Try It Tuesday - Tuscan Pork Chops

Tuscan Pork Chops...
This from the girl who only eats fish and foul...one of my resolutions was to attempt to expand my palette...so in doing so I have eaten a couple of different things.
These pork chops are actually quite good! And they are super easy, you're gonna thank me for sure.

Tuscan Pork Chop with side of Seasoned Potatoes

Ingredients -
     2 Bone-In Pork Chops
     5 Tbsp olive oil
     3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
     3 Tbsp chopped fresh sage
     3 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
     2 cloves of garlic, minced
     salt and pepper
     1 lemon, halved

* you may double or triple this as you see fit.

I usually just make enough to cover the pork chops

Directions - 
     Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper, and let sit out at room temperature while you prepare marinade.
     Combine olive oil, vinegar, sage and rosemary. Pour over pork chops and let marinade in refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
     Heat grill to medium high. Place pork chops on grill for 5 minutes on the first side. Flip and grill second side for 4-5 minutes.
     Serve with lemon half for each.

This would be really great with a side of roasted broccoli too

I hope you give this a try and enjoy it...its easy, delicious and low in fat...Its also great with a cold, cold beer!
Sharron

Try It Tuesday...Brushetta Chicken

Brushetta Chicken...Now this is one of the easiest things that I have ever cooked. Its really healthy and takes about 5 minutes to prepare. This is my kind of cooking, I just act busy in the kitchen drinking wine while this prepares itself.

I made a side of roasted Brussels sprouts...Yummy, healthy and easy!

Ingredients:
     2-4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
     1/2 - 1 cup sundried tomato dressing - I like Ken's Steakhouse brand
     2 tomatoes, finely chopped
     1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
     1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Directions:
     Preheat oven to 375.
     Place chicken in a baking dish and pour 1/2 -3/4 cup dressing over the chicken. Bake in preheated      oven until cooked through (approx 30 minutes).
     While the chicken is cooking, mix tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and remaining 1/4 cup dressing together and set aside.
     To serve, spoon tomato mixture over your chicken breast.

I usually put this over a bed of brown or yellow rice and serve with a vegetable.
Super easy, super fast, and super good!


Give it a try, you won't be disappointed...I promise!
Sharron

   

Try It Tuesday

One of my New Years Resolutions is to try a new recipe every week. And in doing so I hope to share the best of what I find with you all. I cook frequently and many friends ask me what I cook and how do I have time to cook....The answer:  I really don't know. I just make a menu at the beginning of the week and only go to the grocery store once a week, that's my rule. I just don't have the time to be running to the store daily. These menus that I speak of are not fancy or gourmet, meals under duress is usually what goes on here. There are times that I am cooking and a ball goes flying past my head, and there is generally some car tactically placed under my left heel.
Try it Tuesdays...I'll try to share a recipe every week... Every recipe will be fast and mostly low fat, usually fairly healthy too. I love Mexican food so you will see lots of Mexican options I would bet. And I will put in some options for those of you who like more carbs and fat...taste! I hope that you will give me some feedback. Do you like the recipe and would you like me to continue to share. Certainly the 7 million recipes that I have collected over the years should shake out some good meals. Remember take out is only a phone call away...

Mexican Casserole

I usually start the week by cooking up a few chicken breasts that I can use throughout the week.

Ingredients:
3 Chicken Breasts - cooked and chopped
1/2 (1.25 oz) package Taco Seasoning mix
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained - Pinto beans would be good too
1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
1/4 - 1/2 cup salsa
1 cup shredded Mexican style cheese - get the 2% for lower fat

Optional ingredients:
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 bag tortilla chips
Jalapeños
Sour cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
In a large bowl, mix chicken, taco seasoning, beans, corn, and salsa. (You can throw add rice here if you want)

Spread mixture in 9x9 inch baking dish (or whatever size you have). Top with 1/2 cup of cheese (I only use a very little). Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Sprinkle remaining cheese on to serving. Tortilla chips can be crushed on top as you serve or you can have them handy in case your husband is like mine and thinks that you can eat anything with a chip! Also for you jalapeno or sour cream lovers, add those items once your portion is plated.

Mine with no cheese and Luke's with cheese...there are definitely chips near him!

Race Cars and Boobs...

