Atkins Asian Beef Salad

Ingredients:


Marinade and Dressing Base:

4 green onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, pushed through a press
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons no-sugar-added rice-wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon granular sugar substitute
½ teaspoon curry powder
¼ teaspoon dried ginger


Salad:

1½ pounds beef sirloin, cut against the grain in 1/8-inch strips
2 tablespoons canola oil
6 cups mixed salad greens
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 can (8-ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained


Directions:

1. Mix green onions, garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and sugar substitute in a small bowl.

2. Pour half into a resealable plastic bag; add steak and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. To remaining soy sauce mixture, add curry powder and ginger.

3. Heat canola oil in a large skillet over high heat until very hot. Drain beef and discard marinade; quickly stir-fry beef 2 to 3 minutes in hot oil for medium doneness.

4. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add salad greens, bell pepper, water chestnuts and reserved soy dressing. Toss to coat.

Apple & Bacon Pork Chops

Once upon a time, (don't you just love that?), back in California days,... there was this little restaurant. They were the upscale restaurant in this small town. We loved to go in for special occasions. Any way, as a daily special they created a baked pork chop with a apple bacon chutney served on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes. Turned into my favorite thing to order, when I could go.

This is my version. i omitted the raisins for a more savory flavor.
Ingredients

6 1″ thick pork chops
2 Tbsp lard
2 medium baking apples (Gala and York are our favorites), peeled, cored and diced
10 strips of bacon, diced
1 red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minces
4 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
1/4 tsp paprika
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper


Instructions


1. In a medium pan (we recommend a cast iron skillet or dutch oven), melt lard over medium-high heat

2. Cook apples, bacon and onion until onion is softened and bacon is crispy, about 8 minutes

3. Add garlic, sage, paprika and lemon juice and toss for 2 minutes

4. .Remove from heat, transfer to bowl and set-aside

5. Salt and pepper each side of pork chop,

6. Place  pork chops into the hot pan to sear on each side, cook each side of the chops for 5 minutes in hot pan over medium-high heat

7. Transfer pan/dutch oven to 350 degree oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes, spoon the apple/bacon mixture over the chops and continue baking for 10 minutes or until hot and pork juices are clear.