Parmesan Pork Patties

Parmesan Pork Patties

1 pound fresh ground pork

1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese

1/4 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp dried oregano

Fresh chopped basil

(optional: tomato slices)

Mix everything except the fresh basil and 1/2 cup fresh parmesan. Fry or broil for 15 minutes, turning 1/2 way through, making juices run clear. Top each patty with fresh parmesan cheese and broil until cheese melted, top with fresh chopped basil.

My husband is on a low/no carb diet and he loves this new found recipe. He loves it and I make it every week for him!

Wild Rice Soup

Wild Rice Soup

1/2 cup butter

2 Tbsp dried minced onion

1/2 cup flour

4 cans chicken broth (I use one big can)

1 pint half and half

6-8 cups cooked wild rice

3 cooked chicken breasts cut in chunks
or I love to use turkey breast

2-4 Tbsp chicken stock (that thick yellow stuff in the soup isle)

Pepper to taste

(optional slivered almonds)

In large pot, melt butter with minced onion, add flour, stir until mixed well and a thick paste, add chicken broth, stirring until dissolved. Cook until thickened, then add everything else!! Simmer until thickened. Great with fresh bread and this recipe freezes perfectly!!

Lenten Pretzels

My little helpers!

3 Tablespoons honey

3 cups lukewarm water

2 pkgs active dry yeast (4 1/2 tsps)

2 tsp salt

8 cups flour

Course sea salt

2 eggs beaten

Add the honey to the water; Sprinkle in the yeast and stir until dissolved. Add the 2 tsp salt. Blend in the flour, and knead the dough until smooth.

Cut dough into pieces. Roll them into ropes and make pretzel shapes. (arms crossed in prayer like people used to do many, many years ago) Place pretzels on lightly greased cookie sheets and brush them with beaten egg and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Ravioli with Balsamic Brown Butter

You will need: 25 oz bag frozen Cheese ravioli 4 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/3 cup toasted chopped walnuts (I like to add a little more) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Bring pot of water to boil, add ravioli and cook 4-5 minutes until floating on the top like this. Drain.

Meanwhile, cook the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the foam subsides, and the butter begins to turn a golden brown, like this, turn off the heat. Let cool for about 1 minute. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Transfer the ravioli to the pan with the balsamic brown butter, fold into the sauce. Sprinkle walnuts and Parmesan over the top. Serve immediately.

*I found this recipe from the Food Network, Giada De Laurentiis, but tweaked it a little by adding less butter and a little more ravioli and walnuts.

St Patrick's Day

Here's our green lunch, wearing green clothes and eating in our kitchen green plates! I am a little Irish, like 1/4 I think...My mom wishes we were more, my dad is glad we are 1/2 German! (the rest is a bunch of little things) Green bread (sweet pistachio bread) (we had this for breakfast too) broccoli and dip cheese sticks green pParmesan noodles kiwi key-lime yogurt We read about St Patrick and later for supper we had Irish Brown Bread!

Balsamic Pork Chops

We found this recipe in a low-carb cookbook and it has become our winter favorite. (since it's hard to charcoal grill in the winter, in MN!) 4 thick boneless pork chops Salt and black pepper 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 medium size onion chopped/minced (I use my chopper to get it really good) 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 1/4 tsp dried thyme, crushed 1 Tbsp butter Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper. Cook in large skillet in hot oil over medium heat for 12 minutes, until done and juices run clear. Turn occasionally. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Add onion to skillet; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add broth, vinegar and thyme. Bring to boiling; reduce heat, simmer, uncovered for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Pour over meat. This juice is so good for dipping the meat into!

Irish Brown Bread

We made this for St Patrick's day and the kids loved it! They loved picking the crusty crust off and eating it! This makes a crusty dense loaf. I found the recipe somewhere else, but tweaked it a little to make it my own! (I like to do that!) 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups oats 2 Tbsp wheat germ 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 Tbsp sugar 2 1/4 cups buttermilk (I always put a little vinegar in measuring cup and then add milk and let it sit while mixing everything else, easy and I don't have to run to the store for buttermilk) Heat oven to 400 degrees Mix dry ingredients with hands and add buttermilk. The dough will be wet and sticky. Dust hands with flour and shape dough into a ball. Score a deep x at the top of the ball, widening it with knife. Place on floured cookie sheet. Bake for 50 minutes to golden brown. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes.

Green Bread (Pistachio Sweet Bread)

This is the bread I give to all the neighbors at Christmas. The kids love it! We also make it for breakfast on St Patrick's day! *makes 2 loaves

 1 yellow cake mix
 1 pkg instant pistachio pudding
 4 eggs
1/4 cup oil
 1 cup sour cream
5-10 drops of food coloring (or more)

 Mix above well. Generously grease 2 loaf pans.
 Dust with a mixture of
 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon.
 Reserve remaining sugar mix.
 Pour batter into loaf pans.
Sprinkle remaining sugar mix on top.
 Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. (or til done)
 Remove immediately from pans and place in plastic baggies and refrigerate!