Category: Side dishes…veggies, potatoes, grains

Pork Chops and Mashed Potatoes

Pork, Side dishes...veggies, potatoes, grains

So tonight is the first night in over 2 1/2 months that all 5 family members have sat down at the kitchen table for a family dinner. I asked E what she wanted for dinner. Pork chops. Yes, sounds delish…how about I add a side of mashed potatoes? She asked for gravy. Yes, I can def. make that happen for you…I can make anything happen for you!

My little E has Cancer. For the last 4 years, she has undergone every scan, test, chemo, and other medicines one would never wish on their worst enemy. She has taken it all with stride; she has been brave; she deserves all that she wants in life, just like any other kiddo out there who has gone through such a terrible fate. Well, her last scans were clear! Awesome news; but then she came down with a nasty lung infection, and we were not sure she would make it out of the hospital. Well, E was not going to let a little lung fungus get in her way of living life, so she beat it and is now home!

Of course I will make her and let her eat pretty much everything she likes. She has asked for 5 Guys, cheese ravioli, Sloppy Joe’s, and shells and cheese. Ok, I can make all that happen. Tonight it is pork chops and mashed potatoes and gravy.

I took some pork chops, that just happen to be on sale at Publix, put them in some olive oil and salt and pepper. Then I warmed up 2 cast iron skillets and placed the chops in them. Do not crowd your pans. You need to have plenty of room for them to brown and get a nice crust; about 10 minutes on the first side and 8 minutes on the second side. 013
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Mashed potatoes are easy. Boil your potatoes until fork tender, about 12 minutes or so. Drain and put them in your mixer. I add about 1 stick of butter, a couple splashes of heavy cream, and a couple splashes of milk. Mix until your desired consistency. 017

Gravy? Take out the pork chops as soon as the time is up and let them rest for about 5-10 minutes. They will cook a little more and retain their juices. Do not cut into them yet. Put all the pork chop juices in one of your pans. Heat it up and add 2 tablespoons of butter and flour. Whisk together until you have a bit of a “wet sand” look. I add a little chicken stock at a time until the back of your spoon is coated without being to runny. You could add milk, for milk gravy. That is yummy, too. 016018

Leftovers: Wonton Risotto

Appetizers and snacks, Leftovers/ Freezer Meals, Side dishes...veggies, potatoes, grains

I bought some wonton wrappers hoping to try out some homemade cheese sticks. Those will wait another day, because I made some wonton risotto. Not sure if anyone has made this before. I will just be honest and say the idea came to me when I was driving home from the hospital and dreaming of aranchini, which is an Italian fried rice ball. It was raining and gross outside, so instead of stopping at an out of the way Italian place that has amazing ones (Figo at Perimeter), I was kind of thinking of a way to recreate them. Once I got home and remembered I had wonton wrappers, I decided to try it out.
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I heated up my Dutch Pan with an inch or so of vegetable oil. Then I put a spoonful of my leftover mushroom risotto and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese in a wonton wrapper and folded it over. I placed these in the heated oil for a minute or so until I saw the bottom turn brown. Then I flipped them.

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Delish. They were more for me than the girls. R ate 2 of them, mostly picking out the mushrooms and “crusty edges” of the dough. Then I warmed up the rest of the Pasta Pizza leftovers I made a few nights ago.

Just to recap the last few days, in case you thought I was starving myself or my family… we had Jimmy John’s sandwiches for lunch on Wednesday (always yum), My 2 younger girls got spoiled with McDonalds and Zaxby’s with their grandparents Wed night and Thursday lunch. As for me…adequate grilled chicken sandwich from the hospital and pretzel hotdog rolls at Dave and Buster’s on a hospital outing to celebrate my kiddo’s breakout of the hospital clinker tomorrow…

WOOHOO!!!!

White Wine Mushroom Risotto; plus an idea for kids and leftovers

Breakfast and Brunch, Eggs, Leftovers/ Freezer Meals, Side dishes...veggies, potatoes, grains

Wine, mushrooms, and rice…oh, and I added bacon. You are welcome!

I haven’t made risotto in a really long time. I sometimes fall into that Atkins thinking and really want to just eat tons of protein. That lasts maybe one meal, at most, one day, then I fall off the “No Carb!” bandwagon. Julia Child once said, “Everything in moderation, even moderation.” I think she was referring to this mindset. Or maybe it was moderation of butter, or pies, or wine…well, whatever the reason, I find it to be a most excellent motto. One to live by, for sure.

So the other day, I was watching Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa, and she was making a white wine risotto. She was using some crazy expensive ingredients; dried porcini mushrooms, locally sourced pancetta, saffron, what looked to be a very expensive bottle of wine she got from a friend who owns a specialty wine shop, and I think she might have even shaved some truffles on top (that may or not be an exaggeration; I can’t remember). Well, that got me to thinking, “I can make that without spending $50 dollars on my meal.” So here is my cheap version of her decked out classic.

Start by warming a quart of chicken stock. You could make your own, and I sometimes do, but you can also use stock from a box. I like to buy low sodium. Control your salt intake when you can.

Take a large Dutch Oven. This is my prized possession in the kitchen. I love my cast iron pans, but I covet my Le Creust. We got it on sale, I think, because it is a hideous pea green. I have grown found of it so much. Heat it up and add 1 stick of butter. Once it is melted add 1/2 of and onion (Vidalia for me) and 3 pieces of bacon chopped up. 003

Then add 1 pint of mushrooms. I added baby portabellas, but cute little button mushrooms would work just fine. Whatever is on sale, people! You can buy sliced, or you could save yourself fifty cents or more and just slice them yourselves. No judgment here! Cook down for about 5 minutes. Add about a teaspoon of salt and pepper.

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Add 2 cups of Arborio rice. Arborio has the perfect starchiness for Risotto. Stir rice until coated with butter. Add about 1/2 a bottle of dry white wine. My favorites are Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. When cooking, always choose a wine you want to drink. My bottle was Pinot Grigio, and it cost about $10.

Once it cooks a bit, add your warmed chicken stock a little bit of a time. Your risotto needs love. Keep by its side; stir it often; whisper sweet nothings in its ear. “Who is my sweet risotto? You are! You are so pretty! I just love you so much!” Kiss it and give it some nibbles…Taste it here and there to see if it is al dente and seasoned right (add salt and pepper when needed). When it is, add 2/3 grated parmesan cheese and a couple of splashes of heavy cream. Stir until coated and take off the heat. 007

My bowl of just risotto. 010

Wondering if the kids are going to like this…well, R loves mushrooms, and K loves rice. Both my kids love runny eggs. Add a side of sunny side up eggs, and we have a meal! The richness of the yolk adds amazing depth to the risotto. R even asked if we could have this for breakfast. Why, yes, yes we can!
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