One Chop, Two Chop, Red Chop, PORK Chop

Dinner For Two: College Edition

One of the hardest things college students have to deal with is trying to keep up on dates with their boyfriends/girlfriends. Everyone knows money can be tight so sometimes date nights consist of cooking at home. Unfortunately, sometimes its just the same recipes and same routines so I decided I needed to spice things up and try a brand new recipe. Because I am ballin' on a budget, this recipe was perfect because of how cheap everything was once it came down to it. 

I, for one, can not wait to move back home when my parents will be paying for groceries and I can actually eat decent food (wink wink, mom & dad)! So for this post I will be sharing an easy recipe almost anyone can do! Lemon Basil Pork Chops with Oven Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli!

This recipe was super easy and also it is one you can make earlier in the day if you have afternoon classes. I chose to make it 2 hours before I cooked everything so I knew everything would be marinated perfectly. 

Below are pictures of everything marinated before being cooked

Lemon Basil Pork Chops

Ingredients:

• 2 Pork Chops
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil, chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoon of garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Salt and pepper (around 3/4 tsp each)

Directions: 

• In a small bowl, combine basil, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Put your chops on a plate and generously coat both sides with the mixture.
• If you are making them right away, you must let them sit before you start cooking. I recommend 25 minutes just so all the juices and flavors blend well. 
• Over medium-low heat in a sprayed skillet, start cooking the chops. They are going to take a little bit of time because of how thick most of them are.
• You don't really want to see any pink, but if you are fancy and have a kitchen thermometer make sure they are around 145 degrees!
• For mine, I cut them down when i could tell they were going to be close to done but then threw them back in the skillet over medium heat.
• Once you think they are done, Enjoy!

Oven Roasted Broccoli 

Ingredients:

• Broccoli, enough for two people
• Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper
• Garlic, minced

Directions:

• Since I made this ahead of time, I mixed my ingredients in a tupperware container.
• I didn't post any measurements because it really all goes by preference for this one.
• Mix all your ingredients together and set aside once you are ready to make.
• Once you are ready to make, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• On half of a baking sheet, lay out the broccoli (save the other half for the potatoes)
• Bake for 30 minutes or until desired temperature. I prefer mine a little golden brown so I will leave mine in for the full 30 minutes

Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 5 small red potatoes, cleaned and cut down to small pieces
• 1 tablespoon of basil
• 1 tablespoon of oregano
• 1 tablespoon of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• parmesan cheese, as much as your little heart desires :)
• salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

• As stated before, I also made this in a tupperware container so it was ready when I wanted it.
• Mix all the ingredients together and add as much cheese or little as you would like. 
• Your oven should already be preheated to 400 degrees 
• On the other side of the baking sheet that the broccoli is on, lay out the potatoes evenly
• Baked for 30 minutes just like the broccoli. 
• Be sure to to check up on them and after the time is up if you still want them more golden, leave them in a little longer.

*While Broccoli and Potatoes are cooking, I advise you to mix them around so all sides get cooked evenly!*

As you can see, this meal can be pretty easy and prepped before so you're not rushing around dinner time. Please let me know if you have any feedback for this recipe, I would love to hear about everyone's take on this!

Please be on the look out in the upcoming weeks for my Best of Tuscaloosa Post! As you all know, I am graduating in 24 days and would love to give Tuscaloosa a proper goodbye with a post dedicated to the city that was my home for the past 4 years. The categories will be:

Best Burger

Best Late Night Studying Snack Spot

Best Happy Hour

Best Wings

Best Pizza

Best Restaurant for a nice dinner

Best International Food

Best Sushi

Best Bar

Best Quick-Casual Restaurant

Best Drunk Food (sorry mom)

Best BBQ

Overall Favorite Restaurant

If you would like to nominate anyone please feel free to email me and let me know! Thanks again for reading and I hope everyone enjoys the last few weeks of school!

XOXO, 

Caroline 

Let The Countdown Begin...

I really don't want to TACO 'bout it

Well, in 33 (hopefully long) days I will be graduating from The University of Alabama (roll tide am i right?). And as the heading says, I really don't wanna taco bout it. My pun is completely intended because this weeks post I will be sharing a step by step recipe to make taco stuffed peppers! This recipe takes a little bit of time for your average college meal, but i can assure you it is totally worth it if you are willing to sit there patiently while you wait for everything to cook...

Before I begin, I just want to apologize I haven't been posting as frequently as I would like because school is ending and I'm just an emotional ticking time bomb. So unless some miracle happens and I fail a course and get to stay here, just be aware of my every move in the next month. (Just kidding mom and dad I am not going to fail even though I tricked you guys so good on April Fools and thought you were gonna fly down to kill me, I am still doing fine in my classes)

As college ends, I can't wait to start sharing recipes that an average young adult would like to make. Balling on a college budget has been pretty tough especially when I am in the mood for steak and high end classy recipes almost every day.... Fortunately, this weeks recipe does not break the bank to much and you won't feel super guilty about eating it. (unless you're like me and smother it with cheese and sour cream)

Taco Stuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey

Ingredients:

• 2 Green Bell Peppers
• 1 lb of Ground Turkey
• 1/3 cup of chopped sweet onion
• 1 roma tomato chopped
• 1 cup of brown rice, cooked
• Taco seasoning packet
• Shredded cheese (I got the Mexican fiesta one because I felt it was most appropriate for my one woman fiesta) 

Optional Ingredients for the side:

• Salsa
• Guacamole (obviously homemade)
• Sour Cream
• Hot Sauce

So like I said earlier, I have easy step by step directions with pictures to go along with them. So first things first- Cook your rice and set aside. While the rice is cooking bring a large pot of water to a boil and then put your peppers in. Make sure before you put the peppers in you cut a hole in the top and take out all of their guts. Let them boil for 5 minutes. Then preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

(I've literally never seen more beautiful peppers in my life and had to make this photo extra large because I wanted to make sure you soaked in its beautifulness)

Next, in a large skillet, brown the ground turkey. Once you think its close to done, add the onions and then the tomatoes.

(Added Onions)

(Added Tomatoes)

The next step is very easy- Follow your taco packet!!!! It is going to tell you to drain the extra juice and then add the packet then 2/3 cups of water. After you brought it to a boil and then let it simmer, add the cooked rice. 

(Added Cooked Rice)

By adding the rice, it will make sure it thickens up even more so the inside of your pepper isn't too gooey. Lastly, and after its mixed together, add cheese. I know I didn't give a specific amount but thats only because some people don't like that much cheese (I know, weirdos?) 

Now its time to stuff your peppers! 

Fill to the top tightly and put them in a shallow baking dish (I greased mine just to make sure they didn't stick). Once they are filled, top with even more cheese!

Bake in oven for 25 minutes at 350 degrees!

Like I said above, add what ever kind of toppings you like on the side that you would normally top a taco with! When making this, you will have extra meat (every college kids fantasy: Leftovers) so you can either add extra peppers to stuff or save it for lunch tomorrow!

I hope everyone enjoyed this recipe and let me know your feedback if you try it or let me know if you ever have any questions about one of the recipes! In these upcoming weeks be on the look out for my official Top Places To Eat in Tuscaloosa post. It will be my farewell to the city that has been my home for the past 4 years! (sorry to be sentimental but come on, it is sad)

Thank you for reading and please send suggestions!

XOXO,

Caroline