Pork Chops with Carolina Rub with Stove-Top Barbecue Beans

I got a new cookbook- Cooking Light: The Essential Dinner Tonight Cookbook- and I love it!  Here's a new good recipe from the book.

Pork Chops
Combine 1 each of garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, paprika (I used smoked paprika because I heart it!), chili powder and black pepper along with 1/2 tsp. of salt.  Combine and rub onto pork chops.  Let stand for 10 minutes.

Grill pork chops about 4 minutes, then turn and grill 2 minutes.  Brush with 1 tbsp. barbecue sauce each and grill about 2 more minutes or until done. 


Stove Top Barbecue Beans
Melt 1 tbsp. butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add 1/2 c. chopped onion and 1 minced garlic clove; saute 3 minutes. 

Stir in 1/3 c. ketchup and 2 tbsp. each of brown sugar, mustard, lemon juice, and soy sauce along with 1 tbsp. chili powder.  Add 2 (15.5 oz) cans of drained and rinsed Great Northern beans.  Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Much Requested Recipe: Easy Taco Soup

People ask for this recipe all the time, so here it is.  I love it so much because I usually keep all the ingredients in the pantry during the fall and winter, so I can make it any time!  I often double or triple it to put some in the freezer for later.  It freezes great.  I love it with Scoops tortilla chips. I bet it would be great without the meat and some extra beans.  I'll add a picture next time I make some.

Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
- 1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 1 can chicken broth
- 1 can beans, drained (kidney or black beans are both great in it)
- 1 can corn, drained (regular whole kernel or fiesta corn)
- 1 jar salsa
- Optional for serving: tortillas chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions or chives

Directions (couldn't be easier):
- Brown and drain meat.
- Add soup, broth, beans, corn, and salsa.  Stir well and simmer about 15 minutes.
- Serve with tortilla chips and optional garnishes. 
- Enjoy! 

One of My Favs: Fish in a Bag

I had this dish at Red Lobster many years ago and loved it.  Since I'm allergic to shellfish, I don't usually have lots of choices at seafood restaurants.  This is one of my favorite recipes, so I can't believe it hasn't made the blog yet.  I actually got this one from the Red Lobster website.  I will say that after many times of making it, I really like mine better than the one I was served at the restaurant. 

Ingredients:
- 4 large sheets of parchment paper (probably about 18" long)
- 2 lemons, cut into wheels about 1/4 inch thick
- thyme sprigs
- blackened seasoning (I use Old Bay brand)
- 4 tilapia fillets, about 8-10 oz. (I use frozen, but thaw it out first!)
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 medium red pepper
- 2 stalks of celery
- 8 oz. carrot matchsticks
- 2 potatoes
- 2 tbls. dill weed
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 2 tbls. fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 2 tbls. butter, melted

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Cut the potatoes in half then into thin slices.  Steam the potato slices for about 5-8 minutes to soften.  I do this by putting them in a glass pie plate covered with plastic wrap with a few holes punched in the microwave.  You could also use the zip top steam bags.  I cool them off in cold water when finished.
- Cut the onion, pepper and celery in thin strips. 
- Put cooled potatoes, onion, pepper, celery and carrots in a large bowl.  Add dill, salt, pepper and thyme and mix well.  It works best to mix it with your hands. 
- Lay out the parchment sheets and brush each with melted butter.  Place 1/4 of veggie mix on each sheet- put it over to one side so you can fold it over later. 
- Prepare fish fillets by scoring it about every 1/2 inch.  You don't need to slice deep; just about 1/4 inch.  Brush each fillet with butter, then sprinkle with salt and blackened seasoning. 
- Place a fillet on top of each pile of veggies.  Cover with a few lemon wheels and thyme sprigs.
- Fold the parchment paper over; fold and crimp edges to seal. 
- Place packets on a cookie sheet and cook for 12-15 minutes.  You can check the fish temperature for doneness- it should be between 140-150. 
- Open the packets and enjoy!

Although I usually don't like fish left over the next day, if left in the packet and warmed in either the oven or microwave, it is great the next day!

What's for Dinner Tonight? Sloppy Joes

Alan loves sloppy joes.  I never really knew how much I liked them until I discovered that they don't have to come from a can of Manwich.  They are really easy to make.  I found this recipe in Cooking for 2 magazine, but just double the recipe to make more. 
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
- 2 tbls. chopped onion
- 2 tbls. chopped green pepper
- 1/2 c. ketchup
- 1 1/2 tsp. brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1 1/2 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
- 2 hamburger buns

Directions:
- In a skillet, brown the beef, onion and pepper over medium heat; drain.
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients (not the buns of course!) and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. 
- Serve on buns.