Did you know what you wanted to be when you were a kid? Did you have dreams of being a fireman or an astronaut? When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a marine biologist in the worst way. It wasn't a 'kind of sort of I'd like to do that someday'. I simply knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. I loved science of all sorts, but I have always been fascinated by the water. Even as a child, I thought it was really neat that we didn't know all of the mysterious creatures that were hanging out on our own planet and felt an insane curiosity towards them. I was curious about them, wanted to learn more and see how they had evolved, or in some cases hadn't. I was never scared of the ocean, and on family vacations would let my Poppop take me out past where the waves break to that calmer area where you can float a bit. I never bought into the shark hysteria or was bothered by my Delaware water not being crystal clear. I knew there were things in there with me, and I was ok with that. ]
Until I discovered jelly fish. I believe it was at the Batlimore aquarium where they had a huge jelly fish exibit with the glowing globs just floating in tubs with their long tenticles floating all around. Their alien like nature, with no real purpose other than to consume and reproduce just got under my skin and suddenly I was terrified of them. I could no longer go in the ocean and knew my dreams of marine biology ended that very moment.
I still get sucked into great articles on new marine species and discoveries. Love me some lore about giant squids and other creatures we haven't yet disproved. And would some day still like to see mysteries under the sea from a very protected large impenetrable submarine of some sort. Not for any of the real horrors that live in the ocean, but for the mindless floating jelly fish...
I guess things don't always turn out the way we plan, but we can make a killer fool-proof dinner if we want. I sincerely urge you to try this meal. It was a much needed little variety from out normal beef or poultry with mac and cheese. The glaze really makes the pork chops out standing and the mac and cheese chowder is just a great spin on two delicious things.
Whiskey-Glazed Pork Chops
from Cook's Country Skillet Suppers
Ingredients:
- ½ cup whiskey
- ½ cup apple cider
- 2 tbs light brown sugar
- 1 tbs Dijon mustard
- ⅛ teas cayenne pepper
- ½ teas vanilla extract
- 4 teas cider vinegar
- 4 bone-in, pork chops, about 1" thick
- 2 teas vegetable oil
- S&P
- 1 tbs unsalted butter
Preparation:
Whisk whiskey, cider, brown sugar, mustard, cayenne, vanilla, and 2 teas vinegar together in a medium bowl. Transfer ¼ cup whiskey mixture to gallon-size zipper-lock plastic bag. Turn bag to coat chops with marinade and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. Reserve remaining mixture.
Remove chops from bag, pat dry, and discard marinade. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until just beginning to smoke. season chops with salt and pepper, and cook until well browned on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer chops to plate and cover tightly with foil.
Add reserved whiskey mixture to skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Cook until reduced to thick glaze, 3 to 5 minutes. You will know its there when it coats the back of a spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low and holding the chops, top plate to add any accumulated juices back to the skillet. Add remaining 2 teas vinegar, whisk in butter, and simmer glaze until thick and sticky, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Remove pan from heat.
Return chops to skillet and let rest in pan until sauce clings to chops, turning chops occasionally to coat both sides, about 5 minutes. Serve, spooning and additional sauce over chops.
Corn Chowder Mac n' Cheese
from Rachael Ray Magazine
Ingredients
- Salt and pepper
- 1 lbs cavatappi pasta
- 4 ears corn, husked
- Extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ lbs bacon, chopped into ½-inch pieces
- 1 baking potato, peeled and diced into ¼- to ½-inch pieces
- ½ tbs Old Bay Seasoning (half a palmful)
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 red chile pepper, such as fresno, seeded and chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, chopped into ¼-inch cubes
- 1 small red onion, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- A few sprigs thyme, minced
- 3 tbs butter
- 2 tbs flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teas dry mustard
- ½ teas cayenne pepper
- Few grates fresh nutmeg
- 1 cup grated Parmigiano cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp yellow cheddar cheese
Preparation:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook to al dente. Drain and return to the pot. While the pasta is working, position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the broiler. Place a small bowl upside down in a large bowl. Stand each ear of corn on the small bowl and scrape down the kernels.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and the bacon and cook until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Add the corn, potato and Old Bay to the bacon drippings in the skillet and brown for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the celery, chile pepper, bell pepper, onion and garlic; season with the thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, then the milk; season with the mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook until the sauce coats a spoon thickly; lower the heat to low. Stir in the parmigiano.
