Pulled Pork Chili

This was really a recipe that just kept growing. It's called add what you can find, when the pantry is extremely low! LOL  It started out as a pot of beans with some left over pork for seasoning. Then I thought to add some chili seasonings, and Pulled Pork Chili was done!

I started with one pound of dried kidney beans. I soaked them in hot water for a couple of hours. I rinsed them and put them in my stock pot with plenty of water or stock to cover them. I added some dried minced onion, garlic powder and salt & pepper. Cook them for a few hours or until nice and tender. I shredded some of the left over pork loin roast. and added it to the pot.

It was yummy on it's own!!!

I had a couple of packets of chili seasoning mix in the pantry, so I added one packet. The pork already had tons of flavor, so I really didn't have to add anything else. I did add some Colby/Jack Cheese and sour cream for garnish! Throw in some cornbread or crackers, and it's a one bowl comfort meal!

Ingredients:

1 lb dried Red Kidney Beans

4 cups water, or stock

1/2 tsp dried, minced onion

1 tsp minced garlic, or 1/2 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

1-2 cups of shredded or pulled pork

4 tablespoons of chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons paprika

2 tablespoons ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Rinse and drain the beans several times. Add the water, onion, garlic and salt and pepper to a large pot and cook for a few hours or until beans are tender. Add the seasoning and stir until dissolved and mixed well. Stir in the pork and heat through. That's it! You're done!

Banana Cream Chocolate Eclair Pie

Crust:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs

Filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 box banana cream instant pudding
1 1/2 cups milk

chocolate syrup, for garnish

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly grease a 9"X13" glass baking pan. (I used a large torte dish.)
In a medium saucepan, melt butter in water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in flour. Mix in one egg at a time, mixing completely before adding another egg. Spread mixture into pan, covering the bottom and sides evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.

 I ran out of all-purpose, so I used self-rising.
What could it hurt? LOL

The filling would come to the top in a regular crust! LOL

Whip cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. In separate bowl, beat the pudding mix and the milk for 3 minutes and put in the fridge until set. Slowly add pudding to cream cheese, beating until there are no lumps. When the crust is completely cooled, pour in filling. Refrigerate the pie until set well. Serve with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

I didn't have any whipped cream, but I don't think it needs it!

Williamsburg Orange Cake

This cake is incredibly moist. The directions took me by surprise, but it is a very old recipe. Use you own judgement or follow my revised directions at the bottom. My family went to visit my (Great) Uncle Perry in Virginia every summer, and we went to Williamsburg, Virginia as often as we could while there! For me anything that has Williamsburg in the title has to be awesome! :-)

2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup drained, crushed Dole® pineapple
1/2 cup pecans or almonds, finely chopped (I used almonds)
1 tbsp orange zest
Williamsburg Butter Frosting*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Measure all ingredients into a large mixer bowl.*** Blend for 1/2 a minute on low speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Beat 2-3 minutes on high, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Pour into 2 - 9 inch greased and floured cake pans. (I made this one in a 9x13 pan.) Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack and frost cake.

Williamsburg Butter Frosting*

1/3 cup butter
3 cups confectioner's sugar (10X sugar)
3-4 tbsp orange juice
2 tsp orange zest

Blend butter and sugar. Stir in juice and orange zest. Beat until smooth.


*** The directions threw me, but the recipe is very old. I followed my own directions that I was taught in making cakes... I creamed the sugar, butter and shortening. I added the eggs, zest and vanilla. I combined the dry ingredients, and added alternating with the buttermilk. Lastly, I added the nuts and fruit.

Shared on Meal Plan Monday 

Sausage, Onion and Greek Potatoes

This is always a good recipe when the pantry and frig get low. With three basic ingredients, it's quick and easy! It's also a good meal for the meat and potatoes man/woman in the house!

