Hungarian Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes and Cabbage

 A chilly winter-time day calls for comfort food: 
potatoes and cabbage roasted alongside
pork tenderloin for a tasty meal. 

I’m a big fan of pork tenderloin, it’s an excellent cut of meat for cooking, simply because it’s versatile, fairly inexpensive, tasty and friendly with a wide variety of spices...

Old Fashioned Chuck Roast w/Potatoes, Carrots and Onions

I remember it vividly!

It’s “chuck roast,” Mom corrected me, on the day I blurted out “pot roast.”  Must've been because she didn't want the cattle on our farm to be offended... 😉

A SIDE OF ROASTED REDSKIN POTATOES WITH ONIONS

This isn’t a fancy or complicated recipe...

Flavorful and irresistible, these garlic potatoes are good for any meal of the day.

 
I'm a fan of potatoes made about any way, with the exception of potato soup ~ found something else for dinner when Mom made that years ago. 

9th Blogiversary and Even More Potatoes!

I’m an impulsive sort of person at times.  Knowing me, Bill, thought this blog would be a passing whim that wouldn’t make it a couple of months…

And here I am ~ still at it, 9 years later!

The Best Salmon I Have Ever Baked!

Bill told me way back when, that he was part of the "I really don't like salmon" crowd.  Those were fighting words to me, and I was determined ~ and on a mission ~ to change his mind.  I figured he had a bad encounter with salmon once, just like I did many years ago with a catfish dinner at Mammoth Cave, when I cut into the fish and fat streamed out of it.  

I've been off on a long journey over the years for the best salmon recipe, and I'm sure I finally found it:  I'm just not sure though how I acquired this great recipe.  

Salmon has a great strong flavor and it's meatier than most fish. This rich, tender, flaky, and nutrient dense salmon gets slathered with a savory flavorful Dijon mustard sauce, then baked at a high temperature to perfection for our taste buds.

Crispy Sea Salt-crusted Parsley Jacket Potatoes

Dad had many gardens to tend, after he retired from banking ~ at home, at the large Community Garden he established, and at the Louisville Zoo, where he displayed a garden for zoo visitors. 

Bubba loved that!  He'd go to the zoo with Grandpa, and while Grandpa gardened, Bubba visited all the animals. 

I've watched him dig up many a potato, he was an expert at it ~ no digging fork holes in his potatoes!

So I’ve always been slightly obsessed with baked potatoes, my favorite potato!  Just a pat of butter, a little salt and lots of pepper does it for me most times…   

But when it’s finished with a crackling crust, with a dollop of sour cream, I’m in potato heaven…

The humble spud is the quintessential comfort food, and it wins the prize for the most versatile vegetable ~ there are only so many ways you can cook broccoli, and roasted broccoli could never compete with a baked potato.

First off, start wth the starchy russet potato, with a sort of thick skin.The pectin holding the russet’s cells together breaks down easily when cooked, resulting in a more granular, powdery texture.  Hands down, most chefs swear by this choice of potato for baking.

Scrub the potato well, dry it and puncture the potato in several spots with a fork.  You don’t want to take a slight chance of it exploding due to pent-up steam.  So, put some holes in it for safety’s sake!

Slather the potato with olive oil for added flavor and great texture, the skin becomes tough without it.

Combine a mixture of sea salt, seasoned pepper, garlic and parsley in a bowl.  Roll the potato in the coating and it’s ready to bake into a delicious potato.

Bake in a preheated 400° oven or do it my way ~ in an air fryer for that perfect crackling crust.

An Air fryer does a great job of baking potatoes.  The oil and seasonings on the skin results in a beautiful crisp baked potato.  

It’s crispy, crackling, crunchy on the outside and snow-white pillowy soft on the inside.

Want to enjoy perfect baked potatoes every time?  Try using an air fryer!


