Tag: simple food

Pineapple infused meatloaf and roasted vegetables

It’s all about keeping things simple right now and this recipe is just that simple, and delicious. Dinner is served!

I love love love pineapple, it’s fresh, and light and super versatile for using in sweet and savory dishes. It makes food fell island inspired and let’s face it we would all love to be on a refreshing island get away right about now! Tonight I combine it with a simple pork meatloaf and some rustic spicy roasted vegetables.

Here is what you need:

1lb ground pork unseasoned not sausage

1 slice of bread

1 bunch scallions sliced separate greens and whites

1 yellow bell pepper diced

2 small sweet potatoes peeled and diced

1 small chili pepper diced from the middle to the tip discard the stem end and seeds

1 small can of pineapple wedges in juice not syrup

3 tbsp hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425°F grease a large baking sheet with olive oil and set aside.

Place bread in a large bowl. Open pineapple, reserve 2 Tbsp of pineapple juice for sauce and drain the remaining juice over the bread. Set pineapple pieces aside.

Using your hands mash the bread into a paste and add scallion whites and ground pork. Blend together with your hands add salt and pepper. Form into 3-4 small “loaves” about 1in thick, they do not need to be perfect. Place on the greased baking sheet and wash your hands.

In a small bowl combine hoisin sauce and reserved pineapple juice mix well and baste over top of the meat loaves. Reserve enough for one more coating after initial baking time. Take pineapple pieces and place on baking sheet with the meatloaf.

In a large bowl combine diced sweet potatoes, bell pepper, half of green scallions and chili pepper coat with olive oil and pepper to taste and place in a small roasting pan.

Place veggies on the middle shelf and meatloaf on the top shelf of the oven and bake for 20 min. Remove veggies from the oven check for doneness of the potatoes. Remove meatloaf and apply a new coating of sauce, remove pineapple from pan and place back in the oven for another 10min make sure meat is cooked to correct temp. Top meatloaf with toasted pineapple pieces and remaining scallion greens. Serve hot with a side of roasted veggies! Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

Tonight’s dinner is filling and simple, with a homemade sauce. Creamy chicken spaghetti with roasted tomatoes and basil! Yummy!

Making a simple homemade pasta sauce is super easy and once you perfect a base you’ll find changing up the flavor is super easy! I encourage you to give it a try!

Here’s what you need for this tasty pasta dish!

1lb chicken cut into strips

Spaghetti

1 lemon zested and quartered

2 Roma tomatoes, cut into wedges

2 tbsp tuscan or southwest seasoning

3 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp cream cheese

1/4c. Parmesan cheese

2 sprigs of fresh basil chopped

Salt and pepper

Olive oil

Preheat oven to 400°F, and bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

Zest and cut lemon and wedge the tomatoes. Place tomatoes skin side down on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt pepper and tuscan 1 tsp tuscan seasoning. Place in preheated oven and roast until they start to soften and juices can be seen releasing around the wedges.

Rinse and drain chicken, pat dry with paper towels, add to a preheated skillet with olive oil, salt, pepper, and 1tsp of the tuscan seasoning. Cook until browned and heated to temp.

Meanwhile cook spaghetti reserce 1/2 c of pasta water, drain pasta and set aside, do not rinse your pasta!

In the pot from the pasta add butter, cream cheese, reserved pasta water, lemon zest and the juice from half of the lemon. Cook on medium heat until melted and well blended. Add pasta, parmesan cheese and chicken. Stir until well blended. Add tomatoes and chopped basil. Serve hot! Enjoy!!