Cost: $10.75 (CD)
Markets: No Frills and Longos
Notes: This will feed 4-5 people

Ingredients Purchased in Bold:

• 1 LB of lean ground pork
• 1 LB of lean ground beef
• 2 eggs
• Zest of two lemons
  
• 3/4 Cup of crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 Onion, small dice
• Cooking oil spray as needed
  
• 3 Cloves of garlic minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce:

• 4 Tomatoes on the vine, diced
• 3 Cloves of crushed garlic
  
• 1/2 onion, minced
• Hand full of finely chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1 TBSP of extra virgin olive oil
• Slices of lemons
• 1 tsp of red pepper flakes
• salt and pepper to taste

Quickie Recipe

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.  Sauté 1/2 onion and 3 cloves of minced garlic until slightly brown. Use the cooking oil spray to sauté the veggies. In a bowl combine meat, onions, garlic, eggs, feta cheese, lemon zest and pepper and mix very well. Cook a quarter-sized piece of the meat to see if it’s seasoned well. Make into lemon sized balls. In a large non-stick sauté pan spray it with cooking oil spray and slightly brown balls on all sides.  Slice the lemons and put in ovenproof pan. Add the meatballs to the pan, cover with foil and cook for 20-25 minutes.  For the sauce add the olive oil, onions, garlic and sauté until lucid. Add the tomatoes, red pepper, cover and reduce to low and cook for 25 minutes. Season to taste and add parsley.

Cost: $7.50 (CD)
Markets: Longos and No Frills
Notes: Serves two people

Ingredients Purchased in Bold:

• 1 Pork tenderloin
• 1 Small red onion
• 1/2 Bottle of cheap balsamic vinegar
• 3-4 Cloves of garlic, smashed
  
• 2 TBSP of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 TBSP of your favorite steak rub
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Quickie Recipe

Cut any fat off of pork tenderloin. Slit 6-7 holes 1/4 inch deep in different places and stuff them with garlic pieces. Marinate pork with olive oil and steak seasoning for 24 hours. Caramelize onions and set aside. Pre-heat oven to 350 F. In a cast iron skillet brown all sides of the pork (two minutes each side). Finish cooking in oven for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, reduce the vinegar by 2/3 and add the onions. Let pork rest after cooking for 5 minutes. Cut into pieces and drizzle with sauce.

Impromptu dinner party at our friends Corrine and Stefan’s place. I had pork already marinating for 2 days when Stef called. He graciously got all the other ingredients including a salad which is not pictured.  We both cooked.  Everything was cooked on a propane gas grill except the shrimp. See below for recipes.

Pork Souvlaki Skewers

Cost: $7.00 CD
Markets: Longos and No Frills
Notes: This is an easy, yet impressive dish to make. Serves 4

Ingredients Purchased in Bold:

• 1 Pork tenderloin, cut inton 1/4 inch slices (was on sale 2 loins for $8.00 CD)
  
• 2 Lemons, juiced
• 4-5 Cloces of minced garlic
• 1 Medium red onion in 1 inch pieces
  
• 1 Red bell pepper in 1 inch pieces
  
• 1 Package of White mushrooms
• 1 Green Zucchini, sliced
• 2-3 TBSP of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 TBSP of Dried oregano
• 2 TSPB of your favorite steak season salt
• Pepper to taste

Quickie Recipe

Marinate the pork pieces with the lemon juice, olive oil, steak season salt, oregano, garlic and pepper for TWO DAYS. Thread meat and veggies in desired order and reserve the marinade.  BBQ on high for 3 minutes  on each side. Rotating a quarter turn 4 times. Boil marinade in pot on stove for 2 minutes and pour over meat and veggies prior to serving.

NY Strip

Cost: $13.50 CD
Market: Metro

Ingredients Purchased on Bold :

• 1 NY strip
• 2 TBSP of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2-3 TBSP of your favorite steak season (I used a combination of white pepper, thyme, salt and garlic powder)
• Pepper to taste

Quickie Recipe

Rub meat on both sides with olive oil and then liberally sprinkle on season salt and pepper. Pre-heat oven to 350 F. This will be used to finish cooking the meat since it’s most likely a thick cut. On a clean hot grill place the NY strip horizontal on the grill and cook on high for 4-5 minutes and DO NOT fiddle with the meat. Rotate the meat 90 degrees on the same side and cook for 4-5 minutes. This will give you that nice grilled grid look. Turn meat over and repeat and then finish cooking in oven for 5 minutes. Take out of the oven and let meat rest for 5 minutes and then slice and serve.

Garlic Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of Large cleaned uncooked shrimp (you can leave the tails on)
• 1/2 cup of diced onion
• 2 TBSP of minched garlic
• 2 TBSP of minced ginger
• 2/3 Cup of soy sauce
• 1 tsp of sesame oil
• 1 tsp of sesame seeds as garnish
• 1 TBSP of Canola oil
• 1 TBSP of honey
• Pepper to taste

Quickie Recipe

One medium high heat oil in a pan and saute the ginger, garlic, and onions until the onions are lucid (do not brown). Add the raw shrimp and cook for a 1-2 each side. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, honey and pepper and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Grilled Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 2 Bunches of asparagus
• 1 Lemon, juice
• 1 TBSP of Dried oregano
• 2 TBSP of Extra Virgin Olive oil.

Quickie Recipe

Combine all ingredients. Grill on high for 2 minutes each side.