53: Honey Soy Tilapia

Why not one to grow on! I couldn't leave you with just a side dish, even if it was delicious.  I thought why not try this Honey Soy Tilapia.

Ingredients:

~1 1/2 lb Tilapia
balsamic vinegar
honey
soy sauce
1 garlic clove

The How To:
Preheat oven to 350
Mince the garlic
Mix the garlic and equal parts of balsamic, honey, and soy sauce (I used about 5 tbsp of each, but it just depends on how much fish you use)
Cook for about 20 minutes, until flakey 

This is a very lack luster recipe.  Will and I both thought it was just fine.  It is still Will approved, but I think his exact words were "I don't love it, but I don't hate it."  

Now I know what you all are wondering.. what is going to happen to the blog now that my goal has been fulfilled.. After some thought, I have decided to keep it going! So coming to a blog near you.. at least another 52 NEW MEALS! 

Happy New Year!! 

52: Roasted Brussel Sprouts in a Creamy Mustard Sauce

This is the day we've all been waiting for.. #52!  And being that tomorrow is New Year's Eve, I would say I pushed it out as long as possible.  But I am giving you an extra just for kicks (see post here)
I thought about what I should make for this monumental occasion, but came up with nothing super special, just Roasted Brussel Sprouts in a Creamy Mustard Sauce.  

Ingredients:

1 lb brussel sprouts, quartered
3 strips bacon
Olive oil
S&P
1 tbsp butter
1/2 onion, diced
2 tbsp flour
3/4 cup skim milk
3 tbsp mustard
2 tbsp grated parmesan/romano cheese

The How To:
Preheat your oven to 400
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, spread the brussel sprouts 

Spray with some olive oil and season with S&P
Cook for about 20 minutes
While you are waiting on those, go ahead and cook the bacon
When they are done dry them off with a paper towel and clean your pan
Add the butter to your pan, and add the onion
Let it saute for about 5 minutes
Add the garlic and let that cook for about two minutes
Mix in the flour and let it cook for about two more minutes - stirring continuously
Mix in the milk, mustard, cheese, brussels and bacon and let it cook for a couple more minutes

This was so delicious, we really never wanted it to end.  This recipe could easily be turned into a main, with some chicken added.  I have a feeling this recipe will have a remix! 

51: Potato Salad

Will wanted to smoke some meat and so I figured that is the perfect time to try out potato salad.

Ingredients:

~2 pounds new red potatoes
6 hard boiled eggs, diced
1 lb bacon*
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
2 tbsp mustard
S&P

*not pictured

The How To:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, add potatoes and let them boil for about 15 minutes - until tender
Peel and chop the hard boiled eggs, set aside
Fry the bacon, crumble, set aside
Slice the potatoes into cubes, leaving the skin on
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl
You can serve warm, or cold

How to boil an egg:
Place eggs in a pot, add enough cold water to cover the eggs, place the pot on heat until rolling boil, remove from heat, cover with a lid and let sit for about 12 minutes.

Will smoked a boston butt for the first time, maybe he can do a guest post on that... This dish was Will approved!! 

We had some people over for dinner and they all also approved of everything.  

50: Squash Soup

Will and I had this soup at a dinner party (Thanks Jeff!) and it was so delicious that I wanted to try it out myself. Here is a link to the original recipe.

Ingredients:

2 butternut squash (3 pounds)
1 acorn squash (1 1/2 pounds)
6 tbsp butter
1/2 onion - finely diced
3 garlic cloves 
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream

The How To:
Preheat oven to 350
Cut each squash in half, discard the seeds 
Brush the sides of the squash with melted butter - season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg
Place the squash cut side down on a roasting pan and bake for about an hour
Cool and scoop the insides out and puree the flesh 
Place puree aside
In a medium pot, melt the about 4 tbsp of butter
Saute the onion and garlic
Add the squash and cook over low heat until heater through, season with S&P and ginger
Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil, stirring often for about 20 minutes
Add the cream and stir well 
Serve hot!

I actually didn't scoop out the squash before pureeing, I included the squash skins -- you should definitely use the scoop method.

The soup ended up being delicious, and it was definitely Will approved.  (I forgot to take a picture)

49: Frito Pie

Tonight we tried out a Baked Frito Pie.  

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef 
1 can kidney beans
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
bag of Fritos scoops
1 cup sour cream
Red pepper
paprika
S&P

The How To: 
Brown ground beef, season with red pepper, paprika, and S&P
Stir in beans and tomatoes, let cook for about 5 minutes
Sprinkle some Fritos in the bottom of a pan
Cover with chili mix
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes
Spread sour cream, remaining chips and cheese on top 
Cook for about 5 more minutes

Will and I both were expecting this dish to be pretty magical.  Sadly, it left a lot to be desired.  We both prefer much spicer than this dish delivered.  I would make it again, but I would change up some things.  

