Bacon brings this pork loin roast to a whole 'nother level. It's natural saltiness and smokiness adds complexity to the spicy kick of the bourbon mustard. The mustard brand used in this recipe (Stoneridge) has some crushed seeds in the mix which adds more kick and a bit of texture. I chose a thick cut bacon. Each slice is twice as thick as a standard slice of bacon --- mmmore bacon flavor and it will hold its shape better through cooking and slicing. I also precooked the bacon for a couple of minutes to give it a richer color. You don't want to fully cook the bacon because the remaining bacon fat will baste the pork loin as it cooks, keeping it juicy and tender. Don't forget to remove the toothpicks before serving! Bacon Wrapped Bourbon Mustard Pork Loin Print ... [Read More]
low carb
Cobb Salad with Ranch Dressing
Cobb salads are a favorite in our house! They usually make an appearance once a week like clockwork, especially in summer. Crisp Romaine lettuce topped with a variety of healthy protein and drizzled with your choice of creamy Ranch Dressing. Cobb Salad fits deliciously into both Keto and Low Carb ways of eating. They are so easy and quick to put together, too. Avocados all end up on Wheel's bowl -- it's a texture thing! -- but he doesn't mind because he loves them. Fresh limes in the Great Plains are usually reasonably priced only in season, but they are a nice alternative for dressing. Making your own Ranch dressing lets you control the ingredients for both health and flavor. Buttermilk gives the dressing its own little tang, but it is not something I regularly have on ... [Read More]
Cod Fish with Garlic Herb Butter
Fish is not a big staple in the Great Plains where the buffalo roam and cattle graze. So it's not the first thing a Cornhusker thinks of when it it is time to prepare dinner. However, it is part of a healthy diet, especially if you are striving for better heart health and general health improvements overall. Or need a change of taste! I am always looking for a different way to prepare fish. But I also like quick and easy. This recipe fits both! And the garlic herb butter is also fantastic on that other staple of the Great Plains, especially this time of year! Corn on the cob. Cod Fish with Garlic Herb Butter Print Prep time 5 mins Cook time 10 mins Total time 15 mins Quick, easy and tasty! Author: A Pinch of Joy by Charlene Vance Recipe type: ... [Read More]
Creamy Tortellini Soup
Creamy Tortellini Soup is worth a regular spot in anyone’s lunch planning rotation. The flavor is so creamy and delicious it’s hard to believe that it goes together so quickly easily. Or that it has only 12 carbs! I often think of soup as a great place to use leftovers. A half cup of any kind of vegetable – in it goes. A bit of leftover meat – dice it up and toss it in. Half a baked potato – chunk it up and chuck it in. Not this soup! It’s already well balanced with great flavors. Don’t mess with this by adding something more! However, there are still some options. Use vegetable broth if you prefer. Broth a bit short? It’s okay to add up to half water to make up the difference. Out of fresh garlic? Use minced garlic from a jar. No cream or half and half? Use whatever ... [Read More]
Cinna Mini Rolls – Air Fryer
These mini cinnamon rolls were fun to make and offered instant reward! Well, not exactly instant but they were ready to eat in about 12 minutes and that’s pretty close to instant in cinnamon roll world. And they are fun to eat and oh so good! Would make a fun addition to an appetizer table. Or a breakfast table. Or with dinner. Or a snack – oh heck, for any occasion, any time! Older kids could make these by themselves – with an adult handling the air fryer. I’m sporting a burn on my wrist where I bumped it on the basket. The motor skills required to make these small rolls are more than younger children can do well, but they certainly could handle stirring and drizzling the glaze. Edible by all ages! Separate the crescent dough the long way. Press the perforations ... [Read More]
Our Diabetes Story with list of Informative Resources
November is American Diabetes month. Wheels – athletic build with an active lifestyle – was diagnosed as diabetic over a decade ago. His doctors were astonished as he did not fit the profile of a potential diabetic at all. We were on the go and ate healthy 95% of the time. In fact, Wheels did not care for dessert and we almost never ate bread. Researchers have now linked poor sleep over a long period of time with development of diabetes. It is quite possible that was a big factor in our case. Wheels supervised a night shift for almost seven years and tried to be an active parent and spouse during daylight hours. Recently I was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I did not sleep well for many years following my auto accident, due to pain and stress. Two hours of sleep was a good ... [Read More]