Spaghetti Squash & Chicken

Spaghetti Squash with Chicken,Olives and Sauce
Spaghetti Squash with Chicken,Olives and Sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spaghetti Squash & Chicken & Olives

Spaghetti squash is one of my favorite vegetables.  So easy to prepare and so versatile.  It makes a great side dish and does so well as a star in a main course.  

The other day I forgot to take something out for dinner, so it was improvisation time.  A spaghetti squash, some left over spaghetti sauce a great start , a few more ingredients and it was dinner time.

I always keep large cans of chicken breast in the pantry, it’s just as good as tuna in my pasta salad: http://www.rantsravesandrecipes.com/worlds-best-tuna-salad . Add some olives and a few more items and voila a great dinner spaghetti squash & chicken with olives.

Ingredients for spaghetti squash & chicken & olives

This recipe serves two:

  1. 1 spaghetti squash, halved and seeded
  2. 1 13 oz can chicken breast or 1 baked fresh chicken breast
  3. 1 can green olives pitted(no pimento added)
  4. 2 cups approximate spaghetti sauce
  5. 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  6. salt and pepper to taste
  7. Parmesan cheese for topping (Optional)
  8. 2 Tbs butter melted

Directions for spaghetti squash & chicken & olives

Preheat oven to 400º

Take the squash and cut it in half lengthwise.  You’ll need a large knife, and cut carefully, as squash have rather hard skins.  Scoop out the seeds, baste the inside with the melted butter and lightly salt and pepper .  Place the squash halves onto a sheet pan and bake skin side up for 30-45 minutes until the squash is cooked, check by piercing the squash on the cut side, with a fork and if the fork goes easily through to the skin it’s done.

While the squash is cooking prepare the sauce. put all the ingredients except the cheese into a sauce pan and slowly bring up to heat.

When the squash is cooked take it out of the oven and let cool slightly.  Holding with a towel or cloth scrape the strands of squash out of the shell either into a bowl or directly onto a plate.

Just before serving add the mozzarella cheese to the sauce and stir to combine.  Spoon over the squash.  Optional sprinkle with Parmesan.

 

Here are a few items to help make this recipe:
Silpat AE420295-07 Premium Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat, Half Sheet Size, 11-5/8-Inch x 16-1/2-Inch
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 10-Inch Stainless-Steel Chef’s Knife

 

The Official Taste Tester
The Official Taste Tester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok it’s chicken with spaghetti sauce that’s a winner.  The other stuff not so much, but I could eat around the green things.  Chicken is always 5 paws.

 

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Spaghetti Squash & Chicken & Olives
Serves 2
easy to prepare main course
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
55 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
55 min
Ingredients
  1. This recipe serves two
  2. 1 spaghetti squash, halved and seeded
  3. 1 13 oz can chicken breast or 1 baked fresh chicken breast
  4. 1 can green olives pitted(no pimento added)
  5. 2 cups approximate spaghetti sauce
  6. 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  7. salt and pepper to taste
  8. Parmesan cheese for topping (Optional)
  9. 2 Tbs butter melted
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400º
  2. Take the squash and cut it half lengthwise. You'll need a large knife, and cut carefully as squash have rather hard skins. Scoop out the seeds, baste the inside with the melted butter and lightly salt and pepper . Place the squash halves onto a sheet pan and bake skin side up for 30-45 minutes until the squash is cooked, check by piercing the squash with a fork if the fork goes easily through to the skin it's done.
  3. While the squash is cooking prepare the sauce. put all the ingredients except the cheese into a sauce pan and slowly bring up to heat.
  4. When the squash is cooked take it out of the oven and let cool slightly. Holding with a towel or cloth scrap the strands of squash out of the shell either into a bowl or directly onto a plate.
  5. Just before serving add the mozzarella cheese to the sauce and stir to combine. Spoon over the squash. Optional sprinkle with Parmesan.
Rants Raves and Recipes https://www.rantsravesandrecipes.com/

 

 If you enjoy our site and are thinking of purchasing anything from Amazon, please use the link to Amazon from our site.  It doesn’t cost you anything and we profit from the ads and purchases .  

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  copyright © rantsravesandrecipes 2014 all rights reserved

Ham Steak & Cranberry Mustard Sauce

Ham Steak with Cranberry Mustard Sauce
Ham Steak with Cranberry Mustard Sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ham Steak with Cranberry Mustard Sauce

Our local grocery store had a sale on ham steaks, so we picked up a few for the freezer and one for dinner that night.  Checking in the larder I spied a package of dried cranberries, and that got me thinking (always a dangerous thing).

