Joy Comes in the Morning

Well, hello there. Today was an unusually awesome day here in Southern Alabama.

IT SNOWED! 🙂

Yes, those are tiny bird tracks in the snow. And yes, I stood outside in my robe to take them. People were probably thinking…what a weirdo. Has she never seen snow before? Bird people are so weird. 😉

I believe there are 3 kinds of snow people:

1. You LOVE snow. Like, really love it. You want to be out in it. Frozen toes and all.
2. You like snow. It’s pretty and you admire it from inside your house with your blanket and cup of tea.
3. You HATE snow. You hate cold. It’s not pretty or fun.

I tend to fall into the second category. I like snow on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve. A light dusting is perfect. 🙂

So, I found myself with a much needed rest day today! When it snows or the weather is cooler that particular day, I like to make a crock pot meal. It’s so cozy and comforting. 🙂

Luckily, I had already planned to use my crock pot today. I am making pork chops, mashed potatoes and broccoli for dinner. And because I am on the Whole 30, I am making it a little bit different.

I love pork chops in the crock pot! I love how they just shred so easily and fall apart. I have the most delicious recipe for pork chops. It’s called….Yummy Pork and Gravy. And it is indeed YUMMY! The secret is to use the Campbell’s French Onion soup. I find that other brands are not as rich or salty. It’s definitely an indulgent meal that I don’t make too often. Even Eric gets excited when it’s on the menu! I will have to share it sometime.

Anyways, back to today’s recipe! It has similar ingredients, but much more homemade. 😉 I start by dicing one small yellow onion and half a basket of portobello mushrooms. I sprinkle them with salt and pepper and saute them in olive oil until they start to soften. Then I add vegetable broth. Usually, I use beef broth, but I didn’t have any Whole 30 compliant beef broth on hand. Like I’ve said before, I don’t really measure things, but I would say at least a cup of broth, maybe two. Enough to come halfway up the side of my pan. We’re thinking of gravy people…I need enough for gravy! 🙂

I let that simmer for about 5 minutes to reduce a little and then I add my cream of choice. I usually use heavy whipping cream, but that is not Whole 30 compliant, so I used unsweetened almond milk! I have been trying to find a Whole 30 substitute for flour and cornstarch, but none of the stores I have checked carry anything. That’s ok because a runny gravy is better than no gravy at all. 😉

I let that simmer a few minutes and then pour it over my boneless pork chops in the crock pot. I cover them with the lid and cook it on low for 4 to 6 hours. I usually do 6 hours because they are more tender.

For my mashed potatoes, I like to use Russets for thicker, denser potatoes or Reds for smoother and creamier potatoes. I peel them. Do you peel your potatoes? I don’t want to start anything, but I believe if you are going to do something, you should take the time and do it right. I really dislike peels in my mashed potatoes!! I think it ruins the perfect texture that is mashed potatoes…because we all know that mashed potatoes, which are great in their own right, are spoons for gravy deliciousness.

I usually peel 4 medium potatoes for the two of us and cut them into cubes. I put them in an empty pot and cover them with cold water. Once they start to boil, I add salt and boil them for 15-20 minutes. I learned all these potato tricks from Guy Fieri. Potatoes can become grainy if they boil or sit in water too long. Such a tragedy. After they are done, I drain them and put them back into the pot and set them back on the stove. This helps them to dry out a little and loose that moisture that may turn them ‘gummy’ when you mash or mix them. Oh goodness gracious, another hot topic.

Do you mash or mix your potatoes? I mash them to get out the major lumps and then I mix them with a hand mixer until smooth. I do not like large lumps in my potatoes…I think it’s a travesty. Who knew mashed potatoes could be so divisive? 😉

I usually add butter, milk, salt, pepper and a little sour cream, but today I am adding ghee, vegetable broth and of course, salt and pepper. So, I add these to my potatoes and mash until the lumps are gone. And then I mix until they are smooth. The texture is much lighter and fluffier, but these mashed potatoes are better than no mashed potatoes at all! 😉

I am the kind of person that has to have vegetables with dinner. I like to serve broccoli or fresh green beans with this meal. There’s just something about the green broccoli with all the brown and white food that makes it complete. 🙂

I hope this recipe encourages you to try healthier ingredients in your favorite recipes. It can be done!