chives

Smothered Pork Chops

Leah Short — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 12:08:20 +0000

I was flipping through my cookbooks last week and nothing sounded good to me. Do you ever get in those moods where you want something, but you have no idea what that something is? I was in the mood to cook, but had no cravings. Nothing was jumping out at me, until I flipped to Smothered Pork Chops. Crispy pork chops smothered in a white wine-mushroom-chive cream sauce. This is why it’s essential for cookbooks to have pictures! I think I even said, “Oh yeah, smothered chops for dinner!” I definitely eat with my eyes first.

Read more on Smothered Pork Chops

The post Smothered Pork Chops appeared first on Leah Claire.

Creamy Corn with Chives

Leah Short — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:56:25 +0000

In my last post, I shared with you an entire meal that came in around 420 calories. Usually the main dish is the star of the show, and while I loved the flavor of the Baked Sage Breaded Pork Chops, what I went crazy over was the corn. Yep, corn. Back when I lived with my mom, we used to joke about having corn with every meal because she always had a bag of frozen corn in her freezer. But this isn’t your ordinary corn side dish. It’s Creamy Corn with Chives and it completely took center stage on my plate! Have you ever munched on a few bites of part of your dinner while waiting on the rest to finish cooking? That was me with this corn. I almost ruined my dinner because I ate so much of it. It was that good!

Read more on Creamy Corn with Chives

The post Creamy Corn with Chives appeared first on Leah Claire.

Meatloaf Cupcakes

Leah Short — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:02:24 +0000

Ok yes, they’re quirky and some folks don’t like when food looks like other food, but that doesn’t bother me. I think these Meatloaf Cupcakes are so funny and every time I see them, I flash a silly grin. I had such a fun time in the kitchen making them. What’s not to love about a meatloaf base, mashed potatoes on top, plus bacon and chives? What’s great about this recipe is that it not only looks interesting, but it tastes absolutely fantastic! I will make this meatloaf again and again and again. I may not always pipe on potatoes and call them cupcakes, but this meatloaf recipe is a keeper!

Read more on Meatloaf Cupcakes

The post Meatloaf Cupcakes appeared first on Leah Claire.

Hard Apple Cider Croque Monsieur

Leah Short — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:45:46 +0000

I’m really excited to share this recipe for Hard Apple Cider Croque Monsieur. I have no idea what made this pop into my head as a good way to cook with Crispin Cider, but I’m glad it did. I’m madly in love with the Croque Monsieur/Croque Madame sandwich. It’s a fancy ham and cheese that’s grilled and then topped with a decadent cheese sauce. The madame version also gets topped with a runny egg. Be still my beating heart! I wanted to take this showstopper to another level and thought apples would pair perfectly with the Gruyere and ham. I’m happy to report it worked!

Read more on Hard Apple Cider Croque Monsieur

The post Hard Apple Cider Croque Monsieur appeared first on Leah Claire.

Quick Chive Mashed Potatoes

Leah Short — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:35:59 +0000

Mashed potatoes. I love them. I love the real deal and I love instant. I could (and have) had a bowlful of mashed potatoes for dinner on several occasions. They are one carb I will never give up (although for the record, mashed cauliflower is darn delicious, too).Â You have to admit, making the real deal can be quite time consuming, and a lot of folks refuse to do instant. Enter Quick Chive Mashed Potatoes. They’re quick and easy, yet not from the powdered stuff. A nice middle ground for when you’re short on time for dinner.

So, how’s it taste?

Really good. I was shocked you could get the flavor and texture from frozen mashed potatoes. I had never heard of Ore Ida Steam n’ Mash until I found this recipe. I try to stay away from the frozen potato aisle and all those fries begging to get in my cart. The Steam n’ Mash are cubes of potatoes and you steam them right in the bag (or in a bowl if you don’t want the whole thing) in the microwave and then mash with a fork. Pretty simple and you can have them as chunky or as smooth as you like. I like mine with a few big chunks. For this recipe, sour cream, fat-free milk, and butter are added. I left out the butter to save calories and it works great without it. I also used reduced-fat sour cream. ANDâ€¦I used almond milk. I forgot to buy regular milk and that was all I had on hand but guess what? It totally worked! You couldn’t detect anything different at all. Saving on calories again! The flavor is spectacular with the chives. Chives and sour cream, sign me up!

I will note that a few of the chunks didn’t cook through as much as the others. While I was mashing with a fork, I noticed some were harder to mash. To remedy that, pop your bowl back in the microwave for a few seconds and they’ll cook more.

I served these Quick Chive Mashed Potatoes with Hamburger Steak and Onion Gravy. It’s a meat and potatoes meal you’ll love and won’t feel guilty about eating since the meal is under 400 calories. Add some cooked carrots and you’ve got a winning dinner in no time.

Quick Chive Mashed Potatoes

Cooking Light, April 2013
makes 4 servings (1 serving = about 1/2 cup)
per serving: 108 calories, 5.5g fat

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen mashed potatoes (such as Ore Ida Steam n' Mash)
2 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
2 tbsp. sour cream (reduced fat works well)
2 tbsp. fat-free milk (almond milk works well)
1 tbsp. butter (can omit if preferred)
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Heat mashed potatoes according to microwave instructions.

2. Stir in chives, sour cream, milk, butter, and pepper.

The post Quick Chive Mashed Potatoes appeared first on Leah Claire.

Dill & Chive Peas

Leah Short — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:28:37 +0000

That’s a beautiful bowl of peas, right? I know it’s just peas, and who gets excited about peas? This girl! Adding fresh herbs and seasoning turns average peas into Dill & Chive Peas. You’re still not convinced? You should be. This was my favorite dish on Thanksgiving. Yep, peas. (I’m not including cake…let’s be real, no pea is gonna beat cake.)

So, how’s it taste?

I’m obsessed with these peas. I don’t think I could ever eat peas plain again. I’m a huge advocate of using fresh herbs and you’ll taste why when you eat a forkful of these peas. The dill and chive work beautifully together and the lemon pepper adds just a little something extra. The little bit of butter coats the peas and helps the herbs stick. So simple, yet so amazingly flavorful. You can follow the amounts in the recipe or add as much or as little of the herbs as you like. I added a lot more of the chive and dill. I couldn’t help myself and it only made them better. Consider these peas when you need a quick side. Great for everyday dinner or a fancy meal when you want to wow your guests.

Dill & Chive Peas

by Tanna Richard, Taste of Home, October/November 2012
makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 package (12 to 16 oz.) frozen peas
1/4 cup snipped fresh dill
2 tbsp. minced fresh chives
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. lemon-pepper seasoning
1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Directions:

1. Cook peas according to package directions. Stir in remaining ingredients; serve immediately.

The post Dill & Chive Peas appeared first on Leah Claire.