Saturday, July 28, 2012

Grilled Pork Chops

I've never eaten a pork chop before!!! 

We wanted to try something for dinner that wasn't one of our regular meals and the husband suggested chops. I wasn't so sure I was in love with the idea but thought I would give it a try. The weather has been beautiful and I liked the idea of using the grill. 

We were looking for a marinade and came across the Weber marinade mix packets. There was a garlic & herb one that just required some lemon juice. As you already know anything with the word "garlic" is ok with me. The best thing about these marinade packets is that you can just use a few teaspoons at a time and save the rest for later. It's so much easier than figuring out how much marinade from a bottle to use. 

These pork chops came out very flavorful and they were super moist!!!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 pork chops (8 oz. each)
2 tsps. Weber garlic & herb marinade mix (pictured below)
1 lemon, juice of
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl: Combine everything but the pork chops. Mix well. 
  2. Transfer to a ziploc bag. Add the pork chops and let marinate 2 hours (or more) in the refrigerator. 
  3. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Grill on both sides until fully cooked. About 6 minutes per side.




This is the marinade mix we used. You just add lemon juice!
IngredientsCaloriesCarbsFatProteinSugarFiber
Meijer Brand - Pork Loin Chop Boneless, 16 ounces56012129600Ico_delete
Weber (Just Add Juice) - Garlic & Herb Marinade Mix, 2 tsp dry mix (3g)1040010Ico_delete
Lemon Juice (Squeezed) - Juice From 1 Fresh Lemon, 1 lemon2480020Ico_delete
Schnuck's - Vegetable Oil, 0.33 Tbsp4005000Ico_delete
Generic - Ground Black Pepper , 0.5 g, 1 tsp000000Ico_delete
Generic - Kosher Salt, 1/4 tsp (1.4g)000000Ico_delete
Add Ingredient      
Total:63424179630
Per Serving:3171294820

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake-Lightened Up!!

This is not a new recipe for me. This is the 5th time I'm making it and I've always followed the recipe exactly. I never really thought to try to make it a "lighter" version...But let's face it...it's still full of fat and sugar.

I used fat free cream cheese instead of regular, seriously cut down the sugar, left out the cornstarch...

The original version has 824 calories, 56.6g. of fat, 58g. of sugar, 68.8 carbs. 

THIS version has 467 calories, 20g. of fat, 43 sugar, and 53 carbs.

Overall this was still really good. If I didn't know the full delicious fatty taste I wouldn't be missing anything. BUT I've tried the rich decadence before so I'm kind of biased.

I also did not choose to bake this in a water bath and I typically always do this with my cheesecakes. Not sure how that affected the cooking time.

Since I typically only make this for special occasions (like Thanksgiving) I think I will be making the full fat version. The original version also says it serves 16 but I don't know if I could make that work :)


Serves 8

Ingredients

1c. chocolate graham cracker crumbs
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
24 oz. fat free cream cheese, room temperature
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
12 oz. white chocolate chips
1/2 c. half-n-half
2 c. frozen raspberries
1/4 c. water
1 Tbsp. sugar

1 c. heavy cream (half pint)
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

whipped cream
fresh raspberries

Directions:

1. Line a spring-form pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 325.

2. In a blender or food processor: Grind graham crackers to crumbs. Combine butter and graham cracker crumbs to make a crust. Press into spring-form pan.

3. In a small saucepan: combine frozen raspberries, 1 Tbsp. sugar, and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain through a mesh strainer to get rid of the seeds.

4. Combine chocolate chips and half-n-half in a bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds and stir. Chips will start to melt. Depending on the microwave you might need to do additional 15 second increments. Don't burn the chocolate.

5. In a large bowl: Beat cream cheese and 2 Tbsp. sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time until smooth. Add chocolate mixture. Mix well.

6. Pour half of the cheesecake mixture into the spring-form pan. Top with 3 Tbsps. of the raspberry sauce. Pour remaining cheesecake mixture.

7. Pour about 3 Tbsp. of raspberry sauce over the top in parallel lines about 1 inch apart. Swirl the sauce with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.

8. Bake for 1 hour. Check on the cheesecake. Cook for additional 15 minute increments if necessary. Mine took about 1 1/2 hours.

9. Let cheesecake come to room temperature. Transfer to a plate and cover. Let sit in the freezer overnight or 8 hours.

Top with whipped cream and fresh raspberries. (optional)









IngredientsCaloriesCarbsFatProteinSugarFiber
Hyvee - Fat Free Cream Cheese, 3 container (8 oz (28 grams) ea.)72048096480Ico_delete
Great Value - Pure Cane Sugar, 9 tsp1353600360Ico_delete
Mccormick's - Pure Vanilla Extract, 1 tsp. (5mL)1210010Ico_delete
Hyvee - Grade A Large Eggs, 3 Egg (50g)2103141800Ico_delete
Nestle's - White Chocolate Chips, 1 container (24 tbsp (14g) ea.)1,6802169602160Ico_delete
Organic Valley - Half N Half, 8 TBSP160414440Ico_delete
Honey Maid - Chocolate Graham Crackers, 7 full cracker sheets45584117287Ico_delete
Great Value - Unsalted Sweet Butter , 2 tbsp (14g)200022000Ico_delete
Great Value - Red Raspberries (Frozen, No Sugar Added), 2 cup (140 g)16034241218Ico_delete
Generic - Filtered Tap Water, 2 oz.000000Ico_delete
Add Ingredient
Total:373242615912934525
Per Serving:467532016433