Air Fryer Sea Salt-crusted Parsley Jacket Potatoes 

Ingredients:

3  russet baking potatoes, medium-sized
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sea salt
2 teaspoons parsley, dried
1 tablespoon garlic powder, optional
Sour cream, or toppings of your choice

Method:

Wash potatoes and puncture with a fork several times
Coat potatoes with oil.
Combine salt, parsley and garlic powder in a bowl; roll potatoes in the mixture.
Place into the Air Fryer basket.
Cook potatoes at 390° for 35-40 minutes, until fork tender.
Slather with your favorite toppings, chives, cheese, bacon bits, etc!
Printable recipe



Happy Cooking!

Pan-Roasted Pork Chops w/Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

 I decided many years ago,

there was a special place 

in hell reserved for

Brussels sprouts!

Ready for harvest

They’ve have been around forever, they’re almost older than dirt…

Along with cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and kohlrabi, they were all cultivated from the same prehistoric plant between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago.

After all this time, since first eating them years ago, I chose to try the sprouts again.  Maybe they just needed a different method of cooking ~  like being roasted instead of boiled ~ a proper cooking!

What developed was a good sweet roasted flavor, they tasted pretty good this go around, especially along side the chops and potatoes!

The secret for these pork chops is in the Italian salad dressing marinade.   Using the shortcut marinade in this recipe, the meat turned out tender and delicious on the inside.

On the outside, the crumb coating delivered a good crunch, almost like the breaded chops Grandma used to make.

And who doesn’t like roasted potatoes?

This is a perfect comfy dinner for a snowy day…

Our winter here in Cary, has been a bit weird this year!  Warmer than usual, with no more than a trace of snow in January and February.  
This morning we have 4” snow on the ground, more on the way tomorrow. 

Spring is just around the corner…


Pan-Roasted Pork Chops w/Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

4 boneless pork loin chops
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons lite Italian salad dressing, divided
4 potatoes, cut lengthwise into 8 wedges
½ pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
½ cup Italian bread crumbs, or plain
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon seasoned pepper
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Method:

Place pork chops and ½ cup salad dressing in a large resealable plastic bag, turning to coat.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
Preheat oven to 400°.
Arrange potatoes and Brussels sprouts on a large baking pan coated with cooking spray.
Drizzle vegetables with remaining 2 tablespoons salad dressing, toss to coat.
Roast for 20 minutes.
Drain pork, discarding marinade.
Stir vegetables, place pork chops over top.
Roast 25 minutes longer or until pork is cooked through, thermometer reads 155°.
In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, salt and pepper, stir in melted butter.
Top pork with crumb mixture.
Place under broiler, 4 to 6 inches from heat for 1-2 minutes or until bread crumbs are golden brown.
Serve
Printable recipe


Enjoy!

Speedy Cheesy Emmentaler Skillet Potatoes

Potatoes and cheese

go together like a

good movie and popcorn!

Crispy fried potatoes, oozing with melted cheese and chives is a perfect side dish for about any meal.

These spuds, are the epitome of everything a potato should be:  shades of burnt sienna crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, blanketed with a layer of melted cheese.

Slightly adapted from Fine Cooking, this recipe includes Emmentaler cheese.  This is the first time I’ve melted it on potatoes and it won’t be the last.  







Emmentaler cheese is pale yellow with a thin rind; a medium-hard Swiss cheese originating from the Emmentaler valley area of west-central Switzerland.  

Its taste is creamy, sweet and nutty ~ perfect when combined with cheddar and oozing deliciousness over potatoes.  

All other potatoes were just a dress rehearsal for this...

sadly, there were not any leftovers...