Ingredients for Cranberry Mustard Sauce

  1. 1/2 cup firmly packed Dark Brown sugar
  2. 1 Tbs Dijon Mustard
  3. 1 Tbs white wine or champagne vinegar.
  4. 5 oz package dried cranberries
  5. 1 1/2 cups of water
  6. 2 tbs cornstarch
  7. 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  8. zest from lemon (optional)

Directions for Ham Steak with Cranberry Mustard Sauce

Prepare the sauce before beginning to cook the steak.

In a saute pan put the sugar,vinegar and water and on medium heat stir until the sugar is dissolved.  Once the sugar is dissolved take the pan off the heat and add the mustard, lemon juice, cornstarch and cranberries and stir to combine and then put back on the heat and slowly bring  up to boil.  As the sauce reaches boiling point it will begin to thicken.  Once thickened place on low heat to hold covered (allowing the sauce to steep brings out the cranberry flavor) and begin the steak.

Cook the steak by what ever method you feel comfortable with.  I like to grill mine on medium high heat for about 10 minutes.

Grilled Ham Ssteak
Grilled Ham Ssteak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the ham steak is cooked , slice into serving pieces and spoon the sauce over it.  Serve extra sauce on the side.

 

Here are few items to hlp make this recipe:
Cuisinart 622-30G Chef’s Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Skillet with Glass Cover
Weber 46110001 Spirit E210 Liquid Propane Gas Grill, Black

 

 

The Official Taste Tester
The Official Taste Tester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ham and a sweet sauce it doesn’t get any better than this- 5 pawsIMG

 

 

 

 

Ham Steak and Cranberry Mustard Sauce
Serves 4
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
20 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
20 min
Ingredients
  1. Ingredients for Cranberry Mustard Sauce
  2. 1/2 cup firmly packed Dark Brown sugar
  3. 1 Tbs Dijon Mustard
  4. 1 Tbs white wine or champagne vinegar.
  5. 5 oz package dried cranberries
  6. 1 1/2 cup of water
  7. 2 tbs cornstarch
  8. 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  9. zest from lemon (optional)
Instructions
  1. Prepare the sauce before beginning to cook the steak.
  2. In a saute pan put the sugar,vinegar and water and on medium heat stir until the sugar is dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved take the pan off the heat and add the mustard, lemon juice and cornstarch and cranberries and stir to combine and then put back on the heat and slowly bring up to boil. As the sauce reaches boiling point it will begin to thicken. Once thickened place on low heat to hold covered (allowing the sauce to steep brings out the cranberry flavor) and begin the steak.
  3. Cook the steak by what ever method you fell comfortable with. I like to grill mine on medium high heat for about 10 minutes.
  4. Once the ham steak is cooked , slice into serving pieces and spoon the sauce over it. Serve extra sauce on the side.
Rants Raves and Recipes https://www.rantsravesandrecipes.com/

 If you enjoy our site and are thinking of purchasing anything from Amazon, please use the link to Amazon from our site.  It doesn’t cost you anything and we profit from the ads and purchases .  

 Please help us keep our blog going by letting your friends know we’re here and by checking out the links on our front page.

  copyright © rantsravesandrecipes 2014 all rights reserved

 

 

Teriyaki Glazed Pork Loin

 

Pork Loin with Grilled Pineapple
Teryaki Glazed Pork Loin  and Grilled Pineapple

 

Teriyaki Glazed Pork Loin

I been off-line for quite a while, and I’ll be getting back rather slowly with a few recipes when I can.  This came about as an idea I had for chops and they came out so good I thought I’d try it on a pork loin.

This isn’t a quick recipe, it does take a few days to prepare but the results are well worth it.

First step is to brine the loin.  Brining in a salt solution gets more water into the meat which then helps leave more moisture in the meat as it cooks, resulting in a moister finished product.

Brine Solution

A good rule of thumb is 1/4 cup of salt to a quart of water. I like to add a little flavoring to the mixture.

  1. not quite 1/4 cup table salt
  2. 2 tbsp garlic salt
  3. 2 Tbsp lawry’s seasoning salt
  4. 1 qt. water

 Put the salts in a bowl large enough to cover the loin with water add the water whisk briskly until all salts are dissolved add the loin and refrigerate for 24 hours.  This brine works quite well with chops also.

Over the last few years we have had a friend who is slowly building her own pineapple plantation.  She sent one home to me so I had to think what to do.  Upside down cake was first choice but I really don’t need all those extra calories so I thought of a way to incorporate it into a main course. “Hawaiian Pork Loin” was my answer a little marinade to a brined pork loin and cooked on the grill.

