One Pot Pork and Scalloped Potato Bake

With the holidays fast approaching every day seems to fly by more and more quickly. At times like these I love one pot meals that are nutritious and can be prepared with little fuss.

Ingredients:

4 bone-in pork chops, 3/4 - 1" thick
2 tbsps olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tbsps butter
2 tbsps flour
2 cups chicken broth
4 medium white potatoes, sliced thinly
1 medium sweet potato, sliced a little thicker than the white
1 medium onion, sliced
1 cup chopped spinach
paprika

Oil a deep skillet, one that will accommodate 4 pork chops without overlapping them, and layer the white potatoes, sweet potato, onion and spinach.

In a skillet lightly brown the pork chops in the olive oil then lay them on top of the spinach.

Melt the butter, and whisk in the flour, salt, pepper and broth. Pour this mixture over the pork chops and sprinkle with paprika. You can also add more salt and pepper if you like.

Cover and bake at 350F for 1 hour then uncover and return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes.

And you've got supper on the table!

Serves 4

Hasselback Butternut Squash

Holiday worthy but just simple enough to enjoy the goodness of fall's butternut squash anytime.

Ingredients:

1  1/2 lb butternut squash
olive oil
salt and pepper

cinnamon
nutmeg
sage

Glaze:

2 tbsps maple syrup
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsps dried cranberries

1 small potato (for support)

I've made hasselback potatoes many times but never considered using another vegetable. Suddenly these hasselback butternut squashes are popping up all over the internet. I had to try one for myself!

Peel the squash then cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and strings.

Place the halves cut-side down on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and add salt and pepper.
Bake at 400 F for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and once cool enough to handle make those hasselback slices.  Using my trusty chopsticks on each side I sliced the squash with my knife stopping at the chopsticks so as not to cut all the way through the squash. 

The pre-bake made this step quite easy but I do hope to be able to make thinner slices the next time I try this recipe.

Once you have made your slices slip half  a small potato under the squash in the concave left from the seeds. This will help support the squash and keep it's shape. Brush again with olive oil, then sprinkle on cinnamon, nutmeg and sage.

Mix the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Cool a few minutes then drizzle over the squash.

Return to the oven for another 20-30 minutes or until your squash is tender.

Slide a wide spatula or long knife underneath the squash to remove it from the pan. And don't forget that little piece of roasted potato underneath! 

Extraordinary Apple Date Bread

It really is extraordinary! Not your everyday loaf. A little like fruitcake but hey don't click away fruitcake haters! Even you will like it!

Ingredients:

1  1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 eggs
1 cup cold coffee
2 cups apples, chopped
1 cup dates, chopped
1 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp each salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice

First mix the sugar, oil, eggs and coffee together.
Next chop and mix the fruit and nuts then combine with the sugar mixture.

In a very large bowl mix the flour, baking soda, salt and spices together then pour in the wet ingredients. Stir until well combined then pour into 2 prepared loaf pans. I greased mine then lined with a piece of parchment paper.

Bake at 350F for 1 hour or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing.

Lemony Orzo with Sausage and Roasted Vegetables

This light and lemony meal is chock full of goodness and can even be made vegetarian. Just sub in black beans or garbanzo for the Italian sausage. 

Ingredients:

1 cup orzo
3/4 lb Italian sausage

1 small zucchini, diced
1 celery stalk, sliced
2 small sweet peppers, diced
1 medium onion, diced
a handful of mushrooms, quartered
2 garlic cloves, minced (divided)
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp pink Himalayan salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

1 cup chopped spinach

Dressing:

1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Garnish:

feta
basil
parsley

Fry the sausages until golden. I had minis here, but if using large sausages cut into slices or chunks.
Meanwhile cook the orzo as per package directions then drain and mix in the chopped spinach. Set aside.

Mix the zucchini, celery, sweet peppers, onion, mushrooms and 1 minced garlic with the olive oil, salt and pepper and roast in a 425 F oven for 40 minutes.

