Tomato Gravy Pork Chops
I have been making this dish for years. Sometimes I serve it over rice and sometimes I serve it over pasta. It has been a long standing family favorite. I hope you make it a family favorite too!
INGREDIENTS
4 Slices Chopped Bacon
4 Bone In (1 Inch Thick) Pork Rib Chops
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
½ Teaspoon Paprika
¼ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Capers
½ Chopped Onion
5 Cloves Minced Garlic
1 Chopped Celery Stalk
3 Tablespoons Unbleached Flour
1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
1 Cup Chicken Broth
8 Ounces Diced Tomatoes In Their Juice
1 Teaspoon Thyme
Pound the pork and set aside. Combine salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne in a small bowl. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and sprinkle the spice mixture all over the chops. Cook the bacon in a large skillet for 5 minutes over a medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon transfer the bacon to paper towel lined plate. Leave the fat in the skillet. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat. Increase the heat to a medium high and cook the chops for 6 minutes until well browned on 1 side. Transfer to a plate. Reduce the heat to medium, add the olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the onion, celery, garlic and capers and cook for 5 minutes. Add the flour and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Stir constantly. Whisk in the chicken broth, tomato sauce, thyme and cooked bacon. Bring to a boil. Arrange the chops, browned side up, in the pan. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer the chops for 30 minutes. Transfer the chops to a serving platter, tent with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes. Transfer the chops to a platter and pour the gravy over the chops. Serve hot. Serves 4
Pan Roasted Herbed Fingerling Potatoes
These Pan Roasted Herbed Fingerling Potatoes are a flavorful addition to any springtime menu and perfect for an Easter Dinner.
INGREDIENTS
12 Scrubbed Fingerling Potatoes
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
3 Tablespoons Victoria’s Dry Rub
Place the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Set over a high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool under cold running water. Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, place the potatoes on a cutting board and slice in half lengthwise. Season the potatoes with Victoria’s Dry Rub. Heat a large sauté pan with the olive oil over a medium heat. Place the potatoes, cut side down, in the pan and cook for 3 minutes until browned and crispy. Turn the potatoes to the other side and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss the potatoes with additional Victoria’s Dry Rub if you wish. Serve hot. Serves 4
Marinating Lamb Chops
These Lamb Chops are wonderful either on the grill or under the broiler. Marinating them overnight really brings out the flavor.
INGREDIENTS
4 Lamb Chops
6 Chopped Garlic Cloves
½ Cup Olive Oil
3 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
¼ Cup Torn Mint Leaves
Rosemary Sprigs
In a small bowl mix all of the ingredients except for the lamb chops. Place the lamb chops into a large ziplock plastic bag and pour the marinade in the bag. Make sure to cover the chops. Put in the refrigerator overnight. When you are ready to cook the chops, remove the bag from the fridge and take the chops out of the bag. Throw away the bag with the excess marinade. Place the chops on a heated grill or on a broiler pan under the broiler. How rare you want your lamb chops will determine how long you cook the chops on each side. I like to cook them between 2 to 3 minutes each side. When finished cooking, remove from the heat and transfer to a serving plate. Serves 2
Cream Biscuits
INGREDIENTS
3 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
¾ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 ¼ Cups Heavy Cream
Move your oven rack to the upper middle position and preheat your oven to 450° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in the cream for 30 seconds until combined. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and gather into a ball. Knead briefly for 30 seconds until smooth. Shape the dough into a ¾ inch circle. Dip a 2 ½ biscuit cutter in flour and cut the biscuits into rounds. Recombine the scraps as needed to make 12 biscuits. Place the rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes – rotating the baking sheet halfway through the baking. You want the biscuits to be golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Makes 12 biscuits.
Country Ham
From colonial times until the advent of refrigeration, the process of packing hams in salt, smoking them, then hanging them to dry for up to two years was a way Americans preserved meat. These days, quickly brined “city” hams have all but eclipsed this older, slower country style. Or at least they have in the North. But in the South, people still produce and eat country hams, not for preservation but because they’re powerfully porky and incredibly delicious. Use hams aged six months or less for this recipe. Mold on country ham is not a sign of spoilage. It is a natural effect of the curing and aging process. Serve ham on biscuits if you like. Leftover ham is delicious in scrambled eggs, cheese grits or macaroni and cheese.
INGREDIENTS
1 Three to Six Month Old Bone-In Country Ham (13 to 15 Pounds)
½ Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Dry Mustard
2 Teaspoons Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Move your oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 325° F. Using a clean, stiff bristled brush, scrub the ham under cold running water to remove any surface mold. Transfer the ham to a cutting board and trim off the dry meat, skin and all but ¼ inch of fat. Score the fat cap in ½ inch crosshatch pattern (about ¼ inch deep). Transfer the ham to a roasting pan fat side up. Add 1 quart of water and cover the pan tightly with foil. Bake for 4 ½ hours until thickest part of the meat registers 140° F. Remove the ham from the oven and throw away the foil. Turn the oven temperature up to 450° F. In a medium size bowl combine the brown sugar, mustard and black pepper. Rub over the top of the ham. Return the ham to the oven and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes until glazed. Transfer the ham to a carving board and let rest for 20 minutes. Carve thin slices and serve. Serves 12
Sausage Soup
This soup is a simple recipe with great flavor and is the quintessential Italian comfort food. I like to double the recipe and have leftovers during the week. It’s easy to make in a big batch for a potluck.
