Sunday Cats

The three brothers, Trouble,Wolfie, and Spooky Boo are always in their same spot waiting for wife to feed them. I wish I could film them because they will meow in unison.

Shrimp Tortellini

We got from Sam's three bags or tortellini two of cheese stuffed and one of spinach. I was not sure how this was going to come out as the only other time we used dried tortellini it was a bust.

But I found this recipe and just had to give it a try again. I'm not sure if it was the brand but this tortellini and this dish was to die for as good as any Italian restaurant if I do say so my self. In fact it reminded me of a restaurant we went to a long time ago that is no longer in business here in Jackson. Mario's, unfortunately the owner passed away some time ago.

1 lb shrimp (or any seafood, crab, lobster, crawfish). This was a bit of a juggling act as three tings were going at once so wife did come help. Serve with a salad and good bread and we had a white wine with it and felt like we were out on a date. I know the picture isn't good but we couldn't wait to eat it.

1 pk 3 cheese tortellini cooked to directions

3 cloves garlic minced

1 tablespoon butter

1/4 cup onions

juice of 1/2 of lemon

Sauce

4 oz butter

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more if you want

a few fresh mushrooms sliced

juice of 1/2 of one lemon

pinch of salt

Start sauce melt butter in large sauce pan add everything but mozzarella cook till thick stirring constantly till sauce is thick enough to drip instead of run off from spoon (by the way use wooden spoons) This may take a while so start cooking the shrimp. When ready add mozzarella and stir till smooth.

Saute garlic,onions in butter till tender then add lemon and shrimp and cook till heated. (do not cook shrimp long as it will get rubbery, just till they start to turn pink)

When sauce is ready add drained tortellini and shrimp and coat serve immediately.

Pork Loin roast, carrots and potatoes

We bought a whole pork loin as they are pretty cheep compared to a beef roast and cut it up into 3 pieced to freeze one we smoked in the smoker and this one we cooked in the crock pot. I guess I can say I liked this a lot more than the better half she just likes beef roast better.Don't get me wrong it was really good she can just be picky sometimes. We served the veggies over some rice and cooked some butter peas.

This made a lot it will feed 4 to six we but up some in the freezer for a rainy day.

About 2 lb pork loin

3 cloves garlic sliced

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil and butter

1/4 cup creole or Dijon mustard we used creole

2 onions chopped

1 to 2 stalk celery

1/4 cup bell pepper

1 cup beef bouillon

one bag baby carrots

as much as you want depends on size.... we used about 8 to 10 cut in chunks.

Cut slits in roast and insert garlic all around roast.

Melt butter and live oil in heavy skillet and salt and pepper the roast and sear on all sides.

Remove and rub the mustard on all sides. ( did side to face on bottom and when placed in crock pot I did the top.)

Place 1/2 f the potatoes and carrots in bottom of crock pot and place roast on top.

In same skillet brown onions,celery,bell pepper about 5 minutes. Place over roast along with rest of potatoes and carrots.

Back to the skillet again and add 1/2 cup beef bouillon and scrape up bits from bottom, then pour over roast along with the rest of the bouillon. Cook on low for 6 hours If home turn roast and stir.

Fried Red Snapper and shrimp

When I was on the coast a while back I got three different fish that we have not cooked and this is the second one. A red snapper and this time I decided to just fry it with some Zaterains fish fry.

This was out of this world. The fish had a nice flavor and did well as fried. Add some cold slaw and home made french fries. Oh and why I was add it I did a few onion rings this way also. Yum Yum much better than Pen's.

three fillets of red fish

1 egg with 1/2 cup to cup of milk to make a wash

Zaterains fish fry

oil to fry in

take the fish and dip in egg wash and then using a paper bag or baggie with the Zaterains about a cup or how much as needed and shake till coated.

Fry in hot oil till flaky.

Mona's Spaghetti

This is a recipe from my mother in law and wife cooked this the other day and it was very good with a salad and bread.

1 lb beef or can use chicken,smoke sausage, meat balls.
1 onion chopped or 1 cup to 1 1/2 cup
1 cup celery
1/2 cup bell pepper
1 can stewed tomatoes
1/2 can tomato paste
3 large garlic cloves chopped
1/2 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
2 bay leaves
1/2 tablespoon oregano
1 can broth use beef with sausage, meatballs and beef ,,,,,chicken broth with chicken
one can mushrooms or fresh.
Cook spaghetti to directions

brown meat and set aside
in pot use about 2 - 4 Tablespoons of olive oil and sweat onions till clear, add celery and bell pepper.
Add can of tomatoes (we used can of stewed tomatoes with garlic and basil), mushrooms.
add tomato paste, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper, oregano and bay leaves and broth and meat.
If it looks like you need some water add. bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and let cook at least an one hour. The longer it cooks the more concentrated the sauce becomes.

