Pork with Red Wine Sauce

Perfect for Sunday dinner.

1 1/2 lb boneless pork roast
2 cloves garlic, slivered
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp dried rosemary

mushrooms (optional)

1/2 cup minced onion
1/4 cup red wine
1/2 cup beef broth
1  1/2 tsps cornstarch
1 tsp tomato paste
salt and pepper

Cut slits in pork and insert garlic slivers. Mix oil, lemon juice and rosemary and brush all over the pork. Leave to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Roast at 325 F 50-60 minutes. If using mushrooms, add a couple of handfuls at 30 minutes.

Red Wine Sauce: 

Remove the mushrooms to a bowl and pork to a platter and skim any fat from the pan. Heat the roasting pan on a medium burner, add the onion to brown. De-glaze the pan with the wine and broth, scraping up the brown bits. Mix cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water, add to pan stirring well. Blend in the tomato paste and add salt and pepper to taste. 

Finally return the mushrooms to the sauce to warm.

Serves 4

Easy Hamburger Buns

My sister-in-law suggested this recipe to me for hamburger buns. I may never go back to store bought again!

Ingredients

1 cup warm water
3 tbsps warm milk
2 tsps dry yeast
2  1/2 tbsps sugar
2 large eggs
3 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tbsps butter, softened

Combine water, milk, yeast and sugar and set aside to start activating the yeast for 5 minutes.

In a large mixer bowl add flour, salt and butter and mix until crumbly.

Stir in the yeast mixture and 1 beaten egg. Mix until the dough forms a ball, about 5 minutes.

Turn your oven on it's lowest temperature for 1 minute, then shut off.  Oil the bowl then put the dough ball in, cover with a damp tea towel and place in the oven until doubled, 1-3 hours.

Once the dough rises gently shape somewhat into a log and cut into 8 pieces like this.

Tuck the corners underneath and form into a bun shape. Place 2-3 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise again for 1-2 hours.

Beat the remaining egg with a tbsp of water and just before putting them in the oven brush the egg wash on the tops.

Put a pan of water on the lower rack of the oven then bake the buns at 400 F for 15-20 minutes.

Cool on a rack before slicing.

Hearty Italian Meat Sauce

I prefer a nice tomato sauce with my pasta, but hubby wants meat! So meat it is.
One half pound each of beef, pork and veal.

1  1/2 lb trio (beef, pork, veal)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tsps fennel seeds rubbed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup red wine
2 tbsps balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp citrus zest (lemon, orange)
1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1 - 28 oz can tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp salt

In a heavy bottomed large pot, brown meat in olive oil. Add celery, carrot, onion, fennel seed and garlic.

Add red wine and balsamic and cook 15 minutes uncovered.

Add the remaining ingredients and continue cooking on medium low heat 1 - 1  1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, and it'll go from this...

to this

Serve over your favourite pasta with lots of parmesan cheese.

T-shirt Cat Cubby

This is for your feline friends. All you need is a box and an old t-shirt. 

When your "grand" cat comes over to visit and your dog wants to say "Hi!" but the cat's not having any of it, he'll love this little cubby to hideout in.

This box had no top, but if your's does then just take the top off or cut a good opening in it. Slip the t-shirt over with the neck hole at the opened end of the box.

Turn the box over and tie the extra length of t-shirt in a knot.

Tuck in the sleeves...

and voila!

Had this little stuffy guy try it out first, but of course it was made for Arthur.

Baked Double Decker Tacos

This makes 6 soft and crunchy beef tacos for Taco Tuesday or anyday. The soft tortilla holds everything together making these the least-messy tacos you've ever eaten!

1 lb lean ground beef
1/3 cup diced onion
2 tbsps diced celery
2 cups salsa
4 tbsps taco seasoning
1/2 can refried beans
6 medium-sized whole wheat soft tortillas
6 crunchy taco shells
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup hummus

Brown beef along with the onion and celery in a skillet. Drain if needed, then add 1 cup of the salsa and 3 tbsps of taco seasoning.

Warm the refried beans and add the remaining 1 tbsp of taco seasoning.

Lay the soft tortillas out on your work surface. Spread the refried beans on half of each tortilla. Spread hummus on the other half.

Stand the taco shells up in the middle and fill with the beef mixture.

Wrap the soft tortilla up onto the taco shell and sit in an 11 X 8" baking dish that has been prepared with cooking spray.

Top with cheese and bake in a 375 F oven for 15-20 minutes.

Serve with the remaining salsa, sour cream and chopped lettuce, tomato, red pepper and cucumbers.

Tuna Fudge for Pets

Got this one from my sister-in-law. Dogs will love it, as well as cats. You may want to leave out the parmesan cheese for cats. As for garlic powder....google it to decide whether you want to use it or not, there are two camps as to whether it is safe to use or not for both cats and dogs.  Or just leave it out, Fido or Fluffy won't even miss it : )

This is the original recipe, but I made only half a recipe this time. (See below for the half recipe)

2 tins tuna with juice
1  1/2 cups flour (whole wheat, rice flour)
1 tsp garlic powder
2 eggs, beaten
1 handful parmesan cheese

Mix all ingredients together. Spread in an oiled 9 X 9 pan.
Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.

It comes out of the pan easily and once cooled, cuts very well.

Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or package and freeze.

I cut the recipe in half the first time I made it in case Karma didn't like it.  No problem, she loves this stuff! And half the recipe made quite alot anyways.

Half recipe:

1 - 170g tin tuna with juice
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 egg beaten
parmesan (optional)

Use a loaf pan instead of a 9 X 9" pan for the half recipe.

Dog Collar Cover

Just a fancy collar cover....diva or douchie?

You'll need:

12 X 19" plush material
2 tabs 4" X 2" each
2 buttons
2 lengths of elastic for loops

Turn plush material inside out and sew a 1/2" border on each 12" end then sew the 19" sides together. 

Turn it right side out. Put aside.

Sew the sides and end of the tab material (I used the cut-off pieces from having shortened pajama bottoms)

Measure 2 pieces of elastic, stretched out, the length of the finished tabs plus a loop. Sew it onto the tab while stretching it. 

Sew the 2 buttons on one end of the plush piece, only through one thickness not both sides.

Sew the 2 tabs on the opposite end of the plush on the same side piece as the buttons.

Pass the collar through the plush tube and do it up around your pup's neck, pull the loops around the buttons and strike a pose!