 

Pork Loin “Hawaiian Marinade”

You could call it oriental marinade but since I’m serving the loin with grilled pineapple I’ll just call it Hawaiian.

  1. 1/2 cup soy sauce
  2. 2 Tbsp minced onion
  3. 2 tsp powdered ginger
  4. 2 Tbsp L&P Worcestershire sauce

You can do this in a bowl, but I find with smaller cuts of meat a gallon zip lock plastic bag works quite well.  Put the ingredients and the meat into the bag, seal, put onto a plate ( just in case bag leaks) and refrigerate for 24 to 72 hours.  If you’re doing chops, don’t marinate more than 24-36 hours.  Turn the bag a couple of times a day to ensure that both sides get an even marinating.

When you are ready to cook take the meat out of the bag and scrape off the little bits of onion as they will tend to burn and leave a bitter taste.

To cook I used our BBQ grill.  I set the heat on high to bring it up to temp and then turn one side off.  On medium high heat I sear the top or slightly fatty side  for about 15 minutes, then place the meat on the other side of the grill and cooked under indirect heat for about 45 minutes, you can of course cook it in the oven ,it comes out just fine that way.

About 8- 10 minutes before the loin is done put the fresh pineapple slices (cut very thick) on the grill turn after 4-5 minutes and lightly baste the loin and the slices of pineapple with a Teriyaki glaze.  Once cooked remove from the grill and let it rest for about 5-10 minutes before slicing.  Just before you slice baste again with the glaze and let it set up, then slice.

Serve with extra glaze on the side. 

 

grilled Hawaiian pork loin
grilled Hawaiian pork loin

 

Let rest then slice
Let rest then slice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teriyaki Glaze

Years ago I worked in a restaurant that had a Teriyaki steak as one of the specialties and they finished it with a thick glaze that every one loved.  This is a simple version that works well with all kinds of meat.

Made in small quantities it’s a rough 2 to 1 ratio of brown sugar to soy sauce.

  1. 1/4 cup soy sauce
  2. 1/2 cup dark brown sugar

Put into a small sauce pan and under medium heat warm until the sugar is completely dissolved. , then take off heat and allow to cool slightly until you have a thick syrupy glaze.  Brush generously over the meat or what ever  you are glazing.

 

Here are a few items that may help make this recipe:
Dyna-Glo Black & Stainless Premium Grills, 2 Burner, Liquid Propane Gas
Ironwood Gourmet Acacia Wood Large End Grain Prep Station
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Zwilling Four Star 2-Piece Carving Set

 

The Official Taste Tester
The Official Taste Tester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aloha, I don’t care what you call it, just keep it coming, a real 5 paw effort and about time!  I was beginning to think I was out of a job!

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Teriyaki Glazed Pork Loin
Serves 2
A delicious marinated pork loin
Write a review
Print
Cook Time
1 hr
Cook Time
1 hr
For the Brine
  1. not quite 1/4 cup table salt
  2. 2 tbsp garlic salt
  3. 2 Tbsp lawry's seasoning salt
  4. 1 qt. water
For the marinade
  1. 1/2 cup soy sauce
  2. 2 Tbsp minced onion
  3. 2 tsp powdered ginger
  4. 2 Tbsp L&P Worcestershire sauce
For the Glaze
  1. 1/4 cup soy sauce
  2. 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
For the brine
  1. Mix the salts and water briskly until salt is dissolved add the loin and refrigerate for 24 hours.
To Marinade
  1. Mix all the ingredients in a gallon zip lock plastic bag add the meat and refrigerate for 24-72 hours turning occasionally to assure all sides of the meat are in the marinade. Before cooking wipe bits of onion from the meat as they will burn while cooking and give the dish a bitter flavor.
For the Glaze
  1. On medium heat warm the soy and sugar stirring until the sugar is dissolved, allow to cool slightly before using, you should have a thick, syrupy glaze.
  2. Grill the loin on medium high direct heat fat side down for 15 minutes to sear the meat. move to other side of grill and cook on indirect heat for an additional 45 minutes. Just before finishing baste with glaze and again after resting just before slicing baste with glaze again.
  3. During the last 10 minutes of cooking grill the pineapple flipping once and then lightly glazing top side with the teriyaki glaze.
  4. Allow loin to rest about 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
  1. Serve extra glaze on the side
Rants Raves and Recipes https://www.rantsravesandrecipes.com/