Oven-Fried Pork Chops

This is one of my go-to meals when I want dinner ready in an hour or less; not to mention, my family absolutely loves it. These pork chops were gone shortly after I removed them from the oven. Feel free to use the seasonings of your choice.

Ingredients:

• 8 - 10 small/medium center-cut pork chops
• Salt
• Cayenne/black pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Vegetable Oil

Directions:

1. Season pork chops and refrigerate for about four to six hours to allow  seasonings to set in.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Brush a bit of vegetable oil on the bottom of a large baking pan.
4. Place pork chops in the baking pan and brush each pork chop with vegetable oil.
5. Bake for approximately half an hour or until golden brown (some ovens cook faster than others).
6. Remove from oven and cover with foil for at least five minutes before eating.

Tip: For moister chops, brine for several hours before seasoning and baking.

Moist Red Velvet Cake

OMG!!! I did it!! I finally did it!! For years I have been dreaming of making a red velvet cake, but could never find the time. Well, as they say, there is no time like the present.

I must say this being my first attempt, the cake didn’t turn out half bad, yay me :)

Ingredients:

• 2½ cups flour (sifted)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 small packet or 2 tbsp cocoa
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp coffee (dissolved in half cup hot water)
• 1oz red food coloring

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine and set aside flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt.
3. In a separate bowl mix the sugar and vegetable oil.
4. Add eggs one at a time and beat until creamy.
5. Stir in evaporated milk, vinegar and coffee.
6. Mix in the vanilla and red food coloring.
7. Now gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.
8. Grease and flour two round cake pans (9 inches)
9. Pour batter evenly into the pans.
10. Bake for approximately 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Please be sure to keep an eye on your cakes as some ovens tend to cook faster than others).
11. Remove cakes from oven and allow to fully cool.
12. Loosen cakes from pan and flip on to cake dish.
13. Level cakes by slicing off the tops of each cake.
14. Sandwich the cakes with cream cheese frosting before frosting the entire cake.
15. Refrigerate uneaten portion.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 – 8 oz box cream cheese
• 1 12 oz container vanilla frosting
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

 Combine all ingredients until smooth.

Irresistible Fried Chicken Wings

These wings are rightfully labelled "irresistible". I simply couldn't eat just one, I dare you to try :)

Ingredients:

• 5 lbs chicken wings (or as many as you want)
• Salt
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Black or Cayenne Pepper
• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• 1 or 2 cups vegetable oil (or as needed)

Directions:

1. Season chicken with above seasonings and refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight to allow seasonings to set in.
2. Add vegetable oil to a frying pan or pot, heat to 350 degrees.
3. Whisk egg and milk in a dish and set aside.
4. Combine seasonings and flour to a shallow dish and combine.
5. Dip wings in egg and milk, allowing excess to fall off.
6. Dredge wings in flour until fully coated; shake off excess flour.
7. Fry no more than three wings at a time for approximately five minutes or until golden brown and the juices from the chicken run clear.
8. Drain on paper towels or in a colander.
9. Go ahead and dive in.

Conch Fritters

Conch fritters are highly-favored down home delicacies enjoyed by natives and visitors alike. These hard to resist, bite-sized treats are usually served as appetizers along with a cocktail dipping sauce. 

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cooking oil
• 2 medium conch
• ½ small sweet pepper – finely chopped
• 1 small finely chopped onion
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and hot pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350 degrees
2. Clean and skin conch and put through a meat grinder or food processor.
3. Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl to make a batter (not too thick and not too runny).
4. Drop batter by tablespoon into hot oil and fry until golden brown.
5. Allow fritters to drain on paper towels.
6. Serve with dipping sauce

Dipping Sauce:

In a bowl mix:

• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• ½ cup ketchup
• ½ tsp hot sauce (or to taste/optional)
• Transfer to serving container

Note: Add more water if batter is too thick or more flour if it is too runny.

Thumb Print Cookies

Here's a simple recipe to help satisfy the little cookie monsters in your life :) Thumb Print Cookies in five easy steps:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 stick butter
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ cup raspberry jam

Directions:

1. Beat together butter and sugar in a mixer bowl. Add vanilla and egg. Mix well.
2. Mix flour and salt, add to butter mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Beat egg white lightly in a small bowl.
4. Put balls 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet. Press thumb in the center of each to make an indentation.
5. Bake until light golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Fill each indentation with a small amount of raspberry jam.

