Yacupper

Yet Another Crock Pot Pork Recipe


Not very imaginative. I know. But, true.

1- 2 pack pork loin, on sale at (hushed tones) the Evil Empire.
2- parsnips found hiding in the crisper
1 - medium onion
4- elderly apples, meduim sized
1/2 cup- cheap red wine (I use Paisano or burgundy because that's what I grew up with. don't use the salted "cooking wine" crap!)
1 1/2 cups- water
Garlic powder, powdered ginger, and rosemary to taste.

Peel, roughly chop apples, onion and parsnips into bite sized pieces. Throw into bottom of pot, toss them with your hands to combine. Sprinkle garlic, ginger and rosemary on to pork. lay pork on top of apple mixture in pot. pour in water and wine. put on high. walk away for 4 hours, OR...put on low, walk away for 6-8 hours.


Going to test this on La Ferrette and her spawn tonight. Probably supplement with veg and pasta salad.

I know the Troll and La Ferrette will eat it, but I have reservations about the spawn. Will update with reults!

Fried Stirs!

When I was little my father always referred to stir-fry as Fried Stirs. Which at the time, was hilarious. Now, it's just become what it's called, lol.

Fried Stirs on the cheap!

This is a dish that can be made with whatever meat/protein you have on hand. That package of chicken that was a great buy, but had enough in it for 1.5 meals? Yeah. like that.

Protein, choose one: 1-2 chicken breasts, 3-4 thighs, fairly firm tofu, 1lb beef of any sort except ground, ditto pork.

Vegetables, choose any:frozen broccoli, cauliflower, "winter mix", "california blend", basically whatever you have on hand or was cheap that day in the frozen veg aisle.

cut up protein into bite size pieces, and toss into hot pan with a bit of oil and start frying, stirring often (hence the name, no?) add soy sauce, garlic and ginger to taste, stir, stir, stir. when protein is nearly cooked, add veg, more garlic, more ginger, more soy sauce.
cook just until veg are hot all through.
Serve with rice.

Interred Slabs

Mmmmm...
Pork.

Usually pork isn't on the list because it's not often in the budget. Occasionally, however, El Hubbito will be looking longingly at the pork in the Butcher's case at the market, and find a really good buy.
Since he puts up with a lot cheap-food-wise, he gets his pig if he finds a too-good-to-pass-up deal.

One of his favorites (and mine) is the following Chops and Beans recipe.

INTERRED SLABS
Preheat oven to 350F/177C
4 pork chops: boneless is good, but they needn't be.
1 medium onion, chopped small
1 medium apple, peeled, cored and chopped small
4 cups (2 cans) Plain Beans. These can be any kind. I have made this with pintos, black turtles, great northerns, navy beans, cannelinis, the little pink beans, mixtures of the above. Use whatever you have cooked, or whatever cans you have, but they MUST be plain beans.
1/4 to 1/2 c prepared mustard. Don't use a sweet mustard, spicy brown or dijon tastes best.
1/4 to 1/2 c sugar-free maple syrup (use regular if you don't have/need the sugar-free)
2-3 tb worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper

Drain beans if necessary, and add everything but the chops to a saucepan. Start with 1/4 cup each of the syrup and mustard, increase if the mix seems too dry. Cook on low, stirring frequently till the mixture is heated through and forms its own sauce.

lightly pepper the chops, and sprinkle a tiny bit of salt on them.

spray or lightly oil a largish casserole or baking dish. spread 1/2 of the beans in the bottom of the dish, lay the chops on top, top with the rest of the beans.

Bake for about 45 minutes-1 hour.

I usually serve this with a dark green vegetable.