Pork fried rice/ no egg

My husband says he can eat this every day.  I saw a picture on facebook of a friend of mines chicken fried rice, so i had to make my own fried rice.  This is so good.

Ingredients:

8 slices bacon

2 boneless pork chops

8 cups cold brown rice

10 chopped green onions

6 garlic cloves minced

 1 tbsp. coconut oil

10 oz bag of frozen peas

1/2 cup soy sauce

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In skillet cook bacon.  Set aside.  Cook cubed pork chop pieces in the bacon fat, then set aside.  Dump bacon grease.  Add 1 tbsp coconut oil to skillet.  Saute green onions and minced garlic gloves.  Add soy sauce, peas rice, crumbled bacon and cooked pork chop meat.  Add salt and pepper if desired. Stir thoroughly and heat until its warm enough to enjoy.

Steamed Brown Rice

This side dish is fantastic with any meal, and simple to make:

Ingredients

2 Cups Long grain brown rice

4 cups Water

1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix

2 tbsp Onion flakes

1 Tbsp Crushed Bay Leaves

1/2 sliced almonds

3 Chicken Bouillon Cubes

Directions:

Place all ingredients in rice steamer, and steam until done.  You can also cook on stove top according to rice directions.

Chicken Salad

This salad is a huge hit everywhere I take it.  I made it for Mariah's graduation reception, and several folks wanted the recipe, so here it is.

Ingredients:

2 boxes of penne noodles or bow tie noodles, I used both in this batch.

1 full stalk of celery

3 - 4 cans of chicken.  I prefer a whole chicken boiled and de-boned.  I didnt have time for this batch.

2 cups mayonnaise...NOT miracle whip, you will not get the same flavor.

1 cup sugar

1/4-1/2 cup milk

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:

Boil noodles according to directions.  Rinse in cold water and place in a large bowl.  Cut up celery, and pull apart chicken (drain) and put in bowl with noodles.  In a mixing bowl mix mayo, sugar, milk, and seasonings.  Whisk until thoroughly mixed well.  Add to Noodles, Celery and Chicken mixture.  Stir well and refrigerate.  Serve when cooled.  If there isn't enough sauce, make more by cutting the sauce mix ingredients in half and then adding it to the salad....ENJOY!!

Seven Layer Salad

This is NOT my recipe, however it was so good, I wanted to share it with everyone who follows me.  I actually saw this on Facebook and decided to try it.  WINNER WINNER SALAD DINNER!!!

Ingredients for Salad:

1 to 2 heads romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium red onion, sliced or chopped, your choice
1/2 cup green olives, sliced
3/4 cup corn kernels (thawed from frozen or fresh from the cob - no need to cook) I substituted Mushrooms due to the sugar content of corn.
1 avocado, pit removed, peeled and chopped
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (about 2 cups after slicing)
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, dill, and/or basil, chopped...I used cilantro

 Creamy Salsa Vinaigrette

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Ingredients (organic and non-GMO whenever possible):
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or coconut milk, I used coconut milk
1/2 cup your favorite mild or medium Salsa
2 tablespoons mayonnaise or Earth Balance vegannaise <-- I would use "Just Mayo"
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil (unrefined, cold-pressed, extra-virgin)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 heaping tablespoon chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Potato Salad

I have a basic mustardy potato salad recipe.  All the grandparents love it.  My mother always tells me to make the potato salad, unless my brother is coming too.  Mine is more tart and his is sweet, so it depends on what you like.

Ingredients:

5 lbs. of potatoes

1 dozen eggs

1 1/2 cups Mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip)

1/3 cup mustard

2 tbsp. white vinegar

1/4 - 1/2 cup milk

1 Tbsp. onion salt

1 Tbsp garlic powder

1 tsp pepper

Directions:

1st of all, I like red potatoes over russet potatoes.  With red potatoes I just wash and cut in cubes and boil.  If I use russets, I peel and cube then boil.  Russet have a dirty taste with skins on no matter how much you wash.  I boil my potatoes and eggs together.  Boil until you can poke with a fork and its soft.  Don't boil too long or you'll have mashed potato salad...been there, done that!  While your potatoes and eggs are boiling, make your sauce.  Add mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar and spices.  Stir well.  This will be thick.  Add milk to thin sauce out a little.  You don't want it runny though.  Taste test to make sure it is seasoned to your liking.  After potatoes have finished boiling strain water and rinse.  Peel and chop boiled eggs and then mix everything in a large container.  Refrigerate immediately to cool.

Voila...this photo has had 6 servings taken from it.  YUMMY!!!

Taco Salad

Most of the time I make this as a meal all by itself.  My dad actually made this one and we had a lot of company so I threw some grilled chicken with it.  Just so happens his recipe is the same as mine.  This is great for warm days and you don't want to heat your house up, or you just want something light, yet filling.  You will love this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 can kidney beans drained

1 can chili beans drained

1 bunch green onions or 1 whole onion chopped

1 head of lettuce chopped

2-3 tomatoes diced

1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

1 bag Doritos crushed

1 packet taco seasoning

1 bottle Italian Dressing

Directions:

Cook your ground beef and drain any grease.  Add your packet of taco season with 1/4 cup water.  You don't want the sauce on the meat runny, but you want it well coated.  Then set aside to cool.  In a very LARGE container add chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onion, drained beans, and cheese.  After meat has cooled add it to the salad mixture.  Stir until it is all well mixed.  When you are ready to eat it add your crushed Doritos and Italian Dressing.  I like to wait if I'm taking it somewhere because the Doritos will get soft.  I like them crunchy.

