I Love Popcorn! Microwave Popcorn Popper

I've been trying to find snacks that I love that are healthier for me.   At the first of the year, I bought this Nordic Ware Quick Pop Single Serve Popper.  I love it!!

•  Nordic Ware Quick Pop Single Serve Popper, Assorted Color

I make popcorn 3 or 4 times a week now.  It uses 1/4 cup of popcorn with no oil and takes about 3 minutes to pop.  It did take a few times to learn how long to cook it in my microwave so that most of the kernels cooked but did not overcook.  I use Orville Redenbacher white corn.  It is delicious.  You can find this popcorn in most grocery stores.  You can use any loose kernel popcorn in the popper.
                                             

Healthy Eating for the New Year

A new year is a perfect time to make a few changes.   I want to find foods that I love that are healthy and easy.
My first change -

I love fruits and vegetables so this just means I have to make a conscious effort to have them in the house and ready to eat.

I have a box of Red River Grapefruit, so I just added a banana, strawberries, and a kiwi to the grapefruit.  It was delicious with breakfast.

Boneless Pork Loin Roast

I cooked a pork roast for dinner last night.  This recipe came from my mother.  She was a wonderful cook and she loved when others enjoyed what she had made.  Everyone was welcome at her table.

Boneless Pork Loin Roast

1 boneless pork loin roast
salt
pepper
1 - 2 tablespoons of oil

Salt and pepper the roast all over.
Put enough oil in the pan to lightly cover the bottom.
Heat pan on high and put roast in it.
Brown roast on all sides.
 ( I used a roast that was a little under 5 lbs.  I had to cut it in half so it would fit in my pan.)
Add 1-2 cups of water to the pan. (I add the water until it is about 1/2  way up the roast.)
When the water comes to a boil,  turn the stove down to medium and put a lid on the pan.
Simmer the roast for about 2 hours until it is fork .tender.
When the roast is tender, remove the lid and let the water boil until the liquid is reduced.
Flip the roast over so that both sides get coated in this reduced liquid. It will make it a beautiful caramel color.
Remove from pan,slice, and put on platter.
(It will slice better if you let it cool a little.)

Ginger Sauce

Boiled shrimp for dinner!  

This weekend my friend made a run to the coast to pick up shrimp fresh from the boat.  They were delicious.

We always make ginger sauce when we have shrimp.  We've been using this recipe for over 20 years.

Ginger Sauce

1 jumbo sweet onion, peeled
2 ounces fresh ginger, peeled
1 lemon with the ends cut off
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup soy sauce

Blend onion, ginger, and lemon in a blender.
Add sugar to water and heat until the sugar is dissolved.  Pour into blender and mix until it is liquefied.
Add soy sauce to blender and mix.
( With my blender, I have to add the sugar water at the same time as the ginger, onion, and lemon)

Pour into jars and refrigerate. This makes 2 pint jars.

Reading with Aunt B - Carnal Curiosity

Stone Barrington is back in "Carnal Curiosity" by Stuart Woods.   From the book jacket - "When Manhattan’s elite are beset by a series of clever crimes—and Stone is a material witness—he and his former partner Dino Bacchetti find themselves drawn into the world of high-end security and fraud, where insider knowledge and access are limited to a privileged few, and the wealthy are made vulnerable by the very systems meant to keep them safe."
This is an easy and entertaining book.


                                                   Carnal Curiosity (Stone Barrington)

Reading with Aunt B - NYPD RED 2

I am half way through reading "NYPD Red 2" by James Patterson and Marshall Karp. From the book jacket - When NYPD Red arrives at a crime scene, everyone takes notice. Known as the protectors of the rich, famous, and connected, NYPD Red is the elite task force called in only for New York City's most high-profile crimes.
I am loving this book. It has an interesting story and characters.


                                                                      NYPD Red 2

Reading with Aunt B - The Survivors Club

"The Survivors Club" by Lisa Gardner is the tale of three women who survived brutal attacks by serial rapist Eddie Cuomo and form a support group, The Survivors Club.  When Eddie is murdered right before his court appearance, they become the prime suspects. Lots of twists and turns follow.


                                                    The Survivors Club: A Thriller