Your favorite quick and easy recipe!

Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops w/ Arugula-Basil Rice Pilaf 30 min

3 T butter
1 box rice pilaf mix
3 T olive oil
4 1" pork chops
1 small onion, chopped
1 T thyme
1 T rosemary
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
2 T honey
1 c chicken stock
1 bunch arugula, trimmed and chopped
2 T basil


In a med pot on high heat, add 1 T butter and 1 3/4 c water. When boiling, add rice and flavor packet. Stir, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 min.

Heat a large skillet over med-high for the chops. Add a couple T of olive oil. Salt and pepper chops. Cook in hot skillet 5 min each side.

Transfer chops to a platter and cover w/ foil. Return skillet to heat, add 1 T olive oil and saute onions, thyme, rosemary and garlic for 5 min. Add vinegar, honey and chicken stock. Cook till reduced by 1/2.

While glaze is reducing, add arugula and basil to the rice. Stir w/ a fork to combine.

Once glaze has reduced by half, lower heat and add 2 T butter. Melt butter. Add the chops to the pan and coat them in the glaze.

I like to serve the chops on top of the rice pilaf and drizzle the plate w/ the glaze.

This is my kids favorite meal and is easily doable in 30 min.

btw, adapted from Rachel Ray. Can be used on chicken too.

 

Pasta fredda con salsa di pomodoro
Cold Pasta with Tomato Sauce
This is a perfect recipe for a hot summer day, even better if you have fresh tomatoes in the garden. I learned this recipe during a vacation in Calabria and since then I prepare it all summer long.

this isn't the exact recipe I used to make, but close:

from Cold Pasta with Tomato Sauce recipe


Ingredients:

1 lbs. spaghetti
8-10 ripe plum tomatoes (about 2 lbs.)
a fistful of fresh basil (about 3/4 cup loosely packed)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
2 Tbsp. pine nuts (or 10 almonds)
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and then put the tomatoes in a couple at a time for a 15 to 30 seconds. Remove them and then peel them.
2. After you've peeled the tomatoes cut them in half lengthwise. Remove the stem, seeds and let any excess juice drip away.
3. Chop the tomatoes and put them in a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients. Slice the garlic thinly before adding it.
4. Blend for about 45 to 60 seconds or until the pine nuts (or almonds) are broken down into tiny pieces.
5. In the mean time prepare the spaghetti.
6. When the spaghetti is ready combine them with the sauce and serve.
7. Optionally you can drain the spaghetti add a spoon or two of olive oil, mix and let it cool to room temperature. Then add the sauce just before serving.

I always used all of the juice and added rosemary also. I would serve this cold from the fridge. Great way to use your fresh tomatoes.

 

quickie personal pizzas

this is a favorite at our house. the kids each make their own.

for the crust we use medium sized flour tortillas.

Use a couple Tbl of tomato sauce, 5 or 6 cheese Italian cheese blend and whatever toppings you like

Heat your oven to as hot as it will go w/ your pizza pan or stone in the oven (mine goes to 550)

As one kid finishes prepping their pizza, slide it into the oven and let the next kid start. At 550 degrees, it takes about 2-2 1/2 min per pizza.

We did this on Monday, and ended up making 16 individual pizzas - fed my family and 6 neighborhood kids. Its a fun activity and if you get fresh ingredients, pretty healthy.