The wonders of Coca-Cola...

Picture this: a hot sunny ,humid day that makes you drag and feel like the day will never end....and then, there it is...a nice cold, icy, with a lime, Coke just sitting there waiting for you! Yes I know soda is not the healthiest but I can't help but put in a word on a classic favorite. Even though it is scary to think of all its true uses, I will tell you this much- it rocks in the kitchen! Yes it does and with the following recipes I will show you how to give a different taste to everyday foods that have the potential to wow any crowd.

Coke and Coffee Pork Loin
What you will need: (serves 6)
1 cup warm water, plus 1 cup cold water

1 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp salt

1 (2 1/2 to 3-pound) pork loin

1/4 cup ground coffee beans

3 Tbsp dark brown sugar

2 Tbsp ground pepper

1 Tsp cinnamon

3 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil

For the sauce:

1/2 pound bacon, diced

1 package of gravy mix, dissolve in 1 cup water

1 cup red wine

1 cup pineapple juice, from canned pineapple tidbits

1/2 cup pineapple tidbits

1 cup coke (DO NOT USE DIET!)

How to Make:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Preparing the pork:

Combine 1 cup of warm water with the vinegar, sugar and salt in a medium bowl, whisking until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Transfer to a large resealable gallon-sized plastic bag or a container that seals well. Add 1 cup of cold water and the pork loin, seal, and refrigerate overnight.
Mix the coffee, brown sugar, pepper, and cinnamon. Remove the pork loin from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Rub with the spice mix, transfer the pork to a baking sheet and set it aside at room temperature.
In a large skillet melt the butter with the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork loin and brown for 5 minutes, turning to brown all sides. Place on a baking sheet and roast until the temperature reads 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour. Remove the roast from the oven, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. (This will help keep the juices inside-resist temptation of cutting it)

Sauce:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook the diced bacon until crispy. Remove any excess fat from the pan and add the gravy, red wine, coke, pineapple juice and pineapple tidbits. Bring back to a simmer over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by half. Slice the pork loin and serve with the sauce on the side.

Cocktail Sausage Appetizer
What you need:
2 packets of little smokies
1 Cup of Ketchup
1 Cup of Coke

How to make:
In a large saucepan place both packages of smokies on med high heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Add the coke and ketchup and lower heat to medium. Let cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve while hot!

ENJOY!

New year..New everything!

Nothing beats the holidays...and now that they are over and a new year has arrived, it is time to make changes in life. CHANGE IS GOOD and healthy for everyone. So, enough about making unreachable resolutions- go for smaller simpler easier to accomplish things.

Here are some suggestions:
>> Volunteer...at church, at a homeless shelter, at a local school...anywhere! you'd be surprised how many people need a hand and a smile!
>> Speaking of smiles...smile more often!
>> Learn something new... a craft, a sport, a game, useless facts..anything!!
>> Donate...go into your closet and take out everything that you haven't touched in the past 6 months..chances are you are not going to use it so donate it to someone who will
>> GO green!...change the light bulbs, start recycling, grow your own veggies, the list is endless!
>> Become a big brother or big sister...those kids need positive influences, and YOU could be the one.
>> Read...yes yes, I know for some of you this is VERY difficult, but trust me when I tell you this, there is something good to read for everyone out there
>> Travel...even if it's in your car in your state, go somewhere you haven't gone, and meet the locals, learn something new about what they do or where you go
>> Go to a concert, a museum, or an art fair...it's fun. END OF STORY!
>> Throw a party, just for kicks..and make it a theme party...I speak from experience, VERY worth it.

And now for an easy super yummy classic recipe. For you shrimp lovers and pasta lovers... here is my recipe for shrimp scampi. A word on a couple of the ingredients: shallots are baby onions with a softer, milder flavor. You can find them in any grocery store in small packets by the regular onions- just be careful chopping them, since they are small they can be difficult to manage. Chives, are baby scallions. You can find them in most grocery stores, usually in the specialty herb section. They have a nice bite and onion flavor. (also great for scrambled eggs).

What you need:
2 Tbsp Evoo (extra virgin olive oil)
1 Shallot
1/2 Cup grape tomatos
1/2 Lb of shrimp, clean, uncooked
1/4 Cup White wine (one that you would drink!)
2 Tbs Butter
1/2 Lb of angel hair pasta
1 Tbsp Chopped chives
1/2 Tsp Italian flat leave parsley
Lemon zest
Salt & pepper to taste
Red Pepper flakes- optional.

How to  make:
One med high heat, add to saute pan, add everything except the pasta, chives, parsley and lemon zest. Cook pasta separately for 7-8 minutes for "al dente" finish- meaning not too cooked that it disintegrates in your mouth. When the shrimp turn pink (2-3 minutes), add the cooked pasta, and right before serving add the lemon zest, parsley and the chives. If you do not like spicy food, skip the red pepper flakes. Do not overcook the shrimp, it will become rubbery if you leave it on the heat too long. Serve this with a simple salad. You can substitute the angel hair pasta with any other pasta. You can also add other veggies like peas, corn, and mushrooms.

Total time including preparing the ingredients and cooking should be less than 20 minutes! Enjoy!~