This is the really fun part for me!!! Testing new food products and brands for our Winter MARY’s secret ingredients subscription box stretches my imagination and creativity in ways I would never ordinarily go. Researching the products’ background, making sure they are all natural and good for you is imperative and then making sure it’s something that you can use to make an ordinary meal spectacular – without much effort – is another criteria. Using the products in the recipes that I create must provide you with a really tasty, worthy-of-sharing-with-friends-and-family meal, so you can create wonderful memories. This is my goal.

So while I do not want to spoil the surprise of the contents of the upcoming box, which will begin shipping on December 5^th, just in time for holiday gift giving, I can share some photos of some of the recipes I’ve been making, using box contenders. You should know that many product producers come to us, wanting to be in the box, but due to a flavor or ingredient profile that isn’t all natural and good for you, or I don’t like, they do not make it into our MARY’s secret ingredients Subscription Box.

You see, when you prepare great tasting meals, made with real food – fresh ingredients plus ours – because the flavors are so delicious, you don’t need to eat large quantities because you are satiated with a normal amount.

The same is very true with eating local, grass-fed meats. They are so flavorful, I know I take smaller bites, chew slower and really savor that bite. It’s a really good thing that you don’t need a huge portion to satisfy and it’s a much healthier way to live!

Take a look at these local pork chops I sautéed in coconut oil and a bit of butter with some fresh sage, Chinese Five Spice, onions and red wine. Delish! I could not eat a whole chop which gave me some for lunch the next day!
LOCAL PORK CHOPS WITH FRESH SAGE, ONIONS AND RED WINE – serves 3

3 pork chops, about ¾” thick, preferably local meat
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 Tbs. butter
Salt to taste
11/2 tsp. Chinese Five Spice
1 small onion, sliced
11/2 Tbs. chopped fresh sage leaves
½ cup dry red wine
1 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Melt the butter in the coconut oil over low heat. Add the onions and cover for 8 – 10 minutes until wilted and soft.

Wash and dry the chops with paper toweling. Season each side of the chops with salt, 1/4 tsp. Chinese Five Spice and the fresh sage leaves evenly distributed on both sides, pressing them in with your fingers so they adhere to the chops. Turn heat to medium, medium-high and brown the chops on one side for 4 minutes. Turn over and brown the other side for 3 – 5 minutes, piling the onions on top so they no longer brown and burn, and add in the wine. Your meat should feel firm to the touch and then your chops should be done.

Remove the chops to a platter to rest for 5 minutes, while you stir the bubbling wine still in the pan until it has thickened a bit. Drizzle the wine sauce on top of the chops and garnish with fresh parsley.

Serve with LOVE and enjoy! That’s some okra with our chops, sauteed in coconut oil with just a little salt. So good – and good for you!

With the holidays coming, don’t forget that our MARY’s secret ingredients Subscription Box makes a spectacular gift for everyone on your list, and with a full year subscription, you’ll be in front of them 4 times a year – every season. Makes a great corporate gift for plenty of referrals the whole year long!

Use the code: TREAT16 at checkout to get the full year subscription for only $99.00 starting with our gluten-free fall box!! It’s only good until midnight tomorrow as my Happy Halloween gift to you!