Slow Roasted Crispy Pork Belly

I got a good deal on pork belly at the grocery store ($13!) so searched for a suitable recipe and came up with this one.  I've tinkered with tiny pieces of pork belly with no recipes; and had mixed results.  I needed to follow a guideline so I didn't waste my time or the meat.  I had to adjust the cooking time as my pork was double the size as the recipe and I just guessed at it.  What I used:

Judy Hesser’s Oven-Fried Chicken

I am always craving fried chicken.  I would give anything to find a good Southern fried chicken place locally.  I always think of Nashville when I think of the best fried chicken I've had in my life...  Anyway, I saw this and decided to give it a try.  

Rigatoni Pie

I saw this and wanted to make it with Marcella Hazan's sauce.  I prepared it as per recipe in the link.  It is my favorite sauce for pasta, I think because of the butter.  

Instant Mashed Potato Gnocchi Al Forno

I was inspired to make this from watching the current season of Top Chef.  The world all-star chef won the day with instant mashed tater gnocchi.  I found a recipe here.  I tried once to make Ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano Gnocchi that did not work at all.  It turned into a big round blob of cheese while simmering and I haven't tried since...What I used today:

Raspberry Jam Oatmeal Bars

Son loves oatmeal anything and I had company company for dinner so thought this would accomplish a couple of things, dessert, breakfast and treats for everyone.  There were oodles and oodles of recipes online and I decided on this one.  What I used:

Falafel Waffles with Creamy Lemon Yogurt Slaw

As soon as I saw this on food t.v., I knew I had to make it.  I was surprised that I only had to soak the chickpeas, but I guessed the waffle maker would cook them hopefully.  What I used:

Cheesy Jalapeño Beer Bread

I saw this recipe and thought I'd make it since it looked so easy.  What I used:

Homemade Christmas Chex Mix

I made this for my neighbors and a few friends I'd be seeing up to the week of Christmas.  I looked at other people's recipes and additions and saw that most recommended upping the spices and butter.  I kept mine basic this year but if I was making it for ourselves, I'd choose spicier add-ins like Sriracha almonds and jalapeno bagel bites, etc.  What I used:

Bucatini Carbonara

I have never made this in life before.  I made this for my son after I talked him out of eating it on vacation.  I owed it to him.  😉

Prosciutto Pumpkin Jam Rosettes

A friend of mine recently returned from Portugal and brought me some pumpkin jam.  She showed me what she ate with it at a restaurant and I had to make it.