Saucy Pork Chops

*Taken from the "Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook"

4 pork chops
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 T. oil
2 - 2 1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 T. hickory flavored liquid smoke
1 cup of onions

Season chops with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Brown both sides in oil in a skillet and drain. Combine ketchup, brown sugar and liquid smoke in a bowl. Place onions in slow cooker. Dip browned chops in sauce mixture and place on onions. Pour remaining sauce over chops. Cover and cook on low 7-9 hours or high 4-5 hours.

I made this with coleslaw and it was yummy. Of course the kids don't like coleslaw, so I gave them carrot sticks instead.

With school and other activities starting up, the slow cooker is a big help.

Happy cooking!

After-School Shakes

While my mom was out visiting this last summer, she left a cookbook called, "Simple 1-2-3 Cooking For Kids." There are some cute ideas in there, 2 of which were shakes. I didn't know if the kids would like them, but when we were looking at the book together they said that they would. In honor of starting school, we made them as after school snacks.

Purple Cow Jumped Over the Moon

3 cups vanilla frozen yogurt (I used ice cream)
1 cup 2 % milk
1/2 cup thawed frozen grape juice concentrate, undiluted
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Place the frozen yogurt, milk, grape juice and lemon juice in the blender. Process until smooth and serve immediately. My kids liked it and drank it all up, all I can say was that it was interesting. I think that it helped that they saw it in the cookbook and had agreed that I should make it.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Shakes

1 1/2 cups of vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup milk
2 T. Creamy Peanut Butter
6 peanut butter sandwich cookies, coarsely chopped
1/4 c. strawberry jam

Place the ice cream, milk, peanut butter in blender. Blend at medium speed 1-2 minutes or until smooth. Add chopped cookies (I didn't do this); blend 10 seconds at low speed. Pour into glasses. Place jam and 1-2 T. water in small bowl; stir until smooth. Stir 2 T. of the jam mixture into each glass. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!
Happy Cooking!

Grilled Jumbo Shrimp with Cilantro and Chilies

As I was making my weekly menu and sifting through all of my collected recipes (I need to figure out how to organize all of them. If you have any suggestions let me know), I stumbled upon this recipe that I made for Kirk on Father's Day. For that day I made him a T-bone steak and shrimp. I can't remember what else we had. The shrimp was a big hit, even for the kids. I was a little nervous about fixing shrimp - it was my first time de-veining them. It took a little bit of time, but it ended up being delicious. I didn't get the jumbo shrimp. I used medium shrimp. That gave me more to work with and it still turned out. Half of the shrimp I stuffed with the mixture and the other half I didn't. That way, the kids could still have one and it wouldn't be too spicy.

Jumbo Shrimp with Cilantro and Chilies

Try it before the summer is over!

Happy cooking!

Grilled Barbecue Pizza

I like to get the Food Network's emails. The latest one that I got had a video of the Neeley's making grilled pizza. Please note that I have tried to grill pizza before and my family didn't like it. As I was watching the Neeley's make this pizza, I was inspired to try it. It turned out and my family liked it. I loved the barbecue sauce, however I made regular pizza for the rest of the family - I know how they are. See what you think....


Grilled Pizza Video

The Recipe

I think that I would rather get a grill pan and make them indoors. I hate going in and out of the house all the time. I hope you try it, I am sure you will like it. Tell me what you think.
Happy cooking!