Going Green - Grocery Bags Part Deaux

I've been trying to be a good steward of our environment. No, I don't wear Greenpeace T-shirts and chain myself to businesses and get arrested. Yeah, I know...I'm boring. There was a big thing here in Knoxville yesterday wherein the Greenpeace people who were probably from parts far from here did that to a Kimberly Clark office. I mean c'mon, they were harassing the people who make toilet paper. The stuff disintegrates as soon as it gets wet. Anyway, I don't really recycle in the "recycle" sense of the word. However, I do re-use leftovers and have been getting better about using my re-usable grocery bags instead of forgetting them in the car.

There is a little snag in using these "green" bags if you're in a hurry as we all are these days and you try to use the self-service checkout at the grocery. If you've ever done the self-service thing, you know the platform with the bags where you place your scanned groceries is VERY weight sensitive. I placed my empty green bags on the platform and the little the machine went nuts. The poor woman that oversees these machine had to keep resetting my machine all the while the people in line behind me were getting frustrated. The store clerk told me the machines were incapable of being balanced for both the regular plastic bags and the reusable bags. What a conundrum or oxy-moron. Hmm, never thought I could use both those words in the same sentence.

My conclusion is this makes as much sense as inflating your tires to save on fuel. I will keep trying to remember to use my green bags and by the way, I prefer the bags I purchased at Kroger. Theirs have a little zipper compartment in them. I don't know what it is for, maybe for a pack of gum or a candy bar...it's pretty cool.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Blackberry Cobbler

In this part of the country, folks take their cobbler very seriously. You can find cobblers of every kind at local restaurants, church get togethers and in the bakery department at the local grocery stores. Where I come from, we've heard of cobbler but it's not a mainstay. Sp when in Rome....my first attempt at cobbler. A friend of mine at work gave me a gallon bag of these beautiful blackberries. I was going to attempt a blackberry sorbet but my husband got into the blackberries and gave a three-quarters of the blackberries to various neighbors. The homegirlz were severely reprimanded for leaving him unsupervised when I wasn't home (just kidding).




Happy Blackberry Cobbler -

Look at these beauties! This is approximately 2-1/2 cups of washed juicy, tart blackberries.

I was told these berries were very tart, so I got a little heavy with the sugar. Normally I think 2 cups of sugar would be enough, but here I used 2-1/2 cups of sugar. Add 2 tablespoons of corn starch.

Ok, this is the "happy" part. I added 2 tablespoons of Grand Marinier.

Blend everything together and let them hang out for about 30 minutes so they can mingle.

Take a ready made pie crust and line an 8" x 8" oven safe dish.

Pour in those very happy blackberries.

Cover with the remaining pie crust, fold over excess and press to the bottom pie crust to seal. Cut top crust to vent. Ok, I know this isn't very pretty, I'm not artsy...just an everyday spastic person. I did try. I used a pastry cutter...not very well.

Bake at 375 for about 40 minutes. Let the cobbler cool. Use a VERY large spoon...ok, a shovel and serve with a side of ice cream (I've heard this is mandatory).

Ranch Dressing

I have to give credit for this idea to Prudy at Prudence Pennywise. She made a fabulous looking Ranch dressing last week that had my mouth watering. My tween goes through Ranch dressing as fast as she goes through ice cream (which is a blur). Ranch dressing has gotten pretty pricey and preparing the dressing at home takes very little time, it's more economical and I am able to control the fat content; which believe it or not and according to Prudy is much less than the bottled dressings. I gave the dressing a try and kind of changed it up just a bit. The dressing came out unbelievably good; my tween said throw the bottle stuff away; this is what I want. She then proceeded to ask if we could hide the remaining dressing in the fridge where her dad couldn't find it.

Ranch Dressing -

Smash two cloves of garlic, add 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt and make a paste by using the back of a chef's knife.

In a medium bowl combine garlic paste, 1 cup of mayo, 1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk, a splash of white wine, a splash apple cider vinegar (or you can use 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar), 2 tablespoons minced flat leaf parsley, 1 tablespoons finely chopped shallots, 1 tablespoon chopped chives, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder and black pepper to taste.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate and the slather all over anything you like to slather Ranch dressing on....don't say anything...but I hid what was left from my tween and my husband.

Sweet Sixteen

Whoo-Hoo #16!!! (Click on the picture to enlarge).

This is the time of year when the Smoky Mountain Cafe kind of slows down a bit. I'm not burnt out or anything, quite the opposite...it's soccer season. Both of the homegirlz play and this season will be a bit more challenging. My oldest is in high school and my baby is in middle school so they are playing on different teams for the very first time. Every game is no closer than 30 minutes from our house. I work about 30 minutes from our house and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I will be making mad dashes from my office to my house and off to games in different directions. To places I never been to (for high school) and I am famous for getting lost in Knoxville.