I know, I know...I've been a bad blogger the past month. Somehow complaining about my kids seemed wrong after the Newtown shooting...But I'm back in action. I'm sure you have really missed out on the Evans' Family adventures. Well to get you up to date, like you, we have been busy spending time with our family and friends...I took some time off work and spent much quality time with my boys. I also  made some great New Years Resolutions that I have already broken! I hope you are doing a better job; no doubt you are dieting and eating right. Good for you; I decided to go on a 3 day wine bender and eat as much chocolate as I could get my hands on...twice!

Don't even act like you don't feel this way

But during my sabbatical from blogging I learned that I am raising at least one and quite likely two sexist males. I'm not sure how this is even possible, with so many positive, strong female role models surrounding them on a daily basis. Yet the more time I spend with Jackson I learn that he has basically already made up his mind on most subjects. And the topic of females (Guwirls, as he calls us) is no exception. Due to the fact that we are a medical family, human anatomy is a topic that we enjoy discussing without limitations. We call body parts by their real names and we have taught Jackson that boys pee out of their penis and girls pee out of their butts. And he is all to aware that girls have boobs...
One day Blake was babbling away and I turned to Jackson and said, "What do you think Blake is saying?" To which Jackson replied, "Oh he's just telling me a story." I just had to know more..."What's the story about?"....wait for it..."He's talking about race cars and boobs." I was confused. Did he just say race cars and boobs?! First, how do these two things even go together? And second, is my 8 month old really already discussing these two things? So Luke swoops in to clarify the topic of Blake's story, "Jackson did you say race cars that zoom?". "NO DAD! Race cars and Boobs. You know, BOOBS!" He just couldn't let it go, "Well Jackson, do you have boobs?" "No I don't have boobs. Blake, no boobs. Daddy, no boobs." Then he points my way, no more words were exchanged.
Race cars and Boobs...This has become the theme of my life.
Jackson will pick up one of my bras and toss it to me saying, "Put on your boobs".  I had several bras out on my bed, he asked me "Really mom, how many boobs do you have?"
Jackson also likes to tell the cat to shake his hips. He will sneak up on the cat from behind and start shaking the cat, singing "Shake your hips". So naturally one day he tells me to shake my boobs. Luke had to leave the room he was laughing so hard. I just stood stunned and then I told him to shake his boobs. (I'm pretty sure that any child psychologist would tell you this is not therapeutic communication but it was all I had at that moment.) He told me that he was a boy and he did not have boobs.

I guess Jackson is truly a lost cause, I should really have seen this coming when he asked for a robe to wear because he gets cold after his bath...

Watch out Hugh Hefner

Don't all 2 year olds sit on the counter while they brush their teeth

Perhaps part of the problem is that neither of them ever seems to have pants on. I take thousands of pictures and as I look through them I notice that no one EVER has pants on...I swear I put pants on them, but boom by mid morning its like a pants free fiesta!

no pants on the counter

N

no pants at Auntie Amanda's house

Trying to pack...I have no idea what is happening...but I apparently have some boobs on the floor

pants free while playing the saxophone

Pantsless wrestling

Luke was going to the pool store and Jackson really wanted to go with him. Jackson was wearing a t shirt and movie Cars underwear. So he naturally put on his shoes to ready himself for this outing.

And then there is the shirt less painting that goes on...

No shoes, no shirt...no problems

Blake is my only hope, I'm not sure I believe Jackson's version of Blake's story. I will have to wait until he actually speaks to know where he stands on the subject of race cars and boobs.

He's well on his way to being a sexist in his race car

For now I plan to teach him nothing about human anatomy and teach him false/baby-like names for all his body parts. Currently all he cares about is standing up at the play table and knocking off all Jackson's perfectly aligned cars.

quickly stealing some of Jackson's stuff

rearranging cars!

Ok well now you know that you should at all costs keep your sweet little girls as far away from our house as possible...Here are some Peaks and Pits. I only hope you are having more peaks than pits.

A few peaks....

A boy on the move

some together time

naptime photos

fun times in the car

Fewer pits....

Jackson teaching Blake to eat cat food

Blake learning about the perils of jail

Diego, exhausted after facebooking for hours

I hope you all are doing a better job parenting your boys....have a wonderful week!

Sharron