Opinions & And Rectums,We All Got One!

To My Father's Loyal Blog Readers

2010-07-26T09:06:00.002-04:00

This is Craig, Richards son. Richard passed away this morning unexpectedly. I know that he really appreciated this community and considered many of you friends so I thought it would be important to let you all know. Since his retirement this blog was very important to him and his life long passion of cooking. I am sorry to have to tell you all this in this fashion. He was loved and will be missed. Thank you all for being his friends and inspiring him to continue cooking right up till the end.

Craig

I Hope You Liked My Smackdown Entry.....

2010-07-25T13:37:00.002-04:00

Because it took 3rd in the State of Michigan BB-Q Cook-off in Vegetables! We didn't get skunked! We finished 28th out out of 48 teams overall, and were very happy with that! 5th in potatoes- 1/2 point out of third! Missed second in veggies by 1/2 point. More photos to follow in next post!
It rained all Friday, making the field a muddy mess where nearly everybody got stuck at least once!

My July Smackdown Entry...

2010-07-22T11:03:00.002-04:00

We were practicing Monday for the BB-Q side dishes, and tried a few different things, settling on this dish for our vegetable entry. We battered and deep fried green beans! Simple, incredibly good- with a creamy dip for added flavor! They were crisp, firm, flavorful, and the dip was creamy yet with the addition of hot sauce- it had a nice zip to it! I know there will be more colorful vegetable side dishes, but for flavor- these were very tasty!
I'll let you know how we did after the cook-off!

A BB-Q Primer...

2010-07-19T16:12:00.003-04:00

I have six or seven books on BB-Q, but these three are my "go to" books! Paul Kirk is my guru of BB-Q, and have learned the most from his writings...He is informative on procedures, and makes sense in his philosophies.
The three jars in the photo are as follows: On the left, a mustard slather. This is spread on the meat for two main reasons, one mustard has vinegar and tenderizes meat to a degree, and two- it holds the dry rub (next jar) in place as it dissolves onto and into the meat. Mine is made from mustard, beer, molasses, and hot sauce. Beef and pork only, and it will not taste mustardy!
The second jar is dry rub, made of herbs, spices, salt, sugar. It flavors the meat- in a good way!
The third jar is a finishing sauce, put on towards the end of long slow cooking, otherwise known as BB-Q sauce. Glazing it onto ribs, or mixing it with vinegar for pulled pork is common. Glazing on chicken is good, too! I use a separate one for beef brisket...
We tried out a couple of our side dishes, and were quite pleased with the results!

Freelance Pasta Salad!

2010-07-15T11:06:00.003-04:00

I never seem to make pasta salad the same way every time.... I tend to use what is available, yet compatible! The one you see in the photo takes on a bit of an Italian theme, with the following ingredients:
Tri-colored spiral pasta
Hard cooked eggs, chopped
Pepperoni slices, quartered
Shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Chopped sweet onion
Chopped tomato
Chopped green olives
Chopped black olives
Creamy Caesar's Dressing, for binder
Mix and chill, then serve on bed of lettuce
The green olives provide enough salt for the whole recipe, pepperoni gives heat but not too much!), and the dressing is somewhat tart and garlicky-really good!
Nice cool bite to eat, when the weather is hot!

Mini Meme Time! BB-Q...

2010-07-12T17:21:00.002-04:00

I will be in The Taste of Grand Rapids KCBS sanctioned BB-Q cook off in a couple of weeks.. I thought it would be a good question to throw at you! It doesn't matter if you make it yourself, or buy it at a restaurant....
1. What is your favorite BB-Q food?
2. What is your least favorite?
It's hard to have BB-Q that isn't good, but try!
I really like chicken that has been marinated, smoked- usually thighs with skin on, skin crisped and coated with a good finishing sauce towards the end of the cooking time!
I've taken 3rd and 4th place with Beef Brisket in the state, but I don't enjoy it as much as most people seem to..go figure!! I had some at Smokey Bones once, I swore was beef jerky!
Have fun with this, I enjoy your comments on these Mini-Memes!

It's Soup! The Easiest Use Of Left Overs....

2010-07-10T10:14:00.002-04:00

I eat soup year round! A few nights back, I had left over chicken and rice...Plenty can be done with these ingredients! I chose to make tomato based soup, utilizing chicken and rice into a hearty soup, even though the temperature outside was a bit high. Tomato sauce, Italian spices, some milk, some cheese, and the base was simmered until blended. Adding already cooked ingredients made this a quick, tasty meal! I floated a tomato slice, with croutons and Parmesan cheese on top of soup....quite tomatoey, it was rich! Some like that, and some don't, but I don't make soup from a recipe- and neither do you!
Have a good week-end, everybody!

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, And Rice

2010-07-08T08:18:00.002-04:00

This is a classic match! Simple, tasty, and easy... even without skin, thighs stay more moist than white meat. Seasoned, then baked while I made the rice, we had a nice meal in a short period of time!
I have plans for the leftover chicken and rice- either Mexican flavors, or Asian..I haven't decided which yet..
I'm still kind of sore from where I fell, so cooking has been a little slower than normal...
I got my confirmation on the KCBS BB-Q entry.. got to start making sauces and rubs soon!

4th Of July, Fireworks, Pork Ribs, And Deviled Eggs!

2010-07-06T11:59:00.004-04:00

Be warned- No photos! In our rush to leave the house, I forgot my camera! I dry rubbed the ribs(minus membrane)and baked the ribs in the oven, in an aluminum pan- covered with aluminum foil at 300F for 3-1/2 hrs. Then I used a home made finishing sauce for another 40 minutes, uncovered..these were falling off the bone tender and full of flavor! None came home!
16 Deviled eggs were also made by me- a natural at a picnic outside....None came home, either!
We had a decent fireworks selection, and shot them from dusk until 11PM...No mistakes were made that night!
My knees were killing me, and from moving from a chair to a picnic bench, I went right on my ass! I had only had one drink, in case you're wondering!
Beautiful day on the lake, but a smaller turn out than years gone by...
Hope you had a good one, too!

One Pork Leftover Meal, And One To Go!

2010-07-02T10:01:00.002-04:00

I had cooked pork roast, gravy, and bread..sliced the pork thin, simmered it in the leftover gravy, and put it over toast..It all took about 1/2 hour, and we were eating! Over rice, pasta, noodles, or potatoes works too!
Today I must make BB-Q sauce for ribs...it can pull double duty as a sauce for chopped pork in a bun! Three meals from one roast is even enough for me...
Yesterday, I picked up my 4th of July nukes..we shoot them over a lake for safety and viewing pleasure! I'm bringing pork baby back ribs and some other dish as well to the party we have before the fireworks..
I hope you all have a great 4th of July!

Pork Pot Roast And Roasted Potatoes With Gravy

2010-06-30T14:04:00.003-04:00

I'm sure I've posted this before, but this was dinner last night... A lot of people don't know this, but if you mix brown gravy mix with an equal amount of chicken gravy mix, you come up with a gravy that is excellent on pork! I got this out of an old church cook book, and it works! I sprinkle this on a pork roast, along with garlic, onion powder, and black pepper(of course!) wrap tightly in aluminum foil and bake for 3 hours at 320F..this creates a tender pork roast, and a great gravy for the potatoes you roasted in the same pan for the last two hours. Gravy usually needs thickening, but cold water and corn starch can do the job... This makes a great dish that is simple and tasty! Left overs can be made into burritos or BB-Q sandwiches- or what ever you can imagine! We talk about what to do with the leftovers, while we're eating the original meal... Look at left overs as a challenge, and not a burden!

Home Made Bread..What To Do?

2010-06-29T10:08:00.002-04:00

I made a couple of loaves of white bread for Sunday brunch...Frankly, I've made better! The flavor was sweet and good, but the texture was a little crumbly. The plan was to make French toast, but everybody just wanted fresh bread. I have one loaf left, and plan to try and make a bread pudding out of it! I have never made this, but appears to be easy and tasty..
I'll be cooking a pork roast today in the slow cooker. It doesn't heat up the house, and left overs make a good pork BB-Q sandwich. I'll be doing pork ribs for the 4th, so I need to make some sauce anyway! We have been eating lighter the last few days, as warm weather tends to do that to people...

When Nothing Sounds Good..Fix Some Eggs!

2010-06-26T15:46:00.004-04:00

We have had a goofy schedule lately...nothing requires less planning than eggs for a meal! I made a rather homely cheese omelet, but tasted great! Today, I found out my wife was working 2nd shift on a Saturday, so I fixed myself something she would never eat- sunny side up eggs! Eggs are cheap, tasty, and are a healthy form of protein. Studies have proven they aren't the heart attack bomb everyone thought they were 10years ago... They are versatile, and can be used in cooking, baking, or stand alone for a meal! Looks like a brunch tomorrow, and I'm sure eggs will be somewhere in or on the menu!
P.S.- Can anyone tell I like Black pepper?