I have to be honest, I dread this time of year. I'm just not a ball park Mom. I would rather go home and veg out, cook and veg out some more. I'm fine once I get to the ball park and I have to admit that I am especially proud of my Freshman. The high schools in the surrounding area had a Jamboree this past Saturday. Our team had two games and my girl started the in both games and played the entire time.

My baby is a "seasoned" Middle School player and a starter. So don't envy me in trying to figure out how I'll divide up watching their games.

Just wanted to let you know that if my posts start dwindling down a bit, evil soccer is the reason until mid-November.

Crispy Potatoes

You have to make these potatoes. You'll see by the pictures that it doesn't look like I cooked 2 lbs. of potatoes. The truth of the matter is the homegirlz were snatching and scarfing as fast as I cook could them. Their poor father, well he didn't get any and the girlz showed no remorse. So, when you make these, do it alone.

Crispy Potatoes -

Place 2 lbs. of peeled and quartered Yukon Gold potatoes, 1 cup white wine, 3 cups of water, 1 fresh thyme sprig, 1 bay leaf and coarse sea salt to taste in a 8 quart stock pot. Turn to high heat, and allow the potatoes to cook until just tender ( about 20 - 25 minutes).

Remove potatoes from water, allow to cool, and then cut into thin slices. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to a sauté pan on medium-high heat. Add potatoes and cook until outside is browned and crispy.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Mmmmmm, these are so crispy and flavorful, try them tonight with Tangerine Teriyaki Pork.Chops!

Mango Teriyaki Pork Chops

I really do like pork chops and I am amazed by the comments I've read on this blog when I put up a pork chop recipe that many of you do not regularly throw chops into your rotation. I guess I'm the odd one out. Chops are pretty affordable and also pretty lean and I'm going to try and share my love of pork with you. One note here, I believe this will work with pork tenderloin and with baby back ribs.

Mango Teriyaki Pork Chops -


Rinse 4 to 5 center cut, boneless pork chops with cold water and pat dry with paper towels and set aside.

In a shallow pan, combine 1 cup of mango juice or mango nectar juice and 1 teaspoon ground ginger.

Add 3/4 cup teriyaki sauce. Pour marinade mixture over chops.

Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 hours.

Set up grill for indirect cooking over medium heat (no heat source directly under ribs). Remove chops from refrigerator and allow chops to come up to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Remove chops from marinade mixture, but do not discard marinade. Place pork chops on the grill. Cover grill. Rotate and flip chops around rack every 10 minutes.

While chops are cooking, make sauce by first adding chop marinade to a saucepan. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add 1 cup 1 cup of BBQ sauce (recommended K.C. Masterpiece Original). Simmer 10 minutes and remove from heat.

About 20 minutes before chops are done, generously brush with sauce. Cover and cook 10 minutes. Turn chops and brush on more sauce and repeat. Cook an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot with sauce on the side.

INDOOR: Prepare and marinate chops as described above. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove chops from marinade, reserving marinade, and place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Tightly cover with foil. Bake preheated oven for 35 minutes. While chops are baking, make sauce. Remove chops from oven and carefully drain fat from roasting pan. Continue baking ribs, uncovered for 20 minutes more or until tender, turning and brushing occasionally with sauce.

When I went outside to brush the chops with the sauce, our dog Scout was foaming at the mouth. She seriously was. I spooned a little of the sauce over her food and she went absolutely nuts! That all the testimony I need!


Serve and admit that your really do love pork.

Grilled Chicken with Sweet Onions

When I'm cooking for the picky homegirlz, I can always pass off chicken of some sort. They are starting to get wise to my ways when they ask what's for dinner and I tell them chicken, they says, "Ok, Mom, how are you cooking it this time?" I kind of get real vague and tell them I'm grilling, baking or roasting and for now that's the story I'm sticking to. Chicken is so mellow and so versatile that I can play around with different flavors. I came up with this and it was so good. C'mon, I'll show you.

Grilled Chicken with Sweet Onions -

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped fine, 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped fine, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt, 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper and 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil.

Slather 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts with the herb mixture on both sides and let them sit for a while so the flavor can permeate the chicken.

While the chicken is hanging out, slice two yellow onions.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and add onions once skillet is hot. Add about 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt and 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper to the onions and combine.

Add 1-1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons orange marmalade to the onions and blend.

Add about 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and another pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper to the onions, cover and lower heat to medium-low and let the onions cook down and get sweet.

Heat a grill pan (or you can use the outdoor grill) to medium-high, coat the grill pan with a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking. Once grill pan is heated, add chicken. Let the chicken cook for about 5 minutes before turning.

Continue cooking chicken until cooked completely through and golden brown. Check on the onions and stir occasionally. You will notice the onions are cooking down and becoming slightly thick with a syrup. Added bonus - heavenly aroma!

Plate the chicken and garish with chopped flat leaf parsley.

Serve the chicken with a heaping spoonful of he sweet onions. The combination of the sweet and savory will make you feel like there's a party going on in your mouth.

It's Wednesday...it's August and very hot...time to shake things up a bit!