Sometimes, the problem with getting new cooking magazines each month, year after year, and owning too many cookbooks, is that you never go back to those favorites that you cooked once or twice before. One-Pan Whiskey Flavored Pork Chops is one of those recipes that is so good and so easy, but it gets lost in my repertoire of dishes "to try." I don't cook pork as much as I used because often it ends up being tough and dry. But cooking the pork in this whiskey flavored gravy for an hour leaves it moist and flavorful. I served it with some garlic mashed potatoes. It is a wonderful dish that goes well with a Pinot Noir. I hope you enjoy it as much we did.


Photo courtesy of Cooking Light

ACK!!!! No cooking of late as life has thrown me a number of curve balls. I have been able to recently get some beautiful pictures of God's creation from Jackson Hole, Wyoming even if I was there for tragic reasons. So while no cooking, I do have some pictures to share.

Early sunrise after a stormy night



The reason fall is my favorite season!



The calm after the storm

I love lemons. Somehow, I always try to convince myself that because they are so light and refreshing, that using them will result in some low-cal dessert. But the desserts I seem to find, generally don't fit the bill. If you can get over the fact that you need a lot of eggs for the curd, a ton of sugar, and heavy whipping cream for the mousse, Lemon Curd Mousse Cake is a wonderful lemon dessert that is relatively easy to prepare. I think, I like the fact that I can make it in stages (you really are required to as with most dishes calling for a lemon curd), because I was able to make it over a couple of days.

Seeing as I didn't not have any pastry tips, and I used all the lemons to make the curd, my decorative plating doesn't compare with the Bon Appetit picture (but then it rarely does -- sigh), but I simply drizzled some of the leftover mousse on the cake, and it looked okay.

So a few years ago I took my kids to TGIFridays for lunch at the end of the school year. For the most part, I was reminded of why I can not stand the place; too loud, bad service, oversized meals, but I did enjoy the barbeque chicken salad I had there. I never tried to replicate it at home because I did not have a corn-black bean salsa that I really enjoyed. Once I found the Southwestern Salsa with Black Beans and Corn recipe from Southern Living (note I cut the recipe in half as it makes a lot), I did my best to replicate the salad. Essentially, I line a plate with greens and alternate the salsa, tomatoes, avocado, and cheese. I drizzle the salad with ranch dressing and barbeque sauce, and lay sliced barbecue chicken across the top. The salad is hearty and delicious, yet comes together quite easily.

Well I have been diving into cooking a little bit more this past week, but pictures have been missing. I recently tried a dip by Sandra Lee that is meant to be used over roasted asparagus, but I used it with cold veggies (snow peas, zucchini and carrots - I would have made cold roasted asparagus if I could have found some - as an appetizer), and it was wonderful. Curry-Cashew Mayonnaise is very easy to make and a nice variation on dips for veggies. I upped the cashews and the curry a little, but really it is to your own tastes. (The photo is courtesy of foodnetwork.com).

The other new dish I tried was Grilled Potato and Onion Salad with Blue Cheese and Bacon. Okay - this is not a light dish, but so yummy with some grilled steaks. The presentation was somewhat lacking on mine because I used the grill as opposed to the grill rack to grill the potatoes. Mine was more like Charred potato salad. It will definitely be kept in the recipe bin, I just need to work on my grilling skills. If you are so inspired, I hope you try either of these recipes.

Um yeah...so about this blogging thing. I kind of left it behind with high school boys swim season, trying to find a new job and dealing with changes in my life. But you know what, I miss it. I hope I haven't left you all out in the cold (like my last post). So here is to a new renewed vigor in posting. Today's entry is Cooking Light's Rum Glazed Banana Cake; except I don't use a Rum-Glaze and I have taken to adding mini-chocolate chip cookies. Still, I get compliments on this cake everytime I make it! It also converts easily to two loaf pans.

On a day like today....


Soup is most definitely in order!



I know little of African cuisine, but this soup, from Cooking light 1999, is called African Chicken-Peanut Soup

Perhaps it is the mixture of sweet potato with peanut butter, or the addition of black beans, but it is hearty and filling. Please don't let any of the ingredients individually fool you, they come together really well. African Chicken-Peanut Soup

When life gives you lemons...

Make lemon-blueberry scones!!


I don't really consider myself a baker. Baking requires following directions; baking requires exact measurements; baking requires knowing if your oven temperature is correct. Yet, I yearn to be a baker. This recipe for the lemon-blueberry scones was created from two different recipes so I was free to not have to follow the directions exactly. Neither of the flavors is overpowering, and they come together beautifully. The glaze is simply lemon juice and powdered sugar. Who knows... this may be the start of something new.

So... it tastes a lot better than it looks in this picture. This is one of the few recipes that I can actually say that I created. Its long and tortured name is Penne Pasta with Walnuts, Feta Cheese, and Sundried Tomatoes. But it also has fresh basil and shredded parmesan cheese. I love the taste of toasted walnuts and feta cheese together and started coming up with other things to throw in there as well. Once I figure out a separate link for my recipes this one will be there too. It is quick and easy, and when you can pluck fresh basil leaves from your garden, the presentation looks much better too.

While I have been finding my way back to my kitchen, I failed to find my way back to my blog. I kept telling myself that I really didn't want to "publish" my blog until I became more proficient at HTML, but I think having my blog out there will force me to do so.
Picture courtesy of www.epicurious.com
This past weekend brought cooler temperatures which prompted me to make a lasagna that I have been wanting to try for months. Roasted Portobello and Prosciutto Lasagna comes from the October 2004 issue of Bon Appetit. It is decadent and rich and brings together a wonderful blend of flavors.... but it is not cheap. I think the total cost was close to $25. I will make it again and likely try to lighten it by using 1% milk in the bechamel sauce. Some dinners, however, are worth an extra 20 minutes on the treadmill. This might be one of them.

To the extent that anyone has found my blog on its inaugural day, please bare with me. I have come to realize I know nothing about HTML and have relied much too heavily on IT people in my life to help me with computer issues. Perhaps learning HTML will become one of my new interests? Not likely. ;) The creation of my blog, like finding the old/new me, will be a work in progress.