Smoked Pork Shoulder

The smoked shoulder that I smoked for over 12 hours! It turned out better then I have ever expecting!
Check out the pictures and the amazing outcome....I LOVE MY NEW SMOKER BOX!

I rubbed the pork shoulder with a layer of mustard (1/2 to 1 cp of mustard, depends on how big the pork shoulder is).
The rub I used (1/4 cp. paprika, 2 TB. seasoned salt, 2 TB garlic powder and 2 TB pepper). I rubbed the meat on top of the mustard and let it sit over night. The next morning my husband put it on the grill at 6 am and we took it off the grill around 4 pm. When the meat was beginning to fall from the bone.

My Purple Slaw

1/2 onion, sliced very thin

2 carrots, grated,

1/2 or 8 cps. shredded red lettuce

1/4 cp red win vinegar

4 TB olive oil

2 TB sugar

1 tsp. garlic powder and paprika

salt and pepper

1. I mixed the vinegar, oil, sugar, garlic,paprika, salt and pepper. Whisk until well combined. Toss the shredded veggies in the dressing.

This a picture of the pork when I pulled it for sandwiches. It was fantastic.

The sandwich!!

What do you do with all the pork leftover. I guess, you could continue to make sandwiches, but I wanted to try something different. I decided to make pulled pork egg rolls. I know that sounds weird, but it was awesome! It was worth the extra work.

PULLED PORK EGG ROLLS!

Leftover pulled pork

Leftover slaw

Egg roll wrappers

Egg

water

Whisk the egg and water together and make a egg wash.



Add a heaping helping of pork in the center of the egg roll wrapper.


Top it with the slaw.

Roll the one corner up and egg wash all ends.

Fold in both sides and the roll like a jelly roll. It should be sealed by the egg wash.

Believe it or not, I baked these babies!! Or should I say I broiled them until brown and crunchy and then turned them to the other side.When both sides where brown and crunchy they were done. I served with your favorite BBQ sauce.

Trust me, you will enjoy these babies.

Chicken Scampi Risotto

Sorry, I have been celebrating my Birthday and I have been doing some crazy shopping with the gift cards I have received.(Believe it or not, I hate to clothes shop. I love to shop for food. LOL) How fun!! I bought a new massive wok and a smoker box, which I am using right now. We put a 10 lb pork shoulder on the grill with the smoker box at 6 am. I will let you know tomorrow how it turns out!


Anyway, this dish turned out fantastic. I was going to make Chicken Scampi pasta, until there was no pasta in the cupboard and two bags of risotto. I made this instead and it turned out even better then any pasta dish. My husband said he would prefer this dish.

Chicken Scampi Risotto

6 Chicken Breast, (Pounded until thin)
1 cp. flour
salt and pepper
2 TB Olive oil
2 TB butter

Add the salt and pepper to the flour and dredge the chicken into the flour. If you need to add more flour for the chicken go ahead.
Add the butter and oil to a hot pan. Put the chicken in the pan and brown both sides. Remove and put on a plate.

6 TBS butter
1/2 cp. chopped red onion
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1 green pepper, julienned
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 cp. white wine
1/2 cp. chicken broth

Melt the butter over medium in a pan. Add the onions and peppers and cook until soft. Add the garlic. Do not let it brown. Saute. Add the wine and let it reduce by half and add the chicken broth. Add the chicken to the pan. Let simmer.

The Risotto

2 cps. Risotto rice
1/2 cp. white wine
6 cps hot chicken broth
4 TB butter
2 TB olive oil
3/4 cp. parm cheese

1. Add 2 TB butter and olive oil to a pan. Add the rice and saute. 2 min. Add the wine until dissolved. Add a ladle of chicken broth at a time. Each time that it is absorbed add another ladle until finished. Taste it. When ready add the parm and 2 TB butter. It should take about 21 minutes.

ENJOY!!!!!

The Perfect Reuben

I love Reuben and so does the Husband. It is a a favorite. This is the first time that I made the bread for the Reuben's too. I made a Reuben stuffed bread (Recipe below), which was amazing. That recipe is what inspired me to make this Rye Bread.

