Earlier this week, I decided to make pasta salad- my wife enjoys this as a lunch or a side dish... I take my version into the "one stop meal" range, by the ingredients I put in it!
First, I hard boil and peel a couple of eggs, and let them cool. I then get the spiral, multi-colored pasta underway, boiling salt water, and cooking to Al Dente, shocking it after draining in a colander with cold water.. I then start chopping... Onions, celery, green olives, pepperoni, ham, Monterey Jack cheese, sharp Cheddar cheese, the hard boiled eggs,and- darn! Out of bell peppers! Oh well, there is a substantial amount of stuff in this already.. I then mix with a zesty Italian dressing, with a creamy Italian dressing and pour over the added pasta and other ingredients- chill for a couple of hours, draining a bit of dressing off as moisture in salad settles.. This is a popular dish to haul to summer potlucks, or picnics!
Yesterday afternoon, I got a light trim of a haircut(I'm trying to grow a pony tail for the first time in my life!). I was close to a good butcher shop, which makes a wife-favorite treat- stuffed pork chops! I bought two for dinner. When I got home, I seasoned the pork with salt, pepper, and savory blend.. sprayed with olive oil and baked covered for 1-3/4 hrs. They swelled, as shown in the photo, stayed moist as I roasted uncovered for 15 min. With a little gravy on the side, it made for a pleasant surprise for my wife...
35 comments:
looks really tasty but again your cooking times blow me away - 2 hours for pork chops?! wowzers!
Covered, stuffed pork chops don't get dry, but they are concerned with the stuffing reaching a heat that kills bacteria...
I love the pasta salad, it sounds very,very good.
denise- It's a meal by itself... Tried to post a comment on your blog- no luck...
You are such a good hubby! I'd love one of those stuffed pork chops and your pasta salad for dinner.
I'll have both! They look so good.
Katherine- Thanks! I'm setting her up for letting me spend some money on some good fireworks...
Gene- Still bachin' it, I think!
I love pasta salad and pork chops. MWM likes neither! :(
Ake- Come on over, and leave him to fend for himself! :)
Buff....?
Pony Tail?
Want me to send you a Harley Brochure?
it has to get up to 158 F and I think in two hours it is there and then some....
G-man- I do still keep my cycle permit up do date...but I was more of an off the road dirt biker!
DogB- If I would have made them, I would not have cooked them that long- but they were bought, and I wasn't taking any chances.. Plus tightly covered with aluminum foil, they were quite moist..
I see now - you bought them with stuffing - good idea not to risk it then - 165 is the optimum but they start to die at 158 or so.....
I'm thinkin I'll have a little of both, salad & chops, hmmmm, what does that mean???
Pasta Salad tastes great with pesto sauce and mayo dressing I discovered!
Lucky Wife!
That's what I need to make to shake things up this week.....thick cut pork chops!
Both the pasta and pork look great!
DogB- That's what I thought too...
StarB- It means you think like my wife!
Mona- I've been craving pesto lately...
Chris- Got (4) 4-1/2lb. whole chickens and two racks of baby backs for the Fourth.. goin' in the BB-Q smoker that day!
Hi UncleBuf! I have some bell peppers if you want to borrow some! Green, yellow, and red--I'll trade you for a taste! :)
--snow
MMMMM. Your pasta salald sounds amazingly delish! Perfect BBQ companion, yes. Lucky wife that you bought her a special treat, youre a sweetie.
I've been reading up and I'm convinced that I can come up with a pasta salad that uses everything from my garden with only the additions of cheese and dressing. How awesome is THAT?
Snowniece- I like to buy a three pack of colored bell peppers, one yellow, one red, and one orange..
Donna- It worked! I get an extra $100 to blow on fireworks!
Kate- Very awesome! Pasta salad is the free form expression of the cook!
I love the sound of your free form expression!
Casdok! Good to hear from you! Different ingredients for different folks!
That pasta salad is definitely my kind of meal. It sounds just fabulous!
PONYTAIL? Are you going to buy some pretty ribbons to tie it back??
Jamie- On hot days, it's all you need for lunch...
Hit 40- No, probably cat gut...HeeHeeHee...
A ponytail! Very cool :)
That pasta salad is totally up my alley--I've never had it with creamy Italian...
I could live on pasta salad, and I think yours just might meet all of my nutritional requirements!
YUMMM!
Does your wife cook Buff? Sounds like you spoil her with your cooking jsut like my hubby does with me :)
Gotta love a man who can cook!
T.L.- Never had one, One less thing on my "to do" list before I croak...
Dana- Seems to be a popular item around here lately!
KB- She can, but it's best I do it! Tonight, her choices will be a kielbasa sandwich, or a French dip with beef, Swiss cheese, and sauteed onions..
mmmm...gravy on the side.
pony tail!!
There ya go with the dam pork again lol..... ok, I'll eat the pretty pasta..
x
Pink- Yeah, ponytail! About another month before I can tie it back... Right now I just look like I'm homeless!
Marmy- Pork Kielbasa tonight! Hope you're feeling better...
Hope you are feeling good, and doing well! Food looks good as always...I had those pork chops in Texas and made me realize I have to eat pork more often...
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