Beef Boneless Short Ribs

I was recently inspired by an impulse buy at Smart and Final…. Boneless Short Ribs. I finally got the guts to pull them out of the fridge and experiment. The family ate them, not once, but twice!



You will need

Beef Boneless short Ribs
Garlic powder
Truffle Salt
Lemon pepper
Worcestershire sauce
Brussels Sprouts (on the stock of possible)
Garlic oil ( or Extra Virgin Olive Oil)



Night #1
I seasoned the meat with garlic powder, lemon pepper, truffle salt and Worcestershire sauce. I then let the meat at room temperature for about 45 minutes and heated the oven to a broil.

Once the oven was ready, I placed the meat on a tin foil lined cookie sheet. I cooked each side until it browned and slightly crispy.

Side dish: I like Brussels sprouts and I am proud of that. For this dish, I bought Brussels sprouts from the farmers market, still on the stock. I removed them from the stock, covered them with garlic oil, truffle salt and fine black pepper. I placed them on a tin foil line cookie sheet and roasted them in the oven at 350 for about 8 minutes.

Night #2

I thinly sliced my left over beef and left it out for about 20 minutes. I used Trader Joe’s ciabatta bread to create a panini.


I cut the bread in half and sprayed the outside surface with TJ spray olive oil. I placed the bottom half on my Panini pan and covered it with cheese (I used jack and cheddar but you could get creative). I finely chopped basil, thyme, oregano and…. The left over Brussels sprouts. This created a “Brussels slaw.” I placed this mixture on top of the cheese. I added the meat and the second slice of bread on top of that.


Done and done. One night of cooking and two meals.

Breaded Chicken Breast

Last night, I came home with no desire to cook.  So, I started open up doors.  In my pantry I found un-opened Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing.  In the refrigerator, I found chicken breasts.  Then, the light bulb turned on.

Items you will need

Chicken breasts

2 eggs

Tablespoon of milk

Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing

Handful of cheese (optional)

Trader Joe’s spray olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil.

I put 3 cups of the cornbread stuffing mix into a plastic bad and smashed it up.  I did not make the mixture too fine.  I added about 2 teaspoons of dried thyme, basil, oregano, garlic powder,  truffle salt and fine ground black pepper.  I mixed the bag up and poured the contents onto a plate.

On another plate, I beat two eggs with a tablespoon of milk.

I washed off the chicken breast and covered it in the egg and milk mixture.  I picked up the chicken breast, allowed the excess of the mixture to run off and placed it in the bread mixture. 

I made sure both sides where covered with the bread.  I even placed a little extra on the side facing up.  Careful not to lose any of the coating, I placed the chicken breast on the cookie sheet.  I did this same process for the other 2 chicken breasts.  When finished, I covered the outside of the breaded chicken with Trader Joe’s spray Olive Oil.

Before placing the chicken in the oven, I covered the chicken with tin foil.  After 25 minutes, I checked on the chicken.  I felt firm and almost cooked.  I pulled it out of the oven, removed the tin foil cover and added a little cheese to the top of each.  I used shredded Cheddar, Jack and Parmesan.  I placed the sheet, uncovered, back into the oven.  I let it cook a little longer, until the outside was golden brown and the cheese was melted.

As a side, I made a salad.  I chopped up romaine lettuce, cold asparagus, tomatoes and red onion.  I added some Caesar dressing and was ready to go. 

Then whole thing one requires about 15 minutes of attention.   The whole family loved it.

Enjoy!

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Trader Joe's Ready To Bake Goodies

Recently, I have been studying ALOT.  Good news it, that is all in the past.  While I generally regard this time as torture , two good things did come out : (1) Croissants and (2) Mini Cinamon Rolls.  More specifically, Trader Joe's make the most wonderful frozen ready to bake croissants and mini cinamon rolls.

Here is the deal....

Trader Joe's Frozen, Ready to Bake Croissants
These are amazing and taste just like they came fresh from a bakery.  Pull them out of the fridge the night before and space them evenly on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Let them sit out over night.

The next morning, Turn on the oven, pop them in and done.  It is really that simple.   If you like a slight gaze to your croissants, brush them with egg whites before you place them in the oven.

If you are lucky, you will be able to find the frozen ready to bake chocolate croissants.  Really, what is not better without a little chocolate?