It was a huge hit. My husband loved it! I did not have one! I know, I know! I am trying to lose a few lbs.

Let me just say, it smelled like fall in my home. I made Pumpkin Bread from Baker Babes, Chicken broth (12 cps), Corned Beef, Rye Bread, and I created my own dessert PUMPKIN CHIFFON CAKE!!! I was busy in the kitchen and it was lovely. I will post the Chiffon Cake tomorrow. But for now, drool all over this sandwich!

Rye Sauerkraut Bread
1 cp. sauerkraut, drained
1-2 cups of Swiss cheese, cubed
3/4 cp. hot water
2 TB butter, soft
2 TB molasses
2 tsp. caraway seeds
big pinch of salt
1 cp. Rye Flour
2 1/2 cp. bread flour
1 1/2 tsp. fast acting yeast

Put in bread machine in that order.
If you do not have a bread machine: Add yeast to hot water. Add the water to the molasses, butter, seasoning. Add the flour 1 cp. at a time. Add the cheese.Knead. Let rise 1 hr.
Punch down and add to greased loaf pan. Let rise for another hr. and then bake on 350 for about an hour.

For the sandwich:

1 cp. french fries
1/2 cp. sauerkraut
1/2 lb Corned Beef (I cooked a brisket with its seasoning pack on 250 all day. I think chipped it on my food processor)
6 slices of Swiss cheese
1 TB Thousand Island (I added an extra bit of horseradish for a kick)

I put three slices of cheeses on both sides of the bread. I put the corned beef on the bottom slice of the bread and the fries on the top slice of bread. I topped the corned beef with the sauerkraut and Thousand Island. I closed the sandwich and put in my panini press for 5 min.

Pumpkin Pie time!?

I love Pumpkin Pie! It is my husbands all time favorite pie! I made this pie and it was gone in one day. My husband and 4 yr. old fought over the last slice. I had to actually split it down the middle. HAHA.

I am going to have to make another one. I made Apple Pie too. That is Baileys and my favorite. It was terrific too.

I must admit, fall is my favorite. I LOVE Pumpkins!!! I love Halloween!! I love falling colorful leaves!! (I don't see that much living in FL and it truly bothers me!) and most of all I love Apple Cider and Caramel Apples.....TIS THE SEASON!




The BEST Pumpkin Pie

adapted from a recipe found on allrecipes.com


9 in. Pie Crust
15 oz Pumpkin
14 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 Egg yolks
1/4 cp. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg and ginger
2 egg whites


1. Beat the pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, sugar and spices. I whipped the egg whites and folded it into the batter.

2. Poor into the pie crust.

3. Bake on 425 for 10 min and turn down to 350 and bake for 1 hr. or until a toothpick is clean when inserted.

Simple Tomato Salad or Brushetta...

I have been stressing out a little. We are out of our place by Oct. 1 but as of right now, we are not sure where we are headed. If my husbands job will be starting, we will be in Gainesville, FL or we may have to linger here for a little longer until it starts. Extended Stay, maybe.....I just want this job to start and for the stress to diminish.

Good thing: this recipe is stress free, delish and made with all farmers market fresh veggies. I go to an incredible farmers market every wed. I stock my fridge! Today I got: 5 lbs pea pods, 3 lbs green beans, 20 Roma tomatoes, 6 Orange Acid Free tomatoes, 15 apples, 12 plums, 2 lbs bananas, 6 heads of Bibb lettuce, 12 HUGE carrots, 4 red peppers, 4 green peppers, cilantro, red onion, 1 lb cherry tomatoes, 6 ears of corn, 2 Big cucumbers, 1lb jalapenos = 35.00!!!!! You can't beat it!!!! I love that place. It has about 40 to 50 vender's and it is at a Fair Grounds. It takes 20 min. to get there, but I make the trek every Wed. no matter what.

What did I make with what I received? WELL....
My husband has been gone since Monday, that is another reason for my lack of posting. I have no one to cook for, but I will make up for that. I am entertaining this weekend and I am planning to be in the kitchen baking ALL day.