Mix the dressing ingredients together and add the remaining 1 minced garlic.

Once the veggies are cooked toss everything together, including all the veggie juices from the pan, and garnish.

This can be served warm or at room temperature. Would be great to pack for a school or work lunch! 

Orange Chocolate and Sea Salt Caramel Cookies

Just the right texture... not too soft and not to crispy, with a hint of orange and the yumminess of chocolate and sea salt caramel!

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
zest of 1 orange
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange extract
1/2 cup sea salt caramel chips
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Pink himalayan salt

Whisk the flours, baking powder, soda and salt together.

In a separate bowl whip the butter, sugars and orange zest together, then add the eggs and extracts.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet in 3 or 4 additions until combined and finally fold in the sea salt caramel and chocolate chips.

Roll into balls using 2 heaping tablespoons of cookie dough each. Chill balls 30-60 minutes.

Sprinkle or roll tops in salt and bake at 350 F for 13-15 minutes.

Makes 36
Betcha can't eat just one!

Easy No Bake Oat Krispie Squares

When a  chocolate craving hits there's no time to waste!

Ingredients:

1  1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup butter or coconut oil
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 cup oats

Place chocolate chips, peanut butter, honey and butter in a large bowl. Microwave on high 2 minutes.

Stir well then add the oats. Once well combined then fold in the rice krispies.

Spread in a parchment lined 8 X 8" pan with the back of a spoon and chill 2-3 hours.

Lift the parchment out of the pan and cut into 25 squares.

Keep refrigerated if they don't all go in one sitting!
Craving satisfied!

Panko Crusted Salmon Fishcakes with Garlic Yogurt Sauce

These tasty fish cakes come together quickly using canned salmon for an easy weeknight meal, but if made smaller could be served as a great appetizer. 

Ingredients:

1 - 213 g can sockeye salmon, drained 
1/2 cup mashed white potato (no milk)
1/2 cup mashed sweet potato 
1  1/2 tbsps Old Bay, or other seafood seasoning
1 head of garlic, roasted (half in mix, half in sauce)
2 eggs
2-3 tsps fresh thyme
1/3 cup finely chopped green onion 
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup coconut oil for frying

Garlic Yogurt Sauce:
1/3 cup plain yogurt
the other half of the roasted garlic
1/4 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp pepper
pinch of paprika
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Lime to serve

Bake both small white and sweet potatoes in the oven or microwave, then cut opened to cool and mash with a fork.

To roast the garlic head cut 1/4" off the top of the head and remove the papery outer layer. Drizzle a little olive oil on top and you may want to sprinkle with salt and pepper.

For oven roasting wrap in foil and roast in a 400 F oven for 30-35 minutes. If you are cooking the potatoes in the oven this step can pretty much be done at the same time.

However, if you happen to have leftover cooked potatoes and want a quick "roasted" garlic head then sit the drizzled head in a small bowl with 1  1/2 tbsps of water. Sit a small plate on top and microwave for 3 minutes. Check for softness then return to the microwave for 1 or 2 minutes at a time until the garlic is soft.

Whichever way you choose to cook the potatoes and garlic, once cooled the potatoes and HALF the garlic can be mashed together. (Reserve the other half of the garlic for the sauce)

Add the Old Bay, eggs, thyme and green onion and mix well. Finally fold the salmon in mashing slightly to hold but try to not break up all of it.

Form the mixture into balls. I made 7 the size of a small apple. Roll the balls in the bread crumbs and gently press down to about 1" thickness. Don't put all the Panko in the bowl at once in case you don't need it all.

Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan to a medium low to medium heat. Cook the patties about 2 minutes on each side or until golden.

For the sauce, mash the reserved half roasted garlic and add the rest of the sauce ingredients.

Serve with a squeeze of lime and dollop of Garlic Yogurt Sauce.