Pork ribs in the smoker

 It was a real downpour this morning but it stopped by noon so I smoked acouple pork rib slabs and they were done by dinner time.  Charlie told me he invited a couple of friends that were visiting at the time and this is what was left by the time I got back to the kitchen.

Chicken wings night

 I used Alton Brown's recipe to cook them but didn't toss them in his Buffalo sauce. Instead I served it separately with other sauces for dipping. The other sauces were a spicy apricot sauce for wings, ranch dressing with some pickled jalapenos stirred in and a bottled Teriyaki wing glaze.  We had two kinds of Kimchi and rice.  We tried a new BBQ sauce that has the same name as Charlie's last cat.  

Spicy Apricot

1/2 C apricot preserves

2T worcestershire sau

2T brown sugar

1T soy sauce

1T dijon mustard

1T salt

2 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp sweet paprika

1/2 tso cayenne

1/4 tsp ground ginger

I found a recipe for Meatballs that we really like.

I don't love most bottled Italian pasta sauces but this one is good.  It is distributed by a company here in Kansas City so I don't know if it has a very wide distribution.

Classic Meatballs

This homemade meatball recipe is a Betty classic, and for great reason! For generations, home cooks have relied on this hearty meatball recipe to show some skills the kitchen. by Betty Crocker Kitchens Updated Dec 7, 2020

Ingredients

1lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1/2cup Progresso™ Italian-style bread crumbs
1/4cup milk
1/2teaspoon salt
1/2teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4teaspoon pepper
1small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1egg

Steps

• 1 Heat oven to 400°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.
  2 In large bowl, mix all ingredients. Shape mixture into 24 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs. Place 1 inch apart in pan.
  3 Bake uncovered 18 to 22 minutes or until temperature reaches 160°F and no longer pink in center. 

Charlie said this was really good.  I used a jarred Sicilian tomato sauce with spaghetti. I tossed the boiled spaghetti with 2/3 of the jar of sauce to absorb it into the pasta, then added the meat ball and the rest of the sauce and a side of lots of grated parm. 

 

Dinner was Salisbury steak with smashed potatoes

 Sea's Salisbury Steak

• 2 can French onion soup (condensed, 10 1/2 oz each)
• 1 1/2 lb ground beef
• 1/2 c bread crumbs
• 1 lg egg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 c ketchup
• 1/2 c water
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 
  In a large bowl, mix together ground beef with 1/3 cup condensed French onion soup, bread crumbs, egg, salt, and pepper.
  
  Shape into 6 oval patties. Brown both sides of patties in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour off excess fat.
  
  In a bowl, blend flour and remaining soup until smooth. Mix in ketchup, water, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard powder.
  
  Pour over meat in skillet. Cover and cook for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The longer you let simmer, the thicker the gravy becomes.

Cracked potatoes

12 small Yukon potatoes

1/2 C. olive oil

2 sprigs fresh thyme

coarse salt and peppe

1 cl garlic

Smash potatoes with heavy skillet. On low heat, add potatoes, thyme sprigs, salt and pepper.  to pan and cover.  Cook, shaking pan occasionally 12 minutes. Check to see if they are browning too quickly.  Turn and cook other side another 5 to 8 minutes.  Remove lid and continue cooking another 2-3 minutes for condensation to evaporate.  Remove thyme and add garlic and cook until it is caramelized, about 2 minutes.  Serve hot.

Chicken breast stuffed with crab and served on pasta with Alfredo

 Homemade Alfredo Sauce

 

Homemade Alfredo Sauce is rich, creamy, and packed with garlic parmesan flavor!  This Alfredo Sauce is easy to make and perfect with your favorite pasta!

Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 5 minutes Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 2 Cups Calories 535kcal

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup Butter                                 1/4 C
• 1 1/2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream 3/4 C
• 2 teaspoons Garlic Minced             1tsp
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning      1/4 tsp
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt                           1/4tsp
• 1/4 teaspoon Pepper                      1/4tsp
• 2 Cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese 1C

Instructions

• Add the butter and cream to a large skillet.
• Simmer over low heat for 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for one minute.
• Whisk in the parmesan cheese until melted.
• Serve immediately.

Note, I added onions, celery and mushrooms to the sauce.  It didn't thicken until I added the pasta.

chicken breasts were pounded thin, salted and peppered, crab meat added, lemon juice was splashed over it then it was rolled up, rolled in cornstarch and cooked in butter and oil until done.

Italian Breaded Pork Chops

I was thinking pasta and Alfredo sauce but gave Charlie the option of Pasta, potato, or rice. He chose rice and Southern milk gravy... the kind with a lot of black pepper.

Italian Style Pork Chops

3 eggs, lightly beaten  

• 3 tablespoons milk 
  
• 1 ½ cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs 
  
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 
  
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley 
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
  
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 
  
• 4 pork chops
  
• Directions
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. In a separate small bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.
  

• Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, and cook until lightly browned. Remove garlic, reserving for other uses.

• Dip each pork chop into the egg mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture, coating evenly. Place coated pork chops in the skillet, and brown abut 5 minutes on each side

  
  Place the skillet and pork chops in the preheated oven, and cook 25 minutes, or to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

  
  

  Green Beans, simmered in chicken stock for an hour,  drained and mixed in some onion and bacon that had been cooked separately + Salt and Pepper.