I made a Simple salad or put it on toasted bread for a simple brushetta...

My Simple Orange Tomato Salad

1/4 cp. of Greek Salad Dressing
3 TB Parm Cheese
4-6 TB fresh basil cut in shreds
salt and pepper

Mix together for the dressing

4 Orange Tomatoes
1/4 cp. diced red onions
1 container of small mozzarella balls, each one cut in half

(If you are using bread rub garlic on the bread!!)

WOW! Yes, this tasted as good as it looks. LOL.

Caramel Brownies

I found these wonderful brownies here.
It is by recipegirl.com. WOW. WOW. WOW.
They are absolutely amazing. I made them for my kiddos doctor and staff for being such wonderful people. I love them and truly trust them with my children's care. They deserve something special to show they are appreciated.
They were a huge hit. At my house. At the doctors office.
As you can tell, I love brownies. But I do believe these are my new favorite. Check them out.

Mozzarella Stuffed Hot Sausage Meatballs

My husband loves hot and spicy. I found a recipe in Racheal Ray Mag and I knew I wanted to make it, but I changed a few things to add more flavor and to make in my recipe. It was a great alternative. I must admit, I did make a new type of spicy sauce to go with the meatballs. I will include the sauce. It is going to be my new quick marinara sauce.

I wanted to make a big dinner tonight because my husband is leaving for four days and will be on the road eating at restaurants and fast food. I made a feast: Orange Tomato Brushetta, Stuffed MB and Pasta, and Caramel Chocolate Brownies. I will post the other food sometime during the week.



Mozzarella Stuffed Hot Italian Sausage Meatballs

2lbs of Hot Italian Sausage, removed from casing
1/2 cp. bread crumbs
1/2 cp. fresh parm cheese
1/4 cp. fresh basil and Parsley
1 container of small fresh mozzarella balls


Mix the parm. cheese, basil, parsley and bread crumbs together
Form in little patties and top with one mozzarella ball in the middle.

Form the meat around the mozzarella ball.

Brown on 400. I flipped after 5 min. and cooked for another 5 min. I then put it in my sauce to continue the cooking.

The final product! Yum!

The SAUCE

2 TB olive oil

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 green bell, chopped

1 hot Italian green banana pepper, chopped

1 28 oz. crushed tomatoes

1 lg. can of tomatoes paste

1 24 oz. diced tomatoes

3 tsp. Italian seasoning

3 TB fresh parsley and basil

salt and pepper

1. Add the oil and saute the veggies until soft. Add all of the tomato paste and stir. Add the rest of the tomatoes. Add the seasoning. Let cook. I usually let my sauce cook all day. This will make a thick and hearty sauce.

ENJOY!!!

Seafood FEAST!

My husband was driving all over FL yesterday and did not have a chance to stop for lunch. He came home hungry and tired. I figured I would surprise him with a favorite: Seafood Feast. What is more comforting then a HUGE bowl of steamed shrimp and mussels, with Sourdough bread to soak up the yummy broth and crab cakes? In my mind, there is nothing better. This dinner was so satisfying.

The Perfect Crab cake
2 TB butter
2 TB Olive Oil
1 Bell pepper, cut in small squares, diced
1 Green Pepper, diced
4 green onions, diced
4 tsp. hot sauce (The hubby and I love spicy)
3 tsp. old bay
1 TB Parsley

1. TAKE ALL THE INGREDIENTS AND SAUTE UNTIL SOFT.

Crab meat, half a lb.
1/3 cp. mayo
1/2 cp. seasoned bread crumbs
2 TB Dijon mustard
2 eggs

2. Mix together.
3. After the sauteed mixture cools mix it with the wet ingredients. Form patties and let sit in the fridge for 30 minutes
4. Brown with oil and butter.

