The Variable Feast!

Two days off!

Since my wife was off yesterday and the car couldn't go back to the shop because it was pouring, I actually got a chance to cook yesterday before work! I did my first "stir-fry" ever.

I had bought a wok a month or so back with the intent of learning how after reading a recipe that Boo had put up, along with being intrigued by learning that "style" of cuisine. For my first I cheated, though; it was a Bird's Eye brand "Broccoli and Beef" stir fry I had sampled at Costco and really liked. My better half thought it was OK but not something she'd want often...

Today's dinner was supposed to be a new pork chop recipe I found during the week (I have Yahoo Recipes and Epicurious on my Yahoo start page). (Cut and paste, sorry!)

Ingredients
Qty. Measurement Description

1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 rosemary sprig, chopped or
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper

6 center cut pork loin chops

Cook:15 minutes (cooking time)

Preparation

Mix the oil, vinegar, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper, and brush on the pork chops. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Preheat the grill.
Grill the chops for 5 to 8 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness. Let the chops rest on a plate for 1 or 2 minutes before serving.

Sounded simple and easy, like my "go to" Italian marinade I've shared before. I think this would work on chicken as well, and probably veggies and mushrooms, too, just like the Italian marinade.

Sadly, I dug through both freezers last night at 4 am and couldn't come up with any chops, and I'm supposed to be thinning down the stuff in the freezer for the next few weeks (it has been rather hard to find a place to put things lately), so tonight will be "country style pork" with "the family rub" recipe I shared before and probably some carmelized onions and a salad.

I sat up last night digging through cookbooks and found a honey chicken stir fry I was going to try for Sunday. When she called home at noon I was told to call our oldest and see if he and his wife would like to come for dinner tomorrow on his "real" birthday, so I'm glad I hadn't taken the chicken out to thaw yet!

I will say, I was never a fan of broccoli until yesterday! Dad being a meatcutter, we grew up on "meat and potatoes" and vegetables were only something you ate to get "to the good stuff". Mom's idea of salad dressing was cooking oil and vinegar, so until I went in the Navy I never had a real "knockout" chef's salad. (The mess hall at Cubi Point air base, in the Philippines, December 1973...3 kinds of lettuce, two kinds of cheese, diced ham...I can still "taste" it!)

My wife is telling me how "my taste buds" have changed since I've lost all this weight, and perhaps that is a bit of it, but learning how to fix things "the right way" probably has a lot to do with it!

I used to feel sorry for Grandpa Fritz, because in trying to cook healthily after he had his stroke, Grandma boiled everything. She cooked lots of chicken, but it was always boiled. Hers was the only house I ever tried Brussels Sprouts or cauliflower at, and haven't tried them since. My team leader has convinced me to try grilling them, and also cauliflower so before the summer is out, I'll give them another try!

Off to make a phone call and figure out what I'm fixing tomorrow! I'm betting it's steaks and portabellas on the grill if he says they'll come (he gets to pick). He already told Dottie he wants an apple pie instead of a cake (her specialty, I use canned filling so far anyway).

:o)

alan