Crock Pot Honey Apple Pork Loin

It's a good thing this was another simple recipe. It's been a long hard two weeks and I was extremely appreciative for my crock pot.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

Pork Loin, 2.5-3 lbs.

Red Delicious Apples, 3 sliced

Honey, approx 4 T

Cinnamon, 2 T

Cook on low for 7 hours

Step 1: Cut up the red "delicious" apple with an apple slicer (or by hand)

Step 2. Cut into thin strips with a knife

Step 3: Lay the apple slices on the bottom of the crock pot. I added vegetable oil but you don't have to

Step 4: Add cinnamon

Step 5: Wash your pork loin and then cut slices about 1 inch-2 inches apart from each other

Step 6: Add the Honey to the slices in the pork and then add the apple slices (see picture below)

Step 7: Add the remaining apple slices on top and add more cinnamon

Eat & Enjoy!

Thanks to MyCrossFitPaleoJourney for the Recipe

Pictures of my process:

I thought he was so cute until I saw this picture. I'm thinking hes actually pretty angry looking?!

Plated Pork Loin:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

 I found a recipe on Pinterest called Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta and thought, why not try something new? After all, I already had half the ingredients. I found pasta in the cabinet and chicken and cheese from a previous dinner. Done deal.

Pinterest Inspiration:

While the boyfriend went out to play train at the gym, I graciously stayed home and cooked a fabulous meal for him for when he came home. :) Ya ya... I know.... no one cares. I'm thinking I need to spend less time cooking, crafting and blogging and more time on an MBA or something. Thoughts!? ;)

Anyways....here's a delicious comfort food recipe for y'all:

1 lb pasta (I use elbow - use what you love)

1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and cubed (I used chicken from leftovers)

1 cup of cubed ham, already cooked (it's easier)

1 1/2 cup milk

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

2 tbsp. minced garlic (yes it makes for smelly breath but if your both in on it it's okay) :)

2 cups of swiss cheese (shredded)

salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

seasonings; garlic/onion powder, cayenne pepper (anything you like; to taste)

1 cup panko or bread crumbs

1/2 cup butter melted

Step 1: Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta with salt and pepper until al dente (see box for directions). Add the cubed chicken and ham and toss to combine.

Step 2: Preheat the broiler (I used a sauce pan). Combine milk, cream cheese and seasonings over low-medium heat. Stir until it becomes a smooth texture (about 5-10 min). Pour over pasta and add the swiss cheese with salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine.

Step 3: Transfer pasta to a baking dish and add breadcrumbs on top. Add the melted butter over the breadcrumbs and put in the over for about 5-10 min.

Wallah! Dinner is served.

Thanks to Amy's New Kitchen for the Recipe on Pinterest

Abe & Louies Salad

Abe & Louies is a place on Boylston Street  Boston, MA. I ended up here during a conference a few weeks ago and fell in love with their salad called the "Abe & Louies Salad" ...fitting right?

Anyways, it was delicious, and I'm not even a big fan of salads. It came highly recommended by my friend Jill and I trust her so I tried it ;). Thank god for her I like it.... just kidding. I went home and researched how to make it and it's so easy! Bring on lunch for tomorrow.


It includes:

Bibb Lettuce
Apples sprinkled with Cinnamon
Pistachio Nuts
Blue Cheese
Dijon Vinaigrette

Dressing:

2/3 cups of olive oil (can sub. vegetable oil)
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons dijon mustard (can sub. honey mustard)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar

{I mixed it in a bowl and then stored in a mason jar)


How to make it yourself:

Step 1: Make the dressing (see above)

Step 2: I substituted the Bibb Lettuce (it's sooooo hard to find!) with Romaine Lettuce (just as good)

Step 3: Cut up a granny smith apple and sprinkle Cinnamon on it

Step 4: Add Pistachio Nuts.... can anyone tell me if they sell them already cracked? I realize this probably removes all the fun; however, who has the time to sit and crack them AND put them in a salad?! ;)

Step 5: Add crumbled blue cheese

Step 6: Eat & Enjoy!