Beef Enchilada Bake

2010-06-24T11:05:00.002-04:00

I had everything in the house to make this dish, and I know from experience my wife loves the flavors of Tex-Mex food! I seasoned and browned 1lb. of ground beef, using more liquid than normal,, because I will drain the meat and have ready made enchilada sauce to pour on the enchiladas. I used small flour tortillas to wrap the meat, laying them seam side down in the oiled casserole dish- four fit perfectly! I poured the sauce over all, then topped with cheese. I also added some Jalapeno slices, which really kicked up the heat a bit! I baked them uncovered, until cheese was melted, and dinner was served..If it sounds simple- it is! All the classic flavors are there, and even had two left over...
Hopefully today I will pick up some fireworks for the 4th.. I always look forward to that!

Tuna Salad In Cantaloupe- It's Summer!

2010-06-22T12:17:00.004-04:00

I have made this dish and featured it before, but there are some new people that visit since I posted this last. Chicken salad and shrimp salad works well like this also!
My tuna fish salad recipe is simple and straightforward:
1. High quality tuna, either fresh cooked or canned Albacore in water, 12-16 oz.
2. Two hard cooked eggs, peeled and cooled
3. 2 stalks of celery
4. 1 medium onion
Chop all above ingredients into bite sized pieces
5. Add real Mayo (Miracle Whip and low fat mayo both have too much water in them!) to taste.
6. Add mustard, lemon pepper, and dried dill- all to taste.
Mix all above until blended thoroughly.
Cut a medium sized ripe cantaloupe in half, cleaned of all seeds. Fill cavity with tuna salad, and enjoy!
This is a good summer meal, eaten cold. It is filling and refreshing..
My melon could have been riper, but it was still OK..the salad was great!
Last night our area got clobbered with high winds, thunderstorms, and a lot of rain..Tornado warning were out, and the sirens were going for an hour!
Hard to get any sleep with a dog going crazy, and sirens blaring!

My Fathers Day- Food And Goodies!

2010-06-21T11:37:00.004-04:00

I had a nice day Sunday..My one son in Kansas City sent me a hilarious book with a card, and phoned me later from St. Louis, where he was starting his vacation. My other son stopped by with a banana cream pie, made at a local restaurant who specializes in pies, again with a funny card! Wife got me a box of Sea Foam from the local candy shop( which I love!) and picked up the meal I said I would like to fix for dinner!
Dinner was some high grade tuna steaks, fresh asparagus, rolls, and of course- the pie! Nailed the tuna perfectly- medium rare, seasoned with butter, fresh lemon, black pepper, and dried dill...asparagus was still crisp and delicious after steaming it, and the pie was perfect too! The photo is the "to go" plate we fix our son who works Sundays a mile from the house.
The book was about what his father used to say on all sorts of subjects, and any father should read this for some good laughs!
I had extra tuna, and will be making a tuna salad today out of some pretty pricey fish...

A Fathers Day Rant- Or Observations...

2010-06-19T15:01:00.002-04:00

I wondered about my dad for years...as I got older, I saw the wisdom (or lack of it!) in his actions! He never hit me, but I got yelled at a lot.. I figured out later he was doing the best he could, with what the good Lord gave him! He was a good bowler, and the day I became a better one, we never said a word. He was proud, and I never rubbed in the fact that I could now beat him. He was a terrible cheat at golf, yet for years I let him be..he was decent enough to take a teach me the game, as best he could. He loved me, and I loved him, no matter what came up between us. He never thought he was good enough, but I did. I was the "bad cop" in the family..the guy who had to tell dad he was dying.. but I also told him he had done a great job raising three productive kids who loved him.. Try to understand your father Sunday- it ain't easy being one all the time, you know..

Chicken Paprika- Simplfied!

2010-06-18T12:43:00.003-04:00

I have had chicken a lot of ways, but haven't had this dish in quite a while! When I say "simplified", I mean I cut corners in the traditional recipe and went with the basic flavors that give this dish it's taste. I took two large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, salted, peppered, and added onion powder, before dumping sour cream over them. I then sprinkled paprika (a fair amount!) on the sour cream, covered them in a casserole dish and baked them at 300F for quite a while! They came out very flavorful, but as this kind of chicken isn't prone to getting tender, they were still tender enough to eat and enjoy! With a side of left over broccoli casserole, it made a passable meal...
I'm struggling with new ideas as to what to eat lately- I think we all go through this occasionally!
Enjoy your week end, everyone!

A Meatless Casserole- but not Cheeseless!

2010-06-16T11:57:00.004-04:00

This is a casserole that has been around for more than 50 years..I just kind of updated it! It is a rice, broccoli, cheese concoction that I altered to make it a little more upscale. Normally, it is white rice, frozen broccoli,milk, and Velveeta cheese, baked until cheese melts. I used brown rice, cooked for 45 minutes in chicken broth, then mixed with American cheese, sour cream, a can of cream o mushroom soup, and steamed, chopped fresh broccoli. I then topped it with a layer of Cheddar cheese slices, and baked until top layer of cheese melted in a covered casserole dish that had been buttered before cooking. I sprinkled savory on the casserole before baking (350F for 40 min). Brown rice has a nutty, stand alone flavor and texture we really enjoy!
I have an older Catholic friend, who really didn't like taking the Lord's name in vain, so instead of yelling "Jesus Christ!" he would yell "Cheese and Rice"!
You can use this as a meatless main dish, or a side dish- you can also add chicken, ham, or turkey to the casserole for a one course meal...
Try it, you'll like it!

Broiled Shrimp In Jerk Sauce, Chicken, Potatoes, And Gravy

2010-06-14T10:01:00.003-04:00

Friday, we just wanted a little snack for supper...used up some shrimp I broiled with a thin jerk sauce, and some lef over potato salad...
Sunday, we were going to make a run to an Indian casino north of town, so Saturday we had our normally large Sunday meal! I have been using too large boneless skinless chicken breasts, and was sick of them! I like dark meat- preferably bone in thighs, with the skin left on! This goes well with roasted potatoes, as the cooking times and temperature for both are virtually identical! Lawrys Seasoned salt, coarse ground black pepper, then coated with olive oil is really all you need. Baked at 330F for 70-75 minutes in an uncovered pan, gives you a simple, yet hardy dish! I made chicken gravy for the potatoes, but a little on the chicken doesn't taste bad either..
Our trip to the casino was slightly lucrative, coming home with more money than we left with!
I did add a photo of a local park for the Picnic Throwdown, which is one post back..
Tonight I have plans to make a rice, broccoli, and cheese casserole we haven't had in ages..
Have a good week everybody!

Picnic Smackdown For June

2010-06-11T10:32:00.009-04:00

To me, a picnic is a very portable meal made from tried and true favorites. Michigan is surrounded by fresh water(The Great Lakes) and has thousands of inland lakes and rivers, so usually the picnic setting has something to do with water! We have where I live, the Grand River that flows through Grand Rapids. It has numerous riverside parks, and is the start of The White Pine Trail, a closed railroad track that has been paved or a two track that covers almost 90 miles! Most parks in Michigan prohibit alcohol, so no nice bottle of wine today! The photo is a shot of Versluis Park, a township park by our house.
My picnic fare included deviled eggs, onion wraps, potato salad, fresh strawberries with powdered sugar, shrimp salad sandwiches on croissants, and peanut butter Rice Krispie squares frosted with semi sweet chocolate..
The cooler has taken the place of a picnic basket, paper plates and plastic utensils work for ease of clean up!
Anyone who would like the recipe for anything I made is welcome to ask!
Simple things, done well is my motto...

Bean Dip Deluxe- A Meal By Itself!

2010-06-08T11:52:00.002-04:00

A while back, I mentioned I enjoyed hot snacks, and the one I listed was bean dip. My version is loaded with goodies to a point of being enough to eat for a meal- just add tortilla chips! My recipe goes pretty much like this:
1 can refried beans
1/2 of same can water
4-5 oz of chunky salsa (medium heat)
1/2 chopped onion
1 chopped red bell pepper
1/2 lb. of browned ground beef
1 fresh tomato, chopped
2 oz of liquid taco sauce
6-8 oz of shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
cumin and chili powder to taste
Simmer all ingredients until smooth and hot. Use as dip with Tortilla chips.
It goes quickly, and if some is left over, can be reheated easily.

An Upscale Egg McMuffin And Spicy Mac N Cheese

2010-06-06T08:50:00.003-04:00

I had some big croissants, left from another project and thought they would work out well for an egg, ham, and cheese sandwich. I scrambled the eggs, used sliced Black Forest ham, and a good Colby cheese...they were tasty and big enough to call supper! I never was much on croissants, but I am changing my mind about that now!
I also made some spicy mac-n-cheese yesterday, chopping some onion and Jalapeno peppers, then adding to the cheese sauce. I baked it for a bit , with extra cheese on top, and sprinkled heavily with black pepper. It had a zip to it, but was still pretty good! Today, I'm making my loaded bean dip....ground beef, refried beans, cut up peppers, onions, tomatoes, hot sauce and shredded cheese. It is so loaded with goodies, it's a meal in itself!
I also made some treats for the new neighbors that moved in Friday- good way to get off on the right foot with them!

Mini-Meme On Snacks!

