Something Light and Yummy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I know I sure did. Spent time with family, and way too much food.  

Now that we are getting back into the swing of things, I wanted to make something for dinner that was not only light but healthy too.  This is what I came up with!

I'm not sure what to call it (I'd love your help!), but I can tell you one thing, it sure was good.  It was exactly what I was looking for.

Here is the recipe for you:

Garlic Pork with Tomato and Basil

I love fall! The air is getting crisper, the leaves are turning beautiful colors and it's also harvest time.

Some of you may have planted a garden this spring and this recipe is great to use some of those home grown vegetables in.

Now, I didn't plant a garden myself, but I do have some basil growing and my parents planted tomatoes and have them practically growing out their ears and were all too happy to give me a few. If you didn't plant a garden, don't fret! You can still make this recipe from getting the fresh produce at your grocery store, or even better yet, at your local farmer's market.

Tried And True

There is something to be said about the cookware of yesterday.  I'm not sure if they just made things better back then, or manufacturers are cutting corners and not making a lasting product anymore.  Whichever the case, I have decided that when it comes to getting new cookware for my home, I'm going to either check antique stores or turn to one of my older family members.

Just yesterday I was making dinner for my family in a dutch oven, I was making my fancy shepherd's pie (recipe follows), and I decided to use the new one from Pampered Chief that my mother gave me a few years back.  I was browning the meat when all of a sudden... POP! It had cracked along the entire bottom.  My yummy brown bits... you know, the ones that form on the bottom of the pan when you are browning meat... were escaping into the flame of the burner.  Quickly I reached for the dutch oven that my grandmother had given me, which she had used for years.  I finished browning the meat, sweating the vegetables and even had it in the oven for 2 hours without a single pop.  This makes me wonder what's the difference between the new one and the old?

Cooking Challenge?

I love to cook and I try to make a homemade dinner every night, but I'm always trying to learn more.  Recently I saw the move Julie & Julia again and that got me thinking.  Could I be like Julie Powell and cook all the recipes in a cook book?  Most importantly is could I MASTER the recipes and even make them my own?

Quick Tip Tuesday's

Never know when your oil is good and hot when you're cooking?  Place a popcorn kernel in the oil and when the oils is hot enough, the kernel will pop!  Just remove the kernel (careful, it's HOT) and cook!  Have a great Tuesday :)

The Come Back of the Sack Lunch

Do you remember the days when you could buy lunch at school for a buck fifty?  Seems like today there's not much you can get with a buck fifty.  Just like everything else, lunch has gone up in price and down in quality.  This is why I insist on making lunch for both my husband and daughter.  This way I know where their lunch is coming from, but also it just tastes better for them as well.