Southern Pork Chops and Rice

When I think of Southern foods I think of comfort foods with a savory butter flavor! Don’t get me wrong I try to eat healthy and truth be told I have never deep fried anything, but rich and savory butter is a must for comforting southern dishes! This is a quick and easy meal that is stacked with flavor and soulful goodness.

Food H & P:
6 Tablespoons of butter
4 boneless pork chops
½ cup of finely chopped onion
¼ cup of chopped green bell pepper
1 cup of long grain white rice
1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup
1 soup can full of water
Salt and Pepper to taste

Food Rx:
Cut the pork chops into strips, season with salt and pepper, then brown in 3 Tablespoons of butter. Remove the pork chops from the skillet. With the remaining 3 Tablespoons of butter sauté onions, bell pepper, and uncooked rice about 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are softened and rice is lightly browned. Season rice and vegetables with salt and pepper then add Cream of Mushroom soup and water. Pour rice mixture on the bottom of a 9 X 13-inch dish and top with pork chops and remaining liquid from pork chops. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

When cooking for two I half everything into two 9×9 inch pans and freeze them right before the baking step. When ready I thaw completely the bake for 45 minutes.

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Nursing Tip:
I grew up in a really small town in Mississippi; however, I quickly had to change my lingo when I began my nursing career in order to relate to my patients. To some of my patients “I’ve got the sugar” is also known as diabetes, “high blood” is also known as high blood pressure, “gouch” otherwise known as gout, “the reflex” is also known as acid reflux. I know the deep south is known for signature southern dishes; however, it also has a unique language that sometimes makes me smile a little on the inside!

 

Jug Chicken

I do not know about you, but I certainly have hit the New Year’s cooking slump. It was hard for me to recover after the holidays this year! This chicken dish has gotten me through in a pinch many times. This chicken is a four ingredient wonder that also packs a flavor punch. The tangy lemon, savory Worcestershire, and always faithful butter meld together to produce an unbeatable weeknight dinner. If you are like me and just need a little push to getting your cooking groove back give this one a try!

Food H & P:
4 chicken breasts (frozen is just fine)
½ stick of butter
½ cup of Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup of lemon juice

Food Rx:
Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7-8 hours.

Optional Gravy:
For a dinner option, when the chicken is ready, I enjoy making a gravy with the remaining cooking liquid to pour over the chicken. It is as simple as melting 1 Tablespoon of flour and 1 Tablespoon of butter in a skillet on the stove then adding 1- 1 ½ cups of the cooking liquid while constantly whisking. The gravy will thicken in 1-2 minutes. I serve the chicken over rice and top with gravy!

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I love doubling this recipe to ensure leftovers. This chicken has turned into the base for my chicken salad and is wonderful over a lunchtime green salad. I always pour some of the cooking liquid over the remaining chicken to prevent drying out.

Nursing Tip:
This cold and flu season seems to have nearly exhausted our hospital resources. Simply sitting in a waiting room can be detrimental to the immunocompromised. The “bug” is absolutely everywhere! You do not even have to be in healthcare to be swimming in the sea of flu germs. I have even had friends and family that unknowingly continue to go about life, work, church, and grocery shopping only to find out a few days later that influenza was the cause of their discomfort. My advice for the day is as always good hand washing, disinfect counters and work spaces, and maybe partake in “click list” grocery shopping!

Cake Mix Cookies

If I had to name one recipe that I was known for during high school cake mix cookies would be it! This is an easy four ingredient wonder. These tasty and homemade treats come together so quickly. I have made these countless times for school events, basketball games, and slumber parties. I know this will be my “go to” recipe when my daughter comes to me last minute needing cookies for an event!

Food H & P:
1 box cake mix (butter, white, or chocolate)
2 eggs
1 stick of melted butter (or ½ cup of vegetable oil)
1 cup of mix-ins (M&M, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, toffee, pecans, walnuts, Reese pieces…)

Food Rx:
Mix everything together. I usually reserve ¼ a cup of the mix-ins to sprinkle on top before baking, making the cookies prettier and letting your guests know what is in it. Place in a greased 9×13 inch pan and sprinkle reserved mix-ins. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 mins, careful not to overcook.

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I absolutely love these cookies. The possibilities are endless! I usually have all the ingredients on hand, so this is my “go to” recipe when I need a dessert in a pinch.

Nursing Tip: Although these cookies are ready in a flash that is not always the case for ER wait times. As we live in a technology friendly age never fully rely on the computer generated wait time for an Emergency Room. We can never predict when the next trauma or heart attack will come through the doors.