INGREDIENTS
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Pound Italian Sausage (Casings Removed)
2 Chopped Onions
4 Chopped Celery Stalks
2 Cans (14.5 Ounces Each) Diced Tomatoes
3 Minced Garlic Cloves
1 Teaspoon Basil
4 Cups Chicken Broth
3 ½ Cups Water
1 Cup Macaroni
2 Cans (15 Ounces Each) Cannellini Beans
¼ Cup Minced Fresh Parsley
¼ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
¼ Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
Grated Parmesan Cheese For Serving
In a large Dutch oven heat the olive oil over a medium high heat. Cook the sausage for 5 minutes. Break up the large pieces with a wooden spoon. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat left in the Dutch oven. Drain the tomatoes and reserve the liquid. Add the onions, garlic, celery, tomatoes, basil and cook for 10 minutes over a medium heat. Stir in the browned sausage, reserved tomato juice, broth and water and bring to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse the beans. Stir in the beans and cook for 5 minutes until heated through. Stir in parsley, salt and pepper. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese. Serves 8
Grilled Asparagus
Thicker asparagus is better. Medium to thick asparagus spears have a more robust flavor and meatier texture than thin ones, which are more skin than flesh. Avoid the pencil thin ones. Look for plump, round, bright green stalks. Dry looking stalks with prominent ribbing are old and may be woody and less flavorful.
INGREDIENTS
2 Pounds Asparagus
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
3 Chopped Garlic Cloves
1 Tablespoon Champagne Vinegar
¼ Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Prepare a high gas grill or charcoal fire. Trim the asparagus. In a large bowl toss the asparagus with the olive oil, vinegar, chopped garlic cloves and red pepper flakes. Remove from the bowl and place on the grill. Grill, turning once, until just tender, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and place on a serving platter. Serve immediately. Serves 6
Roast Beef Quesadillas
I am always looking for ways to use leftovers. Quesadillas are a tasty way to make use of yesterday’s home cooked chicken, beef or pork.
INGREDIENTS
17 Ounces Cooked Roast Beef (With Au Jus)
¾ Cup Chunky Salsa
1 ½ Cups Sliced Sweet & Hot Peppers
4 Ten Inch Flour Tortillas
¾ Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Fresh Cilantro
In a large skillet combine the beef in its juices with the salsa and peppers. Cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to break up the beef. In the meantime preheat your broiler. For the quesadillas, spoon some of the beef mixture on half of each tortilla. Fold the tortillas over the meat and then fold in quarters. Place the folded tortillas on a foil lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the cheese on each quesadilla. Broil for 1 minute. You want the cheese just to melt and the tortilla to begin to get crisp. Top with cilantro. Makes 4 servings.
Strawberry & Rhubarb Compote
Strawberries & rhubarb were meant to be together. The sweet, juicy berries mellow the tart, slightly astringent rhubarb. While there is nothing wrong with the traditional pie, I decided to make a sweet, jam-like, easy compote that is perfect for serving over pound cake or any cake for that matter. You can also serve it topped with ice cream or stirred into yogurt or oatmeal. The compote will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to one week.
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Hulled & Chopped Strawberries (3 Cups)
1 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Pound Sliced ¼ Inch Thick Rhubarb
¼ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 Tablespoons Water
In a medium size bowl, toss the strawberries with ½ cup sugar and lemon juice. Next, transfer the strawberry mixture to a small nonreactive pan. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes and stir often. Remove the strawberries and place them into a small bowl. Set aside. Meanwhile, in another small pan over a medium low heat, combine the rhubarb and remaining sugar, salt and the water. Simmer for 6 minutes, stirring often, until the sugar is dissolved and the rhubarb is almost tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the rhubarb to the bowl with the strawberries and combine. Finally, transfer the strawberry & rhubarb mixture to a medium size pan and cook for 10 minutes over a medium low heat. Remove from the heat and transfer compote to a bowl and let cool for 45 minutes until the compote comes to room temperature. Serve over cake, ice cream, yogurt or oatmeal. Makes 4 cups.
Cream Cheese Pound Cake
This cake is moist, tender, golden brown and very velvety. It has all the richness and pure buttery flavor of classic pound cake, but with a delicate tang.
INGREDIENTS
3 Cups Cake Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
4 Large Room Temperature Eggs
2 Room Temperature Egg Yolks
¼ Cup Milk
3 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
3 Cups Sugar
24 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (3 Sticks)
6 Ounces Softened Cream Cheese
Before you turn on the oven adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Preheat your oven to 300° F. Grease and flour 12 cup nonstick Bundt pan. In a medium size bowl, combine the flour and salt. In a 2 cup liquid measuring cup whisk the eggs, 2 yolks, milk and vanilla. In a separate large size bowl, beat together (by hand or with an electric mixer) the sugar, butter and cream cheese for 3 minutes until fluffy. Reduce the speed to low and very slowly add the egg mixture until incorporated. The batter may look slightly curdled. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Give the batter a final stir by hand. Scrap the batter into a prepared pan and gently tap the pan on the counter to release air bubbles. Bake for 80 to 90 minutes. Rotate the pan halfway through baking. Remove from the oven and cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and cool completely, for about 2 hours. Serve plain or topped with frosting or fruit. Serves 12