2010-06-04T15:36:00.002-04:00

We all snack! On munchies, on dips and munchies, on hot and cold munchies! The questions today is what is your favorite munchie? What is your least favorite munchie, served at buffets, parties, and eateries?
1. I love munchies in general, but I like something that is hot, and tasty.. like bean dip! My bean dip has meat, peppers, onions, cheese, and refried beans galore! Hot sauce is a given! Fresh taco chips, or Tortilla chips needed for dipping!
2. Gagamole..I didn't misspell it it- it gags me! How an over rated high cal, high fat dip with the flavor of green mush got popular is beyond me!
Agree or disagree, let's hear your answer as to what you like or dislike in a munchie!

Anniversary And Quick Meals

2010-06-02T09:13:00.006-04:00

Today, my wife and I celebrate 37 years of marriage. Hard to believe it has been that long, but the numbers don't lie! If you have been married any length of time, you learn it is a journey of evolving... You will not be the same person you were when you got married! You learn to not sweat the small stuff. You learn forgiving. You learn there are certain traits in the other person that probably will never change, so accept them. This ends today's sermon, the collection plate will come next!
We had a Black Forest ham and baby Swiss toasted sandwich Monday- neither of us too hungry! The photo of the Klondike bar is a funny story- wife bought them and ate two- probably would have eaten all six without telling me she bought them!
Tuesday, it was a version of a pattie melt..I like to add blue cheese and some hot sauce to mine! I also gave her a box of candy from a great local candy maker, Sweetlands- which we got into promptly!
I can't post the food we're going to have today, as it will be in a later post!
Thunderstorms again last night, and cable TV is out for who knows how long...

Steak And Potato Soup

2010-05-31T10:28:00.003-04:00

A couple of nights ago, we had steaks. My wife and I split one, so I had one left, and I knew exactly what to do with it! Steak and Potato Soup! My version goes like this:
1. One can of cream of mushroom soup
2. One can of water, same size
3. One NY strip steak, cooked, cut into chunks
4. One cup of chopped onion
5. Three small Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
6. Two ears of fresh corn, stripped off cob
7. Black pepper to taste
8. A little brown gravy mix(shake with cold water before adding)
Simmer all above until potatoes are tender but still firm
Enjoy!
It was pretty tasty, for a quick, throw together soup..

The Truck Driver Special And Steak With Hash Browns

2010-05-29T12:22:00.003-04:00

The Truck Driver Special... every Diner, Drive-in, and Dive has a version of this, and there are many! Some kind of pork or beef, sliced thin, in an appropriate gravy, over mashed potatoes or noodles, or rice, or toast!
Thursday night, I used sliced pork, gravy, and toast..it's a filling, satisfying meal that takes little thought or prep time! I peppered it pretty heavily, but wife loved it!
Last night, a couple of broiled steaks with hash browns made a good meal too.. Montreal Steak Seasoning is getting to be my "go to" seasoning for a simple steak broiled! Crispy hash browns are a perfect match to this- none left over! I do have some steak left and am thinking a steak and potato soup tonight- but who knows!
Enjoy your Memorial Week-end, but think of the fallen who preserved our freedoms, and be grateful...

Macaroni Salad- Made The Way A Guy Does It!

2010-05-27T16:43:00.003-04:00

I like pasta salad. I have been to many potlucks, buffets, and family gatherings where money seemed to be the object of this dish-cheap! I saw potential in how good this so-called side dish could be a meal within itself! Overkill is my middle name! When I make a pasta salad, you will not go home saying something was missing!
1. Any pasta,cooked El Dente- you pick!
2. Slices of black olives, sliced green olives, chopped onions, red bell pepper, chopped celery, chopped cooked chicken, 1 hard cooked egg sliced, chopped Colby cheese, chopped Swiss cheese..
3. Mix with Mayo, a small amount of mustard, and Ranch dressing. Season to taste- mainly black ground pepper..
4. Chill and serve..this ain't rocket science, but it is darn good! Bring it to your next gathering, and you will bring an empty bowl home!
Terrible photo- sorry! We also had a bit of sweet corn- not bad!

Chinese Take-Out Can Be A Good Decision!

2010-05-26T10:46:00.003-04:00

Some days I just don't feel like cooking! Tuesday was one of them...A little while back I had asked my commenters what their favorite Asian meal was. A number of people answered General Tso Chicken..Chinese take out sounded good, and I had never tried the Generals chicken- so last night we did! My wife and I split an order of it, and both had an egg roll on the side. The chicken tasted like deep fried chicken, in bite sized pieces, heavy with some kind of BB-Q sauce. It wasn't bad, but I don't feel I got the best version of this dish...It's a good restaurant, and have never had a complaint against them, so maybe I got what I asked for! I'm going to do a little research on it, and find out...
Today, I'll be making a small batch of macaroni salad- any pasta will do, but what I have in the pantry is macaroni! I make it like a guy would- so loaded with other ingredients you have to look for the pasta!

Mini-Meme On Pizza!

2010-05-24T12:47:00.002-04:00

It cracks me up, the shows that pit Chicago style pizza against New York Style pizza! I have taken a class in pizza making, and it is no longer an Italian dish- It's American as hot dogs and apple pie! The questions today are easy, and you get to contribute your Opinion- which is valued here!
1. Thick crust or thin? Which do you prefer?
2. Your favorite toppings, however strange they may be!
Me first!
1. In the middle of both! Sounds like a politicians answer, but it's true.. Not too thick, as I find it doughy, and not too thin, as it can be tough...
2. A spicy red sauce, Pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, with Parmesan, Romano ( both grated) Mozzarella, and Provolone cheese, shredded.. I'll eat other stuff on it, but this is my favorite!
Jump in and play with the other kids in the sandbox- and tell us what you like!

A Quick Food Tour Of The Caribbean- A Smackdown

2010-05-21T13:35:00.003-04:00

I'm participating in BamaTrav's Caribbean Smackdown- I hope you like the dishes I chose! Each food or beverage is from a different country in the Caribbean...
CUBA:
Medianoche, or Cuban Midnight Sandwich! This is a traditional Cuban sandwich, also easily found in Miami- for obvious reasons!
I took a 1/2 center cut pork loin, marinated it for 12 hrs in orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, crushed garlic, black pepper, olive oil, and bit of jerk sauce and rum. Roasted until done, it set for awhile then was sliced thinly for the sandwich. Mustard is the usual spread for this, applied to both interior pieces of bun. Dill pickles are next, then the pork, and thinly sliced ham and Swiss cheese. Butter the outside of the roll, and put in a sandwich press (I use a Cuisinart Griddler!) and grill until cheese starts to melt. They went over big with my guests!
TRINIDAD:
Caribbean Corn Pie! This casserole type dish went over big, too! Regular corn, cream corn, coconut milk, 5 eggs, a bit of corn muffin mix, and spices. Baked at 300F for nearly as long as the pork, it can be eaten hot or cold- but hot is better!
FLORIDA KEYS:
Key Lime Cake. This is a simple cake in as much as it is made from a box mix, flavored and colored by you. Limes are naturally the flavoring. Makes for a nice light dessert, with a citrus touch!
JAMAICA:
Red Stripe Beer! The beer drinkers in the group were glad to see I offered something other than a fruity drink as an alternative!
PUERTO RICO:
Pina Coladas!(Not shown) Generally accepted as where this drink was invented, I made a blender full for the ladies in the group..Simple drink, really...
So there is my food tour of the Caribbean- Hope you enjoyed it!

Tommorow Is The Bama Caribbean Smack-down, And I Am Ready!

2010-05-20T16:07:00.003-04:00

Check in tomorrow and see my tour of the Caribbean cuisine! I hit more than one island, so it could be interesting! Having a total of six people here tonight, so I hope they like it too!

Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup...Not Your Mother's Recipe!

2010-05-18T09:25:00.003-04:00

Even a simple meal doesn't have to be THAT simple... A classic pairing in America is tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich! Well! We just can't leave it at that- let's see how we can put an evening gown on a jeans and sweater kind of dish!
The sandwich is easy..we all grew up eating American cheese slices(we fondly call it "Nerd" cheese!). It is actually classified as cheese food- not really cheese at all- but this comes from a nation who invented orange colored marshmallow peanuts that have the half life of Radium.. Change the bread from white, hydrogenated air bread, to a whole or cracked grain bread with substance. Then use real cheese, one that melts readily and tastes great too- Havarti! Real butter on the outside of the sandwich getting grilled, and you are there!
The soup is a little fancier... One can of your everyday condensed tomato soup, made with one can of milk, not water. Add chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh corn off the cob and a bit of chopped fresh onion. Add sour cream to it, and a hefty dose of dried basil, black pepper, and a bit of salt. Simmer until onions are getting tender..add croutons if you are of a mind! It's creamy, rich, and tastes great along side a real grilled cheese sandwich!
Simple things done well...learn it, live it!

I'm The Guy Who Makes Stone Soup..

