Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

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~~Spiced Pork Chops~~

This is one of our most favorite recipes. I can’t remember where I found the original recipe at (somewhere online), but it’s delicious!

FYI: Some of the spices, if you have never bought them, are a little pricy, but last a long time.

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Spiced Pork Chops
4 pork chops
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fennel seeds – crushed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ tablespoon butter
½ cup chicken broth

Mix all spices together and evenly sprinkle half over the top of the pork chops. In a skillet, over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Placed spiced side or pork chops down in the hot skillet. Cook about 3-5 minutes on one side till browned, but no blackened (turn down the heat if they are cooking too fast). While chops are cooking on the first side, sprinkle remaining spice mixture on the uncooked side. Flip them over once, finish cooking.

Remove chops from skillet and keep warm. Add butter to skillet and whisk browned bits with a wire whisk. Turn the heat up a little, add chicken broth and keep whisking till the sauce reduces to about half. Serve the chops with the sauce on top.

I saved a large spice container that had either onion or garlic powder in it (I think) to put my spice mixture in. I also mix up enough spice mixture at a time to fill my container. This way I always have it on hand.

I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as mine does!

This post is linked to:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap

Vanderbilt Wife (Family Recipe Friday)

Designs By Gollum (Foodie Friday)

Momtrends: Friday Feasts

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Homemade Ricotta Cheese

tmttSummer09

I had a chance to try out Cardamom’s Pod’s homemade ricotta cheese. It was so yummy! I made some of the best stuffed shells that I’ve ever made!! I do not have a double boiler, but you can make a make-shift double boiler with a pot and a bowl.

You’ll need:

1 gallon milk
double boiler or 1 large pot and 1 large bowl (did mine in 2 batches)
1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar
cheese cloth or clean pillow case
colander
candy/meat thermometer
spoon to stir
aluminum foil if making a double boiler
good appetite 😉

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I heated the water to boiling, placed the bowl on top of the pot and covered it with foil.

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I then inserted my thermometer and let it heat up to 185* F. (pic shows temp a little under but I waited until 185*.)

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I removed the bowl from the pot and added the vinegar. The transformation happened very quickly and the kids were as amazed as I was!

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I poured the entire contents of the bowl into a cheese-cloth lined colander and drained the whey.

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Here’s a pic of all the yummy ricotta cheese I made!

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I used it make stuffed shells, but we were so eager to try it that I forgot to take pics for you! Sorry! But, you need to try this! It’s so easy and sooo good! I’ll never go back to store bought ricotta cheese again!

This made about 3 cups of ricotta cheese. Cardamom recommends, if storing, salting to taste and adding a little cream to keep it moist. It will keep for about a week in the fridge.

Don’t forget to go on over to Blessed With Grace and see what everyone’s cooking up for this weeks Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

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~~Stromboli~~

tmttSummer09

I found this recipe for Stromboli a couple of weeks ago and decided to give it a try, but I gave it my own twist. Being the frugal person I am, I made a batch of my crescent roll dough to use instead of store bought pizza dough. Yes, I have a pizza dough recipe, but I thought this would give it a really nice flavor, and it did. So, here’s my version of Stromboli (makes 2).

Ingredients:

1 crescent dough recipe
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 Tbs Italian Seasoning
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
pizza sauce (I used homemade)
1 egg
1 Tbs. water
  1. Make dough and let rise.
  2. Brown ground beef with Italian Seasoning; drain, reserving a small amount of drippings from meat.

  3. Saute onion and bell pepper until onions are translucent; remove from pan. Gather the rest of the ingredients together.

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  4. Divide dough into thirds. (You will only need 2. Make the other into crescent rolls and freeze for later use.) Roll dough out into a rectangle approximately 12 x 8 inches in size. IMG_0002

  5. Spread with sauce. IMG_0007
  6. Add half the hamburger. IMG_0008
  7. Add sauted peppers and onions. IMG_0009
  8. Top with cheese. IMG_0010
  9. Fold in short ends. IMG_0011
  10. Next, fold over each long sides, and pinch all seams closed. IMG_0012 IMG_0013 IMG_0014

  11. Beat egg and water together and brush Stromboli with egg wash.

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  12. Bake in a 400* over for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

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  13. Enjoy! IMG_0025

I hope you enjoy this recipe! It smelled wonderful while baking, tastes just as good! My whole family loved it, and that’s saying a lot since I have 2 extremely picky eaters.

Don’t forget to check out Blessed with Grace to see what everyone is making for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday this week.