Grilled Pork Chops

Makes: 4 servings

Takes: 4 hrs, 25 minutes

Pork Ingredients:

3 cups water

2 1/2 tablespoons stevia or honey

1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt

1 sprig fresh rosemary

2 sprigs fresh thyme

4 (1-inch thick) pork chops

Directions

1. Whisk the water, sugar, and salt together in a bowl; pour into a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. Add the rosemary, thyme, and pork chops to the bag. Coat the pork with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours. While pork is marinating, make Five Fruit salsa.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate.
3. Remove the pork chops from the bag, and discard the marinade.
4. Cook on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Roast Vegetable Casserole

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 Tbs olive oil

2 large onions, peeled and cut into quarters

4 large stalks celery, cut into

2-inch pieces

4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces

1 large acorn squash, peeled, cut in half, seeded, and cut into large chunks

8 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole, optional

3 potatoes, peeled

2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, optional

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbs chopped fresh thyme, or 1 tsp dried

5 medium-size ripe tomatoes, cut into quarters, or 2 cups canned whole tomatoes, chopped

2 Tbs flour

4 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease the bottom of a large flameproof roasting pan with oil. Place onions, celery, carrots, squash, garlic (if desired), potatoes, and scallions in pan. Stir well; add salt, pepper, and thyme.

2. Roast, stirring once or twice, for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and gently stir in tomatoes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and roast for another 15 minutes.

3. Remove pan and place it over two burners set on medium-high heat. Sprinkle flour onto vegetables and mix well. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually add stock and bring to a boil.

4. Taste; add salt and pepper if desired. Place pan back in oven. Roast 15 minutes until sauce is thick and vegetables are cooked. Serve hot.

Spicy Italian Salad

Prep Time: 30 Min; Ready In: 4 Hrs 30 Min

Servings 6

Ingredients

1/2 cup canola or olive oil

1/3 cup tarragon vinegar

1 tablespoon stevia or sugar

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (8 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

5 cups romaine lettuce - rinsed, dried, and chopped

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 carrot, grated

1 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup black olives

1/4 cup pitted green olives

1/2 cucumber, sliced

2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese

ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a medium container with a lid, mix canola oil, tarragon vinegar, sugar, thyme, dry mustard, and garlic. Cover, and shake until well blended. Place artichoke hearts into the mixture, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator 4 hours, or overnight.
2. In a large bowl, toss together lettuce, red bell pepper, carrot, red onion, black olives, green olives, cucumber, and Romano cheese. Season with pepper. Pour in the artichoke and marinade mixture, and toss to coat.

Turkey & Squash Soup; served with cornbread

6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons canola oil

2 leeks, trimmed, chopped and rinsed

1 red bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, (1 small to medium), peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes

2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme, or 2 teaspoons dried thyme

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 pound turkey cutlets, cut into 1/2-by-2-inch strips

2 cups frozen corn kernels

2 tablespoons lime juice

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

PREPARATION

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add leeks and bell pepper; cook, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Stir in broth, squash, thyme and cumin; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Add turkey and corn; return to a simmer and cook until the turkey is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Add lime juice and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and pepper.

Roasted Yam and Kale Salad