Cheesy Skillet Potatoes

Ingredients:

1½ pounds (about 4 medium-size) Russet potatoes, or Yukon Gold
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon seasoned pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 ounces (⅓ cup) coarsely grated sharp Cheddar
2 ounces (⅓ cup) coarsely grated Emmentaler cheese
1 tablespoon chopped chives

Method:

Peel and slice potatoes, season with salt and pepper.
Place oil in 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Add potatoes, cook undisturbed, until just starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
Lower heat to medium and gently flip potatoes every 2 minutes until potato slices are crisped and browned, about another 10-12 minutes.
Top with cheeses, cover, remove from heat and let sit until cheese melts, about 2 minutes.
Sprinkle with chives.
Serve 

Printable recipe


Enjoy!

Perfect Potato Salad for the 4th of July!

Summer holidays and potato salad, always boiled down to the name “Aunt Frances," not only my Aunt Frances, but Bill’s Aunt Frances also.  

They were the “go to ladies” for potato salad back then, but unfortunately I never got either of their recipes and so am always on the hunt for the perfect potato salad recipe, and this one I’ve got for you today is close.

This recipe, slightly adapted here, was in the Chicago Tribune by Leah Eskin, in her “Home on the Range” food column.  

By the way, she has a great cookbook, Slices of Life, that’s not only filled with recipes, but a generous helping of her life stories that happened on her way cooking and baking when she was young, and later for her own family. 

Back to this recipe, it strays a little from traditional potato salad and makes the most of summer, with its surprising good taste.  

I would’ve never thought of including peas in potato salad ~ it’s a perfect match, accented by mayonnaise combined with sour cream, dill, lemon zest and Dijon mustard, with lots of chopped red onion thrown in and garnished on top with sliced olives for Bill, the potato salad conniseur!

It’s not a sweet dish, just savory and delicious, that’s good warm, but is just as delicious when chilled. 

This is my new go-to potluck dish 

for summer here in the 

Midwest ~

we do love a good potluck!

Potato Salad w/Peas
Printable recipe

Ingredients:

3 pounds red-skin potatoes
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup chopped red onion
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
½ teaspoon dried dill or ¼ cup snipped dill fronds
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Sliced green olives, for garnish, optional

Method:

Boil:  Settle potatoes in a large pot.  Cover with cold, salted water by 1 inch.  Bring to a rolling boil, turn down to a low boil and cook until potatoes are easily pierced with a skewer, about 25 minutes.

Cut:  When potatoes are cool enough to handle (but still warm), cut into 1-inch cubes. Pile into a large bowl.  Sprinkle in peas (no need to defrost) and red onion.

Mix:  Whisk together mayo, sour cream, dill, mustard, zest, and salt and pepper to taste.  Pour this dressing over potatoes.  Mix gently with a soft spatula.  Arrange sliced olives over top, if desired. 

Serve:  I like this still warm, but it's good at any temperature; keep cold for picnics. 

 
8 Servings



Enjoy!

Celebrate

and have a safe

Happy 4^th!

Stuffed Twice-Baked Potatoes

I love potatoes, any variety, don’t you?

They’re filled with minerals and vitamins, and are the ultimate comfort food for me. That is, unless they involve soup, no potatoes in any kind of soup for me!

Bill and I are satisfied with boiled potatoes or baked potatoes, with a dab of butter, and salt and pepper, but when it’s time to splurge, this is one of my go to potato recipes:  twice-baked potatoes packed with sour cream, Parmesan cheese, onion, horseradish, cheddar cheese, a little butter, salt and pepper, and bacon, topped with chopped chives. 



Plus, these potatoes can be prepared ahead of time, and refrigerated until time to reheat for your serving. They’re great to make ahead and freeze for when unexpected company drops in also. 

Truthfully, I could make a meal of just these delicious spuds, a perfect little meal of comfort food!

