Lemon Orzo Salad

• 1 lb. whole wheat orzo 
• 2/3 cup Panera® Mediterranean Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries 
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds 
• 1 tbsp. lemon zest 
• 3/4 cup feta, crumbled 
• 3 cups mixed greens (like arugula, baby kale and baby spinach) 
• to taste salt and black pepper
• Instructions:

1. Cook pasta to al dente, drain and rinse 
2. Mix everything together 

My Notes:

• Use half the pasta called for
• Instead of the fancy (and I'm sure delicious) dressing, I just juiced the lemon and mixed it with cheap-o Aldi Italian dressing. It's really good!
• My greens are all spinach
• Would be better thoroughly chilled with the greens added just before serving.

Source:

https://www.paneraathome.com/meal-ideas/types/salads/lemon-orzo-salad

Crock Pot Breakfast Bake

This is a perfect method for Sunday brunch!

Cooking spray, for slow cooker
12 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. finely chopped chives
salt
pepper
2 c. shredded Cheddar
1 lb. baby potatoes, thinly sliced 1/8" thick
10 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
1/2 c. thinly sliced red onion
1 c. chopped red bell pepper
Chopped parsley, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

• Whisk together eggs, milk, and chives; season with salt and pepper. Stir in cheese.
• Lightly grease a 5- or 6-quart crock pot. Layer half the potatoes, bacon, red onion, and red peppers, then the rest of the potatoes. Pour in the egg mixture.
• Cover and cook on low for 4 to 4 1/2 hours. Garnish with parsley.

My Notes:

• I cut the potatoes and onion pretty thin with my Pampered Chef mandoline - quick, easy and consistent.
• I was concerned that both chives and onion would be overwhelming, but it was fine.
• Used pre-cooked bacon pieces from Costco.
• Just used regular potatoes that I had around.
• I  was a little afraid that all the potatoes would clump together so I did more layering - one layer of potatoes, a little onion/bacon/peppers, repeat.
• It would be very easy to change out the breakfast meat and seasonings.
• I did the egg/cheese prep the night before and just put it together on Sunday morning.  It was done and perfect in time for after-Mass brunch.  
• Source

Sheetpan Italian Chicken

Fast, easy, and everyone liked.  The chicken made great leftovers.  Veggies are somewhat flexible; I added some cherry tomatoes that were getting wrinkly.  Based on this recipe.

Marinade:

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme 
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 
• 3 cloves crushed garlic 
• 3 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 

• 8 (4 oz each) boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt 
• 12 ounces zucchini, diced into 1-inch pieces 
• 3 carrots, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces 
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces 
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces 
• 1 sweet onion, cut into 1-inch pieces 

DIRECTIONS:  Spray 2 large nonstick sheetpans or use parchment or foil.  Combine themarinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add the chicken and all veggies to the bowl and toss well to coat. Marinate 30 minutes or as long as overnight.

Preheat oven to 450F degrees.  Arrange everything in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheets. The vegetables and chicken should not touch (to avoid steaming the veggies). Bake about 20 minutes, turn chicken and vegetables and bake an additional 10 minutes, until roasted and tender. Top with fresh parsley and serve with rice (homemade rice-a-roni was a good choice).

Maple Ginger Salmon

1/4c maple syrup - best grade available
2Tb soy sauce
2tsp fresh ginger minced
2tsp fresh garlic minced
4 green onions divided
1 lb salmon
pepper

• Preheat oven to 400
• In a 9×13 baking dish, lightly pepper the salmon on both sides. If using low sodium soy sauce, salt the salmon to taste.
• In a non-reactive bowl or measuring cup, combine the first four ingredients and the thinly sliced green onions
• Pour the mixture over the salmon and let marinate for 20min. You may marinate for up to 30min.
• Bake salmon at 400 for 20min

NOTES: 

• I've made this the past two years for Wigilia.  It's delicious and easy.
• Garnish with a sprig of herb like thyme or rosemary.  The visual effect is totally worth the $$ you're going to pay to get fresh herbs in the middle of winter, even if that part gets thrown away before eating.  It's just pretty.  I'll add a photo someday when I find it.  Until then, just take my word for it.  ;-)
• Do not make one piece per person for Wigilia.  Lots of us ended up having only half when there is so much other food to consume.
• Source

Mouth Watering Stuffed Mushrooms

• 12 whole fresh mushrooms 
  
• 1tablespoon vegetable oil 
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel. Carefully break off stems. Chop stems extremely fine, discarding tough end of stems.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and chopped mushroom stems to the skillet. Fry until any moisture has disappeared, taking care not to burn garlic. Set aside to cool.

When garlic and mushroom mixture is no longer hot, stir in cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Mixture should be very thick. Using a little spoon, fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of stuffing. Arrange the mushroom caps on prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the mushrooms are piping hot and liquid starts to form under caps.

NOTES:

• We've had these the past two years for Wigilia.  Tradition?
• Costco's mushrooms are especially nice.
• Source

Sweet and Sour Glazed Pork Chops

4 (8-ounce) pork chops, bone-in, 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

FOR THE SWEET AND SOUR GLAZE
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Season pork chops with salt and pepper, to taste.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add pork chops and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
Place into oven and roast until completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 140 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes.*
To make the sweet and sour glaze, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over medium heat; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Serve pork chops immediately with sweet and sour glaze.

NOTES:

• I skipped the red pepper flakes and poured the glaze over both sides of the chops while still in the pan.  
• The method was very easy. Results were good.

Source

Instant Pot Pork Roast

2 1/2 pounds pork loin roast

kosher salt or sea salt , to taste
fresh cracked black pepper , to taste
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 medium onion , diced
4 cloves garlic , minced
1/2 cup broth
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon coarse mustard
2 teaspoons herbs of choice- dried or fresh (rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme etc…)
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1/4 cup water

Season pork with salt and pepper. Turn Instant Pot on "Sauté”, and add butter and melt. Add the pork loin and sear the sides of the pork loin to a nice golden brown.  Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the broth, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, and herbs.
Close the lid, set to high pressure, and after the pressure cooker reaches full pressure,  cook for 15-30 minutes *depending on size & preferred doneness. 

After the cooking time is complete, press "Cancel" and carefully release the pressure. If possible, check the internal temperature of the pork loin (it should be about 145°F).
Remove the pork loin from the Instant Pot (keep the juices the Instant Pot), cover and allow the pork loin to rest for about 10 minutes, depending on how large your loin roast is and how well done you like it.
Mix together the cornstarch and water. Add to the Instant Pot with the juices. Turn Instant Pot on "Sauté” and simmer until thickened. Taste seasoning and add additional salt and pepper if desired.

NOTES:

• Source
• I omitted the celery and carrots from the original recipe.
• I started with a Costco pork roast (4 pack, about 2.5 lbs each).  
• Be sure to sear well all around.  It holds in juices and adds lots of flavor.
• The herbs were delicious and I'll definitely do this again.  
• The only change I'd make is to cut the roast into 2 pieces so it's a uniform thickness.  Mine was thinner on one end and I ended up restarting the instant pot 3 times to get it to an internal temperature of 145 in the thickest part.