I save these bad boys for special occassions.  Everything thinks they are from scratch and is impressed by your effort.  Make them for the mother in-law and you will score big points.  Just make sure to hide the box in the trash can.

Trader Joe's Frozen, Ready to Bake Mini Cinamon Rolls
Recently, my husband led us on a day tour of Mt. Baldy.  In a rush to find a road worthy breakfast, I stuck some frozen mini cinamon rolls on the oven.  Boy, oh boy.

These little gems come in a ready to go baking container.  You place the container, with frozen mini rolls,on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven.  Of course, you need to remove the plastic first.  I use a spoon to take them out just after I have removed them from the oven.  Let them cool on a plate before you eat them.

These are great with a cup of coffee.  They are the perfect one bite.

Disclaimer:  I wrote this in a hurry so please over look the typos.

Country Breakfast

On Sunday mornings, I cook a large breakfast. Typically, this breakfast is more of a brunch, so I try to make it count. Today, I focused on a Country Style Breakfast.

Required Items
Eggs
Jennie-O Breakfast Sausage
Trader Joe's Ready to Bake Biscuits
Butter
Trader Joe's Strawberry Jam

Start the coffee pot.  Heat the oven to 350. Heat a large skillet over a low medium heat.


Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil and place the Trader Joe's ready to bake biscuits on the cookie sheet. When the oven is heated, place the biscuits in the oven.


Add the Jennie-O Sausage. I place the sausage on the sides of the skillet so I can use the center for my eggs. Let the sausage cook for a about 5 minutes on a low heat.

I prefer eggs over easy so I crack a few eggs in the center of the pan. I season the eggs with Trader Joe's fresh ground sea salt and finely ground black pepper. After about 3 minutes I flip by eggs over gentle.

At this point, you should be ready to go. The sausage is cooked through and the eggs are ready. The biscuits should be just about ready to pull out of the oven. I cut the biscuits in half and add butter and strawberry jam. I close the biscuit back up so the flavors melt into the biscuit.



Notes
1) Natural Honey is a good alternative to strawberry jam.
2) If you like scrambled eggs, crack a 3eggs into a cup, add a 1/4 cup of whole milk and beat the mixture.
3) Skillets are something you develop over time. Try to clean your skillet as little as possible because you want the pan to become seasoned. Keeping a skillet is a bit of an art. http://www.realsimple.com/skillet 101

All Day Parfait

 

Recently, I have been on a "Parfait" kick. I created my own light version that fills you up with fewer calories. I use 1/2 cup of Horizon Organic Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt with 1/4 Kashi GoLean Crunch Honey Almond Flax. Of course, they are many ways to vary the taste. I suggesting buying a variety of fat free yogurts so can change up the taste with little effort. Also, Kashi Crunch also comes in a few different flavors. If you want, you can add a little fruit but be careful of the extra sugar in fruit.

Usable Garden

I am a huge advocate of a usable garden. I grow roses, lavender, tomatoes, blueberries, avocados, oranges and a variety of herbs. This book discusses homeopathic remedies easily grown in your backyard and put to good use. If you don't have a lot of space, chose some of your favorites that will fit the conditions of your situation (sun exposure, watering requirements) and go to a local nursery. Specialists at the nursery will advise you which plants will do well in pots, or small spaces.

Le Whif - Light as Air Chocolate Treat

As you all know, I love chocolate.  I will try this new treat and report back.

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Dark Greens and Goat Cheese Salad

I am a big fan of the salad. I grew up eating salad at least once a day so I have had years to play with ingredients.

Ingredients
Bib Lettuce
Fancy Spring Green
Laudemio Olive Oil (or an High quality OO)
Goat Cheese
Truffle Oil Salt
Lemon

I get my green mixes from Trader Joe's but really you can get them from anywhere. The key is to choose dark colored greens. I would stay away from Romaine and Iceberg. Place your greens into a bowl and crumble the goat cheese on top. Drizzle olive oil over the top of the salad and cheese. Add truffle salt at will. Squeeze half a lemon over the top. Toss the salad and you are ready to go.



Tips: (1) It is easier to squeeze out the lemon juice when you roll the lemon first.

(2) Recently, I had a dinner party and used the remaining goat cheese from the night before.



This salad is a great side for comfort food.