Steamed Mussels and Shrimp

1 lb Mussels
1 lb shrimp
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cp. white wine
1/4 cp. diced bell peppers
1.4 cp. diced green onions
4 chopped garlic cloves
1/4 cp. fresh parsley
1/2 to 1 tsp. crushed red pepper

1. Add the butter and the veggies and crushed red pepper and saute until soft. Add the wine and cook until reduced by 1/2. Add the mussels, shrimp and parsley. Cover and until all the mussels are open and the shrimp is pink.

Serve with warm sourdough bread to dip with the yummy broth!!!!!

My Moms Awesome Cobbler

This was a childhood favorite. Where ever I bring this dish it gets rave reviews. My favorite way to have it is warm with a little milk....mmmmh. A perfect morning with a huge cup of coffee. Not to mention, this is one of the easiest recipe that I have ever used....




MY MOMS COBBLER

4 cps of any fruit (blueberries,peach,apples,so on)
2 cps sugar
2 sticks of butter, soft
2 cps flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cp. milk


1. Mix the butter and sugar until fluffy. Slowly add the milk.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add to the wet.



3. Toss the fruit in a little sugar. Put the fruit in a greased 9 X 13 pan.

4. Add to the fruit. Level.

5. Bake on 350 for about 50 minutes to an hour.

Eat! This is so moist and yummy. It will not disappoint!!!

Chocolate Chip and MM Cookies

I actually went out with my husband this weekend. It was so fun. I forgot how much fun we can have together. We went to City Walk at Universal. While we had fun my kiddos were being baby sat for the second time in their little lives. I know, I know!!! That is horrible that I only left them twice, but trust me after this weekend I am going to try to do it more often!!! I had the time of my life!!

My best friend's 16 year old daughter watched my girls. She was so awesome! She is hands down the most mature, level headed, incredible sixteen year old I know. Not to mention, she has three siblings under the age of three. This makes it easy to handle a screaming 20 mo. old Bailey. When I walked in the door at 1 a.m. she had my screaming baby in her arms fast asleep. How awesome is that?!

Anyway, I knew she was coming to watch my girls. So, what do you make a growing 16 yr. old!?!? Yummy, HUGE, M and M Cookies! These turned out so great! Take my word for it! I made 36 of these GIGANTIC Cookies on Saturday and they were gone by Sunday! No joke!

I had a great weekend with my hubby and kiddos! I hope everyone enjoyed their 3 day weekend!!!!

ENJOY!!

The recipe:

4 cps. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cps. melted unsalted butter
1 cp. brown sugar
2 cp. white sugar
2 TB Vanilla Extract
2 Egg
2 Egg yolks
2 cp. Hershey Chocolate Chips
2 cp. MandM's

1. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix together the sugars and butter until fluffy. Add the extract and one egg at a time.
2. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
3. Fold in the chips and MandM's.
4. Add about 1/4 cp. of the batter per cookie. Bake on 325 for about 10-15 min. When brown around the edges.

EAT!!!!

ORANGE Marinara Sauce...And A Story of Inspiration!!

I want to share a story with you. I think it is very inspiring and gives me some hope and makes me strive as a parent. As I get older and time is flying by I see a lot of people worrying to much about themselves and not stopping to smell the roses (so to speak). For example, how many times does someone open the door for you? Or a complete stranger help you load groceries? So on and So on. This was common many years back.

Anyway, my husband and I went to the store for our weekend amount of DVD rentals. While I was waiting for my husband in our family truckster with two crazy kiddos I saw the most inspiring and generous act. An old lady was walking into the store, but barely. She was very old and was having so much trouble. All of a sudden a young lady ran into the store and I seen her riding out on a motorized cart! She drove it up to the lady and helped her on it. The young lady then walked away and continued her day. WOW! I was so moved! Is that crazy!?

How great is that? How inspiring? I open doors for people and give away my cart to a person in need of one . I found a purse opened spewing out money in a grocery cart and turned it in right away. I make food for girlfriends who just had a baby or who are sick. I thank my phenomenal parents for that. They have instilled many value inside me. I am so grateful. Now, that I am a mother I hope that I can instill the same into my daughters. I hope they would be that girl to run into the store to help an elder lady having trouble getting her own grocery cart. *Fingers Crossed*

Switch of moods...Orange Marinara Sauce!!!!
I know..It sounds crazy, but I came across these beautiful orange tomatoes. I tasted them and they were WONDERFUL...so I had to make a sauce from it!!!!