2010-05-16T14:58:00.002-04:00

Perhaps you remember the old parable of the Russian soldier who came to town one day, starving.. to shorten the story, he kept getting the villagers to add to his stone soup..nothing but a rock and water- until there was enough ingredients to actually have a soup they could all share and enjoy... I love this story, for many reasons..it shows what can be made from little, if we all work together!
I make a lot of "stone soups"...something from nothing- which is what a lot of folks consider leftovers! A jar of Alfredo sauce, a splash of Champagne vinegar, Parmesan and Romano grated, a can of mushrooms, some cherry tomatoes sliced, left over chicken breasts sliced and diced..over fettuccine..stone soup pasta! Don't turn your nose up at leftovers..might be the best meal you ever had!
I love this kind of challenge..I wish the Food Channel had one for guys and gals like us!

Chicken Chef Salad, Artisan Bread, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!

2010-05-15T13:07:00.006-04:00

It's Friday Night, and wife is craving a Chef's Salad..done deal! My touch was a loaf of excellent bread- followed by some killer peanut butter chocolate chip cookies...
The salad included Lettuce, with bacon, a sliced chicken,tomatoes, cheddar cheese, celery, carrots, hard cooked eggs, green onions, croutons, and dressing of choice- mine being blue cheese so thick you could walk on, and Ranch for wife..
The bread was a heat and serve designer loaf- which was excellent! Later, I found ambition enough to make cookies, which by the look of the keyboard this morning got eaten some more before I got up! They were crunchy rather than chewy- which we tend to prefer in a peanut butter cookie! What a nice Friday night supper! I hope your week end is great..enjoy life!

Mini- PIzzas And Asparagus Bundles

2010-05-14T11:46:00.002-04:00

When our children were younger, like most kids they could be picky. Pizza was a problem! One wanted this on his, the other wanted that... The simple answer was to make them each the pizza they would enjoy... We found a half an English Muffin was a perfect crust for a kid sized pizza! Last night that is what my wife and I had for supper...English muffin crust, home made pizza sauce, grated Parmesan cheese, shredded Mozzarella cheese, with Pepperoni slices.
It went along with some steamed fresh asparagus with bacon- the real star of the show! I tied them in bundles of three with bacon, and cut the string when done broiling with the pizzas. Simple, yet good!
Tonight will be a chicken chef salad, and possibly peanut butter chocolate chip cookies..we'll see..
Enjoy your week-ends, everyone!

Another Simple Meal...Good Ingredients= Good Results

2010-05-12T11:44:00.003-04:00

Simple doesn't mean tasteless or bad- remember that! I am, as most of you know, the Leftover Wizard! I swear I have more fun making something different from a left over meal! I did a pork roast a few days ago, with quite a bit left...simmered in a home made BB-Q sauce, after being chopped up- made a wonderful BB-Q pork sandwich! Ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, vinegar, onion and garlic powder, a bit of soy, molasses, and brown sugar- you got sauce!
Last night, a couple of boneless, skinless chix breasts, in olive oil and the dry poultry seasoning shown, roasted low and slow, with a Tiger sauce coating- made for a decent tasting chicken with corn on the cob meal! The corn was fresh and good- still being shipped in from down south- Michigan won't see home grown for a few months yet..
I can't stress enough that you don't have to spend a fortune to eat well..time and knowledge of simple dishes will elevate your meals to a level of enjoyment, rather than just edible.. "Simple things done well" is my cooking credo, and I'm still learning!

Mother's Day...The Rest Of The Story..

2010-05-10T16:18:00.003-04:00

My wife enjoyed her time with her sons (one on the phone, who sent flowers, and one who lives close coming over with candy and card!)..she liked the brunch, and now could relax! She wakes up from an afternoon nap and goes and mows the lawn! I offer to make her favorite sandwich spread, tuna salad! We use Albacore tuna in water, mixed with hard cooked eggs, mayo, mustard, celery chunks, and onion chopped..I add a little lemon pepper, because there is salt, black pepper, and lemon in it- works great! She snoozed again, and woke up to a nice sandwich! The other plate is a favorite snack around here that has been featured before- a pig in the blanket- using sausage with a mayo- hot sauce dip! Tasty and it keeps for later, if you wish! Tonight is BB-Q pork sandwiches- simple, but good!
I have been planning my assault on the Smack-down Challenge from Bama-Trav, and I think I have have a dark horse chance of winning!
Stay tuned...

Mother's Day Brunch 2010

2010-05-09T12:07:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned in my comments on the previous post, there was nothing to take a photo of yesterday! It rained all the way there, with wind gusts that kept both hands on the wheel! The Casino was fairly busy, but had added a non-smoking room separate from the rest of the casino floor..kind of nice for the non smokers!
Today, I fixed my wife and youngest son a brunch, as he had to work this afternoon.. We had bacon, scrambled eggs, English muffins, with orange juice.. Our son in K.C. sent mom flowers, and the youngest brought her candy. A good breakfast, a phone call from Kansas City, and a visit from the youngest son, all made for a nice day for their Mom.. That and I let her keep the money she had from yesterday!
Hope your Mother's Day is a good one!

The Weather Is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful..

2010-05-08T07:58:00.002-04:00

Old Jimmy Buffet song..but it describes today pretty well! It is May, we may have snow flurries and 40 mph gusts.. and we are headed North to a nice warm Casino! Kind of a Mother's Day celebration for my wife of almost 37 years! I'll try to remember the camera, and try to remember to take photos!
See you when we get back!

What Did You Eat On Cinco de Mayo? Mini Meme Time!

2010-05-06T09:31:00.002-04:00

I fixed a sort of a Tex- Mex dish- Nachos! With tortilla chips, cheese, onion, green bell pepper, and chunky salsa, it hit the spot! I was going to make burritos, but wife likes crunchy corn shells better than soft flour wraps.
The questions today are easy and fun.. join in and participate!
1. What is your favorite Mexican dish?
2. What is your favorite Italian dish?
3. What is your favorite Asian dish?
4. What is your favorite American dish?
I'll go first, to show the new kids what to do!
1. Tamales! Love to get them, but a good one is hard to find around here!
2. Manicotti. Stuffed with a meat and cheese filling, and covered in a good red sauce!
3. Korean beef short ribs. The flavor is out of this world!
4. Cheeseburgers. Made medium rare, with green olives, lettuce, and mayo- good stuff!
Try your hand at this, and have a good week-end!

Pizza Stones, Home Made Sauce, And Pork Pot Roast

2010-05-04T14:09:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I made up a batch of pizza sauce...I like to make my own, as no commercial sauce has the flavor I enjoy! I use tomato sauce, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic and onion powder, dried fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, a bit of sea salt, and a little brown sugar. Simmered for about 1-1/2 hrs., it thickens nicely and melds the flavors to a tasty mix... I won't lie- I didn't make the crust for a change! Because of this, I felt compelled to get out my pizza stone... Mine is well seasoned, and no youngster! I was using up cheeses(Swiss, Havarti, Parmesan, and Cheddar!)chopped onion, ham, along with some pepperoni..I won a pizza class once, and was taught more stuff on the pizza didn't make it better, just harder to get done right! We enjoyed this easy to make pie, and the cheeses were a refreshing change from Mozzarella!
Tonight it's a pork butt pot roast..3lbs. of Boston butt, wrapped in aluminum foil, with cream of mushroom soup, dry brown gravy mix, and spices- all sealed in tightly. 3-1/2hrs. at 315F, will make it tender, and in it's own gravy! Probably a side of white rice, to utilize some of that gravy!

Poker Night At Buffalo Dicks House..And A Boo-boo

2010-05-02T10:35:00.003-04:00

We have a group of old friends (4 couples) that about 4-6 times a year get together and play a shortened version of Texas Hold'em..at $5 bucks a game per person, it's pretty hard to win a lot of money, but I usually do OK! Last night I won a lot more than anyone else! I beat one friend who had a full house- with a straight flush! I thought he was going to flip..I would have!
I made up some pigs in a blanket (with sausage), and onion wraps (green onions wrapped in cream cheese and dried beef). I forgot to take photos, so I hope there are left overs..
Remember last post with the carrot cake? Well, I lied! I thought I'd made a carrot cake, when in reality I had made a spice cake! With the same kind of frosting, they virtually look the same.. I made the carrot cake yesterday, for my friend who loves it!
Everyone else brings their own beverages and munchies, so we eat between games, and snack all night..
It broke up at midnight, as we were all yawning by then..Wife has to work 2nd shift, so she is trying to sleep this morning- to get ready for a long night..

Spare Ribs In The Oven, And A Carrot Cake..

2010-04-29T10:17:00.005-04:00

I was cruising the freezer for a supper to have on Tuesday, and came across a rack of regular pork spare ribs. These are what was common years ago, instead of the baby back ribs you see in restaurants and BB-Q places. They are much larger in length, and have more meat on them, as a rule... I stripped off the membrane off the back of the rib, and dry rubbed both sides liberally with a spice mixture. I put them in the oven at 330F, and covered them with aluminum foil. A bit of water was in the pan, to aid the steaming effect. This went on for about 3 hrs...I then uncovered them and started basting with the BB-Q sauce about every 15 minutes for an hour or so. The result was a flavorful, tender(but not too tender!) rack of pork ribs... The side was cheesey pasta shells, which went nicely with the ribs!
Earlier, I had made a box mix carrot/spice cake, which came out moist and flavorful. Cream cheese frosting sprinkled with cinnamon made it a nice dessert!
The yahoo in the last photo is my dog Clara the Airedale, who had just come back from the groomer.. a very polite beggar!

