SWEET & SOUR PORK RECIPE

There are three reasons to try this great recipe. First, this recipe is made in the slow cooker, so it's super easy. Secondly, this recipe is very cheap to make and thirdly, it gets rave reviews whenever I make it. What more can you ask for?

.
You should know that I am not a big sweet and sour fan, but I love this recipe. It is extremely moist and just the right amount of sweet to sour ratio.

 Walmart sells a small vacuum packed 2 pound pork roast that is perfect for this recipe. The package says "pork loin rib eye pork roast" and even here in Alaska, it's only $4.50!!
.
2-3 pound lean pork roast
1 cup granulated sugar (seems like a lot, but it mellows out)
½ cup white vinegar
4 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons ketchup
20 ounce can crushed pineapple (drained)
.
Brown the pork roast on all sides and put it in your slow cooker. Mix everything else and bring it to a boil, then pour it over the meat.
.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until very tender (spoon the sauce over the meat every once in a while).
.
That's it...super easy!! At the very end of the cooking time, I thickened the sauce a little with a slurry of cornstarch and water (right in the crockpot). To serve, slice the meat and spoon a little of the sauce over it; it's great with rice.

Now this last suggestion is not for everyone, but my picky-picky hubby absolutely loves it. On day two, I pull this pork apart and mix it with a little of the sauce (make sure you include some pineapple out of the sauce). While its still cold, I roll it into a large burrito size tortilla (folding in all the ends) and then I brown the whole sandwich in a little butter until its piping hot. Hubby is extremely UNdemostrative when it comes to food, but he ooohhh'd and ahhhhhh'd about this sandwich until the last bite.

NOTE: Sorry about these photographs. This is one of those recipes that, no matter how hard to try to get a good photo, it just doesn't work. You'll just have to trust me that it is delicious.

Read More

Bolu Sakura (Sakura 'Sponge' Cake)

Yesterday, during a tiring and quiet time at home, I was thinking to bake something. I thought it could boast my energy and mood. But later on, I realized that I had baked many times this month especially during the valentine's day.*my family fall in love with 'molten chocolate cake' and I baked it again and again! I'll post the recipe on my next posting.I need to used other method than baking;

Read More

Quick Banana Muffins

Bake these for an afternoon coffee break treat.
 It will only take you 5 minutes to mix these up!

You'll need 3 over-ripe bananas.

 Mash with a mixer.

 Mix in sugar and a little cinnamon.

 Melt 5T (1/3C) butter.

  Mix in the melted butter and egg until combined. 

  I used self-rising flour, but you can use
regular flour and just add 1t baking soda
and a pinch of salt.

Lightly stir in the flour just until combined.

 Scoop into well greased muffin pan.
I scooped out 6 muffins and then added
1/4 C chopped pecans to the remaining batter
 for the last 6 muffins.

 Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes until golden.

Now pour your coffee and enjoy a warm banana muffin
 and a little butter.

Banana Muffins

3 over-ripe bananas

3/4 C sugar

1/4 t cinnamon

1/3 C melted butter

1 egg

1-1/2 C self-rising flour*

Mash the bananas with a mixer. Mix in the sugar and cinnamon. Add the egg and melted butter and mix until well combined. Lightly stir in the flour. Scoop into well greased muffin pan and bake for about 20 minutes at 400, until golden.

makes 1 dozen

(*note: in place of SR flour use regular flour and 1 t soda and a pinch salt)

Read More

Easy Spinach Ravioli Bake

This is a Friday night special. 

If you want a quick and easy dinner, this is almost as easy as ordering a pizza. 

It's just assembling a few ingredients.

 Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350.

 Layer 1/3 of the sauce and 1/2 of the frozen ravioli.

 Scatter the spinach on top. Season as desired.

 Add 1/2 of the shredded mozzarella and another layer of ravioli.

 Add the remaining sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan.

 Cover with foil and bake 25-30 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly.

Spinach Ravioli Bake

26 oz jar pasta sauce

18 oz bag frozen large cheese ravioli

10 oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

8 oz bag shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese

a little garlic salt, pepper, Italian herbs, 

and about 2T olive oil

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Spoon on 1/3 of the sauce. Lay on a layer of ravioli, 12-15. Scatter the spinach over the ravioli. Drizzle with a little olive oil,
garlic salt and pepper.

