Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork

 Crockpot meals are some of my favorite meals! Prep them early in the day, and have minimal cooking and cleanup at dinnertime! Total win!!

I've been making this for many years now, and I have used many different cuts of meat. They, for the most part, all work just fine. However, cook time can play a factor for some. With this particular cut of meat, the pork tenderloin, it makes for a quicker cook! Not to mention, the fall apart tenderness. Soooo good!

There are so many different ways to eat your pulled pork. The most popular, in our household at least, is a BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. It's our go-to. But, you can make up some nachos, top a baked potato, or eat it as-is!

WHAT YOU NEED:

• pork tenderloin
• BBQ sauce
• apple cider vinegar **helps break down your meat and tenderize it
• worcestershire sauce
• brown sugar
• chili powder
• paprika
• garlic powder
• red pepper flakes - optional

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT BBQ PULLED PORK

1. Rinse your pork loin off, pat dry and place in bottom of slow cooker.
2. In medium sized bowl, combine your apple cider vinegar, BBQ sauce and worcestershire sauce. Set aside.
3. Combine brown sugar and spices in small bowl, then pour into sauce mixture.
4. Stir and mix it all together then pour slowly over meat.
5. Cover and cook on high heat for 4-6 hours.
6. Shred meat with forks or tongs and combine with sauce. Serve immediately.
7. Enjoy!

Meatball Pasta Bake

 Massive pasta fan here!! Who else?!? This was a quick and easy dinner you can make any day of the week!!

I adapted this recipe from Damn Delicious' Meatball Baked Ziti. I just happen to come across some gorgeous pre-made spicy meatballs from my grocery's butcher section. I decided then and there that I wanted to do a pasta bake, and this is what I came up with! I usually make my own meatballs, and that will be a future post 😉, but these pre-made meatballs looked so yummy, I had to try them! And hey, sometimes a busy mama can use all the help she can get!!

WHAT YOU NEED

• meatballs (store bought, frozen(thawed) or homemade!)
• dry pasta (whatever you have in your pantry - I used penne)
• marinara sauce (I used jarred, but sub in your favorite homemade!)
• onion - chopped
• garlic - minced
• olive oil
• dry red wine
• fresh parsley - chopped
• fresh mozzarella - sliced

HOW TO MAKE MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

1. Preheat your oven and spray your baking dish. I use a canola oil spray, vegetable oil spray or olive oil spray would work here as well. Or you could just lightly oil it and spread it if you are out of spray.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add in some salt. A nice pinch. Add in your pasta and cook by instructions to al dente. Drain and set aside.

3. In your large skillet with heated olive oil, brown your meatballs on all sides. This can take a few minutes or longer, depending on your stovetop and heat level. I start at medium high, but end up at low medium by the second batch. (The joys of having an electric cooker 😅)

4. Remove your meatballs and set aside. I put them on some paper towels to soak up the excess oil.

5. Add your chopped onion to the skillet over medium heat. Sauté those up until they are soft and getting some gorgeous color on the edges. Add your minced garlic to the pan and sauté those for only about 30 seconds to a minute. They will get nice and fragrant for you. That's when they are done.

6. Deglaze your pan with the wine. Make sure to scrape up all the little bits on the bottom of the pan! Those yummy bits = FLAVOR. 

7. Add your marinara to the pan. Mix it all together really well. Let it come to a boil, then add your meatballs back in. Reduce the heat down to a simmer and let that go for about 5 minutes or so. It lets the flavors meld and come together.

8. Now drop your al dente pasta and chopped parsley into the pan. Mix and combine all ingredients. Add to your prepared baking dish and top with your sliced mozzarella. Fresh mozzarella makes a massive difference, but if you don't have any, shredded will work! 👍

9. Bake in your preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Your cheese should be completely melted and the sauce and cheese will start to bubble on the edges. Let it set for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

10. Enjoy!!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Bread

 How many times have you had a few ripened bananas laying around and needed to make something or they were going in the garbage?? A few? Or is that just me? 

I decided to try Valentina's Corner's Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Bread recipe, and boy am I glad I did! It was absolutely delicious!! I did alter the recipe, but it was a great base to start from! You can find her recipe HERE.

I followed the recipe for the most part, but I did change a few things. I used 3 bananas instead of the 2 the original recipe called for. I also doubled the vanilla amount (massive vanilla fan here!!), and added in 2 tablespoons of brewed coffee(cold). Coffee is such an amazing thing to add to chocolate recipes! It really helps enhance the chocolate flavor! I also used an 8.5"x4.5" pan. (You can read all about different loaf pan sizes at The Simply Recipes site HERE) It turned out perfectly!

