Margarita Pork Tenderloin

I made this last night and served it with Tex-Mex Summer Squash Casserole. The pork was great, the side dish just OK. I don't know if I would make it again- but my family did like it. They were fooled into eating squash by all the great tex-mex flavors.

3 garlic cloves, minced
1 green onion, minced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons tequila
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins

Combine first 10 ingredients in a shallow dish or large zip-top plastic freezer bag. Cut pork diagonally into 1-inch-thick slices, and add to tequila mixture. Cover or seal, and chill 1 hour, turning occasionally. Remove pork from marinade, discarding marinade. Grill, covered with grill lid, over high heat (400° to 500°) 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until done.

Apple Pie

Nothin' says lovin' from your oven like a ymmy apple pie :)

1 Package Pilsbury Pie Crusts
9-10 apples, two different kinds, one Granny Smith
1/4 Cup Apple Juice
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Corn Starch
dash of salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice

Preheat oven to 425. Roll one pie crust out into pie plate. Peel and chip apples into large mixing bowl. In separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir to blend. Combine all liquid ingredients in another bowl and stir to blend. Pour dry and liquid over apples and stir well.

Place in oven and bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cover entire pie with foil. Cut slits in center of foil and peel back so mainly the outer edge is covered (to prevent it from burning). Reduce heat to 375 and continue baking for 45-55 minutes or until golden. Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Cheesesteak Subs

I made these yummy sandwiches yesterday. I only thing I would add is mushrooms....and maybe tomatoes and lettuce. They tasted like something from a food court mall!

3 tablespoons butter
1 green pepper, halved and sliced
1 onion, halved and sliced into thin half moons
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons A-1 steak sauce
1 pound deli roast beef, cut into 2-inch strips
Salt and pepper
4 -6 (6-inch) sub rolls (depending on how meaty you like them – I did 6)
4-6 slices provolone cheese, cut on half

In a large skillet, melt the butter, add the onion and peppers; cook until softened and golden. Stir in the garlic and oregano and cook for a minute, until it smells fragrant. Add the A-1 sauce and the beef, stirring well to coat the beef with the sauce and onion/butter mixture. Cook until the meat is heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the sliced rolls on a rimmed baking sheet. Place to halves of provolone on half of each roll. Broil until bread is toasted and cheese is melted. Top each roll with meat mixture . Serve immediately.

POWDERED SUGAR COOKIES

I guess we heart powdered sugar. As I was cleaning out my pantry and cupboards this week I found 5 opened and 2 unopened bags! Drew loves sugar cookies, so I went on the hunt to find a recipe that used powered sugar and came up with this one. I used a teaspoon to make balls and they came out bigger than the inch suggested below. It will make 2 dozen-ish depending on how much dough is eaten!



1/2 lb. butter, softened
1 c. confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla or other flavoring
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream butter until light and fluffy, stirring in sugar gradually. Add egg and vanilla or other flavoring.
Combine flour and baking soda until well mixed. Stir into creamed mixture.

Shape into 1 inch balls and arrange 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Press each ball down with the tines of a fork.

Bake for about 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks.