Welcome!

Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Our dinner tonight was really no big deal....just chicken strips. But I served them with this sauce. Can I just say how yummy this is???? You've GOT to try it. I've put it on chicken, meatloaf and meatballs. You can make it as spicy or as mild as you want depending on how many chipotle peppers you use. I like it to have a kick to it!!! It's so easy to prepare. Just throw everything in your food processor and it's ready to go!!  Please try it...it's SO good. That is all.

Honey Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
3 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
4 tsp apple cider vinegar
3 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
pinch ground pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until very smooth, 1-2 minutes. If a thinner consistency is desired, add a tablespoon or two of water to thin the mixture.

Makes about 2 cups of sauce


 
Here's everything ready to get all whizzed together.


Here's everything whizzed together and ready to be served!!

 
 
 
 

Glazed and Grilled Ham Steaks

This was so easy...it's almost embarrassing. When I find something that feeds two or three people, I am all over it. As you can imagine, there's a lot of food cooked here and if I can do without leftovers a couple of nights a week, that means my fridge can breathe a little bit. I had two small ham steaks in my freezer and some apricot preserves in my fridge that were calling to be used with the ham. Below is the result....and IT Guy proclaimed it delicious!


Grilled & Glazed Ham Steaks



2 tablespoons apricot preserves
2 teaspoons prepared mustard (I used Dijon)
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
dash ground cinnamon
1 (1 pound) 1 inch thick ham steak

Combine preserves, mustard, lemon juice and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set glaze aside. Score one side of each ham steak. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 5 - 7  minutes on each side, brushing with glaze during the last few minutes of grilling.

Serves 2 - 3

Here's what you'll need. I used apricot preserves but peach would be great, too!
Here's what you'll need. I used apricot 
preserves but peach would be great, too!

Mix together the preserves, mustard, cinnamon and lemon juice.
Mix together the preserves, 
mustard, cinnamon and lemon juice.

Combine it well....
Combine it well....

Score your ham steaks on one side...or both. Whatev.
Score your ham steaks on one side...or both. Whatev.

Brush the scored side with the sauce mixture and plop it on your grill or in your grill pan. Let it cook for a few minutes.
Brush the scored side with the sauce 
mixture and plop it on your grill or in 
your grill pan. Let it cook for a few minutes.

Flip it over and do the other side. I made sure the glaze was good and caramelized on each side. I think I turned each piece at least 4 times. Pretty and yummy and also pretty yummy.
Flip it over and do the other side. 
I made sure the glaze was good and 
caramelized on each side. I think I 
turned each piece at least 4 times. 
Pretty and yummy and also pretty yummy.

Sweet Sausage Pasta with Peppers

When I'm not in the mood to heat up my kitchen, but still want something filling, I turn to pasta. Other than the noodles and the sausage, this little dish doesn't require any cooking. At least not OVEN cooking. Easy and delicious, this warm pasta dish is a great family meal!

Sweet Sausage Pasta with Peppers



12 ounces bowtie pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 sweet peppers ~ red, yellow and orange, large dice
1 small red onion ~ large dice
2 cloves garlic ~ minced
1 pound sweet Italian Sausage ~ cooked and sliced into "coins"
1/4 cup fresh basil ~ chopped

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. 

Cook sausages until done. Remove to a plate and allow to cool to the touch. Slice into "coins".

Add the diced peppers, onion, salt and pepper to the pan and cook until tender/crisp.

Add garlic, stir and cook a minute or so.

Add cooked, sliced sausage and heat through.

Stir in cooked pasta  and chopped basil.

Serve hot.

Okay....let's get going!
Okay....let's get going!


Cook the sausage in a large skillet.
Cook the sausage in a large skillet.


Chop the veggies.
Chop the veggies.


Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet then add the veggies.
Remove the cooked sausage from
the skillet then add the veggies.


Add the minced garlic cook for a few minutes until tender/crisp.
Add the minced garlic cook for a 
few minutes until tender/crisp.


Then slice the sausage and put it back in the pan with the veggies and heat through.
Then slice the sausage and put it back 
in the pan with the veggies and heat through.


Add the cooked pasta and the basil and stir.
Add the cooked pasta and the basil and stir.


Serve warm!!
Serve warm!!