Marjoram-Rubbed Pork & Grilled Potato Salad

My first homemade meal highlighting marjoram. It was good.... but I think I'd go with fresh oregano next time. The potato salad was pretty amazing, as is! 

This recipe is made to grill, but of course it was pouring rain the night I made it. No fear -- it turned out great using a grill pan for the pork and a cast iron skillet for the potatoes! 

Potatoes, before adding feta and olives. 

Marjoram-Rubbed Pork & Grilled Potato Salad

(from Eating Well Serves Two by Jim Romanoff)

Serves 2

2 garlic cloves

2 T extra-virgin olive oil

2 T minced fresh marjoram or oregano

1/4 tsp salt, or to taste

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

2 boneless pork loin chops (8 oz), trimmed of fat

3 T red wine vinegar

6 small red potatoes, halved

1 small red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch chunks

1 small red onion, cut into 1.5 inch chunks

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

6 green olives, pitted and chopped

1. Preheat grill to high.

2. Combine garlic, oil, marjoram (or oregano), salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Rub some of the mixture onto both sides of pork. Transfer the rest of the mixture to a large bowl and whisk in vinegar until combined. Add potatoes, bell pepper, and onion to the medium bowl. Toss to coat. 

3. Oil the grill rack (use a paper towel with oil on it in a tongs). Reduce heat to medium and grill the potatoes, turning often, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (Note: Because I didn't grill mine, I boiled them until halfway tender before throwing them in the cast iron.) Thread the onion and pepper chunks onto two 10-inch skewers. Grill, turning often, until charred in spots and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Grill the pork, turning once, 6 to 8 minutes total. 

4. Add the grilled veggies to the bowl with the reserved dressing, along with feta and olives. Toss to coat. Serve with the pork.

Thai Chicken Pizza

I had my parents over for dinner for the first time ever! Photos below... I also made a Thai Curry soup, but forgot to take a picture. :(

Thai Chicken Pizza 

Step One: sauce, cheese, and red peppers. Bake.

 Step Two: Add grilled chicken

 Step Three: Add veggies and peanuts

 Asian salad: with broccoli, carrot, cucumber, tomatoes, 

red cabbage, sesame sticks, & sesame dressing

Dessert: Whip one cup heavy whipping cream w/ 2 tablespoons powdered sugar. 

Layer with fruit and melted chocolate.

Thai Chicken Pizza

Serves 4

• 1 pizza crust
• 1/2 cup duck sauce or plum sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 package (2 cups) shredded provolone or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 rounded tablespoonful peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 2 teaspoons grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning)
• 4 chicken breast cutlets, 1/2 pound
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 1/4 seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into matchsticks
• 4 scallions, chopped
• 1 cup bean spouts, a couple of handfuls (sub shredded red cabbage if you want)
• 1 carrot shredded
• Palm full cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts, 2 ounces

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Put pizza crust on pizza pan or cookie sheet. Top with duck or plum sauce - spread it around like you would pizza sauce. Sprinkle the pizza with some crushed red pepper flakes then top with cheese and peppers. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 12-15 minutes.

Combine vegetable oil, soy sauce and peanut butter with hot sauce and grill seasoning. Use the microwave to loosen up peanut butter if it is too cold to blend into sauce, 10 seconds ought to do it. Add chicken and coat evenly with mixture. Let stand 10 minutes then grill chicken cutlets on grill pan on med-high heat -- 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until firm. Slice chicken into very thin strips. 

While chicken cooks, mix honey and vinegar and add the cucumber. Turn to coat evenly.

Top the hot, cooked pizza with chicken, scallions, sprouts and cilantro. Drain cucumbers and scatter over the pizza. Garnish pizza with peanuts, cut into 8 wedges and serve.