CHECK IT OUT!

ORANGE MARINARA SAUCE

About 10-12 Orange Tomatoes
2 TB Olive Oil
1 Orange bell pepper, diced

1 Sweet Yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, sliced thin

1 tsp. crushed red pepper

3 tsp. Italian seasoning (I usually use fresh herbs, but I wanted to cook this all day and let the flavors mingle)

3 TB. of Parm. Cheese

Optional:

Browned Sausage

Basil Garnish

The Orange tomatoes!!! Boil in a pot for 5 minutes. Strain. Let cool. Remove skin and seeds. Chop. Add to the sauce pot with the sauteed veggies.

While the Tomatoes are boiling saute the veggies on low with 2 TB of Olive oil. You want to cook the onions, peppers, garlic and crushed red pepper where you are almost caramelizing the garlic. Cook low until browned and then add the tomatoes.

Let the veggies mingle. Cook down. Puree in the food processor and add back to the pot. Add the dried or fresh herbs. Let cook. Add the cheese.

Toss the noodles in the sauce to coat.

This is Alex's dish. LOL. Notice the Princess plate? She asked me to take a picture...How could I say no?!

The dish I made for the hubby. I added spicy browned sausge!! YUM!

THE STEAK SANDWICH

I realize that I forgot the steak recipe.

I have been doing this a lot lately. I feel like I have so much on my plate right now. Our move is in three weeks!!! I have been packing, showing our condo like crazy (which means to keeping it and clean.URGH), Alex keeps bringing home work to do.(In PRESCHOOL..She has homework!?!?!), and so on and son on...

Yesterday, I sent all the bills out WITHOUT stamps!!!! I am losing it!!!!

Anyway, here is the recipe I promised:

8 Cube Steaks, cut against the grain

2 onions, sliced thin

1 red pepper, sliced thin

1 green pepper, sliced thin

4 TB butter

2 TB oil

3 TB Steak Seasoning

3 Cloves Garlic, minced

2 cps. shredded mozzarrella

Hoagie Buns

Horseradish

1. Add the butter and oil. Toss in the onions and pepper. Saute until soft. Add the steak. Saute until cooked. Add the garlic and steak seasoning.

2. Add the cheese and put in toasted buns. I rubbed each bun with horseradish and then filled.

Calphalon Unison Cookware: A Must in Every Kitchen

Calphalon Unison

Calphalon began their successful journey in Perrysburg, OH in 1963. Their line of items has evolved over time but their dedication and faithfulness in their work has not. Calaphalon adapted to make knives, kitchen utensils, kitchen gadgets, bake ware and of course, their notable pots and pans.

Calphalon has created a variety of pan lines. They have their Tri-Ply, Copper Tri-Ply, Contempary Non Stick, Calphalon One Infused Ad ionized (which is the first cookware to use the infused anodized t anodized technology with a nonstick surface.), Calphalon Contemporary Stainless Steal, Copper Pan line, Enamel Cast Iron, and CS Nonstick. Now, Calphalon did it again. They created another masterpiece Calphalon Unison. It a brand new line that will turn anyones head in their direction.

Calphalon Unison pan line created with two types of nonstick surface: Slide Surface and Sear Surface. The slide surface is constructed to release food with no effort. (This works, trust me!) They sear surface was designed to lock in flavor but refraining from sticking to the pan.

I have used this pan line over a month now and I am totally in love. It is my go to pan. That is saying a lot considering I have many top of the line pans consuming my kitchen. The Unison has the ability and strength to cook anything to perfection without it sticking to the surface. If you use their Unison 8 QT Stock Pan the water actually beads around the surface. To me, that informs me that their nonstick ability is victorious.

