Sunday, April 8, 2012

SOUP's ON: What's For Dinner?: EASTER S'MORES JARS

SOUP's ON: What's For Dinner?: EASTER S'MORES JARS: W e are attending a family brunch tomorrow for Easter and I wanted to create something different for each guest.  Inspired by all the Mason ...

Saturday, April 7, 2012

EASTER S'MORES JARS

We are attending a family brunch tomorrow for Easter and I wanted to create something different for each guest.  Inspired by all the Mason Jar gifts under Easter on Pinterest, I created my version of the Easter S'More Jar:



INGREDIENTS PER JAR: 
1/2 c pastel M&Ms (I used both Dark and Milk Chocolate)
6 Purple Peep Bunnies
1 package of Land o Lakes Cocoa Mix
1 package of Teddy Grahams (individual pkg)
1 6" x 6" pastel colored material
1 thin pastel colored ribbon approximately 14" long
1 Qt. Mason Jar
1 Gift Card (blank inside)
1 Bunny sticker
1 Plastic Egg sticker
Hole puncher

ASSEMBLING:
Combine Jar in whatever order fits your taste.
Place M&Ms on bottom layer,
Next, add the Peeps along side of jar
Finally, place the teddy grahams and cocoa in a plastic sandwich bag
Fit the sandwich bags in the middle of the Peeps.
Cover with flat suction lid
Take material and cover evenly over the lid
Screw the outer lid around the material
Tie a ribbon under the rim of the lid
Fill out gift card, and punch hole in the corner
Tie the gift card with the thin ribbon tied around the lid so the gift card securely hangs
Stick the plastic egg sticker to the top of the lid onto the material
Add a bunny sticker to the side of the jar to finish.

Happy Easter!


It's Just Me Val, Ciao'!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Breaded Italian Pork Chops




BREADED ITALIAN PORK CHOPS

Note: This recipe was inspired by "Rock Recipes" Baked Parmesan Panko Pork Chops and I want to give credit to Rock Recipes for the base recipe...

I've changed it up to give an Italian flair and then added a fruit topping.
A DELICIOUS outcome!  Unbelievably juicy and tasty.  I  chose to serve this with Asparagus,Corn, and a baked Macaroni and Cheese with a crusted topping and applesauce.

So here's how to prepare this great dish, let's start from scratch:
You'll need the following:

INGREDIENTS

6 Pork Chops (lean and medium thickness)
1 c Panko Bread Crumbs
1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Mixed grated Parmesan and Pecorino Romano
1 Egg
1 Lg Apple
1 T Water
Sea Salt
Pepper
Garlic Parsley
Oregano
Olive Oil Spray (or spray of choice)

Cinnamon
2 T's Juice from a small container of Mandarin Oranges


Mix a blend of Sea Salt, Pepper, Garlic Parsley, and Oregano
Sprinkle over bother sides of chop and rub in to help it stick.


Next, 
Place flour in a bowl
 Mix Panko with Cheeses in a bowl
Whisk water and egg together in a bowl


 Dip each chop 1st, in flour, then egg, then coat with Panko/Cheese mixture


COOKING Em Up!!!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with Olive Oil to coat
Place chops onto foil and spray tops of each lightly
Bake 15 minutes
While chops are baking slice and core apple into 18 thin slices 
After 15 minutes remove baking sheet and flip chops to reverse side
Place 3 apple slices on each, 
Sprinkle cinnamon lightly across apples 
Sprinkle Mandarin Orange juice lightly across apples
Back to oven for 20 minutes

Plate and serve

Mangia Mang'

It's Just Me Val, Ciao'!