Mine wasn't mixed well so you can't see the blue cheese or nuts in the picture but you get the point :)

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

My favorite part about this whole recipe. My adorable Honey Bear, Honey Jar. It doesn't take much.

The recipe itself also doesn't take much:

 

      Ingredients

1/4 + 1/8 cup honey
3 tbsp soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
6 pork loin chops, boneless, trimmed of excess fat, 4 oz each

Step 1: Whisk together honey, soy sauce and garlic

Step 2: Coat the pork chops 

Step 3: Place chops on greased grill over med high heat, close lid and cook

 

{Served with brown rice, Serving size: 6ppl} 

Eat & Enjoy! 

Thanks Spark Recipes

Rolled up Chicken

My version of a Rolled up Chicken.

Not exactly another healthy dinner option but as always quick and easy.

Ingredients:

1/2 Stick of Butter (Am I turning into Paula Deen? - Hmmm)

2 Sticks of string cheese

Parsley

EVOO

Garlic/Onion Powder (To Taste)

Salt/Pepper (To Taste) 

Minced Garlic

Skewers or toothpicks

PREHEAT OVEN TO 400*

1. Take a cookie sheet, casserole dish (whatever works for you) and add EVOO (extra virgin olive oil).

2. Add Chicken to the pan and sprinkle seasonings (garlic/onion, salt/pepper, parsley, garlic, a piece of butter, tomatoes (thanks Mom and Sonya) and a piece of cheese) on each piece of chicken.

3. Use skewers or tooth picks to stick in the chicken at the top to hold the cheese and butter in.

4. Cook for about 25 min. Let cool, eat & enjoy!

Easy right? You can also add a side, we used our left over pasta (that's whats great about cooking a little extra) just re-heat and serve!

Oh and Ben added this to the list of "keepers" so it comes highly recommended ;).

Saltine Toffee Cookies

Chocolate <3

A weekend away with the family means the beach, drinks and of course LOTS of eating.

I thought I'd bring one of my favorite desserts of all time:

Saltine Toffee Cookies. Oh.they.are.sooo.good.

Thank you All Recipes and Sonya for the Recipe :)

Ingredients

• 4 ounces saltine crackers
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Steps:

Step 1: Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper (or just grease it). It's easier clean-up with parchment paper. Then line up saltines along the bottom of the pan.

Step 2: Boil Brown sugar and Butter in a sauce pan. Pour on top of the saltine crackers.

Step 3: Put step 2 in the oven (without the chocolate chips) for about 5-10 minutes and then remove from the oven. While on the stove top add the chocolate chips and let melt. I added mine back to the oven to speed up the melting time.

Step 4: Take a spatula and spread out the chocolate. I chose to add pecans to half the batch.

Step 5: Then let cool and break apart. Feel free to stick in the freezer if you need them faster.

Eat & Enjoy!

Crock Pot Bacon Ranch Mac&Cheese Chicken

The title says it all (Bacon.Ranch.Mac&Cheese.Chicken). It even included an almost 4 mile run, just to prepare. If you don't make it... Your just not living ;)

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

2 Tbsp Real Bacon Bits (Cook in pan then cut up and add to mix)
1 Tsp Minced Garlic (I used Garlic Powder)
1 Pkg Ranch Dressing Mix
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Box of Pasta (I used elbow pasta)
1 Package of Shredded Italian Blend Cheese
1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

Lightly grease crock pot (or use a liner) and add the chicken. Combine bacon, garlic, ranch dressing mix, soup, and sour cream in a bowl; mix well. Pour over chicken in the crock pot. Add the shredded Cheese and then another layer of Parmesan Cheese. Cook on high 3-4 hours. Cook the pasta separate about 10 minutes before the chicken has cooked. Add the crock pot ingredients and pasta together and enjoy!

Don't worry the Thermometer got to the right temp ;) (That picture was taken early on)