The Unison pan line includes nine items. It includes a Omelette Pans,Sauce Pans, Sauté Pans, Stock Pots, Roaster,Round Griddle,Round Grill Pan,Soup Pot,Wok and Cover. It also comes in either a 10 piece or 8 piece set. Each pan is accompanied by a lifetime warranty, dishwasher safe, oven safe up to 500 degrees, and each handle is made ergonomic to stay cool.

I have reviewed many products and even more cookware, but this is by far the best cookware that has entered my kitchen. It cooks to perfection. I absolutely have no down faults. Calphalons revoutionary pans belong in every household! http://www.calphalon.com/

　

Steak Sandwich and Blog Awards

I received this incredible award from Ruth at I Love Flavour, Me! Ruth has an incredible website and very unique. Check it out here.

The point of this award is to get to know one another. Here is the questions:

1.what is your current obsession?mmh...I try really hard to cook healthy.
2. What are you wearing today?Caprees and a T-shirt
3. What’s for dinner?Steak Sandwiches and Sauted Cabbage and Buttered Noodles
4. What’s the last thing you bought?Figs...Never cooked with them before...ANY IDEAS?!
5. What are you listening to right now?Hells Kitchen..LOVE IT
6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?Very inspiring!!
7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?Probably back in OH with my family. I miss them so so much.
8. What are your must-have pieces for summer? Fruit
9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? New England. I have always wanted to visit Maine. LOL. Stay on the US turf.
10. Which language do you want to learn?Italian
11. Who do you want to meet right now?Gordon Ramsey or Tyler Florence
12. What is your favorite colour?Yellow
13. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?My Maxy Dresses
14. What is your dream job?Lactation Counselor, help mommys who have trouble nursing.
15. What’s your favourite magazine?Cooking Light and Food Network Mag.
16. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?Food.Food.Food.Food.
17. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?none, never crosses my mind
18. Who are your style icons?IDK.Ask about food.
19. Describe your personal style?laid back
20. What are your favorite movies?I have lots. I like drama and intensity...
22. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:Be yourself, wear what makes you feel free and comfortable(I agree with Ruths answer)
23. Coffee or tea?LOVE COFFEE
24. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?Cook and Clean
25. What is the meaning of your name?I have no idea...It is Spanish, I know that.
26. Which other blogs you love visiting?The ones at the bottom of my page...
27. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?Tirmusui (sp)
28. Favorite Season?Autumn and PUMPKIN...Halloween is my ALL time FAVORITE HOLIDAY!!
29.Which is your dream destination?Sedona, Arizona
30. Who inspired you to start a blog? Many of the blogs I visit today.

I pass my award on to:

1. Elinluv's Corner Tidbits-This blog is full of wonderful and unique recipes! I love visiting this site! IT IS SO UNIQUE!!
2. Natalie at Natalies Killer Cuisine-She has the best cookies and desserts. Her site is awesome!! Today she made PB and Fig cookies!!
3. Cookin Canuch-Her site is always full of amazing, tasty, and easy recipes. I love her blog. One of my favorite recipes is Strawberrys with a Meringue topping!!
4. Foododelmundo-This is one of my favorite sites. It is full of incredible pictures and recipes. I enjoy every recipe! Burgers, Sushi and Pizza with Figs and Prosciutto...Can I say more?
5. Chef E at CookApeal-This is another site that is full of flavorful and mouthwatering recipes. She rocks!
6. Donna at My Tasty Treasures-A very unique and entertaining site. I like that she tries recipes and lets us know how well they went. Love Love Love her site!!!!!
7. Teana at Spork or Foon-Her recipes ROCK! She always has the most mouthwatering desserts. Check her out....
8. Ingrid at 3 B's Baseball, Baking and Books-I love this site for so many reasons. I love her recipes, her concept of family, and her wonderful posts. Her Banana Crisp is to die for!!!
9. Girlchef-I love her step by step pictures and wonderful recipes. She made homemade cheese yesterday!! She is very talented!!
10. Diana at A little Spanish in Iowa-She is full of wonderful recipes and videos (Of her own Chickens running around her yard) I love her site and her posts. They are fantastic!!