Stuffed Twice-Baked Potatoes
Printable recipe

Ingredients:

4 large russet potatoes
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
¼ cup onion, minced
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
8 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1 tablespoon milk, or more
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
Fresh chopped chives and paprika, for garnish

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Scrub and pierce potatoes, bake for 1 hour, or until fully cooked.
Remove potatoes from oven and let cool slightly.
Cut potatoes in half and scoop out potato, place in a large bowl, being careful, so as not to tear the skins.
Add butter, salt and pepper to potatoes, mash until smooth.
Add sour cream and mash again.
Add horseradish, onion, Parmesan and bacon, stirring well.
Stir in 1 tablespoon milk.  It you like it creamier, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
Add more salt and pepper, if needed.
Fill empty skins with potato mixture.
Divide cheddar cheese every among potatoes.
Garnish with a sprinkling of chives and paprika.
Return to oven and reheat until hot. Or refrigerate them to reheat later before mealtime.

ENJOY!

 

Summer Potato Salad

I’ve made a lot of potato salads over the years, usually going back to this one ~ or close to it.

This is our favorite, loaded with sweet pickles, celery, red onion, pimentos, black olive slices, and Miracle Whip with a dab of mustard.  

It’s a summer standard to go with most any meat or seafood from the grill.

Potato salad is the perfect side ~ it’s simple, easy and just like the potato salad our mom’s used to make.  

Here’s the recipe:

Summer Potato Salad

Ingredients:

6 red potatoes, peeled and cut in half
⅓ cup sweet pickles, chopped
¾ cup celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
¼ cup black olives, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped pimientos, drained
1 cup Miracle Whip
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 teaspoon celery seed
Salt and seasoned pepper, to taste

Method:

Boil potatoes until tender; drain well and cool.
Cube cooled potatoes and place in a large bowl.
Add pickles, celery, onion, black olives and pimientos, combine.
Add remaining ingredients and toss lightly to mix.
Arrange a few olive slices on top for garnish, if desired.
Place in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight to chill.
6 servings

ENJOY!

 

Slim Potato Salad

Bill is a big fan of potato salad, and I like it too. 

If you like potato salad chock full of onions, olives and pickles like we do, you’ll like this.  And it goes with about any meat cooked on the grill!

And, even better,  it's a lighter version:

There’s not much more to say about it except that it tastes good!  Give it a go!

Slim Potato Salad

Ingredients:

5 medium red potatoes

1 small red onion, chopped

12 stuffed green olives, sliced

12 sweet petite pickles, sliced

1/3 cup light mayonnaise

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

1 teaspoon celery seed

1 teaspoon seasoned pepper

Method:

Wash and peel potatoes and cut into bite-size pieces.

Cook in boiling water until fork tender, drain well.

In a large bowl, combine potatoes, onions, olives and pickels.

Add remaining ingredients and toss until well-coated.

4-6 servings

ENJOY!

Smashed Baby Purple Red and White Potatoes

Due to their hue of royalty and lineage, purple potatoes have long been looked upon as the food of gods.  Over 7,000 years ago, purple potatoes were reserved for Incan kings in their native Peru.  

Maybe back then, they saw beyond their violet skin and flesh and suspected the health benefits of the purple potato.  They’ve been a staple in the Peruvian diet ever since. 

Whatever the hue of potatoes, they are a wonderful thing, and this recipe proves how delicious potatoes can be. First of all, the purple red and white baby potatoes are boiled in simmering water until you can easily smash them with your fist.  Then drizzle them with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and seasonings on a baking sheet, pop them into the oven to bake crisp.

The edges where you smashed them will be crisp and brown, while the insides will be soft and creamy.  This is definitely comfort food ~ it’s all about the delicious flavors and the chunky texture; perfect for dinner on a stormy day like yesterday!

Smashed Baby Purple Red and White Potatoes

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

1½ pounds baby purple red and white potatoes

¼ cup olive oil

1 teaspoon butter

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

4 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried parsley

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon seasoned pepper

Method:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Cover potatoes with water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.

Drain well and set aside.

Meanwhile, preheat over to 450 degrees.

Whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl.

Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Place the potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet and smash each potato lightly with your fist.

Spoon the olive oil mixture over each potato.

Bake until potato edges are crisp and brown, about 25-30 minutes.

4 servings

ENJOY!