Will actually gave this an eh.. but then wanted to give it two thumbs eh instead... 

  

48: Burke Potage

Honestly, I just googled "soup synonym" and came up with potage. So was born the name of this soup.
Last week, we had our annual Friendsgiving.  We have AWESOME friends.  Seriously.  We had a Honey Baked Ham, and lots of other yummy sides.  The ham hock was left over and I was lucky enough to be able to take it home with me.  I decided to try my hand a a soup/potage.  This is the outcome.


Ingredients: 

ham hock
1 can garbanzo beans
2 cans cannellini beans
2 cans diced Italian style tomaotes
1 can chicken broth (low sodium)
1 can black beans
4 medium potatoes
~1 cup sliced carrots
~1/4 cup diced white onion
4 garlic diced cloves
olive oil
S&P
*1 tsp cumin
*1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

*not pictured

The How To:

Pull out your crockpot
Mix everything up - turn on low for 8 hours

Will and I weren't sure how this was going to turn out, but it ended up being delicious!! The ham hock really made it! (Thanks Liz!)











This was Will approved!  AND! I took some of the leftover soup home and my dad actually liked it! That is a pretty big deal - if you know him, you know what I am saying.

 

As a bonus - here are some pictures from Friendsgiving... 

Love them.

47: Baked Asian Pork Chops

I really like quick and easy meals.  These Asian Pork Chops are just that.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tsbp sriarchia sauce
1 tbsp asian sweet chili sauce
1 garlic clove - minced
*3 boneless pork chops
S&P
sesame seeds

*not pictured

The How to:
Preheat oven to 405.
Mix the hoisin, soy, sesame oil, garlic, and chili sauce in a separate container
Pour mixture over pork chops (it would be best if you marinate the chops for about two hours) 
Season with S&P
Cook 45 minutes
Top with sesame seeds

Will and I both loved this.  This dish was Will approved!

46: Rosemary Balsamic Chicken

This is another two in one post.  I wanted to try out a mixture of balsamic and rosemary over baked chicken and roasted mushrooms.  

For the Chicken
Ingredients:

~1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
Clove of garlic - minced
dash rosemary 
S&P 
*2 skinless boneless chicken breasts

*not pictured

The How To:
Preheat oven to 405
Place chicken in a foil lined dish (for easy clean up)
Spray with olive oil, add balsamic vinegar
Place some garlic on each piece of chicken and season with S&P
Bake for about 45 minutes

For the Mushroom
Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter
Olive Oil 
S&P 
marsala cooking wine
Carton of Baby bellas

The How To:
In a small pan heat butter 
Add mushrooms and top with a little olive oil and marsala
Season with S&P
Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes

I served the mushrooms over some pasta and topped it with truffle oil - and it was delicious.  I could each these mushrooms at every meal.  Will is going to learn to love mushrooms soon enough.  

Both of these dishes were Will approved (but I forgot to take the after picture)

45: Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Everyone wants hot wings sometimes.. but no one wants all those calories! Next time you get a craving, you have to try Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.

Ingredients:

1 head of cauliflower - cut into bite size pieces
3/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tbsp cayenne powder
1/2 cup Frank's buffalo wing sauce
Blue Cheese dressing for dip

The How To:
Preheat oven to 450
In a medium bowl - whisk milk, flour, garlic and cayenne
Dip each piece of cauliflower in the mixture and then place on a baking sheet
Cook for 20 minutes - then drizzle buffalo wing sauce over the tops of the cauliflower bites
Return to oven and bake additional 5-10 minutes
Serve with blue cheese dressing
Yes, this was a side dish - so what.  Will ate it.  And he liked it.. This side is Will approved! 

44: Creamy Mushroom Pork Chops

Weather is getting colder, that means its time for some delicious comfort food.  Tonight I took a chance and didn't use a recipe as a guideline at all.. those are always interesting.  

Ingredients:
2 pork chops*
Olive oil
S&P
paprika*
cayenne pepper*
1 ranch seasoning packet
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cloves garlic
~1/4 cup skim milk

*not pictured

The How To:
Preheat oven to 405
Tin a dish with foil (for easy clean up) 
Mix soup, milk, olive oil, ranch seasoning, paprika, cayenne, and garlic in a medium bowl
Place pork chops in dish, pour mixture over the top
Season with S&P
Bake for 40-45 minutes

It ended up looking like this.. more sauce!

Serve with extra sauce over the top, believe me - you're going to want more.

I have a feeling that we will be having this dish in our house again.  Will and I both loved it! Needless to say, this dish was Will approved!