Scatter with 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. Add another layer of ravioli, the remaining sauce, 

sprinkle with a little Italian seasoning if you like. Then remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly and golden, another 5-10 minutes.

sides: salad and garlic bread

Enjoy!

Links: Funky Junk

Read More

Chess Squares

This very sweet dessert is a Southern classic. It's similar to chess pie, but much easier to make.

It's has a gooey filling. 

Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top to make them pretty.

 Bake in a 9x13 pan,

until golden and slightly puffed.

Let cool and cut into squares. Refrigerate leftovers.

Chess Squares

Cake Base

1 box yellow cake mix

1 stick butter, melted

1 egg

Melt the butter in a large bowl in the microwave for 45 seconds. Add the cake mix and the egg and beat with a mixer until well blended. It will be a soft dough. Pat it into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

Filling

3 eggs

8-oz package cream cheese, softened

1t lemon extract or 1-2T lemon juice

1 lb box confectioners sugar

Beat the eggs with the cream cheese until blended. Mix in the lemon, then the sugar. Beat until smooth and pour over the crust. Bake @350 for 35-40 minutes.

12 servings

Enjoy!

Read More

MICROWAVE BROWNIE FOR ONE !!

 They say that you are not supposed to reward yourself with food...OK, I get that. But every once in a while, I crave something deeply chocolate, deeply warm, gooey and rewarding. This recipe fills that bill perfectly and since it is only a single serving, there isn't a whole pan of calories calling your name the rest of the day.

.
I've been looking for a single serving brownie recipe like this for a long time because Hubby doesn't like brownies. I've tested lots of contenders with little satisfaction until now. The best part of this recipe, is that it is ready to eat in less than 5 minutes. The most "dangerous" part of this recipe is that it is ready to eat in less than 5 minutes...hahaha!!
.
MICROWAVE BROWNIE FOR ONE
.
¼ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon butter (room temperature)
1 tablespoons pecans (optional)
2 tablespoon chocolate chips
.
In a small microwave safe bowl, mix everything together until smooth (mixture will be very thick). Cook in the microwave.
.
Now here comes the only tricky part of the recipe. Total cooking time in the microwave is one to two minutes depending on how powerful your microwave is. My microwave is a 1000 watt machine and it takes one minute 20 seconds. You will have to watch yours carefully the first time you cook this treat, so you don't over bake it (use the toothpick test for doneness the first time). LET THE BAKED BROWNIE SIT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE.
.
NOTE: I am embarrassed to say I know this recipe by heart now. Any flavored chocolate, peanut butter, white (etc.) chips will work well.
.
NOTE: The recipe doesn't say you have to, but I bake mine in a little ramekin that I spray with cooking spray.

Read More

Lunar New Year 2562

It's another exciting celebration... New Year!
Yeah, we have some 'New Year' in one calendar year. Other than 'normal' New Year on 1st of January (Gregorian Calender / Anno Domini), this country also celebrates Imlek (Chinese New Year), Saka New Year (Hindhuism) and Hijriah (Islamic). Oh, one more, there is another New Year in Javanese Calendar.

Those days were marked as Public Holiday in our

Read More

GLAZED DONUTS...Live a Little!!

This is my "go to" recipe when Hubby asks for homemade donuts. I have tried many, many donut recipes over the years and this is his favorite; it is simple, delicious and it has never failed me.

 2 envelopes of dry active yeast (I use 2 scant tablespoons)
¼ cup warm water
1½ cups warm milk
½ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (room temperature)
1/3 cup butter flavored Crisco
5 cups all purpose flour
Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let it stand for 5 minutes or until foamy. In a stand mixer, mix 2 cups of the flour, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and yeast mixture until well mixed (takes just a minute on low speed).
Beat in the rest of the flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl anymore. Once it is at that stage, knead for about 5 minutes.
Place the dough in a greased (I use cooking spray) bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and sit it in a very warm part of your kitchen for an hour, or until the dough doubles in size.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently roll it out to ½" thickness. Cut with a floured donut cutter (see note below). Set cut out donuts on a square of parchment paper that you lightly sprayed with cooking spray. This will help you tremendously when it comes time to lift the donuts into the cooking oil.
Spray the tops of the donuts with a little cooking spray and cover loosely with plastic wrap for a second rising (takes about 45 minutes to an hour). Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer (see note below) to 350 (I cooked mine at 375) and gently lower donuts into oil. Fry until they turn nice and golden then flip them.

