Smoky Bacon & Pork Ragu

I put one cooler/low-humidity day to good use after a beach vacation to cook comfort food! This porky pasta sauce has been on my list to make and I had just the night to make it! Get some liquid smoke or this won’t be the same at all (pssst! I get it on Amazon but some specialty food stores have it too. You’ll also use it in chili, burgers, pulled pork, etc.)

The Three Bite Rule - Bacon & Pork Ragu

I froze half, despite the fact that I’m compulsively trying to use up frozen stuff. I just didn’t want to eat it twice in a week given the warm forecast but I can see popping it out for some not-hot night for variety of the many grilled dinners we’re having this summer!

Smoky Bacon & Pork Ragu for ~4

Ingredients:

4-6 strips of bacon, chopped
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage out of the casing
1 small yellow onion
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons Liquid Smoke
pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
~6 fresh basil leaves, chopped

Directions:

In a dutch oven, cook the bacon until crisp and drain. Then brown the sausage and drain. Then saute the onion until cooked through.
Add the crushed tomatoes into the pot, add in sausage, onion, bacon, garlic, and liquid smoke.
The Three Bite Rule - Bacon & Pork Ragu
Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes and add in the red pepper flakes, onion powder, Parmesan, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and basil. Stir well.
Reduce to low and cook for another 5 minutes.
Boil the pasta and cook to al dente.
Spoon sauce over the top and enjoy!
The Three Bite Rule - Bacon & Pork Ragu
I loved it. It definitely wasn’t your average tomato sauce. The salty and smoky flavor came out and I took great care for it not to be greasy. Bacon & sausage needed to cook separately to each get to their best. Each needed to be drained, for sure.

I can see pulling out the sauce for a quick dinner or putting ontop of a pizza or in a calzone!
The Three Bite Rule - Bacon & Pork Ragu

Caprese Burger

This burger screams summer – as do my flourishing basil plants in the garden! Some critter is munching our tomatoes but the basil on this is home grown! The mozzarella gets melty with a perfect stretchy-gooeyness. I like the hot burger ontop of a cool tomato and plenty of basil for freshness and a touch of creamy yet tart balsamic mayo.

The Three Bite Rule - Caprese Burger
I thought about a drizzle of balsamic reduction but went the easy route with some balsamic mayo.

Caprese Burger for 2

Ingredients:

2 burger patties
2 burger buns
2 tablespoons mayo
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
2 tomato slices
2 slices of fresh mozzarella
~6 pieces of fresh basil

Directions:

Preheat the grill and form the burger patties. Then grill the burgers to your desired cook.
Mix together the mayo & balsamic.
Slice the buns, tomato, and mozzarella.
Toast the buns for the last minute the burgers cook and add the cheese on top of each burger until it melts.
Assemble with tomato on the bottom, then the burger, then basil and a spread of the balsamic mayo on the top bun.

The Three Bite Rule - Caprese Burger
I loved this and think it’d be great as a chicken sandwich too. I might even have enough basil for a small batch of pesto. That’d be so great on a caprese burger too!

Red Velvet Smoothie

Smoothies are such a perfect breakfast for hot days. This one would hit the spot for dessert or a snack too. The beets, strawberries, and cocoa together give a chocolatey and earthy but sweet flavor.

The Three Bite Rule - Red Velvet Smoothie

Red Velvet Smoothie for 2

Ingredients:

2 cups baby spinach
1 cup milk
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 1/4 cup strawberries
2-3 beets, roasted
2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions:

Add spinach, milk, and ice to a blender and blend very well.
The Three Bite Rule - Red Velvet Smoothie
Then add in the strawberries, beets, and cocoa powder. Blend well and add a splash of milk if too thick.
The Three Bite Rule - Red Velvet Smoothie
Pour & enjoy!
The Three Bite Rule - Red Velvet Smoothie
I loved this for variety since my other smoothies are predominantly fruity.  The chocolate hint kind of made it seem like dessert…or maybe just what a weekday morning needs.

July 207 Recap

Happy summer! July wraps up for me with vacay. It is my fav week of the year full of family time, the beach, and nightly ice cream. I’m glad for another full summer month coming. I had an appendicitis which threw me for a loop for a few weeks. I missed a trip to Maine but am now back to normal and feeling better. I only cooked a bit- mostly for breakfast toasts. I’ve leaned heavily towards quick dinners on the grill to squeeze in eating as a family.

My fav thing I made was a French Onion Dip Hot Dog….Mr. J’s idea.
The Three Bite Rule - French Onion Hot Dogs
This white wine spritzer was so delightful and the tip was pomegranate lemonade ice cubes.
The Three Bite Rule - Wine Spritzer
Meatless tacos with chili-lime sweet potato & black bean filling or taco-spiced zucchini and onions.
The Three Bite Rule - Meatless Taco Options

On goes the toast:
Cherry Basil Toast
Avocado Toast with Soft Boiled Egg & Everything Bagel Seasoning
Peach & Pistachio Toast

August will be a bit different with the family vacay in July instead of August. I bought cool silicone popsicle molds for push pops. I blended mango with a little water and froze it. What a hit! The little one loooved it. I want to do some crazy favor ones.

2017 Goals:

Year of the seasonal decor: I added a cool rope ball and adirondack chair to my mantle-scape.
do more dinner prep more in advance: I did pretty well. I stillll want to use up some freezer things….like flatbreads etc that can align with quick meals.
read more (and always carry my book on me): I read The Wangs vs. The World and The Perfume Collector.
watch more movies: I don’t think I saw any movies this month. I dozed and watched a lot of TV while I was sick.
cook more fish: I made salmon for a his & hers protein topped caesar salad…the little one ate some and liked it!
focus on clothes that I really like: I snagged some deals from the Gap Factory outlet- $17 white jeans and $5 tee shirt.

What I Ate: Cherry Basil Toast

What I Ate’ is a series of posts for so-easy-this-doesn’t-need-a-recipe but I’m sharing with you for the idea or inspiration.

More toast! My basil is going gang-busters…knock on wood. I wanted a savory-ish toast with basil and ended up sweetening it up with some cherries. It was kind of the best of both worlds. Plus, it only took a few cherries. Cutting cherries around the pit is only fun for so long.
The Three Bite Rule - Cherry Basil Toast

Ingredients:

toast
1 tablespoon cream cheese
1/4 cup cherries, pitted & chopped
2 basil leaves, rolled & sliced

Directions:

Toast the bread until well done, so the cream cheese doesn’t tear it. Spread the cream cheese on.
Sprinkle the cherries and basil on.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Cherry Basil Toast

It felt like summer to a T. I love cherries but only bought a few after having some that were so good at work. I’m on vacay and hoping my basil is still doing well when I get home. I feel pesto coming on!!