Caramel Apple Pork Chops

I found this one on allrecipes.com, but I followed one of the comments that used some shortcuts to make it much easier since I didn't have much time before dinner -- story of my life. :) Although, I must say next time I'd like to try the original recipe, the shortcut was really good but much too sweet for Jeremy & my tastes but it got rave reviews from the girls nonetheless. I'll post both recipes, but again, I haven't tried the original one, only the short cut.

Caramel Apple Pork Chops- Shortcut

4 (3/4 inch thick) Pork Chops
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
salt & pepper to taste
1 can of Apple Pie filling
3 Tbsp. pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Brush chops lightly with oil, season with salt & pepper and place in hot pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, or until done.
3. Transfer to a 9x13 pan and cover with apple pie filling. Cover with tin foil. Cook for 20-25 minutes.
4. Remove foil & sprinkle brown sugar and chopped pecans over it. Cook for 15 minutes to caramelize.
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Caramel Apple Pork Chops- Original

4 (3/4 inch thick) Pork Chops
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
salt & pepper to taste
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 Tart apples (Granny Smith would be great) peeled, cored & sliced
3 Tbsp. pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Place a medium dish in the oven to warm.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush chops lightly with oil and place in hot pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, or until done. Transfer to the warm dish, and keep warm in the preheated oven.
3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt and pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add butter to skillet, and stir in brown sugar mixture and apples. Cover and cook until apples are just tender. Remove apples with a slotted spoon and arrange on top of chops. Keep warm in the preheated oven.
4. Continue cooking sauce uncovered in skillet, until thickened slightly. Spoon sauce over apples and chops. Sprinkle with pecans.

Banana Bread

I found this recipe years ago and it quickly became a favorite around our house. The bread comes out so soft and moist. Enjoy!

Banana Bread

5 Tbs. butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups mashed, very ripe bananas
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. backing soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray bottom only of 9x5x3 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Beat butter in large bowl with an electric mixer set at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat well. Add egg, egg whites & vanilla; beat until well blended. Add mashed banana, and beat on high speed 30 seconds.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, salt & baking powder in medium bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with cream, ending with flour mixture. Add walnuts to batter; mix well.
4. Pour batter evenly into prepared loaf pan. Bake until browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
5. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Slice and serve with butter and jam.

30 Minute Rolls

I'm always on the look out for quick and easy recipes but still TASTY!! :) I am a huge fan of homemade rolls but I always lack the patience to make the dough, let it rise, punch, rise...etc. I just hate that! So when I found this recipe I had to try it and guess what!? It really is fast, easy and tasty! They are really good rolls. I found the recipe here, at The Sisters' Cafe, I love their blog they always have some really yummy recipes :)

30-Minute Rolls

1 1/8 cups plus 2 tsp. warm water

1/3 cup oil

2 Tb yeast

1/4 cup sugar or honey

½ tsp. Salt

1 egg

3 ½ cups flour

Mix 1st 4 ingredients and let rest for 15 minutes. Add salt and eggs - gradually add flour. Shape into dinner rolls, or use in your favorite recipe that calls for dough. After shaped, let rest for 10 minutes. For rolls, Bake 10 minutes @400 degrees ‘till golden brown.

Scalloped Potato's

There are so many different versions of scalloped potato's out there but this is one of my favorites, of course a lot of that favoritism comes from this recipe being my mom's :) And fall is the best time to make this dish! My hometown is in full swing of potato harvest! Best potato's ever!

Scalloped Potato's with Ham

4 medium Russet potatoes, sliced
1 can Cream of Chicken
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 small onion
1 cup cubed ham

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a large casserole dish with 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter. If you use a casserole dish that is about 9x13 (bigger than the one shown) you'll have more surface area, more of the potatoes will brown, and the cooking time will be faster.

In blender combine cream of chicken, black pepper, milk and onion (I add the onion here because my kids are kind of picky about finding pieces). Layer the bottom of the casserole dish with 1/3 of the potato slices, then add a bit of ham over that layer and pour some of the mixture from blender and repeat. Layer of potato's, ham and mix. Top the casserole with the remaining potato slices. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for one hour. When done, the potatoes should be tender, but not mushy, and the liquid should be mostly absorbed. After an hour, remove from the oven, remove the foil, sprinkle on some shredded cheese.

Peanut Butter Bars

I love Peanut Butter Bars! But my absolute favorite ones were the ones from school. Crazy I know! But our school lunches were actually REALLY good! These aren't like the ones I remember but they were still really good. The disappeared fast around here! I found this recipe here.

Peanut Butter Bars

2 cups chunky style peanut butter
2 cups powder sugar
2 cups crushed graham crackers
1 stick + 1 Tablespoon melted butter
12 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips

Melt butter and mix with the first three ingredients.
Spread mixture into 13×9 pan.
Melt chocolate chips and spread on top.
Refrigerate for exactly 1/2 hour and cut into small sized bars (they are rich).
Keep refrigerated until you are ready to enjoy!

Hawaiian Casserole

This was one of my Mother-in-law's recipes, it was one of Jeremy's favorite dishes growing up. So of course I had to learn how to make it ;) It is so easy and yummy! The only thing I have a big problem with is the name... I know that sounds funny but really. Jeremy & his mom have always called it a "casserole" and to me it just doesn't fit! But I don't know what else to call it so I guess the name stays ;)

Hawaiian Casserole

1 lb. Ground Beef
- Seasonings
Salt, Celery Salt, Garlic Salt
1 can of Pineapple Tidbits
1 can of Stewed Tomato's
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup White Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Corn Starch
1 Tbsp. Soy Sauce

While beef is browning season with the salt, celery salt and garlic salt (there are no measurements to the seasonings it's just eyeballing it to taste). Mix your brown sugar, vinegar, cornstarch and soy sauce in a separate bowl, set aside. When meat is browned add the stewed tomato's & pineapple with juice. Then your contents of the bowl you set aside over everything in pan. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.

Cream of Celery Chicken & Rice

This is one of my family's favorite recipes. My mom used to make it for us, it never lasted for long! :)

Cream of Celery Chicken & Rice

3 skinless boneless chicken breasts, uncooked & cubed
1 1/4 cup rice
1 cube of butter
1 envelope of Onion Soup Mix
1 can of Cream of Celery
2 1/2 cups of water

Melt the butter and mix with Cream of Celery & Onion Soup Mix. Then add rice and water and stir gently in a 13x9 pan. Add cubed chicken. Cover with tin foil and place in pre-heated oven at 350 degrees and cook for about 1 hour or until rice is thoroughly cooked. I like to remove the tin foil and leave in the oven for about another 10 minutes to let it dry out just a bit more.