Grilled Pork Chops with Lavender

   Hello friends! Yes, I am finally posting again....sorry for such a long break between posts, but life as a momma is keeping me busy and although I have been cooking, it just has not been anything too exciting or new. 

   I haven't used lavender to cook with before, but have eaten things others have made using it. I love the flavor it adds and have been wanting to experiment with it myself. I finally bought some {my plant isn't blooming yet} and am very excited about trying it out in different recipes.

   Most often it is used more for desserts, but I wanted to try using it in an entree. I thought this sounded tasty, so we gave it a shot. It turned out delicious!

Grilled Pork Chops with Lavender  
 4 pork chops- 3/4-1 inch thick

1 tsp coarse kosher salt

1 tsp coarsely ground pepper

3/4 tsp dried lavender flowers {culinary grade} 

2 tsp minced fresh thyme

1 tsp minced fresh rosemary

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Mix spices, herbs and oil together. Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel and then rub with the herb blend. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Remove from fridge and grill until done.

   I was happy with the results of my first attempt at using lavender. Will continue to enjoy adding it to recipes! I served these chops with Grilled Red Potato Skewers.....that recipe is coming later. 

........................................................................

For the earth that drinketh

in the rain which cometh often upon it,

and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by

whom it is tilled, recieveth

 blessing from God. 

~Hebrews 6:7 

Blessings!

♥ Sheila 

One Pan Caramel Chip Skillet Cookie

   Since hubs had to work on his very first Father's Day I decided to make dessert to take in for the guys dinner. I was gone for a lot of the afternoon so I wanted something that would be quick to make before 'Tater Bug' woke from his nap and needed to be fed etc. It also had to be something that would compliment banana-grape nut ice cream. So to good ole' pinterest I went searching.... Came across this recipe from sophistimom and knew it was just what I was looking for. =)

   So while baby snoozed, momma made ice cream and baked a cookie.....

One Pan Caramel Chip Skillet Cookie

 1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

11/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup caramel bits

Preheat oven to 350*. In a cast iron skillet melt butter over med/low heat. stir in sugars and vanilla. Remove from heat. Let rest until the pan is warm, but no longer hot. {about 5ish min} Crack the egg into the sugar mixture beat in well with a fork. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Stir it in very carefully until smooth and well mixed. Add caramel bits and mix in. Spread out evenly in the skillet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ice cream.

   I loved this and will be making it very often I'm quite positive. Not only do you only mess up one pan you can customize it very easily with different chips etc {which I did, the recipe originally called for choc chips}

The guys seemed to really enjoy it as well. And Daddy was happy to see his little boy =)

First Father's Day

.............................................................................

As a father has compassion on

his children, so the Lord

has compassion on those who

fear Him...

~Psalm 103:13

Have a happy day!

♥ Sheila

   

 

Key Lime Cupcakes

   One of my favorite summer desserts is Key Lime Pie. Every time I eat a slice I can almost believe that I'm sitting on a sandy Florida beach soaking up the warm sunshine with the sound of waves crashing along the shore. {ahhh now I really am wishing I was there!} 

   I've never made one though, had actually never even bought key limes until the other day... Saw them while I was grocery shopping and decided to buy them and try my hand at making something key lime, whether a pie or something else. 

   Since I'm crazy about cupcakes at the moment I went that route but was a little disappointed how they turned out. They taste great, the cake part was just dense and heavy instead of airy and light like cupcakes normally are. Not sure what went wrong, I did everything like the recipe said {except adding extra lime and using part cake flour} but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the problem. So maybe that was just how they were supposed to be??

    Anyway here is the recipe if you would like to give it a whirl..... 

Key Lime Cupcakes

yield: 26 cupcakes

   Cupcakes:

  1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup cake flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk

10 graham crackers squares, crumbled

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

5 egg yolks

1/2 cup fresh squeezed key lime juice {about 8 key limes}

2 tsp key lime zest

toasted coconut {garnish}

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix in graham cracker crumbs.Slowly add dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, alternating between each one. In a  separate bowl mix egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice. Pour into the batter and stir slightly. Fill cupcakes tins 3/4 full. Bake @ 350* for 15-20 minutes. Remove from tins and place on wire racks to cool. Frost with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting.

Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 {8oz}pkg cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

fresh squeezed juice of 2 key limes

1 tsp key lime zest

3 cups powdered sugar

Mix cream cheese and butter until combined. Add lime juice, zest and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Frost the cupcakes and garnish with toasted coconut, lime zest and key lime slices if desired.

...........................................................

Great is His faithfulness;

His mercies begin afresh

every morning.

~Lamentations 3:23

May your day be blessed!

♥Sheila