A Greek Christmas: Lemon Pork

I know, I know, I haven't made a post in the past couple of weeks as I promised I would do.  Our computer died.  The computer was down and out for a week.  But I have a couple of new holiday dishes for all you readers, so I will post them both this weekend.

The first of the meals that I made was Greek inspired: I made lemon pork.  Pork is a major staple on the Greek dinner table from December 6 through January 17.  Lemon pork is packed with flavor!  To compliment this dish, I also made roasted acorn squash and sweet potatoes with a lemon and maple syrup glaze.  I used pomegranate seeds to garnish my plate.  Pomegranates are a symbol of Christmas in Greece.  Pomegranates symbolize marriage, fertility, life, and hope.  I also made some candied walnuts to go on top of the squash, but they were so delicious, that I ate them all before I took a picture.  Oops.

Jerk Chicken Quesadillas with Mango Salsa

With the delicious slow cooker jerk chicken I made sweet and savory quesadillas filled with jerk chicken and melted cheddar cheese, topped with tangy mango salsa.  The taste combination was out of this world amazing.  This is a winner for sure, that I will definitely be making again... and soon!

Food To Entertain: Swedish Meatballs

I channeled my inner swedish chef, and made swedish meatballs.  I must say, my inner swedish chef is pretty darn good.  They were melt in your mouth, delicious.  I made meatball subs slathered with a brown gravy that complimented the meatballs perfectly. Speaking of complimenting, bring these to your next get together and you're sure to get rave reviews!

The Secret to Making French Bread and Basil Butter

How many times have you picked up French bread from the store because you needed it as a side for your favorite Italian dish? If you're like me, it's too many times to count. I learned after years and years of doing this that I could make my own French bread at home without the use of a bread machine. What's better is that this bread is unbelievably delicious and even more so dipped into my homemade basil butter.

Game Day & Gluten Free: Onion Petals

Best fried onion deliciousness I've ever had.  Perfectly golden brown with a tasty slice of sweet onion in the middle as a bonus, they just melt in your mouth.  They also have an incredible way of disappearing in front of your eyes.  Oh, and they're gluten free!  However, even if you're not gluten free, you will seriously love these onion petals.

What is a wonderful treat like onion petals if you don't have anything to dip them in?  I thought that these needed something extra special to be dipped in.  So, I made some special balsamic ketchup.  Sweet and savory, it tastes like barbecue sauce meet ketchup.  Ketchup is surprisingly a lot easier to make than you would think.

Christmas in July: Apple-Cranberry Stuffing

I have always been a fan of the combination of apples and cranberries.  They're just so wintery.  And I do realize at 109 degrees outside, that this is most definitely not winter.  However, for the sake of Christmas in July, I shut my eyes, and pretend that its nice and cold outside.  I have made this stuffing once before.  When I was in college, I once asked, begged (I didn't have to do much in the way of begging,) my mom if I could make the Christmas dinner that year.  She told me that I could, and every thing that I made had apples involved in some way.

This delicious bread crumb stuffing is loaded with yummy apple pieces, cranberries, and sausage.  This side was a favorite of Chef Matt's.

Christmas in July--Reader Suggested Dish: Updated Version of Green Bean Casserole

Believe it or not, this is one Christmas dinner staple that I have never had before.  So, when I asked my wonderful facebook fans for their suggestions of dishes to make, Debbie suggested an updated version of the classic green bean casserole.  I have given this dish a slight twist by using apple juice, sauteed mushrooms, and fresh green beans, as well as a couple of updated ingredients.  This dish turned out wonderfully, and I will definitely be adding this delicious side to my holiday menu.  Thank you Debbie for such a great suggestion!

Tasty Side Dishes: Crispy Panko Breaded Onion Rings

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Onion rings make a perfect companion to go with those savory game day wings!  You simply can't go wrong with the good ol' onion ring.  They're great along side burgers and hot dogs too.  Crispy and crunchy, these onion rings are coated with seasoned flour, then covered in panko bread crumbs, then deliciously fried.