WHAT YOU NEED

• butter
• sugar
• ripened bananas
• vanilla
• canola oil
• sour cream
• peanut butter
• eggs
• cold brewed coffee
• baking soda
• baking powder
• flour
• cocoa powder
• chocolate chips
• parchment paper
• cooking spray
• bread pan

HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD

1. Preheat oven and line bread pan with parchment paper and lightly spray and coat with flour.

2. Mix dry ingredients in medium size bowl. Set aside.

3. Cream sugar and butter together in large mixing bowl.

4. Mix in mashed bananas, vanilla, cold coffee, oil, sour cream and peanut butter. Add eggs one at a time until combined. 

5.  Add in half of dry ingredients, mix well. Then add in other half and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips

6.  Pour 2/3 of batter into pan. Drop small spoonfuls of peanut butter onto batter. Top with remaining batter. Sprinkle top with extra chocolate chips.

7. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick pulls out of center clean.

                                       

Sweet and Spicy Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich

 Is there anything better than a grilled cheese sandwich? Crispy, crunch, ooey, gooey, salty perfection. 😋

A grilled cheese sandwich is an amazing base to create a variety of different sandwiches! The possibilities are endless!

Today I'm sharing my Sweet and Spicy Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich. 

It is one that you can customize your heat level. Omit the jalapenos, use mozzarella or colby jack cheese in place of the pepper jack. Pick a hot pepper jelly, or a mild. Go for a nice sourdough bread instead of the jalapeno cheese bread. Or, take it up a notch with fresh jalapenos - sautéed or raw! 

WHAT YOU NEED

• jalapeno cheese bread
• cream cheese
• jalapeno pepper jelly
• sliced jalapenos (jarred) optional
• bacon, cooked
• pepper jack cheese, sliced
• butter
• cooking spray

I know there is a massive debate on butter or mayo for your grilled cheese. I am team butter. I have tried mayo and it is not my thing lol. If you are team mayo, go for it! That's what's amazing about cooking.. you can eat what you love, cook what you love with what you love!

HOW TO MAKE A SWEET AND SPICY JALAPENO POPPER GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH

I know it seems slightly silly to give out directions for a sandwich, but a grilled cheese can be incredibly temperamental. And, your results likely will be affected by your type of stove(gas or electric), your pan, your spatula, and so on. I, for example, have an electric cooktop, and I constantly have to adjust my heat, pull my pan plus use cooking spray(yes, even with a nonstick pan) to help me get the perfect grilled cheese. It takes practice and learning your tools and equipment.

1. Heat pan over med/low heat. This depends on your cooktop/stovetop. You have to find your sweetspot. Once heated, coat bottom of pan with cooking spray. I use Canola oil spray, but olive vegetable will work here.
2. Liberally spread butter over outside of bread. I have found that pre-buttering my bread slices helps me tremendously! I find it way easier than trying to butter once the sandwich is formed. I just keep everything on a cutting board for easy clean up.
3. Spread one piece of bread with cream cheese. There is no real measurement here, just your personal preference. Then a layer of pepper jelly. Same as cream cheese.. this is a personal preference of amount. Don't leave this ingredient out! This is where the "sweet" comes from! Add sliced jalapenos, if desired. Top with bacon (I use 2 slices per sandwich, but there are no rules here 😁) and pepper jack cheese.
4. Place second piece of bread on top.
5. Place sandwich in heated pan and cook until cheese is melted and bread has golden crust. Babysit your sandwich. A grilled cheese cannot be left alone! Flip and repeat.
6. Remove from heat, be careful as sandwich will be hot.
7. Enjoy! I like to pair with some spicy jalapeno kettle cooked chips, but would be great with a bowl of soup!

Welcome to my kitchen!

 Hey everyone!! 

I'm so excited! haha!! I've had this idea in my mind for awhile now. I've always, always loved to cook and bake! It's something that makes me happy! So to finally go forward with a blog... a space for me and my food... is just so exciting! And fulfilling! 

I can't wait to share all of our family favorites! Our most loved meals and desserts, sandwiches and snacks!! I do a lot of recipes from Pinterest/Instagram/Google searches, as well as cookbooks. Many of them I keep as is, because they are THAT yummy! Others, I have adapted and created my own over time! And some things I've come up with myself!

So, THANK YOU in advance for your patience in this process, as well as, your love and support!!

Now... let's get to Mixin' and Fixin'!!! 😀