Basil Pesto

Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe

• Prep time: 10 minutes

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• Special equipment needed: A food processor

Method

1 Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.
2 Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Serve with pasta, or over baked potatoes, or spread over toasted baguette slices.
Yield: Makes 1 cup.

Pork Chop with Cider Sauce

I some times forget about pork. And then I finally eat some and my mouth waters and I wonder 'How did I ever forget you?!?'. Really, Pork can be cheaper than a cut of beef, and it can be as healthy as chicken! So on my last trip to the grocery store, I found a price on some chops and just had to try a recipe with them! I honestly have never cooked pork before, so it was a new adventure, but that's what I do! Constantly sticking my self in new cooking adventures and finding out the results as I go! 

But this recipe, oh my, SOOOO GOOOD! As it was cooking my husband kept telling me it smelled delicious. And as we ate, he said it was a better meal than going out to Outback Steak House! Yes! Chalking points up for the Newly Wife! Ya'll, this is delicious and juicy and a winner recipe for sure!

recipe from myrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 4 center-cut bone-in pork chops about 3/4-inch thick (we did 2 chops!)
• Salt and pepper 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1onion, thinly sliced (my husband liked them thicker, they got the best flavor from the sauce!)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage (I used rubbed dried sage)
• 1 1/2 cups apple cider (I just brewed some apple cider in the Keurig and it worked great! It may have been a little more "water" than buying the cider, but the taste was great and it was cheaper!)

Preparation

1. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Push onions to edges of skillet and add chops. Cook, turning once, until browned, about 6 minutes total.
2. Sprinkle sage over chops and pour cider into pan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until chops are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove chops from pan, raise heat to high, and boil sauce until reduced and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour sauce and onions over chops and serve.

Letting the chops rest while the sauce finished cooking!

Hot and steamy dinner is served! Pork chops, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and spinach salad!

Dijon Mayonnaise Sauce

5 min or less to create this yummy sauce that compliments Salmon sooooo well! Whether it is a Salmon Patty Sandwich or a Filet, you will love this sauce, and the simplicity is hard to beat!

From Taste of Home Simple & Delicious Cookbook
Ingredients
1/2 C Mayonnaise
2 tbs grated parmesan cheese
1 tbs dijon mustard
1/4 tsp dill weed

Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl.