Braided Pork Loin, Mediterranean tomato bites, and twice baked potatoes

Three recipes, one dinner. I was really quite happy with the results of this dinner.


Braided Pork Loin


1 pork loin
1/2 c. Italian dressing
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp Worcestershire
(these are estimates as I just dump in what looks good to me)


Cut pork loin in half length wise (hot dog style). Then take one half and leaving about 1/2" at the top cut into thirds. You need to top connected so you can braid it. Braid and hold together at the bottom with a toothpick. Repeat with other half. Place in zip top bag along with other ingredients. Marinade for about an hour. Cook on grill on medium until done (I don't have a time on this. It didn't take all that long though)




Mediterranean tomato bites


1 pkg puff pastry
1 1/2 c. gouda cheese (6 oz)
6 plum tomatoes cut into 1/4" slices
1/4 c. pitted ripe olives, coarsly chopped
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
fresh basil finely chopped


Unfold puff pastry; cut each sheet into 16 squares. Transfer squares to greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with Gouda cheese; top with tomatoes, olives and feta cheese.
Bake at 400° for 14-18 minutes or until golden brown; sprinkle with herbs. Serve warm or at room temperature. Yield: 32 appetizers.


(I totally didn't make this many. I used one sheet at a time and only cut it into 9 squares and used baby beef tomatoes. Still really good and a wonderful side dish.)




Twice baked potatoes


4 medium baking potatoes
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sour cream
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
4 bacon strips cooked and crumbled
3-4 green onions chopped


Bake potatoes at 400° for 1 hour or until tender. Cool slightly. Reduce heat to 350°.
Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scoop out pulp, leaving a thin shell. In a large bowl, mash the pulp with butter. Stir in the sour cream, cheese, bacon and onions. Spoon or pipe into potato shells.
Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 8 servings.

Brown Sugar Cookies

Every time I make these delicious cookies, someone asks for the recipe. They are soft on the inside, crisp on the outside, and oh so good.

Brown Sugar Cookies

14 T butter
1/4 c sugar
2 c dark brown sugar
2 cups plus 2 T flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 T vanilla

Preheat oven to 350, making sure oven rack is in middle position.

Heat 10 T butter in a skillet over med-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue to cook, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown, 1 to 3 min. Remove from heat and transfer browned butter to a large heat proof mixing bowl. Stir remaining 4 T butter into hot butter to melt; set aside.

In shallow dish mix sugar and 1/4 c brown sugar, rubbing between fingers until well combined; set aside.

Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder together; set aside.

Add remaining 1 3/4 c brown sugar and salt to bowl with cooled butter. Mix until no sugar lumps remain. Add egg, yolk, and vanilla and mix until just combined. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Toss balls in sugar mixture to coat and set on baking sheet, covered with parchment paper, spacing about 2 inches apart (only 12 cookies per sheet).

Bake until browned and still puffy - when edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (they will look raw between cracks and seem underdone), 10-14 minutes. Do not overbake.

Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool.

Marshmallow Brownies

I was asked for this recipe, but feel kinda bad posting it because I got it from a brownie box. But, here you go for those who asked.

Brownie mix prepared (or make them from scratch)
1 jar marshmallow fluff
1/2 container chocolate frosting

Bake brownies according to package directions and let cool completely. Spread marshmallow fluff over the brownies (I recommend spraying the knife or whatever you use with pan spray-it will probably stick anyway, but less). Heat the frosting for about 30 seconds and pour over the top. Cool in the fridge for 20 minutes. Spray knife you use to cut the brownies. Enjoy!

Raspberry Vanilla French Toast Croissants

These are fabulous, but way rich. We ate them for breakfast, but they were probably the calories of a dessert. :) Sorry, no picture.

Vanilla Sauce:

1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp flour
2 cups heavy cream
4 egg yokes
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

In sauce pan, combine sugar and flour. Add cream, mixing until smooth. Cook over med-high heat until thick and bubbly. Cook 2 more minutes. Stir often. Put egg yokes in bowl (save whites) and mix. Add a little of the hot sauce mixture into the eggs and quickly stir. Then return the eggs to the pan and cook until 160 degrees (we did it until it boiled again-shouldn't take long). Remove from heat and add vanilla extract and ice cream. Stir until melted. Cover with plastic until ready to use.

Berry Sauce:

2 cups raspberries (fresh or frozen)
2 Tbsp sugar

Combine and simmer uncovered for 2-3 min

French toast:

3 eggs (we added the egg whites as well)
2 Tbsp milk
4 croissants, split (it makes enough for 5 or 6)
2 Tbsp butter

Mix milk and eggs. Grease pan with the butter (can use a spray). Dip croissants in egg mixture and cook.

Serve hot with vanilla and berry sauces.

Fiesta Chicken Pasta Salad

This is a fast, easy, delicious recipe. I love making it when it is warm out.

1 pkg Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch dip mix
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. vinegar

1 lb. cooked, shredded chicken
3/4 box garden rotini (I just use the entire box)
1 can black beans
1 can black olives, halved (I usually leave these out)
2-3 tomatoes, chopped
frozen corn

Mix dressing mix, oil, and vinegar in small bowl and set aside. Combine chicken, cooked pasta, beans, olives, & tomatoes in large bowl. Add dressing and frozen corn about 20 minutes before serving. Toss again just before serving.

Sausage Gravy

My cousins Melie and Cam made this for us back in Utah, and we tried it out for ourselves here. Delicious, fast, and easy breakfast worth every calorie!

1/2 Tube of Pork Sausage
2-3 Cups of Milk
3 Tablespoons of Flour
1 Tube of Biscuits (Pillsbury usually has a coupon for them for free or $.37 at Aldi's)

Brown sausage in a large skillet. Add enough milk so that the meat is swimming. Boil. In a lidded jar, shake together the flour and 1/2 cup of cold milk. Add it to the pan and let it thicken. You can add more milk if it is too thick. Serve over biscuits.
(picture off Hyde and Seek)