Pork, Potatoes & Tomatoes

I guess, some days I just feel like making beans & weenies and some days I want to be adventurous and make things I've never tried before.  I found a new recipe on facebook for pork tenderloins and pinned one for mash-potatoe-cakes.  So I decided to try them both and add in some Parmesan tomatoes.  None of these were my own recipes, I copied straight from the original posters.... so here's the links & few things I've added or changed: 

Pork: 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152095376843179&set=oa.435060669935746&type=1&theater

I made the pork according to the directions - however, in the end I wanted more 'sauce'.  So I mixed in the cooking juices along with a blop of brown sugar and a good squirt of yellow mustard.  It was not as thick as I wanted it, but it was delicious way to top the pork!

Mashed Potato Cakes:

http://ideascute.net/cheesy-leftover-mashed-potato-pancakes.html

The ONLY thing I changed here was that I used panko bread crumbs to the mixture instead of some flour.  It gave it a good crunch and seemed to hold it together better.

Parmesan Tomatoes:

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/baked_parmesan_tomatoes.html

The one thing different I did with these is I don't bake them, as it says.... I just pop them under the broiler until they look crispy and done.  YUMMY!

Everything turned out wonderful and tasted delicious.... I just wish it wasn't all sort of, the same color.  I know you've heard me say it before.... my food may not always LOOK correct or great, but it tastes good.  LOL. 

Enjoy!

Camping: Breakfast Burritos

I've read many, many blogs.... posts.... pins about what to make when you go camping.  Lots of them were directions on how to make breakfast burritos.  Yum!  So I've combined what I liked most about each one and made them!  They were delicious!  

Make Ahead:

Brown 1 lb your favorite ground sausage (I added in 1 can of black beans at the end)

Make 1/2 bag of hasbrowns (season as desired)

Bake 18 scrambled eggs, add chives & seasons as desired

** Roll the burritos together and wrap in tin foil before you go **

Sausage

Hashbrowns

Eggs

Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

Once you're camping and it's time for breakfast, just throw them on the grill.

Ours got a bit black, but it added to the flavor.  

YUMM!!

I used a whole bag of cheese & made 7 burritos... I think, I'd use more cheese in the future, so it 'glues' everything else together a little better.  You cook, you learn.  

=)

ENJOY!

Smashed Potatoes

My family is definitely a meat-and-potatoes type family, so I'm always looking for new & yummy ways to make use of potatoes.  I also am quite addicted to Pinterest.  I pin, pin, pin, pin.... but I do actually try some of the recipes I find on there.  This one is for smashed red potatoes... or as this lady cook calls it "Crash Hot Potatoes".  I'll give you the link, there are many more pictures on her site than I took of my own potatoes, but the directions & ingredients are pretty much exact.

INGREDIENTS:
9 small red potatoes (or any small potato, I counted out about 3 per person)
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper (Kosher salt) 
Any herb you like, I used fresh Rosemary

DIRECTIONS:
1) Boil salted water in a large pot, then put in as many potatoes as you needed to cook.  Keep them in there until "fork-tender".  This part I found trickier than I had planned.... too hard potatoes and you'll be unable to smash without them flying across the kitchen (Dangerous!!) .... too soft potatoes and you'll end up with somewhat mashed potatoes and not the cute little potato-cookie-like things that the website suggest.

2) Generously oil the cookie sheet.  Not enough oil will make them stick... and again will end up with potatoes flying across the room.... so don't skimp!

3) Place the boiled potatoes on the sheet - spaced out adequately.  Now (tricky part) gently press down on them.  You may use a masher, glass-cup bottom (I found this makes them fly faster, so I stuck to the masher) or whatever else suites you.  Try to keep the peel intact on the bottom of the potato-cookie but the top open & smashed up.  So.... again, gently is the key word here!!

3) Next brush tops with more olive oil (or melted butter, this always adds flavor... and fat... and yumms).  Then salt with your big, chunky Kosher salt (potatoes tend to need quite a bit of salt, so no skimping here, either) and sprinkle pepper.  Then top with your herb(s) you've chosen.

4) Bake 20-25 minutes in an oven set at 450'.  That's it!!

Sorry - I don't have a better "After" picture... the potatoes are hidden behind my tomato basil chicken.  (Wonderful winged-it-recipe I will share with you when I have the time to write it all down)  But surely check out the original link, she's got more pictures and an absolutely YUM "After" picture!!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/

They turned out absolutely wonderful!!  They are flavorful.  They are soft & crunchy at the same time.  Even my oldest son complimented me on them.... normally I just get "mmm"s and grunts.  That's huge!!

Try them!! 

Let me know how you loved this yum!!