Grilled Spiced Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Hi everyone! Since summer is here and the 4th of July is coming up I decided to make this week postings about grilling. This is a perfect sweet and spicy recipe. If you don't like too much spice cut back on the red pepper flakes. I hope y'all enjoy!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 pineapple, peeled, quartered lengthwise and cored

1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon Liquid Aminos,**** plus a splash for the salsa

1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

1 bunch scallions

1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

4 bone-in pork sirloin chops (1/2 inch thick)

Directions:

1) Start off by cutting a 2-inch piece of the pineapple and grate it on the coarse holes of a box grater into a large bowl. 

2) Stir in the ginger, vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes and 1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder. 

3) Add the scallions and pork chops and turn to coat; let marinate at room temperature, 10 minutes. 

4) Rub the remaining pineapple with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder.

5) Preheat a grill to medium high. Grill the pork chops until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. 

6) Grill the scallions and pineapple, turning occasionally, until charred, about 3 minutes.

7) Roughly chop the pineapple and scallions and transfer to a bowl. Add the rest of the red pepper flakes and a splash of liquid aminos and toss. 

8) Serve the pork chops topped with the pineapple salsa.

****Liquid Aminos is an all purpose seasoning from Soy Protein. It's a substitution for soy sauce. Liquid Aminos has 1/4 of the sodium that regular and low sodium spy sauce. If not on a low sodium diet you could use 1 tablespoon of soy sauce.****

Tropical Green Smoothie

Tropical Green Smoothie is perfect for breakfast on the go or a post workout meal. I have smoothies a few times a week. The freshness and citrus flavor makes Tropical Green one of my favorites. 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoons flaxseed

1 cup coconut water

1 teaspoon honey

1 whole orange, peeled

3/4 cup frozen mango chunks

1/2 frozen banana

2 large handfuls of spinach

Ice (until consistency you like)

Directions:

1) Put Coconut water, spinach and honey in the blender until blended.

2) Place the rest of the fruit in blender and blend until smooth.

3) Add ice until desired smoothie consistency.  

Enjoy!

Serves 2

Alex's Dark Chocolate Cookies

Happy Birthday Alex! In honor of my best friend's birthday I came up with a cookie recipe for her cause she loves chocolate and loves cookies. I hope everyone has a great Father's Day weekend.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 large egg yolks

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 ounces dark chocolate. (do not exceed 72% cacao), chips or rough chopped

Directions:

1) Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 350°. 

2) Whisk flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.

3) Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. 

4) Add egg yolks, egg, and vanilla. Beat, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, until mixture is pale and fluffy, 4-5 minutes.

5) Reduce mixer speed to low; slowly add dry ingredients, mixing just to blend. Using a spatula, fold in chocolate.

6) Spoon rounded tablespoonfuls of cookie dough onto 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets, spacing 1-inch apart. Sprinkle cookies with sea salt.

7) Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until just golden brown around the edges, 10-12 minutes (the cookies will firm up as they cool). 

8) Let cool slightly on baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks; let cool completely. 

Enjoy! 

DO AHEAD: Cookies can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature

Egg & Cheese Wrap

I love breakfast foods! I can eat breakfast foods day or night.. I thought I would share one of my favorite breakfast recipes. I hope you enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

Nonstick Cooking Spray

1 whole-wheat tortilla, warmed

1/4 ripe avocado

2 tablespoons Tomato, diced

1 egg white, scramble

1 ounce Swiss cheese

Freshly ground pepper to taste

 

Directions:

1) Spray a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

2) Add diced tomato and cook for 1 minute.

3) Add egg white to the skillet and cook, stirring, until cooked through, 3-4 minutes. Season with black pepper.

4) Spread avocado in center of tortilla. Place egg mixture on top of avocado and sprinkle with cheese. 

5) Fold tortilla burrito style and slice in half. 

Enjoy!

Makes 1 Serving

Grilled Herb Chicken

Hello Summer... Since summer is here and lots of outdoor parties coming up I thought I share a grilling recipe. 

Ingredients:

6 medium skinless, boneless chicken breast

1 teaspoon lime zest

1/2 cup lime juice

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons sugar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1) Place chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, lightly pound to an even 1/2-inch thickness. Place in a large resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish.

2) For marinade, in a small bowl, stir together lime peel, lime juice, rosemary, oil, sugar, garlic, and salt. 

3) Pour over chicken. Seal bag; turn to coat chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 4 hours, turning bag occasionally.

4) Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Season chicken with pepper.

5) For a charcoal grill, place chicken on the grill rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender and no longer pink (165 degrees F), turning once halfway through grilling.

***For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place chicken on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.***


Enjoy!