Roasted Pork & Udon Noodles

We found out how much we loved Udon Noodle when we ate at Noodles & Co a while back. They are also called Pad Thai. So, fortunately I found Udon Noodles (see picture below) at the grocery store in the produce section, weirdly enough. This recipe seems complicated but goes together very easy and quick.

Here is the recipe I came up with Roasted Pork & Udon Noodles

As a variation try chicken, shrimp or beef and different veggies

This can be finished off in a wok if you prefer. Another great recipe to be creative with. Let me know what you tried! I love hearing the variations.

Baked Oatmeal w/Fruit

I love having breakfast for dinner! I guess it is comfort food. So tonight I made Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries/Bananas and then baked some bacon on my stone to go with it. Pictured is a doubled recipe so I can put some up for us to take & heat up for breakfast or mid morning snack.

I found this recipe on Pinterest & just had to try it. Of course you know me I did make a few modifications & I will make even more changes the next time (mainly adding more kinds of fruit). The great part of this recipe is you can make so many different variations - Peaches, Apples & Cinnamon or all Berries. So have fun with this one.

Additionally: After cutting up the bananas I put a little lemon juice in the bowl and stirred it around so the bananas wouldn't brown.

Oven Roasted Roast & Potatoes

I love roast! it has always been comfort food for me. In the past I have always used my crockpot to slow cook it, but always felt it was missing something. So here is alternative to crockpotting that will give you that oven roasted crispness on the top and very tender! And if your oven has a cook time you can set it to auto turn off.

This idea came to me after using this Pork Tenderloin recipe. Which by the way is amazing as well.

So here are the modifications for a roast. . .You will follow this recipe but add some cooking time on the end (I seasoned the roast with Garlic Powder & seasoned salt on both sides before browning in the skillet). Slow roasting time will depend on the size of your roast. The roast pictured was very thin so it was much shorter time.

After roasting in the ovenproof skillet @ 400 for 10 minutes, flip your roast and turn the temp down to 275 & let it slow roast: the roast above was about an inch thick 1 1/2 hours was perfect. The roast I cooked the other day was 3 inches thick and it was 3 1/2 hours (turning it halfway through).

For this meal I added some frozen red potatoes that were quartered seasoned with Olive Oil & Parmesean; I added them to the pot 25 minutes prior to the roast being done. I put them under the roast and they soaked up all those wonderful drippings from the roast. You can also add veggies for a healthier meal.

This meat will literally cut with a fork. Very tender!

Be careful with the skillet after coming out of the oven! I have burn markes where I forgot it had been in the oven & grabbed the handle! OUCH!! ;)



Cookie Basics 101

Ever wonder what makes cookies turn out the way they do? I was an instructor at a children's cooking school a few years back and one of our month's curriculum was on just that, Cookie basics. It was actually one of the most fun classes I taught especially with my 5&6 yr old class. We went through the first 3 weeks focusing on each part of what makes a cookie a cookie. Then the 4th week they had to create their own recipe using this method. Can I tell you they were delicious cookies!

Progress of My Sourdough starter!

I have been feeding my Sourdough Starter for almost 2 months now. I am happy to say that it is really getting that great sour taste! Below are the loaves I made of Whole Wheat Sourdough & the recipe. My Husband said these are the best so far with texture & taste. Previously I had either one or the other.

Spinach Tomato Linguini

In my quest to incorporate healthier meals & more veggies, I found & modified this recipe. This is such a wonderful side dish! And it's pretty healthy. You can omit the half & half and sour cream in exchange for plain yogurt or just add part of the juice from the canned tomatoes instead it just won't be creamy.

I served this side dish with roasted Pork Tenderloin & Lentils. It was a hit.

Salsa Variations

Salsa is a great snack when trying to eat healthy (minus the tortilla chips; add whole wheat crackers or even better celery to scoop it up). A good friend of ours made this great Southern Salsa my husband just loves. Of course right now corn is not on our menu so I have made a modified version of it. I have posted both recipes (Southern Salsa Recipe - thanks to Lindsey Staton).

Bean Salsa

If you can't find these specific peas, buy  a can of field peas & add chopped jalapeno peppers to taste. That way you control the level of heat in the salsa. Field peas have a great flavor & are very tiny.

January = Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating

OK so I have once again cleared cabinets & fridge of all the sweets made over the holidays. Seems to have been an annual thing for us. So this year can we do it different? My sister-in-law inspired me to loose 50 before age 50! She is almost there for both, and I must say she looks FAB!

So this blog will be a part of the healthy transformation. Seems like Healthy = no taste, but I know this is not true. . .I have been a fan of the SouthBeach diet & it really opened my eyes to the healthy alternatives. . .now if I can just stick to it! I love bread and seems most diets delete bread. SouthBeach you can have whole grain bread & of course my fav sourdough. It is such a doable life change of eating. . .so here we go with "50 before 50" at least I have a year & a couple months! Maybe I can do 50 before the Hubs turns 50 in May! If you don't set goals, you will never try for them!

I think when you "diet" you deprive yourself & then binge. So healthy eating & getting active needs to be a change in complete lifestyle. I've been very successful with SouthBeach at times, but again it is the "Sticking to it" that I fail at miserably. Going to try it again!!

So, fridge is stalked with celery & veggies, I will be scouring for good healthy recipes. I am pumped! There are so many options now a days with whole wheat pasta & such that you aren't so limited. I will be posting a couple times a week, more if I can, but hopefully I will have a job this month! So, my goal will be twice a week. Thanks for joining me in this journey! 

What are some goals you are setting? (I'm not into resolutions, but I guess that is the same thing LOL!)

Happy Healthy eating!