Easy Fall Sidedish

My husband and I spent a wonderful autumn weekend in New Buffalo, Michigan recently and came home with farmers market goodies.  Honey crisp apples are my favorite and in high season. We bought these delicious fall gems and brought them home to enjoy.  While preparing my pork chops for dinner one night, I decided to slice several apples, peel and chop sweet potatoes, place in a baking dish topped with a little butter, sprinkled with cinnamon  (The Spice House is my personal choice) and 1/4 cup water and bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.  It made this easy great tasting side dish that accompanied my pork dish beautifully.

I drizzled maple syrup on top when done baking and put back in the oven for 5 minutes before serving.  Smells great while baking too.  

Photo Lakehouselyn

Photo Lakehouselyn

Photo Lakehouselyn

Turn your Farmers Market Finds into Dessert

When I visit the farmers market, I like to buy fresh peaches, nectarines and plums.  They make an easy and delicious dessert during these warm summer months.  Simply slice your fruit, place them on a hot grill until you see slight char marks, and serve them topped with vanilla ice cream.  Sometimes I will sprinkle cinnamon sugar lightly on the fruit before the ice cream for a little extra sweet.  Enjoy!

Farmers Market to Your Table

Farmers Market Delights

 Support your local farmer's and benefit from healthy, wholesome produce and beautiful flowers for your home. Our local Farmer's Market just opened for the season and I made my way through pesto stands, freshly made apple cider donuts with your choice of powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar, and picked up fresh and locally grown tomatoes, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, flowers and more.  Did I mention the smoothies and hot brewed coffees?  You can find everything you need for a tasty harvest breakfast at Farmers Markets. Fresh eggs, syrups and potatoes for hash browns plus all the vegetables you need for tasty omelets. If you haven't visited your local Farmers Markets, you don't know what you are missing.  

 Here is a very simple recipe to make homemade tomato sauce for your family and friends using those fresh tomatoes from your market or your own garden. This recipe will make a quart of sauce...modify for your needs....

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred ready to use chopped garlic I can keep in the fridge)
20 medium ripe plum tomatoes, washed, cored and cut into quarters
 Fresh basil (you can use dried)
Small bag of tomato paste (I am a huge fan of Amore Tomato Paste in a tube that you can reseal after you have used the portion you need)
1 tablespoon sugar, teaspoon salt & pepper, chopped onion (optional).

Use a Dutch oven or large pot, cover bottom with olive oil and add chopped garlic and onion.  Brown on low-medium heat until fragrant.  I use my freshly washed hands, take each tomato and squeeze into the pot until all tomatoes are in pot.  Add tomato paste, basil, salt, pepper and sugar and stir occasionally while cooking over low heat for 60-90 minutes.  After the tomatoes have cooked down, I pour into my blender or food processor and blend into smooth sauce for 30-45 seconds.  Use immediately on pasta of your choice or freeze the sauce for use at a later date. Will refrigerate for 3 days.  It's a great way to support the farmers in your area and feed your family a healthy meal.

If you are planning a get together this week,  you can make this sauce ahead of time.  All you need to do is heat it up and add to the pasta of your choice.

Support your local small businesses today!

           

Slow Cook Herb & Lemon Chicken

My daughter in law Lisa from stilettosanddiaperbags and sistersmarie shared this easy recipe to make in the slow cooker.  It is so simple to throw together and makes the house smell amazing when you walk in the door.  Did I mention it's healthy too?  

Ingredients: Fresh whole chicken, lemon, yellow onion, garlic or garlic paste, stick of butter, salt, pepper, fresh rosemary,

I bought a fresh chicken (I used Perdue), rinsed it and placed in in my slow cooker.  

I sliced fresh yellow onion, a lemon, and half a stick of butter.  (I use organic meats and produce when I can).  

I placed a couple of slices of lemon inside the chicken.  I didn't have fresh garlic,  so I substituted a tablespoon of garlic paste and spread the garlic paste on top of the chicken. (I like Gourmetgarden found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket) They have done the work for you and made a garlic paste from organic finely chopped garlic. It's a true time saver!

Begin to place sliced lemon, butter, rosemary, onion on top of the chicken, salt and pepper, pour a half a cup of water in bottom of slow cooker and cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8-10.

I bought fresh green beans from our local farmers market, snapped them, and froze uncooked in freezer plastic bags so I could savor the freshness of season a few months longer.  

This meal would be perfect to serve fresh beans as a side along with a fresh salad.

Do you have a favorite side to serve with chicken?

Grill Tuesday Grillin Pork Tenderloin

Photo and Recipe by RachaelRay.com

Fire up the grill for grilled pork tenderloin and serve it up with an easy to assemble apricot mustard sauce.
Preheat the grill to medium-high and brush 1 1/2 lb. pork tenderloin with extra virgin olive oil .  Season with kosher or sea salt and black pepper.  Grill, turning it once , until it is charred in some spots.  Approximately 6 minutes.  If using a gas grill, turn off the heat.  If using charcoal grill, move the tenderloin to a cooler part of the grill.  Cook, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 145 degrees. (12-15 minutes).  Let the pork rest for 5 minutes.

Apricot Mustard Sauce

In a bowl combine 1/4 apricot jam, 1 tbsp. whole grain Dijon mustard, 2 Teaspoons Dijon mustard, a pinch of dry mustard, 1 pinch of dried thyme
Brush on pork the last 5 minutes of grilling .  Serve with the remaining sauce and enjoy.

Serve it up with fresh green beans or corn on the cob from your local Farmers Market.
Support the farmersmarkets.com.

Happy Tuesday!