Pie And a Pasta Dish- The Meal Of Choice After A Cook-off..

2010-04-27T14:16:00.003-04:00

Sunday, we were kind of whipped from Saturday-a long day in the rain.. My wife is working insane hours, so I thought I should do something special for Sunday dinner- even though I was wupped too..
I baked an apple pie. Now, to all you excellent bakers who stop by here, you know I can bake certain things quite well- but a crusted pie isn't one of them! Crusts intimidate me, but I did it anyway! The filling was fresh apples, in a sugar-cinnamon sauce- simmered until tender and thick. The crust was simpler than I thought, and by the photo you can tell it came out beautifully.
The pasta was small shells, covered in a long simmered red sauce, with added basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds. Browned, seasoned Italian sausage and ground beef, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese made it simple, filling, and quick to prepare!
Tonight, it's spare ribs in the oven, with a carrot cake for dessert..time to get the ribs in!

Chili Cook-off 2010 For C-Snips...

2010-04-25T09:50:00.005-04:00

Saturday started early for us, as we loaded the van with cooking utensils, grill, food, trophies, etc. for our try at the White Chili category in a chili cook-off! We chopped, diced, and mixed a bunch of different food stuff together, making a huge batch at 3 gallons! We were happy with our batch, and liked our chances..
The first photo is of the lady who organized the event, and she had reserved the corner table closest to the bar door for us! This is a great location, which can help when selling the chili to the public.. Second photo is our neighbors at the contest, who really decorated their booth like it was Halloween! The third shot is of our friends Dragon Spit Chili..Between our two teams, we probably have 40-50 chili trophies and it is unusual for neither of us to place in a contest. The last photo is a rare sighting of the semi- mythical Buffalo Dick hisself!
We didn't win. The white chili that won was a good friend of the organizer, who helped put up the awnings and tables- go figure.. Dragon Spit didn't place either..their red chili was great (I had some!) and they had 3/4 of a batch left.
It rained all day, and turn out was light..everyone had chili left but one guy- ME!
Oh well, these events are getting less impartial and more biased towards the locals who patronize the place all year long..

A Day At Sam's Club- And A Chili Cook-off Saturday!

2010-04-22T17:30:00.002-04:00

My son and I went to Sam's Club today... something takes you over and you buy in quantities that the U.S. Government would envy! Suddenly, 24 rolls of toilet paper doesn't seem like a lot.. 8 large cans of black olives is a deal! 5lbs. of Italian sausage is a bargain..etc. $177 bucks later(before filling gas tank!) you ask your self- what was I thinking!!!! They must have subliminal messages playing over the piped in music! The guy in front of me was buying two old Jimmy Buffet CDs for 8.88 a crack! What possessed him? His 50ish wife had the blank look of a brain-washing...The Hispanics skip the cart and go for the flat bed cargo haulers..I guess they are buying for the neighborhood.. I did get a clip on pair of sun glasses, which the girl in the eye care department said they don't carry..cheerful, yet stupid...
I am making a ham and Havarti melt, on an English Muffin (broiled) for supper tonight, and it should be simple and good!
We still have to pick-up a few things for the chili cook-off Saturday, and it's supposed to rain. Oh well- welcome to my world! Wish me luck- I'm cooking my Wicked White Chili.. 3 1st place trophies in three years at this one!

When A Slow Cooker Isn't The Answer...

2010-04-22T10:59:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, I decided chicken would be a nice supper... Having an attack of the lazies, I decided to cook it in a crock pot, or slow cooker. I made a platform of Yukon Gold potatoes, seasoned a couple of large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and called it good..I would sauce it later in the cooking process. I went back to the kitchen, wondering why I didn't smell the aroma of cooking poultry- to find I had four settings on my fancy, new slow cooker- not three! Old one had off, low and high..new one has off, warm, low, and high... To make a long story shorter- It wasn't on at all! I put the sauce on, and jacked to high, and called my wife coming home from work to tell her she could take her time! We ate an hour later than planned, but it was pretty good!
None of us are perfect, me being one of them- but sometimes knowing what to do when you screw things up is part of learning to be a good cook!
My son is coming over for steak fajitas and a trip to Sam's Club- hope I get out of there for less than $100!!!

2010-04-19T21:15:00.001-04:00

Torn Between Two Lovers..French Dip, Or Philly Cheese Steak?

2010-04-19T16:52:00.004-04:00

Well, this is what I did! I did a ho-hum steak dinner Sunday, complete with steak, Au Gratin potatoes. corn on cob, and brownies.. YeeHah! Tonight, we get a much better treat- but what to call it? Strips of medium rare steak, baby Swiss cheese, onions and green bell peppers in Aujus beef sauce, on a fresh bakery roll.. Is it French Dip, or Philly cheese steak? I don't know, but it is good! Nuances make my ass tired.. I like what tastes good, whether it has a name or not! Look at it, think about it... What is not to like? Snobs need to be educated, as well as simple folks need to be elevated.. Good food is good food- it doesn't need a name!

Riddle Me This: How Do You Have A Turkey Strata With No Turkey Meat?

2010-04-17T11:55:00.006-04:00

The answer of course, is that you use turkey eggs! I scored some turkey eggs ( free range!) and as you can see by the photo, they are huge! Poor turkey- it would be like a human trying to crap a watermelon! I read up on them, finding to my surprise they won a taste test turkey vs. chicken egg...They they had a different but superior flavor to chicken eggs,and averaged 1.5 to 2 times the size! They are a beautiful egg, speckled and more, well, egg-shaped! I decided to make a strata from them- recipe as follows..
1. Chop 8oz. of high quality ham into 3/8" square cubes.
2. Chop sweet onion and fresh mushrooms, saute in butter until nearly dry.
3. Cut sharp cheddar into cubes same size as ham.
4. Cut 8 slices of white bread into cubes.
5. Scramble 5 turkey eggs with 1-1/4 cups of milk, seasoned with black coarse pepper, salt and savory to taste.
Take 9 x 13 pan, greased, and layer half of bread. Spread all ingredients except egg mixture over bread, then layer rest of bread on. Pour egg mixture over all. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes, loosely cover with aluminum foil, bake for another 20 minutes until toothpick comes out fairly dry.. Sausage or bacon could be used instead of ham, if you wish!
Don't be put off by using an egg like this- you will be pleasantly surprised!
P.S.- For the less adventuresome, use 8 ex-large chicken eggs instead of 5 turkey eggs..Chicken!!!

Leftovers From My Lobster Smackdown Entry...

2010-04-16T12:01:00.003-04:00

I had nearly a quart of chunky lobster-crab chowder left after my entry to Heffs contest... I was never one to eat the same thing twice, but hate to have food go to waste! What to do? I came up with a chowder casserole! I took pasta shells(medium sized), poured a half a box in a buttered casserole dish, poured the chowder over them and stirred. The shells absorbed the liquid as it baked, covered..Uncovered and topped with bread crumbs, it was sweet, filling and tasty! And all gone!
Tonight I'm making a dish I'm willing to bet few of you have had!
Enjoy your week-ends, and drive careful!

I Made This, And It Was Good! Help Me Name It!!!

2010-04-14T12:44:00.002-04:00

The folks who visit here sometimes see concoctions I made up, and are in no cook book or Internet website... I had one I wanted to try, with familiar flavors but with a different texture I thought would be good. I will describe it, show you a photo of it- but I would like you all to make up a name as to what to call it! Here we go...
1. I took a soft flour tortilla (large and circular!) and placed on plate.
2. 1/2lb. of ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning, chili powder, cumin powder, onion powder, and garlic powder- a made into a giant thin single patty and fried until done.
3. Placed on tortilla, then covered with chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, chopped onion, sprinkled lightly with shredded Colby Jack cheese, and topped with your favorite chunky salsa.
4. Cover all above with another round flour tortilla, and covered in Colby Jack cheese and microwaved until cheese melts..
5. A splash of hot sauce on top and done... can be cut like a pizza into sections, or eaten with knife and fork!
What is my name? I NEED ONE!
Have fun with this, I look forward to your answers!

Iron Heffs Lobster Challenge- My Entry...