Add the corn-potato mixture and the white sauce to the pasta in the pot and stir together. Transfer to a casserole or serving dish, top with the cheddar and bacon and broil until brown and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
**This mac and cheese makes enough to serve a large family at the holidays. I would easily cut it in half for a family of four on a regular weeknight.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Corn chowder mac and cheese sounds AMAZING. I always add corn to my pasta, but not all those other yummy things too 🙂
Belinda @zomppa says
That is really cute - I'm not sure what I wanted to be. I know I wanted a puppy! Love this meal. Love the presentation.
Laurie {Simply Scratch} says
All kinds of yum going on here! Ps... I wanted to be a marine biologist too and I get real excited when it's shark week {which is soon, no?}. Great recipes Kita!
Erin says
Oh my gosh I wanted to be a marine biologist so badly as well! I loved being in the water growing up and it didn't matter to be if it was cold. But I really wanted to study dolphins because I was (and still kind of am) in love with them. But then I found out most marine biologists spend their time in labs instead of in the water with the creatures so that bummed me out. And I somehow ended up getting my PhD spending 12 hours a day in a lab staring at yeast cultures... wtf?
Oh and btw this meal is awesomeness. I want it.
Tanya C. says
I wanted to be a trainer for Killer Whales at Seaworld. That dream died when I could not learn to swim without holding my nose! LOL! Oh well, the dinner looks awesome though!
Blog is the New Black says
I wanted to be a librarian....
RavieNomNoms says
Whiskey glazed?! PERFECT! How did you know that Whiskey is my favorite?
Those little mac n' cheeses are so cute too! Love that they are individual!
I wanted to be a geologist. I thought rocks were the coolest ::insert dork comment::
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
Oh, I'll be making those pork chops. Holy cow I love the idea of that sauce. I don't think I can sell the family on the mac and cheese though. It's not from the blue box. I guess I could eat the whole thing myself? Hmmmmm
I wanted to be a nurse for forever. All my dolls had tiny holes in their arms and butts from me sticking them with pins. I even went to a year of nursing school before I discovered that major sickness in others breaks my heart. So, I became an English major instead. 🙂
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
That corn chowder mac and cheese...I die! Yum
Kiri W. says
Oh wow - that looks fantastic in the most extravagant ways 🙂 I'd love to try either!
Peggy says
Oh my goodness. Corn Chowder. Mac & Cheese?! Fo' Real?!?! Where have you been all of my life =)
Dawn says
What an amazing dinner. And it's a dinner that every husband would eat!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Both recipes sounds really good. I know my husband is more excited about the "whiskey glazed" pork chop, but my kids and I will finish the entire batch of this delicious corn chowder mac n cheese! WOW, that looks so good. I need to pin this and try it one day. 😉
Amber/Sprinkled With Flour says
This is making me so hungry right now, good thing it's almost dinner time!
Susie says
This entire meal looks amazing. Love your little cast iron skillets. Jelly fish are strange and weird I am totally with you on that.
Stephanie says
Both of these sound amazing, but I am really wanting that mac and cheese!!!
I used to want to be a marine biologist too! Mostly because of our frequent trips to Sea World. But, now, the ocean kind of scares me. And jellyfish are a big part of that!
Mary Kay @Just for Cooking says
I love the combo of the whiskey and the apple cider. Great post. Buzzed!
Matt says
Just found this via Tasteologie, and wanted to let you know that this meal looks absolutely incredible!! Pinned!!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
Holy Crap! i need to eat this soon, it looks amazing!
My brother wanted to be a marine biologist too for forever!! But then at about age 12 he found out he got motion sickness really bad. Like doing a summersault made him feel sick.
Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook) says
this is an awesome meal! definitely want to try both of these soon!
Jenny @ Savour the Senses says
I was really excited about the reefs in Hawaii, until I stepped on an urchin on Friday... won't be going near the reefs for a while... But at least I have your amazing recipes to drool over to make me feel better. This is right up my alley... definitely on the list to make.