1 pound of Kielbasa Sausage, sliced

4 or 5 potatoes, boiled and cut into slices

1 large onion, sliced
1 tsp minced garlic

Oil

Lemon Juice

Cavendar's Greek Seasoning

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Saute sausage and potatoes in a cast iron frying pan in a little oil over a medium heat... just enough oil to keep it from sticking, because the sausage will render some fat. Cook until sausage and potatoes take on some good color... about 15-20 minutes. Add the onion and garlic. Sprinkle well with lemon juice, and add about 2 tbsp of Greek seasonings. Toss and transfer the frying pan to the oven, and cook at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until golden brown and caramelized.

Shared on Meal Plan Monday 

PIE! Chocolate Cream and Coconut Cream Pies

I came across a recipe, in my Mama's recipe box, for a basic cream pie that you can turn into almost any kind of pie that you want. With this basic recipe I made these two pies: Chocolate Cream Pie and Coconut Cream Pie! The recipe is basically a Vanilla Cream. It's very easy. The only advice I would have for a beginner, is to practice tempering eggs before hand. I am always super careful not to end up with scrambled eggs in my pie base! LOL

Custard Pie Base:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 tsp Kosher salt
3 cups milk
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

1 Homemade Pie Crust, click for the recipe.
Prepare the pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan and cool completely.

In a medium sauce pan, off heat, mix together sugar, corn starch and salt. Stir in milk until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and add a very small amount of the hot mixture to the yolks and stir. Keep adding the hot milk mixture to the yolks until warm. Slowly add the egg yolk mixture to the milk mixture, whisking/stirring as you go. Return the sauce pan to the heat and cook until it just comes to a bubble. Remember to keep stirring to prevent scorching! Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Pour into a baked, cooled pie shell. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until set. 

For the Coconut Cream Pie...
Add 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut when you add the butter and vanilla. Stir to combine and pour into the pie shell.

For the Chocolate Cream Pie...
Add 1 1/2 cups of Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips when you add the butter and vanilla. Stir until melted and pour into the pie shell.

More Pies...

Banana Cream Pie... Cool the filling until just warm. Cut up 3 bananas and place them in the pie shells and pour filling over the bananas. 

Butterscotch Cream Pie... Replace the sugar with Brown Sugar. (firmly packed 3/4 cup)

Seafood Caesar Salad

1/2 cup Cardini's Classic Caesar Dressing, divided

1 tbsp lemon juice 

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 lb. shrimp, peeled, de-veined and cooked
1 lb crab

6 cups torn romaine lettuce

1 cup seasoned croutons

1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese 

Heat the shrimp and crab in a sauté pan over medium heat. Off the heat, add the lemon and 1/4 dressing.

Toss lettuce, croutons and remaining dressing in large serving bowl. Top with shrimp and crab mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately. 

Steak and Cheese Subs

Leftover steaks and/or pot roast, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon oil
1 pkg fresh button mushrooms, sliced
2 onions, sliced into rings
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon soy sauce

4 hoagie rolls, split lengthwise
1 (8 ounce) package sliced provolone cheese
salt, pepper and dried oregano
Lettuce and tomato

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute mushrooms, onion, and season with salt and pepper. Add garlic and soy sauce. Saute until vegetables are tender. Cut the steak into strips and then process it for a few seconds. Add to the vegetables to heat through.

3. Dig out some of the bread from the center of the bottom slice of bread, creating a boat-like shape to hold the meat and vegetables. Spread each bun generously with garlic mayonnaise*. Divide beef mixture into the buns. Top with cheese, and sprinkle with salt, pepper and oregano. Place sandwiches on a baking pan.

4. Heat sandwiches in preheated oven, until cheese is melted or slightly browned.

5. Add lettuce and tomato. Serve while still warm!

Sometimes I drizzle a little Italian Dressing over the lettuce and tomato. (This is the sub shop's secret trick to give their subs a little extra kick.)

*Garlic mayonnaise

1 cup Mayo
2 cloves Garlic, ground into a paste with a little salt and the edge of a chef knife
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate til ready to use.