Drained cooked donuts on a baking rack and before they cool all the way down, dip them in a simple sugar glaze (or cinnamon sugar).

SIMPLE SUGAR GLAZE
1/3 cup melted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
4 tablespoons hot water

Mix everything together (starting with 3 tablespoons hot water, then adding the last tablespoon if you need it).

NOTE: My donut cutter is a small pineapple can that I've removed the top & bottom from. For the center hole, I use a small circle cookie cutter.

NOTE: I heat my oil in an electric frying pan so I can regulate the temperature (and it doesn't take as much oil as a deep fryer).

Read More

Shrimp Alfredo

I got this recipe from craigslist. You never know where you'll find a good recipe.

We were picking up a bed that we had bought on craigslist. While the husbands were loading all the pieces into our van I was in the kitchen while the young woman was making dinner for her family.

Good thing! 

 The ingredients: shrimp, onion, mushrooms, seasonings and a jar of alfredo sauce. I didn't think I would like the jarred sauce, but I was wrong!. Begin by cooking the pasta. That will take the longest. 

 Saute the shrimp with garlic and seasonings until opaque.

 When they are just cooked, remove from the pan.

 Add the mushrooms and onion to skillet and saute. Add more oil if needed.

 Cook until tender then remove from heat and combine with the reserved shrimp.

 Add alfredo sauce to the pasta and toss well.

 Add a little pasta water to the sauce jar and shake. Add to the pasta. You want it nice and saucy.

 Then combine the alfredo sauced pasta with the mushroom mixture and shrimp.

 Pile it onto a large platter.

Surround with steamed broccoli. That's how she served it.

Craigslist Shrimp, easy and quick and yummy!

Shrimp Alfredo

1 lb large shrimp

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

1 onion, chopped

1 T chopped garlic

Adobo seasoning or garlic salt and pepper

3/4 pound linguini, cooked and drained reserving 1/2 C pasta water

1 jar  (any brand) Alfredo sauce

1-2T butter and olive oil

Start cooking the linguini.  While the pasta is cooking, saute the shrimp and chopped garlic in 1T butter and 1T olive oil. Add a good sprinkle of Adobo seasoning and salt and pepper.  When the shrimp is just cooked remove from the pan. Add more butter/olive oil to the pan if needed. Add the sliced mishrooms and chopped onion. Season again. Saute until tender and remove from heat. Combine with the reserved shrimp. Scoop out about 1/2 c water then drain the pasta and return the pasta to the pot. Stir in the Alfredo sauce. Add a a little of the reserved pasta water to the jar and shake, then pour into the pot. Stir well to combine. Combine the linguini with the shrimp and mushroom mixture. Stir well and pour onto a heated platter to serve .

Surround with steamed broccoli.

Enjoy!

Links: Remodelaholic

Read More

Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese

This is a great side dish with BBQ or meatloaf. It's also a good meatless main dish served with a salad.

The ingredients

 Whisk the egg, cottage cheese, sour cream and seasonings until well combined.

 Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese.

 Mix well.

 Then stir in the cooked macaroni.

 Put into a buttered casserole. You can sprinkle with a little paprika if you like.

 Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. 

Let sit about 5-10 minutes before serving. Serves six.

Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese

1 to 1-1/2 C  elbow macaroni

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 C small curd cottage cheese

1 C sour cream

1/2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/4 t garlic powder

2 C shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cook macaroni in salted boiling water until tender. Drain.

In a large bowl combine the egg, cottage cheese, sour cream and seasonings.

Whisk until well combined. Stir in the cheddar cheese, then the macaroni.

Mix well and pour into a greased 2-1/2 qt. buttered casserole.

Sprinkle the top with paprika, if desired.

Bake at 350 for 30-45  minutes until bubbly and golden.

Enjoy!

Links: Mangoes and Chutney

Read More