Sad Sunday Cat Post

best buddy Romeo

Even though he was so small he could hold his own with the bigger boys.

Good day to snuggle in the sun

We had to say goodbye to one or our cats this week. Spitfire or Spitzee or Smudge as we called him later was a pistol. This was one of my wife's cats when we got married he was 19 years old and we still have his brother Boots with us. When she first got him he was brought to her by a guy who lived behind us and he was under his house. She said she didn't need another cat she had two already but the poor pitiful thing had two broken kinks on his tail and was so tiny she gave in. Now he was older than the others and he hide under her bed and all he would do is hiss and spit at her. hence the name. For about 5 years he would not come out when she was home only watch from the side lines. Needless to say after a while he did come out slept on the bed and let you rub all over him, he really liked his tummy rubbed. But he did not like to be held, he would come get on us while watching TV, Spit we will miss you.

Olympic Seoul Chicken

Boy is this a really old one about 13 years ago we fixed this one. Wife was looking at some of our old cook books and came across this one and realized it had really been a while since we had fixed this one it comes from one of those cookbooks ones sees at the check out line.

We had this with the lemon potatoes but we felt it overpowered the potatoes so if we remember correctly we placed this over rice to use the gravy it made.

2 Tablespoons peanut oil

8 chicken thighs skinned (dark meat has more flavor...... we used two breast this time and the soy sauce may have overpowered the taste.)

8 cloves of garlic

1/4 cup white vinegar

3 Tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1/4 ground ginger

1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup chopped onion

In large skillet heat oil over med to high heat and add chicken in single layer.

Cook 19 minutes or till chicken is evenly browned and no linger pink turning once.

Meanwhile crush garlic and chop along with onion and red pepper in bowl.

combine vinegar, soy sauce, honey and ginger in a separate small bowl.

When chicken is browned add garlic onion and red pepper flakes and stir for about 2 to 3 minutes.

Now add vinegar mixture and reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes till chicken is tender.

Pork Chops

I realized I have not posted the recipe for pork chops I guess that is usually done by the better half. She cooks the chops like her grand mother did.
Always use bone in chops as they taste better.
salt and pepper and a generous amount of lemon pepper on both sides and place in a hot skillet with a little oil (amount of oil depends on amount of pork chops) about a tablespoon for a large chop.)
Once chops are good and browned if there is to much oil drain. Add water to cover chops half way and simmer covered. She simmers about 2 1/2 to 3 hours turning every 3o minutes adding water as needed. This will have the pork chops falling apart and melt in your mouth goodness.

Lemon Butter Parmesan Potatoes

This was eaten over two nights the first night we had with pork chops. I think the taste was better the first night as the meat the second night overpowered it. I also think it would go good with a fish dish.

This makes a lot so I would cut in half for just two.

We used russet potatoes

3lbs potatoes

1 cup chicken broth

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup butter melted....... sorry no substitutes

1 teaspoon oregano or to taste

1 Tablespoon fresh minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 3/4 grated Parmesan cheese

chopped parsley ...... we used cilantro

pre heat oven to 375

butter a shallow baking dish large enough to hold potatoes

peel and cut potatoes into wedges ) we would cut them smaller next time we had to cook longer)

In a bowl add broth,lemon juice,butter,oregano,salt and pepper and minced garlic mix well.

Pour over potatoes and stir to coat.

Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

Uncover and turn potatoes sprinkle with cheese and return uncovered and bake another 29 to 30 minutes or till done. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Beef and Artichoke Pita Sandwiches

Well we had some humus and pita bread left over and I do not think I have ever posted this quit and tasty sandwich. Wife had this old free cook book she order from Krinos peppers about 20 something years ago. Do products still send out free cook books ?

Well we have added some stuff over the years.

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 onion thinly sliced

1 green pepper thinly sliced

1 lb sirloin steak thinly sliced strips

1 tomato peeled,and tingle sliced

(we did use can this time-1 can chopped tomatoes)

1 14 oz can artichoke hearts thinly sliced

salt and pepper

add greek seasoning to taste

feta cheese.

and of course krinos peppers.

oregano

In a skillet heat oil and saute onion and pepper until tender. Add meat and sprinkle with oregano, and stir fry when meet is cooked add

tomatoes and artichokes and cook just long enough to heat, season with salt and pepper and greek seasonings.

