Monday, December 20, 2021

Seasoning a Pork Roast (Italian Porketta Sandwiches) In the oven orCrockpot? You choose

Hi everyone !

This is my updated Porketta recipe. 12/30/2023

From the first time I had a bite of this seasoned pork roast I knew it would be carried on for generations to come.

The original recipe was my watching my mother-in-law season a pork butt roast.  They may be called shoulder roast today.  She never measured amounts when she seasoned anything.

When I started blogging I knew to assure I’d have accuracy so I always make note of approximate seasonings amounts.  

FYI:  Everyone taste buds are different.  I’m a heavy garlic, salt and pepper “must have”for bringing out the best in any piece of meat, chicken or fish.

 ***I feel it a recipe such as this would be very bland with minute seasoning.

You be the judge.  You know you and your family the best.

Also another FYI!  Buy some Sweet pickle relish or make a little broccoli rabe to top your porketta.

Each brings out a different element to this  particular roast.  I serve either one as a side when making sandwiches.  Both delicious!  One sweet,  one savory.

Recipe for broccoli rabe:

  • 1 bunch broccoli rabe
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, more for drizzling
  • 2 garlic clovessliced
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Lemon wedgefor squeezing optional 
Clean and cook rabe in boiling lightly salted water.  Do not over cook. Drain and season while  simmering.  Tasty!

Enjoy!  



Great mini porketta sandwiches.  Holiday, Game day or anyday! Yummy!


2/23/12


Another of my Dad's Favorite's and yes again we can thank my mother-in-law for her original recipe.  When Mom would make her version it would always be served as a side with pasta.  Great family recipe!  The illustration is how mom would season her pork butt roast.  She is the one who taught me to make the slit down the center for easy seasoning.

I first learned how to season a pork roast from my mother in law.!!  She would make this recipe for all special occasions; whether it was a graduation, shower or the holidays. 

This well seasoned piece of pork added so much to our traditional Italian meal..  She would cook it covered in the oven with a little water and when it was cooked thoroughly she would shred it and pile it high on a fresh crusty roll.  (They had a bread bakery 3 houses down from theirs).  How lucky they were?  Fresh bread and rolls all the time.  When my mom would make this roast she mostly served it with her pasta and any leftovers we'd make sandwiches and add some sweet relish on top.  One great yummy sandwich!.  I make it both ways.  This seasoned pork is great either way!  Try it this holiday!!  They'll keep asking for it I am sure.




Here are some easy steps to making a porketta:

 
 This recipe of my mother-in-laws has been around for ages and quite honestly it has gotten the most reviews and every time I re-post someone new grabs onto it and shares.  It is wonderful and makes the most tender,tasty and handy grab and go sandwiches.  Here goes:

Buy a 3#+or so Pork Loin or Pork Butt(I like the loin) it is a little leaner but my mom and mother in law used the Butt piece.

1. Lean Pork butt or loin approx. 3 or more lbs.
2. Approximately 3 T or more dried Dill weed
3. 1 tsp. Per lb. salt
4. Approximately 1T or more pepper( depends on how much spice you enjoy)
5. About 4 cloves garlic
6. 1/4 cup canola or olive oil


***On a large piece of  wax paper place 3+ or more tsp. salt , 3+ or more tsp. pepper and 3 +or more tsp. dried dill weed.(you'll find it in the spice section).  We like heavy seasoning so I add a bit more to my roast.


Note:  the plus is in reference to the size of your roast.

Mix all seasonings together on a large piece of wax paper. Place Pork Roast in center.  Make a slit in the center of the roast about 1/4 in down.  Place in each slit one clove (4) total garlic in slits.  Roll Pork Roast all over the seasoning making sure to cover the whole roast with the seasoning.  (You may have some left on wax paper and that is OK).  Place 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil in roasting pan and add seasoned roast. Sear on all sides. 

After roast is seared well place roast  in roasting pan with approximately 1 cup water and cover. Place in center of oven and bake covered approximately 3 hours or until when inserting a fork the roast pulls apart. 

Remove from oven allow to cool slightly. Add some water to pan and scrape all sides and bottom. Shred or cut porketta in slices.Top roast with drippings, slice and serve with pasta or shred for sandwiches.


Try it in your Crockpot: Sear your roast first on both sides in a little vegetable oil. Then in your crockpot place roast fat side up with approximately 1 cup water.  Add seasoned roast. Secure.   Set dial to low and cook approximately 5 to 6 hours.  If you want it to be done quicker set crockpot to high and it should be done approximately two hours earlier. Test roast with a fork. If it pulls apart or slices easily it is done.  When done remove, let cool slightly and roast should pull apart. There should be plenty of liquid but add a little water if necessary (to pan and scrap drippings and add to shredded pork).  It will keep the pork moist and add all those yummy flavors to your pork).

  **Most times if I have a chance I wrap the roast in clear plastic wrap the night before I am going to bake to help seal in the flavors into the pork. It's almost like an overnight marinade.

Oven Method:  Bake covered 350 degrees for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until roast pulls apart with fork. Check periodically to see if a little water may be needed.  Shred for sandwiches or use as a side with Spaghetti..  A true Italian delicacy.  Bon Appetite!






Happy Cooking from my kitchen to yours,

All recipes and their respective images are the sole property of I Like to Bake and Cook™ ©2022, all rights reserved. All content herein is meant for your personal enjoyment only and is in no way to be used for commercial purposes. Use of this site automatically constitutes your agreement to these terms.



Easy to season

Basic ingredients.


All recipes and their respective images are the sole property of I Like to Bake and Cook™ ©2022, all rights reserved. All content herein is meant for your personal enjoyment only and is in no way to be used for commercial purposes. Use of this site automatically constitutes your agreement to these terms.

