Uncle Bob's Wahoo! Beans

This recipe was inspired by my Uncle Bob, my dad's brother. He made an awesome spicy bean and sausage soup when we visited them in Texas and my mom replicated the recipe when we got back home. It became a family favorite and now it is a favorite with my family. I had to Tastefully Simple-ize it and below is the result.

Ingredients:

2 lbs of pinto or cranberry beans, soaked overnight and rinsed

1 lb of breakfast sausage or chorizo if you prefer, browned and drained

1 tbsp Onion Onion

2 tbsp Wahoo! Chili Seasoning

1 tbsp Seasoned Salt

1 tbsp Garlic Pepper Seasoning

8 cups of water

Brown the sausage with the Onion Onion. Drain. Add the beans, sausage,seasonings and water to the slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 6 hours then high for 3 hours. This is best to be done on a weekend or a day off. It will totally be with it. Stir the beans occasionally and don't forget the Bountiful Beer Bread or corn bread. 

Simple Pork Tenderloins

Kroger had a sale on Pork Loin this week, so we bought 2!  Saved a ton.  We also had the meat counter cut them into 1" slices for us.  As I was breaking them out to freeze for several dinners, we decided we wanted some as breaded tenderloins.  OH my goodness!  So good.  Below is the resulting recipe.

(So, photographer I am not, but doesn't that look scrumptious?)

Ingredients:

6 1" pork tenderloin "chops"

2 cups flour

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup of milk

2 tsp. Seasoned Salt

2-3 cups corn meal or Miracle Maize Corn Bread Mix (use what you have!)

2-3 Tbsp. canola or vegetable oil

Take your chops and place them between 2 pieces of wax paper and pound them out to about 1/2 inch thick.  I used my rolling pin for this, but if you have a meat mallet, all the better.  Prepare 3 plates or dishes.  One with plain flour, one with the eggs, milk and 1 tsp. of Seasoned Salt, and one with the cornmeal or cornbread mix and 1 tsp. Seasoned Salt.  Dip each tenderloin in first flour, then egg then cornmeal.  Let rest on a plate or platter.  Repeat until all tenderloins are breaded.  

Heat your skillet on medium and add 1-2 Tbsp. of the oil.  Add a couple of tenderloins at a time and cook until brown on each side.  Then place in a 350 degree oven while you cook the rest.  Add an additional Tbsp. of oil if needed to cook all the tenderloins.  When all of your tenderloins are browned and in the oven, cook them approximately 10 minutes more or until they reach a temperature of 160 degrees.  While they are finishing cooking, make your sides.  I made mashed potatoes and a veggie.  Easy peasy because my family prefers instant mashed taters.  :)  You can make any side you like and can even make Garlic Mashed Taters by adding some Garlic Garlic to your spuds.  YUM, YUM!  

Fantastic Fried Taters

Made this to have with our dinner tonight.  Fabulous!

Ingredients:
4-5 medium potatoes, peeled, halved, sliced
1 small red onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. Canola oil
1 Tbsp. Seasoned Salt
1 tsp. Garlic Pepper Seasoning

Preheat skillet and add oil.  Place potatoes in skillet, gently.  Add seasonings and stir to coat.  Cover and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn potatoes, cover and cook 5 minutes more.  Add onion on top, do not stir.  Cover and cook 5 more minutes.  Stir and cook until potatoes and onions are fork tender.  Serve as a side or add your favorite pre-cooked protein for a complete meal. 

Serving suggestion: tossed salad with Strawberry Champagne Vinaigrette.