Crock Pot Ribs

With baseball practice, church, and miscellaneous events, life is busy these days. So any time I can throw something in the crock pot and not have to worry about it too much is a win. I've made these ribs from Mmm... is for Mommy a couple times, and tonight I'm making them again. Aaron and the kids are big ribs fans, and they all loved these. They're easy, and they have a nice glaze/crust on the outside and they're fall-right-off-the-bone tender.

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 tbsp sweet paprika
• 1 tbsp light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• S&P to taste (about 1 tsp each is what I used)
• 2 lbs pork baby back ribs (leave the membrane on the ribs to help hold them together)
• 1 cup barbecue sauce

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, mix together paprika, brown sugar, cayenne and S&P.  Rub this mixture all over both sides of your ribs well.  Arrange ribs in the slow cooker by standing them up against the wall of the stoneware pot, thicker side down and meaty side against the pot. Pour barbecue sauce over the ribs, cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low (I did 7 hours and they were perfect).

Once the initial slow cooking is done, very carefully (as they are tennnnderrrrr) remove the ribs to a baking pan which you have lined with foil and put a rack on, bone side up and set aside. Skim any fat that has risen to the top and strain all of the remaining juices from the slow cooker through a mesh strainer into a small saucepan. Bring to boil and allow to simmer and reduce by about a third, approximately 15 minutes.  Put your oven’s broiler on to preheat and make sure that there is an oven rack about 10 inches below the broiler element.  Once the broiler is preheated, brush the ribs with sauce and broil for 3 or 4 minutes. Take them out and very carefully flip them over, brush with sauce and broil again, meat side up, for approximately 9 minutes, taking them out once or twice to baste with more sauce. Serve any remaining sauce on the side with the ribs.

Salsa Verde Burgers

In our house, Aaron is the king of burgers. He makes such amazing hamburgers. He makes all kinds, and they are all delicious. So you can imagine the anxiety I felt when I had planned on burgers for dinner one night, and then he didn't have enough time to grill them for me. I pulled up a recipe that I'd pinned on Pinterest from SkinnyTaste, and decided to make burgers myself. I was terrified.

I was completely shocked and flattered, however, when Aaron raved and asked if I would make more, and said it was one of his favorite burgers he'd ever had. What?! This man takes his burgers very seriously, so it was a huge honor coming from his mouth.

And now, for the recipe!

Salsa Verde Burgers 
Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

• cooking spray
• pinch kosher salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 (93% lean) beef patties, 4.75 oz each
• 1/2 cup salsa verde, homemade or store bought
• 4 slices Sargento reduced fat pepper jack cheese
• 4 (100 calorie) whole wheat potato buns
• 1/4 cup shredded red cabbage (or lettuce)
• 4 ounces sliced avocado (from 1 medium haas)

Directions: 

Heat a skillet or grill over high heat. When hot, spray with oil and add the patties. Season with salt and pepper and cook a few minutes on each side, to your desired liking. Add the cheese and cover; cook to melt, about 30 seconds.

Servings: 4 • Size: 1 burger with the works • Old Points: 8 • Weight Watcher Points+: 10 pt
Calories: 407 • Fat: 17.5 g • Carb: 25 g • Fiber: 8 g • Protein: 42 g • Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 445 mg  • Cholest: 87 mg 

Pork Scaloppine with Mustard Pan Sauce

Cooking Light has done it again with another tasty, healthy, and easy dish!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound baby carrots, halved lengthwise $
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed, cut crosswise into 12 pieces, and pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
• 1 tablespoon canola oil, divided
• 1/4 cup minced shallots
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
• 1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)
• 2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream $
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

DIRECTIONS

1. 1. Sprinkle pork evenly with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon canola oil; swirl to coat. Add 6 cutlets; cook 2 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with 1 teaspoon canola oil and remaining pork.
2. 
   

2. Return skillet to medium-high heat. Add remaining 1 teaspoon canola oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add shallots and garlic to pan; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add stock and mustard; cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in sour cream; cook 1 minute. Serve pork with sauce. Sprinkle with parsley.

SERVINGS 4
Serving 3 oz. pork and 2 T. sauce | Calories 261 | Fat 10.9g | Protein 25.8g | Carbohydrates 13.9g

Ranch House Pork Chops

These Ranch House Pork Chops are a go-to recipe for me when I want something hearty, but don't have much time to cook. If you want the full recipe with the homemade mashed potatoes, go here, otherwise, here's my easier version.

INGREDIENTS 
6 Pork Chops (I like the thick ones)
1 packet Ranch dressing mix
1 can cream of chicken condensed soup

Simply Potatoes Garlic Mashed Potatoes 

DIRECTIONS 

1. Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low 4-6 hours. 
2.  Cook mashed potatoes according to package instructions.
3. Serve pork chops over mashed potatoes and pour sauce generously over the top.
4. Try not to laugh when your husband licks his plate clean.

Grilled Shrimp with Triple Lemon Butter

BUTTER
6 lemons (limes may also be substituted)
8 T. butter (1 stick), slightly softened
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. coarsely ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Set one lemon aside for step 2. Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemons until you have 1 cup. Place the lemon juice in small saucepan and boil until syrupy and reduced. Let cool.
2. Grate the zest from the reserved lemon and set zest aside. Using a small knife, cut off all the white pith to expose the yellow flesh of the lemon. Chop the lemon flesh, discarding the pits and the membranes.
3. Combine butter, lemon zest, chopped lemon, cooled lemon syrup, and salt and pepper in food processor and process until smooth.

Butter can be made in advance, covered, and kept refrigerated for a few days or frozen for a week. Bring to room temp before serving.

SHRIMP

20 extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

2 T. finely chopped fresh chives

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat grill to high.
2. Brush shrimp with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the shrimp until pink and opaque, and just cooked through. 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side. Remove the shrimp to platter and brush hot shrimp with lemon butter. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Kung Pao Chicken Tacos

INGREDIENTS
6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
3 T. low sodium soy sauce, divided
1/4 c. plus 1 1/2 t. cornstarch, divided
1/4 t. kosher salt
2 T. canola oil, divided
1 1/2 T. honey
1 T. sesame oil
2 t. rice vinegar
1 t. red curry paste
1 large garlic clove, minced
3 T. coarsely chopped honey roasted peanuts
1-2 stalks of celery, diagonally sliced
8 corn tortillas
1/3 c. green onions, sliced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
4 lime wedges

DIRECTIONS

1. Place chicken in a large zip top plastic bag. Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce to bag; seal. Marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Place 1/4 cup cornstarch in dish, and toss chicken to thoroughly coat. Shake off excess corn starch.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon canola oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add half of coated chicken; saute for 6 minutes or until done, turning to brown. Remove chicken from pan; drain on paper towels. Repeat the procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil and remaining chicken.
3. Combine remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, honey, and next 3 ingredients (through curry paste) in a microwave safe bowl, stiring with a whisk until smooth. Microwave on high for 30 seconds or until slightly thick, stirring twice. Stir in garlic. Combine soy sauce mixture, chicken, and peanuts; toss to coat chicken.
4. Warm/toast tortillas, then serve with chicken mixture and garnishing with celery, green onion, red bell pepper, and lime.

Suggested side: Asian Chopped Salad

Serves 4.
Calories 418 | Fat 19.1 g | Protein 25.2 g