2010-04-12T14:14:00.006-04:00

A couple weeks back, Heff threw down a food challenge featuring lobster, and I decided to participate- as I love the crawly creatures of the deep blue seas.. I came up with a menu, which by the photos looks simple, but really was involved, and time consuming!
My offerings were: Lobster brushetta, lobster crab chowder, with an almond cherry cheesecake for dessert.
The lobster was live, and had to be steamed, then taken from the shell. It was steamed/boiled in water, flavored only with sea salt and Old Bay seasoning. The crab was in the shell but cooked and frozen, so thawing and getting the meat out was work, too!
1. The Brushetta was a toasted Artisan French bread, cut on the bias about 1/2" thick. It was then spread with French Port Salut soft cheese until covered. This is a cheese remindful of Brie, but with much more flavor! I minced all toppings, lobster, black olives, green olives, onions, and tomatoes and laid them in lines on the cheese, which held them in place nicely. A light sprinkle of Old Bay on top added zip.. This was a rich, many layered flavor appetizer that was quite tasty and substantial...A few cut chives were tasty and had eye appeal..
2. My chowder consisted of large chunks of cooked lobster and crab, in a base liquid of Half and half cream, with a splash of Chenin Blanc. There were fresh corn kernels, celery, onion, and red bell pepper- all chopped and sauteed in butter and Old Bay seasoning. When tender, they were added to the main liquid. I thickened with a butter and flour roux to proper consistency, and topped with a light sprinkling of Old Bay...again, a few chives added flavor and color to the chowder..
The cheesecake was part of the half I froze after Easter, with a cherry topping that matched the almond flavor of the cake beautifully...
The leftover toppings for the Brushetta will be mixed together to make a spread for crackers or more toast..I feel the flavors would be less segregated that way..
Well, Heff and Donna- that's what I'm offering as my entry to your fun(but exausting!) challenge!!!
P.S. My wife was a huge help in this post..shopping, helping with the prep, etc. Had to give her some of the credit for your kind comments!

Irish Lamb Stew..Sorry, No Photo!

2010-04-09T12:42:00.002-04:00

A few nights back, I took some leftover lamb, cubed it, mixed it with the lamb broth I had made(Had that nice jellied consistency!)along with cubed potatoes, cut carrots, celery, onions, seasonings all on low in a slow cooker for 7 hrs.... I used some brown gravy mix and flour for a thickener, and had as an authentic Irish stew this side of Dublin! Lamb gravy is so silky smooth, with a flavor that is superior to any other gravy I've had..
Yesterday was at dentists...not a good time! Came home like a whipped puppy, and laid down for the night...

Enjoy A Lettuce Free Salad And A Scavenger Pizza..

2010-04-07T12:25:00.003-04:00

We have enjoyed a half a cantaloupe (locally called muskmelon!) filled with chicken salad, tuna salad, or shrimp salad for years... Monday night, it was tuna- and it was a big one! White solid Albacore tuna, eggs, mayo, mustard, celery, onions, with lemon pepper made a nice filling for a huge fresh melon!
Tuesday..the best laid plans of mice and men... I was going to do a pizza stone pizza, when I figured out I had no corn meal.. did a pan pizza, with modifications! No bulk sausage- so I used brown and serve links chopped up.. used fresh onions, mushrooms, pepperoni, less Mozzarella and more Parmesan and Romano. The home made sauce was killer, and the from scratch dough rose beautifully! My brother in law was here..bachelor type- he went after it like mad, and went home with left overs!
As I write this, an authentic Irish lamb stew is cooking.... The broth is killer because it "jellied" after simmering! Carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, and lamb will be the real deal- no beef or chicken broth, just a little brown gravy for color..
Come on over- plenty for all!

Easter Dinner 2010

2010-04-05T12:46:00.004-04:00

Saturday, I spent the better part of an hour, deboning a leg of lamb... This is work! I took a 7-1/2lb. leg of lamb, and turned it into four fat free lamb steaks, which I marinated in olive oil, red wine vinegar, chopped garlic, coarse ground salt and black pepper, rosemary, and thyme for 20hrs., refrigerated.. This was grilled over charcoal- which is my favorite way to have lamb!
I made a sour cream and chives scalloped potato dish, that disappeared completely, along with some excellent asparagus, cooked to crunchy done, that also got gone! Crescent rolls- gone..
The cheesecake was a hit, with caramel sauce..quite rich- two people ate it plain and loved it..
Leftover lamb will be a genuine Irish lamb stew Wednesday, as I simmered the leg bone into a tasty broth...Hopefully, there will be a few sales on today for ham, lamb, and turkey!

I Know How To Make Cheesecakes That Don't Crack...Do You?

2010-04-04T11:02:00.002-04:00

For Easter dessert, I made an almond vanilla flavored cheesecake...I'm not exaggerating when I say in the last 20 years, I've made 80-100 cheesecakes! I started with cheap spring form pans, moving up to the Analon brand, my recommended pans for these cakes.. I followed recipes, learning the basics of a tasty cheesecake. My ongoing battle was to make cheesecakes that didn't crack during or after cooking! I played with ingredients, heat temperatures, and times...Finally, I solved the riddle of cracking! If you want to know the technique, E-mail me, as I am not inclined to print it on my blog!
The topping for this dessert will be a caramel sauce, drizzled over the top of each piece- if we have room for dessert! Happy Easter to all!

Pannekoeken- A Good Dutch Pancake!

2010-04-02T15:18:00.002-04:00

Growing up in a Dutch heritage, these cheap, filling, sweet treats were popular, with many Reformed, and Christian Reformed churches in the area having pancake suppers as fund raisers.. Remember breakfast restaurants that had the revolving stand of about six different kinds of syrup? Boy, I sure do! Last night, I decided to make these pancakes, along with an apple topping, served warm, mixed with butter and maple syrup..rich and tasty! Sausage links go well with this, also. It's the kind of topping you might see on a Belgian waffle, but why not a pancake?
As I write this, I have an almond-vanilla flavored cheesecake with a graham cracker crust baking in the oven for Easter dinner..probably will be topped with a chocolate syrup type of drizzle... I make a mean cheesecake, kids- believe me! Tomorrow I butterfly the leg of lamb, making it a boneless, marinated treat that will be charcoaled on the grill..Hope your plans for Sunday include a great meal, ending Lent!
Happy Easter/Passover/Etc. !!!!

Two Meals From Leftover Roast Chicken..

2010-04-01T11:54:00.003-04:00

Monday night, I was feeling nostalgic for a chicken treat I would occasionally get when I was a kid.. My folks were quite involved with their church, with their social life revolving around it, and most of their friends were fellow members. About once a month, four couples would have coffee and food after Sunday evening services, each taking turns hosting it...this meant about four times a year, it was at our house! My mom would sometimes make a chicken and cheese snack in the form of a creamy cheese based spread, filled with bits of cooked chicken on hamburger buns. They were baked in the oven until cheese was warm and melted, and the buns were getting crunchy-toasty! I loved these stupid simple treats, and made them for the first time in 40 years on Monday night.. They freeze well, and are easy to thaw and eat for a quick snack. I had some cooked bacon I added, just because I could!
Tuesday night, I made Chicken Nachos Supreme, with two kinds of shredded cheese, chopped onions, chopped fresh tomatoes, on good crisp tortilla chips. Hot sauce, or salsa was optional.. I didn't reinvent the wheel here, but it was a tasty way to finish up the leftover chicken!
My tummy had been touchy for the last month, and hadn't been wearing the jeans I got for Christmas for weeks..imagine my surprise when they wouldn't even stay on me without tightening my belt! I must have lost 20lbs.! Believe me, I could lose 20 more without fear of looking thin!

Remember Drive-ins? Not The Food Ones- The Movies!

2010-03-29T15:18:00.004-04:00

When I was a teen-ager, drive in movies were everywhere..mounds of dirt, all in a row, facing a gigantic outdoor screen, with speakers you attached to your window off poles. There would be a snack bar smack in the middle of this, serving fast food, soft drinks, with rest rooms attached to building. This is one of my stories..
Five guys(including me!) two in trunk, so they didn't have to pay, a football, and a quart of grape drink(really!)... we got there, and before dark and movie were throwing the football around..Rent a cop comes up and orders us to quit! We gave him some lip, and were told he could throw us out.. Got back in car, left grape drink in bag, and started passing it around so he could see us. They took the bait like a fish coming out of winter! Suddenly surrounded by rent a cops, they demanded the bag. I can still see him with his nose in the bottle confirming it was grape drink, and nothing more.. laughed our butts off!
Sunday I roasted a whole 6 lb. chicken, Salted cavity, packed it with a cut up navel orange, covered with poultry spices and rosemary, draped 6 slices of bacon over it for self basting, and cooked for 90 minutes at 330F. I removed bacon, which had rendered, and used liquid for basting bird for another 60 minutes. I removed it from oven and let rest 10 minutes before carving. Whole roasted chicken is my favorite way to have chicken- and one of the simplest! A side of leftover Alfredo pasta made a decent meal, with a minimum of work! The photo is of my sons Sunday "to go" plate- he works 1 mile from our house, and can't get away for dinner, so we bring it to him..

