Product Review: Trader Joe's Multigrain Baking & Pancake Mix

I recently purchased Trader Joe's Multigrain Baking & Pancake Mix.  I was pleasantly surprised to come across this mix. I want to incorporate more whole grains in my diet and the grocery stores in my area do not carry a multi-grain all-purpose mix.  I've been looking and looking...found whole wheat pancake mixes, or specialty waffle mixes.  Never found an all-purpose one....until now!  

So I immediately grabbed a box to try.  First I made the pancakes...wow..such a nice, nutty flavor.  They rose nicely, and were light, and didn't have the strong wheaty taste that some other wheat mixes do.

Next, I was in need of a quick breakfast, so I tried making biscuits.  I made drop biscuits.  I'm kinda a purist with biscuits (white flour), but these were really quite good.

So on Sunday, I decided to try the Blueberry Coffee Cake recipe on the box.  Wow!  This was excellent, moist and cakey full of flavors. 

This mix is a definite winner, and at $1.99 it is also a steal!  In fact, I stopped by Trader Joe's tonight and bought another box! 

What would you make with this mix??  Leave me a message below and let me know.   

(Oh yeah! go get yourself a box of this stuff....it's excellent!)

Mixing it up with Friends Giveaway

Susan at "She's becoming Doughmesstic" blog is having a giveaway...2 KitchenAid mixers! 1 for you and one for me!...It's simple to sign up.

Here's how: Just follow the link above to her blog and comment on one of her recipes.
Here's the catch! you MUST mention that I sent you...That way you get a mixer and I get the other!!!

Good Luck!!

Here's the link:
Mixing it up with Friends Giveaway

Pork Chops in an Orange-Cumin Sauce

I needed a quick and easy meal to cook for dinner last Friday night cause I had a lot to do...laundry, yuk!  I have made this particular orange-cumin sauce for one of my grilled chicken dishes but didn't have time for grilling. 

So knowing that I had pork chops on hand, I adapted that yummy sauce to become a pan sauce for the chops.  My oh my, was this yummy!

It's an easy weeknight meal with great flavors, Latin flavors, like a mojo sauce.  It has just a few ingredients so you can whip it up in a flash!

Hope you enjoy this recipe....we sure did!

You will need:  pork chops, orange juice, cumin, 2 oranges for zest and the segments, and cilantro. That's it! 

Zest your orange.  Next peel the oranges, be sure to remove the white membrane. (This part is bitter!)  Cut segments from the orange by slicing in between the white membranes.  

Place a tablespoon of oil in a hot skillet.  Salt and pepper both sides of your pork chops.  I used boneless skinless thin chops, but you can certainly use bone-in if you prefer.  (Thick or thin!)

Place chops in the hot skillet, cooking on the 1st side for 3-4 minutes. (Increase cooking time if using thick or bone-in chops)

Turn over chops and cook an additional 3 minutes until browned and cooked through.

Remove chops to a platter and keep warm.

Add zest, orange juice, and cumin to the skillet.  Cook until slightly thickened, about 1 1/2 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add orange segments.

Spoon mixture over pork chops on the platter and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Super flavors!

Pork Chops in an Orange-Cumin Sauce

Serves 4

1 T oil

4 pork chops boneless or bone-in

Salt and pepper

1 ½ t. cumin

2 T orange zest

1/2 cup orange juice

2 oranges, peeled and cut into segments

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

           

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Season pork with salt and pepper and cook until cooked through, 3-4 minutes, flipping once. Transfer to a platter and keep warm.

Add orange zest, juice, and cumin to the skillet. Cook until slightly thickened, 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in orange segments. To serve, spoon orange mixture over pork chops and top with cilantro.