Fixin's From Our Kitchen - Recipes

Alas, we can't live on sweets alone...so this page will be dedicated to the savoury side of our kitchen.  If you've got a favourite recipe and want to share it - feel free to do so!  The more the merrier - unless your recipes suck - then less is more (if you know what I mean!).

 

Sweet and Sour Crockpot Shredded Pork

Crockpots are a saving grace in this house when planning ahead.  You do a few prep steps, walk away for hours - and presto - you have a meal!  I am posting this now as our local Sobey's has this pork (boneless shoulder blade roast) on for 2.99 a pound!  Look for up to a 4 pound roast.  My girlfriend stopped by while this was crockin' yesterday and kept opening the lid to smell it...and asked for the recipe (here it is AR!).  My kids raved about it as we had it for dinner - Peach says "mouth-watering", Pickle says "heavenly", and Coconut says it was "awesome".  The requests are in to make it again (which I take as a good sign...satisfied kids means less complaining!)!  So I thought hmmmm...let's post it!  I took a base recipe and modified it to our family's tastes.  So if you want to get creative - you have my blessing! 

 

This pic is U-G-L-Y - I know!  It's the almost empty bowl of our dinner...but it tastes WAY better than it looks!  This bowl WAS filled to the brim - if that's any indication of the deliciousness that awaits.

 

 

 

2-4lb Pork Roast (obvious fat trimmed!)

3 Garlic Cloves

Salt, Pepper and Garlic Powder

1/3 cup of Sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup white vinegar

4 tbsp soya sauce

4 tbsp ketchup

1 can of crushed pineapple (juice and all)

1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1-2 tbsp cornstarch and water

 

1) Heat a cast iron skillet (or any other browning skillet) on med-high with a splash of oil.  crush the garlic cloves and throw them in.  sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic powder all over the meat to taste.  Brown each side (about 2 minutes per side) then remove and place in crockpot.

 

2)  Mix all other ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to boil.  Pour over meat in crockpot.

 

3)  Set on low for 4-6 hours.  Remove meat and crank sauce to HIGH on crockpot.

4)  Mix cold water and cornstarch.  Slowly pour enough into sauce and whisk to thicken to your liking.  How much you add depends on how thick you like the sauce.

 

5)  Serve with rice or whole wheat egg noodles...and a nice cabbage salad on the side.

 

Notes:  I make it the day before, refrigerate it, then scrape off any fat that has congealed over the top.  You can skip this step and eat it the same day you make it - but it is a really easy way to remove some of the fat if you plan ahead.  I shredded it after reheating, and removed any other clumps of fat that I could find.  Hubby thinks this removes valuable 'flavour' - I ignore that comment and look after his heart.

 

Fresh Ontario carrots and red peppers would meld well with the flavours - if you want to boost your veg intake.

 

Enjoy.  Enjoy.  Enjoy.  Have a ready supply of napkins...consider yourself warned!

 

 



Sloppy Joe Two Ways

 

 

 If you're human - when you think of Sloppy Joes - you can't help but reminisce of childhood.  White Wonder buns laden with sweet meat, greasy orange fingers and blobs of sauce ruining your favourite unicorn t-shirt (you know the one I'm talking about!).  While they are good - they're not good for you.  So I have included two recipes - a delicious version that drags you back to teased bangs and stirrup pants - while staying true to it's greasy roots.  And then, a grown-up version of  dear Joey....healthier and less...sloppy!!

 

 

Greasy-Sloppy-Drippy-Heart-Stopping-Yet-Delicious-Joes

 

2lbs Regular Ground Beef

1 Onion - Diced

1 Green Pepper - Diced

1 Rib of Celery - Diced

1 tsp Garlic Powder

2 tsp Yellow Mustard

1 1/2 cups of Ketchup (only Heinz)

6 tsps. Brown Sugar

 

1.  Brown meat with onions, pepper and celery. DRAIN! (Don't skip this step unless you're tight with a heart surgeon!)

 

2.  Stir in all other ingredients, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

 

3.  Spoon over a white bun which is devoid of any nutritional value - but is incredibly soft and absolutely delicious!  Add shredded cheese and a slice of pickle - and your life is good.  Truly - if you're slamming back one of these babies - you have no right to complain about anything.  So what your neighbour plays drums at 2am - YOU are eating a Sloppy Joe.

 

Tidy-Joe (AKA: Non-Heart-Stopping-Sloppy-Joe)

 

2lbs Lean Ground Beef or Ground Turkey

 **or 1lb Ground Meat and 1lb worth of TVP to really cut back on fat!

1 Onion - Diced

2 Red or Green Peppers - Diced

1 Rib of Celery - Diced

2 Carrots - Shredded

3 Cloves of Garlic - Minced

1 tsp Garlic Powder

2 tsp Yellow Mustard

1 cup Ketchup (you need the flavour that only Heinz can provide)

1/2 cup Tomato Sauce

6 tsp Molasses

 

1.  Same instructions as above.

2.  Serve on a multi-grain bun or pita OR live a little on the edge and serve it up on a pretzel bun!