What I Was Up To Wednesday And Thursday For Food

2010-03-26T12:29:00.005-04:00

Wednesday, my son came over to assist me in cutting up a New York strip loin into steaks. I sliced, and did the major trim on the steaks, while he took usable scraps and trimmed them into small pieces of fat free bits of meat. We packaged 14 steaks from a 10+ pound loin, and I gave him four for his help!
The meat scraps went into a brown mushroom sauce, made from fresh sliced mushrooms sauteed in butter and chopped onions until reduced, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, brown gravy mix, sour cream, chopped garlic, and black pepper- simmered until reduced to proper thickness.. Poured over brown rice(which matches perfectly with the earthy mushroom flavor!) and topped with dried dill weed, it made a nice little supper!
Thursday, a craving for cheese drove me to make Alfredo, using Penne for the pasta. Penne is a perfect pasta for taking a sauce, as the small ribs and hollow shape allow optimum coverage! The sauce was admittedly out of a jar- sort of.. I grated real Italian Parmesan and Romano, and stirred into sauce, along with dried Basil, Oregano and a bit of champagne vinegar. I baked it until firm, and it had a wonderful flavor. Champagne vinegar is a "must have" in your pantry..mild, with white grape flavor- it is super with chicken ,fish, or white cheese based sauces.
Have good week-ends, my friends!

Reuben Casserole And Brownie With Ice Cream!

2010-03-24T16:41:00.004-04:00

I mentioned I had a thought of a corned beef hash that wasn't "hash", and here it is! I sliced Yukon Gold potatoes to scalloped thickness, placed them in a buttered casserole dish, topped with onions that had been sliced and chopped..I added cooked corned beef pieces, and cooked covered for an hour at 350F. I then added sour cream, more butter, milk- and topped with Cheddar cheese, shredded- and baked for another 30 minutes uncovered. The result was a casserole re mindful of corned beef hash, but with more definition of ingredients- not a medley like hash!
I made a dark chocolate brownie for dessert...cake like, with white chocolate chips, cherry flavored crasins, and walnuts. A side of premium vanilla ice cream really went well with it!
I invent this stuff, no recipe- just ingredients I think will work together..
I admit to non event photos on this one, but the food was good!

Chef's Salad..Sounds Light, But It Isn't!

2010-03-23T11:58:00.004-04:00

The master of overkill lives! I start out with the best intentions, and end up with far more than needed....I know, I've watched me do it!
With that major shortcoming announced to the world, last night I made a Chef's salad for my wife and I. As the photo shows, the ingredients were hard cooked eggs, tomatoes, shredded Cheddar cheese, celery, carrots, slices of both turkey and ham, three kinds of dressings (spinach, blue cheese, and Russian) and oh yeah! A dab of lettuce.. I offered croutons, onions, and bacon- but my wife gave me that "You're doing it again" look....
I have had some digestive issues lately, and haven't been the cookin' fool I usually am. Needless to say, I made a so-called salad I couldn't possibly finish! Wife is making a salad for lunch from left over toppings for work tomorrow..
For tonight, I am toying with a creation that would have the ingredients of corned beef hash, but layered instead of mixed together.. we shall see...

Real Humor From My Past...Incidents At My Club!

2010-03-21T16:23:00.003-04:00

You have heard me touch briefly on the fact that I have belonged to a private club for twenty years..It is not an upscale club, but more of a hall, that happens to be very well run and nice..It goes back over 120 years, and was a German only club until WWII when the FBI broke in and wanted to know why...These are a few of my stories that I found humorous over the years...
When first a member, I went there to bowl a few games(we have 4 lanes!) When done, I put my bowling bag behind me at the bar stool I was sitting on..old member tripped ass over applecart on it- I thought they were going to lynch me..
Worked a dance once, ran out of dance wax. Buddy thought indoor shuffleboard wax would work..it worked all right- like wax BBs ! Presidents wife went flying flat on her back first step she took! She was knocked unconscious... If she wouldn't have been drunk, she would have broke her neck.. I did my impression as a Zamboni with a push broom clearing the floor!
When I was president, an 80 year old woman shoved a small male member in the arm..he wrote a complaint, which the board was forced to address. I had to put an 80yr. old lady on probation, by the rules of the club..
I ran a Valentine's party once, and gave away intimate apparel in raffles.. made more money than the kitchen did!
One time, while president, a couple at the bar were all over each other..They were guests, not members, and some of the wives came up to me to do something about it! I went up to them and told them politely this wasn't where that was allowed..they laughed and left. A guy comes running in, and says they are in a car in the lot "getting busy".. I said "don't" just before 30 people went out to look..windows steamed, car rockin', everyone stood on the porch with mouths open! I ordered everyone back inside, and told them I wasn't touching this one!
We had a number of chili cook offs, one was when I changed propane tanks without turning off the stove- set my tablecloth on fire..didn't hear the end of that for years!
Your life is made of memories..write them down, take photos, tell and retell them..You will realize someday, just how precious they are..

My St. Paddie's Day Traditions...

2010-03-18T12:34:00.003-04:00

First, I must admit to no Irish blood in me whatsoever! However, over the years I did a number of different things in keeping with the spirit of the day..
As most of you know by now, I was an outside sales rep for most of my career. For years, I had a Kelly green blazer sport coat I wore for many years on St. Paddy's Day, and would try to make it to a couple of pubs in the afternoon for Irish music, and green beer..A private club I've belonged to for 20+ years would have an all day party, serving food, drinks, and various bands playing for listening or dancing (noon til midnight!)..We would go down there for Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, or a Reuben(which really isn't Irish!).
The last few years, I try to stay away from all day parties- I'm just not that young and stupid anymore! What I do now days is cook my own corned beef, and make a killer Reuben sandwich! My version is as traditional as I can make it, and I look forward to it for days..
Cook corned beef in the oven 325F, covered with water, seasoned, for 1 hour per pound of meat. I then cool it for ease of cutting thinly..
I make a Russian Dressing from Thousand Island dressing, ketchup, horseradish, and pickle relish
I use store bought sauerkraut, mix it with the dressing, top with Swiss cheese and a layer of sliced corned beef. We use marbled Rye bread, toasting the whole sandwich until cheese begins to melt lightly.
It seems like a lot of work, but I enjoy doing my own corned beef- you can just buy it at the deli for a time saver! Hope you had a good day too- tell me about it!
P.S.-There is a real good chance I will make Reuben soup with left overs...

A Million Meat Loaves..So Little Time..

2010-03-15T17:24:00.002-04:00

First off, I can't (or won't!) make a small meatloaf! 3 lbs. is my average.. This fills a bread pan nicely, and if you crown it a bit, no overflow of grease or anything else-although I do put a piece of aluminum foil under it, it case of miscalculation!
2lbs, ground beef
1lb. ground sausage
1 egg
1 cup of prepared bread crumbs
1/2 cup total of parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, and onion powder- your portions..
1/2 cup ketchup and Worcester sauce,(total) mixed
Mix all above by hand until blended
Pack tightly in bread pan and bake at 350F for 90 min., add a bit of ketchup mixed with prepared mustard for topping, bake at 230F for another 20 min. until glazing a bit. Pouring excess grease off around 70 minutes is a good idea..
Let sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting..
The reason I don't use chopped onions, celery, green peppers, or any other veggies is moisture content..I like firm, slice able meatloaf- and this is how to get it!
A side of brown rice seemed to work well with it..as our larders are getting low...

Scotch Eggs, With Toppings- My Way!

2010-03-12T14:12:00.003-05:00

These are my version of a Scotch egg...Normally these would be deep fried with a light bread crumb batter, but in the years I have been making them, I prefer to roast them sans batter. I do mix bread crumbs into the sausage as an aid to "bind" them with a bit of seasoning and liquid.
1. Hard cook 4 large eggs, until cooked through
2. Peel, and cool
3. 1lb. bulk sausage, your favorite flavor
4. Pack each egg in 1/4lb. of the sausage, like it was a snowball!
5. Bake at 350F on an oiled shallow rack for 20 minutes, turning the egg gently over, baking another 20 minutes.
6. Cut carefully in halves or quarters when cooled slightly
7. May be served hot or cold, with sauces of your choice, or plain
This is a popular appetizer, or a quick breakfast..guys hunting insist I bring a lot of them to deer camp!
Hope your snow is gone, and a have a great week-end!

Onion Soup, With A Few Twists!

2010-03-10T16:18:00.002-05:00

Wifey has been hitting the dentist's office a bit lately, and asked for soup last night. So many soups, but what haven't we had recently? Onion soup! Simple, peasant style onion soup! Well, that didn't happen either! I cannot just make something the way they tell you to- I have to put my spin on it..
1. 1 can chicken broth
2. 1 can beef broth
3. 2 onions, one red, one yellow, chopped
4. Black pepper, chopped garlic, savory, to taste
Heat and simmer all above for 1 hour
5. Top with a medley of cheeses (I used white cheddar, Colby jack, and yellow cheddar)
Melt cheeses on top of soup in microwave, top with flavored croutons
So simple, so good!
I made those out of a tube crescent rolls to go along with the soup..my wife loves them, and I actually like them too!
I need a break out idea to get cooking in high gear...tonight it looks like bacon and eggs, as she was back at the dentists- again!

Simple Sunday..Steak And Taters- With A Snickers Bar!

