs balls. Fry'em in olive oil until browned on all sides and then simmer in sauce until moist and delicious! Mangia!


Please note: it is essential to serve with traditional scali bread or you may wake up with a stallion head in your bed the next day! :D

Mmmm...can't wait to try this one

I just found this recipe and it sounds D-lish to me! I may modify it slightly, but either way I'll let you know how it turns out once I give it a go!

Ginger-Pineapple-Fried-Rice