Serving Size: 24

Fried Fish

Here in the islands we love us some fried fish. I prefer not to coat my fish with flour, but that’s just a personal preference.

Ingredients:

• 1 or 2 lbs pound fish fillets or whole fish
• Vegetable oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion powder

Easy Instructions:

1. Season fish and refrigerate overnight or at least for a few hours.
2. Pour oil in skillet (about midway) and heat to 375°.
3. Fry fish for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
4. Remove to a platter lined with hand towels.
5. You may squeeze some fresh lemon/lime on your fish before eating.

*If you choose to coat your fish with flour, then combine flour, salt and pepper. Dip fish fillets into flour mixture and then fry.

Makes about 4 – 6 servings

Blueberry Ice Cream Pie

Here is a simple and delicious blueberry dessert that I’m sure the entire family will enjoy.

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen blue berries
• 1 cup cold coconut milk
• 12 oz frozen whipped cream
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 9 inch graham cracker pie shell
• Sweetened Condensed Milk or sugar (to taste)

Directions:

1. Place first 4 ingredients in a blender and blend until mixture is smooth. Add condensed milk or sugar a small bit at a time until desired sweetness is achieved.
2. Pour mixture into pie shell, cover and freeze for several hours (until icecream is set).
3. Serve and enjoy.

Chicken and Dumplings

Ever since I heard the song “She’ll be coming ‘round the Mountain,” I have been haunted by chicken n’ dumplings, lol!! Let me tell ya, this was like no soup I’ve ever tasted, talk about real comfort food. I cooked this southern dish with my very own Bahamian twist; needless to say my husband loved it so much, that he went back for seconds. This dish will definitely be a mainstay our house because it is so simple and so delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 can cream of chicken soup (fat free)
• 2 cups fat free chicken stock
• 4 pieces seasoned chicken (drumsticks & thighs)
• 2 – 3 cups flour
• Water
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Onion powder

Optional:

• 2 carrots – diced
• 1 medium sweet potato – cubed

Directions:

1. Pour cream of chicken soup and chicken stock in a medium pot on medium-low heat.
2. Add chicken and vegetables and bring to a boil
3. Reduce heat to low then season to taste.
4. Make the dough for dumplings by placing flour in a mixing bowl and adding just enough water to make a firm dough (I prefer mine without baking powder).
5. Roll small pieces of dough between the hands to form dumplings and add to pot.
6. Cook on medium-low heat for another 15 – 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Makes about 4 servings

Banana Cake

The outcome of this hassle-free cake was not what I had initially planned. I started out making a cobbler, but I ended up with this instead. Some of the best inventions came about by accident.

Ingredients:

• 2½ - 3 cups flour
• 2 bananas (sliced)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1½ cups sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• ½ cup canola oil or 1 cup melted butter
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl, add remaining dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Add milk and oil, beat until smooth.
4. Pour batter in a large greased baking pan.
5. Place banana slices on top of batter.
6. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes (or perform the toothpick test).

French Fries and Drumsticks

Sometimes when you’re scratching your head wandering what’s for lunch or dinner, the answer is right under your nose, or in this case, right on your kitchen counter, or wherever it is you store your potatoes. On the menu today: french fries, laced with ketchup and they go great with those chicken drumsticks I did earlier. The kids are in dog heaven right now☺

Ingredients:

• 4 – 5 medium potatoes
• 2 cups canola oil
• Salt (optional)
• Ketchup (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour oil in medium pot (hard bottom) or frying pan and set on medium-high heat.
2. While the pot is heating wash, peel and slice potatoes about ½ inch thick.
3. Cut into strips (whatever size you choose).
4. When the pot is hot (about 350 degrees), fry your potatoes until they are golden brown – for me it took approximately six minutes. Do not overcrowd the pot.
5. Place on paper towels or in a colander to allow excess oil to drain off.
6. Lightly salt while still hot (optional) and dot with ketchup (optional).
7. Serve and enjoy.

My chicken drumsticks were seasoned with salt, black pepper and garlic powder. I lightly coated them with flour before frying for about 4 minutes on each side. To make sure my chicken was cooked all the way through, I placed them in a 350 degrees oven for an additional fifteen minutes. Bear in mind that “Old Betsy” doesn't cook as fast as she used to, so your oven may require less time.