Warm pita bread and fill pockets with meat mixture and add feta cheese. Peppers on the side

Sunday cats

It has been cold this winter so far and looks like another cold on the way. We worry about our outside kitties when it get this cold. We have some straw under the house and near the dryer vent and this year we put out a cat bed for two for Mommy Socks and Ginger we have not seen them in it yet but have hopes they will get in at some point. As for the very spoiled and pampered indoor group or clowder. Did not know that was what one called a group of cats till I watched The Big Bang Theory. My niece called us hordes but I like to think of it as they chose us and I have found out we are not alone there are others out there that can not resist the sad little faces looking in. Besides we are marked the kitty hobo scratch is around our house.

This is what our bed looks like when we have the electric blanket on before we go to bed. Is that spoiled or what.

Mexican Cornbread Casserole

We love Mexican food and this was a easy throw together.

2 boxes jiffy cornbread mix

1 can cream style corn

2 chopped jalapenos

6 oz Mexican cheese or more

1 1/2 hamburger

small onion chopped
can rotel tomatoes

clove garlic

Mix 1 cornbread mix according to instructions and add 1/2 can of corn. Pour in greased 9x13 baking dish ,

Saute hamburger onion tomatoes and garlic. Drain if needed then pour over cornbread mixture.

Mix 2nd box of jiffy mix and corn together and pour over meat mixture. Top with cheese and chopped jalapenos.

Use box cooking time and temp: may take a little longer test with tooth pick.

Caribbean Jerk Fish

When I was on the coast a while back I got the chance to get some shrimp and a few pieces of fish that we have never tried and one of them was some grouper. I'm not sure about this fish I found it to be a little strong or maybe it was the recipe but it didn't appeal that much to me now wife thought it was pretty good but then she eats most anything. Does any one out there know about this fish or have a good recipe for it? Oh we did add some shrimp and it was good with the marinade may taste better grilled. This is a recipe from Zaar by breezermom.

2 Tablespoons jerk seasoning

1 cup olive oil

1 Tablespoon garlic chopped

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup orange juice

1 1/2 cups soy sauce

32 oz grouper fillets

(*note if doing again may only use 1 cup soy sauce)

Mix jerk seasoning olive oil,garlic,brown sugar,orange juice and soy sauce.

Place fish in marinade and cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.

Place fish in preheated skillet over med high heat and cook turnning the fish every minute for about 4 to five minutes until the fish is opaque.

serve immediatly

Chicken with Morocco spices

Well last post I told you about getting our new spices and here we used them on some cut up chicken breast. We added our own made humus the recipe for it on a back post jut look for it on the side bar. As for the chicken just cup up in chunks or strips and sprinkle the spices over and cook in a skillet with a little oil. Add pita bread.

Pantry and spices

Well I told you in last post we cleaned out the pantry and added a new shelf and was surprised to have only a few things to get rid of. Mostly old spices and some flour that was about up. We put all the cans so we can see what we have. So here is a peek. We have cat food and bird seed in the litter buckets they come in handy for storing stuff.

As I have mentioned before we don't get to eat out at our favorite restaurants as much as we would like and one of our favorites is Aladdin's. This is a Mediterranean style restaurant and we love their food. Lucky they have a little grocery there and we stocked up on some of the spices.

But try as we may we just can not get our humus as smooth as theirs.

Happy New Year tomato soup and sandwich

Boy am I glad to see 2010 go by by. I only can hope the new year is better. I did see my first white Christmas and most likely my only one. We went to B'ham for Christmas day and when we were almost there the rain suddenly turned to big wet snow flakes and snowed all day long. My sister in law lives on a Mt. and the higher elevation got a lot more snow than in the lower areas. And of all times to have forgotten my camera. Isn't that the way it also goes.

Speaking of the way it always goes why is it when you have a few days off you get sick. I came down with a terrible earache and all my hopes for trying the new recipes I had picked out went out the window. We just fixed a huge pot of veg soup and ate on that for two days and then a cheese sandwich. Plus it has been so cold we had to run our water hate to see the bill when it comes in.

So after staying in bed for almost three days I was well enough to get up and move around. The only thing we did constructive is add a shelf in the pantry and cleaned and organized it. Now we can see what we have. LOL. Missed out on the black eyed peas and cabbage this year.

Can of Campbell's tomato soup with cream added with a garnish of cilantro and Parmesan cheese. The sandwich is on a bun using a three meat lunch pack,salami,baloney and Canadian bacon and salad greens with provolone cheese. I have only one new dish to post that we did and I'll get it up as soon as wife get the picture ready.