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Christmas lunch 2021

It was a wonderful afternoon spent with our son Mark and his wife Angela.

Nothing fancy just a delicious new recipe(for them) of shrimp scampi and a tossed salad.   

Traditional shrimp scampi is a fall back but I’ve made this recipe several times and it has been one my hubby and I favorites.




Here’s my ingredients:

2lb. Large cooked frozen shrimp (I thaw shrimp and remove tails in between layers of paper Towels) in refrigerator overnight 
1stick butter
1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large cloves  minced garlic
1tsp. Dried parsley 
1 cup jarred marinara sauce(I user Rao or Victoria brand)
Red pepper flakes optional 
1lb. Your favorite pasta.  (I’ve used spaghetti, tagliatelle and Angel hair pastas)

In extra large pan(skillet) place butter and olive oil and melt slowly.  Once oil and butter have melted well add garlic and parsley.  Simmer slowly until you can smell the aroma of the garlic.

Add  shrimp.  Make sure to pat shrimp well
to remove any wet feeling).

Sauté shrimp in butter-oil mixture just until warm.  Remove shrimp onto a platter and cover.

Add marinara to butter-oil mixture and sauté until it starts slowly slightly bubble, stirring constantly.

In a separate pot cook pasta according to directions. Before draining cooked pasta reserve I cup pasta water,

Once pasta is drained add about 1/4 to 3/4 cup pasta water to marinara/butter oil sauce stirring until
 heated.

Toss well.   Add shrimp and toss cooked shrimp to coat well. 

***Add some pepper flakes to give the meal a little bite if you would like.

A large tossed  salad complimented this dish.

Homemade cookies and coffee for dessert!

An easy meal with no stress!  My family enjoyed it 100%.


Some dessert and ….



A little vino too!













Monday, December 13, 2021

Stove top fried cod

Approximately I lb. Fresh cod (2 medium size filets)
4 Tablespoons canola oil 
2 Tablespoons butter
2 tsp. Or more Each parsley, basil and seasoned Panko bread crumbs
Salt and pepper to your taste. I used about 1/2 tsp. Per filet.






In a large frying pan place some canola oil( do not use olive oil) it will burn!!!. Heat until oil is hot.

Rinse cod and Pat with paper towel’s cod to gently remove any water.  Place well patted  seasoned cod in well heated frying pan.  Turn heat to medium, place cod in oil .  It will sizzle!

  Cook approximately 2 or 3 minutes and flip over with spatula.

Top with butter and lemon and cook about the same amount of time.  Cod  will be white and flaky.   Serve immediately!













Sunday, December 12, 2021

Lasagna with ground chicken





My hubby loves meals made with red sauce.  He could with no doubt eat some form of pasta every single day!

I not as much.  I do love a good marinara or meat sauce .  My meat sauce is most  times made with beef and pork ground up or by adding some good spare ribs.to the combination.  A favorable hearty sauce needs a good base to enhance its flavor.

Today I am going out of the box and using fresh ground chicken.  Imo chicken is not as flavorful as meat so I believe more seasoning should be used.

Ingredients:

1  1/2 lb. Ground chicken
6 T olive oil
4 cloves minced garlic
2tsp. Dried basil 
1tsp. Onion powder
1lb. Fresh mozzarella cut in slices 
2 large cans crushed tomatoes 
1-14.5 oz. Can Hunts sauce
1lb. Ricotta
I egg beaten 
1tsp. dried parsley 
1/4 cup chopped spinach( optional)
Salt and pepper to taste.
1 box No boil lasagna 
Pecorino Romano 

Today I decided I was going to try a lasagna using ground chicken.  In medium size Dutch oven pot Sauté the ground chicken in olive oil until starting to brown slightly making sure to break up ground chicken into small pieces.  Add minced garlic, onion powder, basil , salt pepper and sauté until fragrant.

After it was fried ( sautéed) I allowed it to cool and using my processor pulsed it until it was very fine. You do not have to use a food processor.  

 I added the chicken to 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and I can of canned sauce.   Allow sauce to simmer at a low bubble for about 1 and 1/2 hour. ( you could do this in a crock pot) on low for 4 hours to allow you some free time.

Mix ricotta with egg, parsley and a few tablespoons of cheese.

Place  a ladle of sauce in a 9 x 13” pan 
Layer no boil lasagna across pan , add seasoned ricotta and sliced mozzarella for several layers also adding sauce to each layer REMEMBERING TO BE GENEROUS WITH SAUCE BETWEEN LAYERS.

Top with remaining sauce, fresh mozzarella and Pecorino.

Bake covered 350° for 30 minutes.  Remove cover and cook an additional 10 minutes.  Lasagna should be bubbling slightly.

Enjoy!














Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Chicken meatballs

Updated photos 5/6/2024







If you’re looking for using chicken instead of beef for your next meatballs here’s my new recipe.

In my opinion ground chicken seasonings have to be bumped up for flavor and moistness.  Chicken can be dry and you’d like your meatballs to be as moist as possible.








I lb. Healthy ground chicken
1 egg beaten
2 cloves minced garlic
3/4 to 1 cup  seasoned panko breadcrumbs 
1/2 tsp. Onion powder
1 tsp. salt
Some pepper
1/2 cup pecorino Romano cheese
1/4 cup dried parsley
A little chicken broth(optional)


Mix all above ingredients. Mixture will be soft so rub a little olive oil on the palms of your hands to roll easier.

Place meatballs (you decide what size) on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. 

Note:  One lb. Of ground chicken usually makes about 1dozen large meatballs.

Bake 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes . Remove from oven.

After cooling  freeze meatballs in large freezer bags until needed.

Todays meatballs I added to my fresh sauce.

Enjoy!