Enjoy!!!

Quinoa and Beans

After doing some research on Hashimotos and Celiac disease, I found that Quinoa and beans are good for you.  I threw this recipe together, unsure of what it would taste like.  As unattractive as it might look, it was pretty tasty.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1 cup lentils
• 1 cup quinoa
• 5-6 sweet peppers sliced
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 4 garlic cloves sliced
• 1 can black beans (do not drain juice)
• 2 cans stewed tomatoes
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 2 tbsp Cajun spice
• dash of pepper

Directions:

Heat coconut oil in pan.  Add onion, garlic and sliced peppers.  Sautee until onions are translucent.  While this is cooking, prepare 1 cup quinoa according to directions, and 1 cup lentils according to package.

Add black beans with juice.

Add stewed tomatoes.  While this is heating strain and rinse quinoa and lentils.  Add them to the skillet.

Let simmer until the quinoa soaks up the rest of the juices.  Add spices and stir well.

Then serve.  I ate mine plain in a bowl.  My husband enjoyed his wrapped up in a tortilla.

sauteed veggies

This makes a great side dish when you want to have a piece of grilled chicken or steak or just about anything.  I bought a veggitini and made my yellow and zucchini squash into noodles. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Tsp. Coconut Oil
• 2 zucchini squash
• 1 yellow squash
• 1 whole chopped onion
• 4 garlic cloves chopped
• 1 jalapeno chopped
• 6-8 sweet mini peppers
• 1 pkg. fresh mushrooms
• 2 cups fresh spinach

Directions:

Melt Coconut Oil in large skillet.  Saute chopped onion, garlic, and jalapeno until onion is clear.  Add squash, peppers, and mushrooms.  Cook until squash is softened.  Add spinach.  Cook on low heat until spinach is cooked.  Ready to serve.  Nutritious and Delicious!! 

Egg Rolls

These are easy to make, and great for your Chinese side dish.

Ingredients:

 1 Pkg. Egg Roll Wraps

1 Large bag Coleslaw mix

1 lb. Pork Sausage

2 TBSP Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp Turmeric

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

Cook sausage in a pot or pan.  Drain grease.

Add coleslaw mix

soy sauce and spices.

Mix well.

In a small bowl mix 1 tsbp flour with a little water to form a paste.

Fill each egg roll Wrap with about 2 Tbsp. mix.  

I place the egg roll wrap in a diamond shape in front of me.  

Fold both right and left sides towards the middle.  Then take

the bottom corner and pull over mixture, then roll. Seal the

 top corner with your paste mix.

Fry about 3-4 at a time in a HOT fryer.

Voila!!  Serve with your favorite Chinese dish.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Tonight was a grilling night!  We like a nice salad and a potato of some sort when we grill.  Tonight I made twice baked potatoes.  This is a simple recipe, and very yummy!

Ingredients:

• 5 -6 Large Baker Potatoes
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 3 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese
• 1 Cup cooked and crushed Bacon
• 8 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

Directions:

Prep your potatoes, scrub clean, then bake at 350* for about 2 hours, or until the potato feels done.  If you would like you can spray the outside with cooking spray and lightly salt for a crispy potato skin.  I choose not too, due to the salt and fat content.

In a large bowl, melt the butter, then add the cream cheese, salt and pepper.  Blend well with mixer.  After you remove your potatoes from the oven, cut them in half carefully.  Do not break the skin.  I like to take a knife and cut around the edge leaving a small amount of potato with the skin.  Scoop out the center of potato and add to your butter mixture.

 Blend well with your mixer.  Spoon mixture into each potato half.

Top with Bacon and Cheddar Cheese.  Bake again at 350* for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Voila!!!  Look at that delicious meal!  Its a very yummy side dish.  Makes 10 Servings

Hush Puppies

Our family loves to fish!!  We enjoy fish fries on a regular basis, along with grilled fish.  When we enjoy our fried fish, I also make up a batch of hush puppies.  These have a crispy on the outside and moist bread center, that pack some flavor.  

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 whole onion
• 1 egg
• 1 can beer (pabst blue ribbon is the best for this recipe)
• 1 tsp. salt

Directions:

Mix all dry ingredients together. Add whole chopped onion, egg and whole can of beer.  Mix well. 

Drop by spoonfuls into preheated hot oil.  Fry on each side until golden brown.  Remove from fryer onto a plate covered with paper towels to soak up any extra grease.

Voila!!!  1 batch makes quite a few hush puppies, my daughter stole 3 off the plate above before I could snap the picture :) 

Funeral Potatoes

You will need:
32 oz. hashbrown potatoes                                               Top with 1 cup Crushed Cornflakes
1/2 cup oleo
1 can cream of chicken
1 cup sour cream
2 cups grated cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup milk
salt/pepper

Mix all ingredients. put in greased 9x13 casserole dish. Bake at 350* for 30 min.  Add 1 Cup Crushed cornflakes and bake for another 15 min.