Family On A Budget

I love this stuff on chicken and burgers….

1/3 cup diced red onions
1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup white grape juice
1/2 cup Jack Daniel’s Bourbon
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

Blend all ingredients in order in medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 35 – 45 minutes. Remove from heat.

Makes about 3 cups.

Source. This recipe is readily available on many recipe websites, but I first found it in America’s Most Wanted Recipes: Delicious Recipes from Your Family’s Favorite Restaurants. This is a great book with many great knock off recipes.

I am so proud, I finally have some control back in my home after the summer chaos of classes, moving my daughter from place to place for college/internship and my ongoing quest for fitness. Here is our menu for this week.

My theme ingredient for the week is going to be Jack Daniels. I will make Lynchburgh Lemonade for a cool refreshing drink for Saturday’s or Sunday’s Dinner, TGIF’s Jack Daniels Knockoff Dipping Sauce for Thursday and Pork and Honey Tenderloins which all will feature Jack Daniels. Cheers….


Monday – Boston Market Knockoff recipe for Meatloaf, mashed red skinned potatoes (cook extra potatoes for tomorrow), garden tomatoes and light creamed spinach.

Tuesday – Pork and Honey Tenderloin Kabobs, potato salad.

Wednesday – Grilled Cod Packets with fresh dill, Wheat Berry Salad with Tomatoes and Olives

Thursday – Grilled chicken tenderloins with Knockoff TGIF Jack Daniels Dipping Sauce, baked beans and salad with garden veggies.

Friday – Dinner out with DH. I will probably order a salad or other vegetarian based meal and a few micro brews….

Saturday – Grilled Flank Steak with Corn, Black Bean and Avocado Salad, salad with garden veggies

Here is a quick and tasty summer meal to serve when peaches are ripe and cheap. I usually purchase the pork tenderloins at Sam’s Club in bulk and always have some on hand in the freezer. My daughters are not fans of most meats, but they love pork tenderloin. Bulk honey is also a great deal at Sam’s Club, but during the summer I like to buy local honey from the farmers markets along with the fresh peaches. I just love summer….

Honey Pork Tenderloin Kabobs

* 1/2 cup bourbon OR 2 tablespoons cider vinegar (lowers the calories)
* 1/2 cup honey
* 1/2 cup mustard
* 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
* 3-4 sweet potatoes cut into 24 one-inch cubes
* 1-1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, cut into 24 one-inch cubes
* 4 medium ripe unpeeled peaches, pitted and quartered
* 4 green peppers, each cut into 8 two-inch pieces
* 8 yellow onions, each cut into 4 two-inch pieces
* Olive oil for grilling

Cooking Directions