Pork Souvlaki with Garlic Sauce

If you have not noticed from some of my other posts, we like Greek food around here. My hubby said that this meal rates in the top 10 of meals that I have made.

I cut the pork in cubes and marinated it for 3 hours then barbecued them.

This is the inside look at how I built the pita.



Pork Souvlaki Recipe:
2 shallots, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds pork tenderloin. trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-2 inch cubes

1. Prepare the souvlaki: Combine the shallots, garlic, oregano, jalapeno, lemon juice and olive oil in a ziploc bag. Add the pork and coat. Marinate at least 3 hours to overnight.

2. Preheat grill and remove the pork from the marinade. Thread the pieces of pork onto the skewers. Remember if you are using wood skewers, soak them for 20 minutes in cold water. Cook until juices run clear on the grill.

Garlic Sauce:
5 pieces of white bread
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sliced almonds
5 cloves garlic
1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil (a little thick, not runny)
6 tbsp of lemon

1. Soak the bread in 1/2 cup water for 15 minutes. Squeeze the excess water out of the bread and put into the blender.

2. Cut up the garlic and add it to the blender and add the almonds. Stream in the olive oil and then the lemon juice.

I served these with flat bread or pita bread, garlic sauce, shredded lettuce and feta cheese. I made a Greek salad with cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, feta cheese and avocado. For the dressing I used olive oil, lemon juice, minced galic, small amount of dried oregano, salt and pepper. It leaves you with garlic breath, but it is yummy and pretty easy to make.

Our New Blue Door

Our house is finally painted. I love our door color. I am going to get a big red star for the front and have a very patriotic looking house!

We went with a lighter grey, but if you really have not looked at our house you really would not notice too much of a difference. It looks clean and free of chips in the paint. We also took out one tree that was up against the house.

Low-Fat Raspberry-Corn Muffins

Ingredients:

Cooking Spray
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup apricot nectar (I purchased 1 can at Vons)
3 tbsp grapeseed oil (Trader Joes for $3.69)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp grated orange zest
4 large egg whites
2 cups frozen raspberries

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line or spray 12 cup muffin pan.

2. Whisk in flour, cornmeal, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl whisk together the buttermilk, apricot nectar, grapeseed oil, vanilla extract and orange zest until combined.

3. Beat the egg whites and remaining 3/4 cup sugar with a mixer on medium high until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the wet ingredients into the cornmeal mixture until just moistened. Gently fold in egg-whites until almost combined, then fold the raspberries in; do not over mix.

4. Divide the batter and cook for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

I was able to make a sheet of mini muffins and 12 regular size muffins with the amount that was made. I baked mine for 29 minutes and they were perfectly done. The mini muffins took about 18-20 minutes.

Calories: 293
Fat: 5 grams
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 338 mg
Carbs: 60 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 7 grams

I found this recipe in the Food Network Magazine and I really like them!~

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Dai Bai Dang Leftovers

Tuesday- Lunch- Going to make split pea soup w/my ham bone. Dinner- Chicken Parmesan

Wednesday- Red Robin for my free B-day burger and I don't want to cook on my b-day.

Thursday- Pork Souvlaki with flat bread and hummus with a Greek salad.

Friday- I think I want to go to Yoshino's for my real b-day dinner (it's an all week event, is it not?)

I will post some more recipes this week.

Do NOT Throw Away Your Ham Bone!

Make Split Pea soup with it and it will be the best split pea soup you will ever make!


Split Pea Soup

Recipe:

1 bag of split peas
1 bone from Ham
1 potato
1 large carrot
1 stock celery
1/2 yellow onion
2 sprigs thyme
1 sprig rosemary
1 bunch parsley (tear a small portion off bunch)
1 bay leaf
3 cans chicken broth
1 cup water
salt and pepper to taste

1. Rinse the split peas and set aside.
2. Cut up onion, celery, carrot and potato. Heat some olive oil in a stock pot and add the onion, carrot and celery ans sweat for about 5 minutes. Add potato and split peas.
3. Add 3 cans of chicken broth and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Wrap your herbs in a cheese cloth and tie and throw it into the pot.
5. Simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours adding water as it simmers.
6. When it is done, take out the herbs and take all the bits of ham off the bone and add it to the soup. I like to blend the soup with an emersion blender or in the blender in batches.

Resurrection Roll

I got this recipe from Faithful Provisions and thought some of you would like this, it is easy and great for Easter.

Resurrection Rolls
Ingredients / Items Needed:
1 pkg. refrigerated crescent roll dough 1 tsp. cinnamon melted butter 1 tablespoon sugar large marshmallows Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
1. Give each child a triangle of crescent dough and a marshmallow.
*Explain that the roll represents the cloth that Jesus' body was wrapped in and the marshmallow represents Jesus.
2. Have each child dip the marshmallow in melted butter, symbolic of the embalming oils.
3. Then dip the marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar, representing the spices used to anoint Jesus' body.
4. Wrap the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like the typical crescent roll, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside). This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after His death.
5. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and place in the oven (tomb) for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly.
6. When the rolls are cooled, children open their rolls (cloths) and discover that Jesus is no longer there. HE IS RISEN! (If you seal the crescent rolls well, the marshmallow will melt and the roll will be puffed up empty.)

How to receive products for free

I spend about 15 minutes every morning hitting the blogs that I have listed on my blog list to see if there are great deals, freebies or rebates. Since I have been doing this I receive a lot for free or almost free.

The sites that I look at every day are:

Clippin with Carie
Freebies 4 Mom
Money Saving Mom
Faithful Provisions

I have signed up to be a part of:

Swagbucks (earn points for free gift cards or products)
My Points (earn points for free gift cards or products)
Vocalpoint (You can receive samples and full size products, just write a review)
Pinecone Research (I take a survey every now and then and get a check in the mail, last check was $3.00)
Inbox Dollars (Earn dollars and you can request a pay out once you hit $30.00)

Sites I use for coupons:
Coupons.com
Redplum.com
Smartsource.com
Target coupons

I have been sending off for rebates which I usually find on Clippin with Carie's site. If you use coupons and send in rebates you can get cleaning products or beauty products for free or next to nothing.

This past week I received a full bottle of Pantene shampoo in the mail from vocalpoint. I also receive great coupons in the mail by visiting SC Johnson or Proctor and Gamble and requesting coupons. I do this regularly so I always have coupons for laundry detergent.

Just today by cruising the sites I have a earthbound farm reusable bag coming (picture at top of page) and a free coupon for Chavrie goat cheese (I love goat cheese). I also have a coupon for a free box of Clairol hair color (I will give to someone that uses this product).

Once you get a routine down, it does not take a lot of time and effort to save a lot of money. If you have any questions please leave a comment!