Pork Chops with Mango Salsa

YUM!!!

Tonight I made a light, refreshing,,delicious(of course) dinner!! I made pork chops with fresh mango salsa. I seasoned pork chops with a little creole seasoning & lemon grass. I then browned them in a skillet with a little lemon olive oil(courtesy of my mom's trip to Rome). Earlier I made my mango salsa with some chopped fresh mango, cilantro, red onion, plum tomatoes, & a cubanelle pepper. I let it sit merrily in the fridge for a few hours to "marinate". I topped the pork chops with some of this mango deliciousness & served it with brown rice & crispy lemon asparagus. For my asparagus I spread the asparagus out on a pan & brushed it with a little melted butter & salt & pepper. I cooked it in the oven at 325 for a about 30 & broiled it on low for 5 minutes. When I took it out I drizzled it with some fresh squeezed lemon juice. This meal had it all; sweet, spicy, & fabulousness(of course)!!! Not to mention I served it with a shot of mango rum! CHEERS!!!!

Apple Chips!!

I have bought apple chips from the store countless times! They are so delicious, but kind of expensive. I thought I'd try making them. These apple chips are literally slice & bake! Yes, I sliced up some granny smith apples, core & all(once they bake everything is edible).  I put a a metal cooling rack onto a cookie sheet & layed out the apple slices evenly. They baked at 225 for about 2 1/2 hours. When they first come out they aren't very crispy, but let them sit for a little while & the will get crunchy. There is really nothing to em! slice them & bake them & voila! YUMMY!

Fresh & Fabulous!

My little Grandma made me a dish just like this a couple years ago & I remember thinking how delicious & simple it was. I chopped up several plum tomatoes & shallots & sauteed them in a little evoo. I then added some capers, a splash of dry white wine, a little salt, & crushed red pepper flakes. Right before serving I threw in some fresh chopped basil. I cooked some penne & tossed it all together & topped with some fresh grated Parmesan. This meal took minutes to make & I love any recipe that has fresh produce & herbs. And capers........capers make everything taste better! More caper dishes to come.......like my favorite dish ever, chicken piccata!!!!

Oh Pretty Panzanella!

This is one AMAZING salad! This is a classic rustic Italian salad that can be done many ways. Mine was really easy! First I chopped up some tomatoes, cucumbers, & some fresh basil. I put it all into a bowl & added capers. I then made a vinaigrette with champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil, fresh minced garlic, & salt & pepper. I drizzled some of the vinaigrette over the tomato mixture & put it in the fridge. On the grill I had my husband(yes, I had my husband do the grilling...but I did all the prep work!) I sliced some red onion & some red & yellow bell peppers. Along with an Italian loaf of bread I sliced & I drizzled it all with EVOO. Once the hubby grilled it I cut it all up(bread included) & tossed into the tomato mixture with a bit more vinaigrette. OMG!!! This salad was soooo refreshing, filling, & beautiful to look at! I served it with some grilled chicken, but it could easily be served as the main dish. Three thumbs up!(if I had a third thumb) You HAVE to make this salad!!

Spicy Peanut Noodles

So, tonight my mom came over for dinner & I know I can always count on her to be my guinea pig. I've made peanut sauce many times for chicken, but this was something different & again simple & healthy. I used whole wheat spaghetti & for my peanut sauce I heated in a sauce pan some low fat peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, water, lime juice & a few red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer for a few minute & pour over the cooked noodles. I then chopped up a cucumber, yellow bell pepper, & scallions & tossed them into the noodles & sauce(yes, raw veggies). I served with a few chopped peanuts on top & a wedge of lime. It wasn't heavy, but very satisfying! I'm pretty sure my mom agreed.....she took some home with her for her lunch tomorrow! 

Keema WHAT?

Keema Samosas! OOO say it again..... Keema Samosas! I got this recipe from a friend & as soon as I heard the ingredients I knew I had to make them! Keema Samosas are a fried Indian dumpling usually stuffed with seasoned lamb. These are an alternative healthy rendition. For this recipe I browned some ground chicken with chopped onions, fresh minced garlic, curry powder, turmeric, salt, & cayenne pepper. Take the chicken mixture off the heat & add fresh lime juice & chopped cilantro. Then take some won ton wrappers & spoon a little bit of the mixture into the center & fold into a triangle(rub a little water around the rim to help it stick) I then went around the edges with a fork to make sure they're sealed up. Place them on a greased cookie sheet & lightly spray the tops of them with cooking spray. Bake them at 425 for about 12 minutes. OMG! Even my 4 year old daughter loved them. I will be making those again VERY soon!

Roasted Chickpeas....OH YEAH!

So simple & delicious, I cannot believe I didn't think of these years ago!! I LOVE chickpeas, hummus, well pretty much anything with chickpeas. I literally just drizzled a little extra virgin olive oil & roasted these on a cookie sheet for about half an hour, shaking them around the pan throughout. When I took them out I sprinkled them with garlic salt, chili powder, & cumin. THAT IS IT! I think these are my new favorite snack!

FYI: If you would like the actual recipe of any of the dishes I write about, just send me a comment or message! Happy Roasting!