Fun Foodie Family

Chicken with tomato and green chili sauce

Happy Monday! Want a quick dinner that comes together in less than an hour? If so, then here is a great dish for you! I had a package of chicken thighs defrosted. I browned them in my dutch oven. Then I took them out and added 1 chopped onion and 3 cloves of smashed chopped garlic. I cooked down for about 10 minutes. Then I added diced green chilies, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 can of diced tomatoes, and 1 can of crushed tomatoes. If you had any kind of cans of tomatoes, they would work…diced, peeled, crushed, sauce, etc. Always keep a few kinds in your pantry as a staple. You could add any kind of veggies you have in your fridge for this; mushrooms, carrots, peppers, etc. Anything goes! I added about a cup or more of red wine and my browned chicken. I let it cook for about 30 minutes. I served on top of pasta and had a side of kale chips (oven roasted at 200 for 30-45 minutes in olive oil and a bit of salt) and creamed corn (from a package- it is not corn season!) Don’t forget your crusty bread!

Bacon Jam

Appetizers and snacks, Pork

There is one thing that makes this former vegan shout out about the yumminess of meat; “Bacon is awesome!” There is no way in hell that I would ever be a vegan again. First of all, vegan cheese sucks ass. There. I said it. So gross! Don’t even get me started on rice milk. Vegetarian dishes have come a long way in the 6 years I have become a meat eater again. I still love tofu, beans, and a yummy bean pattie. Don’t call it a burger; A burger is made of meat. Anyways, vegetarian food can be good.

Enter Bacon Jam. Not just any old bacon jam. Martha Stewart’s bacon jam. I am sure her many food servants came up with this recipe. It is glorious! How can I get on her team? Here is her recipe, and I bow down to her and her team. Do this and be happy. I might only give this to you as a gift from now on…present for your birthday, house warming, host/hostess gift, holiday gift, etc.
Eat it on toast, with eggs, strait on a spoon, etc. This is total food porn, so I won’t judge you with your bacon jam choices. =)

http://www.marthastewart.com/326881/slow-cooker-bacon-jam

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
2 medium yellow onions, diced small
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3/4 cup brewed coffee

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly browned, about 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use); add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, and coffee and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add bacon and stir to combine.

STEP 2
Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on high, uncovered, until liquid is syrupy, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Let cool, then refrigerate in airtight containers, up to 4 weeks.

White Bean and Ham Soup

One pot meal, Soups

I am 16 again with itty bitty pink shorts, bare feet, and my purple tank top with little hearts and butterflies. I have recently declared myself to be a vegetarian. It doesn’t matter, she tells me, beans are vegetarian- even though she made it with a ham bone and there are lots of pieces of ham in it. I still eat it because she is my Nanny, and she would have her feelings hurt otherwise. She smiles at me, and her sparkling blue eyes set me in a trance. I hug her and tell her I love her. Then I wake up feeling a kiss on my cheek and smelling her lingering perfume.

Recently I have had this recurring dream when my Nanny makes this amazing white bean soup with ham. I had to try to make it in her honor. I do not have a recipe, but I tried to make it the way I think it should taste. I had almost forgotten this meal, because I have not eaten this in a VERY long time. Thanks to my dream, it is not going to be lost every again. Next time, I am going to make my Nanny’s Porcupine Meatballs- meatballs made with a different meats and rice. Delish!

White Beans and Ham Soup

Ingredients-
1 bag Great White Northern Beans
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of crushed and sliced garlic
1 container of low sodium chicken stock (or homemade stock)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
Ham Hock. Ham bone, or cut up pieces of ham
Pepper to taste

Directions-

1. Soak your beans overnight and rinse before cooking.
2. Using a nice size pan- I used my sturdy dutch oven- Cook your onion and garlic for about 10 minutes or so on med. heat.
3. Add your beans and mix together with the onion and garlic.
4. Add your chicken stock and Worcestershire sauce. This should cover your beans. If not, add some water.
5. Add your ham hock/bone. If you are adding cooked ham, wait 1 hour or so before adding it.
6. Pepper to taste. I didn’t add salt. Between the ham hock and chicken broth, I didn’t find that it needed any. I would wait to the end to add salt, if you choose to do so.
7. Cook at least 2-3 hours.

I served mine with cornbread and a mixed salad. I will have many great dreams about this meal!

Weekly Meal Plan 1/11/14

Weekly Meal Plans

Hey friends! I hope you had a glorious week! We pretty much stuck to our meal plan this week! Thursday night was an impromptu date night! Tonight, we had a clean out the fridge night. https://funfoodiefamily.com/2014/01/05/meal-plan-1514-finding-balance-in-2014/

This week, I already have a plan in place…

Sat- White Bean and Ham Soup- First time making my Nanny’s recipe!!!!

Sun- Farro and Veggies
https://funfoodiefamily.com/2013/12/02/1563/

Mon- Chicken and pasta with tomato sauce

Tuesday- Hot dogs

Wednesday- Tacos

TH- Class- quick dinner on the run

Friday- Clean out the Fridge Night/pantry raid!

What are you making this week????

Chicken and Mushroom Stoganoff with Sauteed Spinach

Chicken, Leftovers/ Freezer Meals

Hey guys! So last night I made a delicious meal of pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, and peas. When I remembered to take a picture, everything had been mixed and melded together and was not very photogenic for my blog. There were 8 pork chops and 6 people. Papa (my dad) ate with us, so we had a full table. There were NO leftovers!!! Well, there was 1/2 a pork chop, but I fed it to Brutus, our dog. He is such a good boy! =)

Anyways, on to tonight. I made an extra 2 pieces of chicken Sunday night when I made this…
https://funfoodiefamily.com/2014/01/06/coq-au-riesling/
I had some leftovers, so I just had to warm up the chicken and sauce. I cooked some whole wheat (healthy!) pasta, and I also sauteed some spinach with 3 sliced garlic cloves and a bit of olive oil (more healthy!) It comes together in less than 10 minutes. So simple! Another night of clean plates!