2010-03-07T16:12:00.002-05:00

We rassled and hassled with a Sunday dinner idea, and ended up with a simple meal of NY strip steaks and roasted potatoes, seasoned with olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary.. everything came out great, as a simple meal is hard to screw up! I planned to make cookies, only to find I had 10 pounds of sugar, and was out of flour! They ought to color code the damn bags or something..I thought I had 5 lbs. of each...Anywho..my wife had to go out and pick up some paperwork, so she stopped by a store and got us both a Snickers candy bar! Cravings are a hard thing to explain, but I sure did eat the heck out of one! Life can be short, and hard..while you are here, and a candy bar can cheer you up- don't cha think you ought to have one?
Hope you all have a wonderful week!

A Little Misc. Food...

2010-03-05T11:47:00.004-05:00

Monday, I did find a photo of the POM BBQ pork tenderloin I took before the batteries died! We had a simple side of buttered spiral pasta, thinking less is better than overkill this time!
Tuesday night, I made simple cheesy pasta shells, with 4 cheeses blended into a sauce, and seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, and a dash of liquid hot sauce. It was simple, yet hit the spot!
Wednesday, I just didn't feel like cooking, as wife was going to be late from work..so it was a bucket of crunch from KFC....It wasn't bad, but quite a bit of leftovers to deal with...
Thursday, I made a cheesy hash brown casserole, that contained the remaining chicken- without its coating, and torn into bite sized pieces. Worked pretty good!
The sun has shone brightly every day this week- but still reflecting off a lot of snow!
Michigan's State bird is the robin, and it usually means Spring is close when you see your first one of the season. That hasn't happened yet!
Tonight, sliced pork tenderloin BBQ sandwiches should seal the fate of this weeks leftovers!
Enjoy your weekends, everybody!

POM Juice BBQ Sauce

2010-03-03T09:37:00.003-05:00

Monday, I finally used POM Pomegranate juice in a BBQ sauce I designed for pork or chicken..
1. Tomato sauce (28oz can)
2. POM juice (8 oz bottle)
3. White vinegar (3oz.)
Stir these ingredients until smooth and blended over a low heat.
4. Slices of fresh lemon into the sauce.
5. Add chopped garlic, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, sea salt, dried thyme, and white sugar to taste.
6. Simmer until thickened, removing lemon slices during simmering
7. Add Pomegranate liqueur(3oz.) after heat is turned off.
I expected it to be sweet, as the juice and liqueur is, but adding lemons and white vinegar gave it a balance that really lightened it.
We had it on broiled pork tenderloin, and it was pretty good! My camera batteries decided to die- so no photos of the meal...

Sunday Night Home Made Pizza- Dad Pizza

2010-03-01T12:44:00.004-05:00

Sunday night, we had some old friends over. It was supposed to be Saturday night, but something came up for them, so we lagged it a day! We caught up on our kids(they had four girls, we had two boys)..If you think all your kid troubles go away when they move out- you are wrong! One child of theirs married a nut case nearly 15 yrs. older than her, and is about as useless as tits on a goose..divorced now, she has sole custody of their one child. Guy drove her about half crazy before she got rid of him!
Anyway, I made what we fondly refer to as a Dad pizza for something to eat. Why is it called a Dad pizza? I've been making home made pizza dough, and sauce since my kids were little- and they would always ask "Can we have a Dad pizza tonight?" It's more Chicago style than NYC- but the thickness of the crust is somewhere in between..I let it rise for an hour in the mixing bowl (in a warm spot!) Punch it down and let it rise again spread in the baking sheet for another twenty minutes before topping. Sauce, sprinkled with hand grated Italian Parmesan and Romano(the real stuff!), shredded Mozzarella, Italian bulk sausage, Pepperoni, chopped onions, sliced mushrooms and sprinkled with more shredded Mozzarella(to bind it all a little better!) Baked at 450F for about 15 minutes, then let it set for another 5 minutes before cutting. Feeds 4-5 seriously hungry people...
I'm going to finally try to make that pomegranate BBQ sauce today, with a pork tenderloin for dinner- wish me luck, as last week I made too many mistakes!

Friday Nights..Remember When..

2010-02-26T19:21:00.003-05:00

When younger, Friday night was our night to howl! Before marriage- with the boys! After marriage, with other couples! I couldn't wait to get together with friends, food, and libations! As I grew older, Fridays started a little later, and a little tamer... Now we're of an age where socializing is Saturday night! Fridays are now how early we can get in our robes, and watch a movie on TV- after a bite of something simple to eat..
Tonight, we had tacos..tomorrow will be pizza night, with friends! Everything you see, you could put on your square bottomed taco! Wife ate three- loaded! I had two, and enjoyed the simple food immensely! We planned Saturday night with our friends, coming over and decided I'd better make some cookies and pick up some munchies to catch up over.. Still in the air if I will make a Dad pizza, or have one delivered.. We need to get in contact with them on final plans!
Enjoy your week-ends, people..enjoy life while it is still in you!

Damage Control- Or How To Save A Meal You Pooched

2010-02-24T15:39:00.006-05:00

I had thawed some chicken(do people around where you live ever say unthaw? It's redundant!), boneless, skinless chix breasts(huge!)and hadn't decided what to make with them. Tex-Mex flavor sounded good, so I had to pick between chicken burritos, or the classic Arroz con Pollo- chicken and rice! I went with the latter, only to find 40 minutes into making and simmering sauce and chicken- I had no white rice to speak of..BUT (I hate it when I have to use my big but!)we did have oodles of brown rice! Just a longer cooking time, right? Wrong! I gave it the proscribed 40+ minutes to absorb the moisture and become tender- didn't work...Rice was under done when it shouldn't have been..God, I hate it when I'm wrong! Now challenged by a seriously large batch of pooched supper, I was determined to salvage something from this! Mexican flavors...how about a chicken and rice soup? Tomatoes, onions, red bell peppers, seasonings, were delicious.. Thin it out and cook it longer- should work!
The photo of the dish looks great, and I threw in a photo of our cheeseburgers and curly fries supper last night..the cheese was an Australian white Cheddar- pungent but tasty! I'm the olive burger guy, wife loves her chopped onions..Dog gets hers plain!!
Tonight, it's Mex chicken and rice soup, or hot dogs~!
It's good to learn from your mistakes, but it's better to learn them from someone else before you make the mistakes!

Week-end Steak And Potatoes

2010-02-22T12:06:00.004-05:00

Winter has me feeling less than creative right now-sorry! I broke out a pound of breakfast sausage, and paired them with a cheesy hash brown potato casserole. A simple cup of leftover island fruits from my POM salsa, lightened the meal a bit!
We had a couple of marinated steaks the following night, with the left over casserole...
I'm working on a pomegranate juice/liquor BBQ sauce, but need to lighten it a bit..Yes, I found pomegranate liquor! It's a low proof (34) sweet liquor, that should add a dimension to the sauce..
Tonight it will be a Mexican style chicken-but haven't decided what!

Time For A Mini-Meme! A Little Longer Than Normal..

2010-02-19T16:48:00.002-05:00

We all have been part of an incredible feast at one time or another..and they are memorable for all the good reasons!
Today, I want you all to plan a five course meal, made from your favorite food dishes you may have had! Me first, as usual...
1. An appetizer, like crab stuffed mushroom caps- with cheese, of course!
2. A seafood bisque, using shell fish
3. A chef's salad, with all the ingredients, topped with a blue cheese dressing, jacked up with Maytag Blue, crumbled..
4. Rib-eye steak, medium rare- prime, mind you! a side of Au Gratin potatoes on plate would be nice..
5. Dessert, Key lime pie
P.S. After dinner drink- a Stinger, then haul me away, a happy man!
How about you? Let's hear your dream meal!

My First Contest..Third In Main Dishes- Tex-Mex Lasagna!

2010-02-18T15:23:00.002-05:00

A long time ago, our city press (The Grand Rapids Press)put on a city wide cooking contest called the Grand Cook-off. You had to enter a recipe by category, of which there was about six...I got picked from a thousand entries to compete in main dish category! I had entered a casserole, Tex-Mex in flavor, and it had to be prepared on site in a certified commercial kitchen, with a 1 hour time limit. It was a simple, straight-forward recipe, and the time constraints were of no concern to me. 10 people in my category..3 people who copied a recipe out of Bon Appetite magazine, but had obviously never made it..3 more, who were bushas(grammas) who were good cooks(in their own kitchens!) and about four of us that had a clue! I took a third with this simple dish, and won a knife and fork set, along with a cooking class on pizza put on by a local chef!
1. 1lb. seasoned (Mexican flavors) and browned ground beef
2. 8oz of favorite salsa
3. four flour tortillas torn into quarters
4. 1 medium onion
5. 6 oz of sour cream, or Ricotta
6. 2 eggs
7. 12 oz cheese- 6oz Monterey Jack, 6oz Colby- in srips
Place layer of browned ground beef with minced onion in baking dish
cover with layer of tortillas.
Place sour cream and whipped egg on tortilla layer, with more ground beef
Repeat layer, topping with white and yellow cheese,in alternate strips
Heat and bake for 30 minutes..it ain't too bad!

Sweet Pepper, Corn , Crab, And Scallop Bisque..Wow!

2010-02-16T14:06:00.003-05:00

My plan was to start the Valentine's Day feast with a crab bisque..but time and amount of food, made it the next day's supper! I have always made a sweet red bell pepper and crab bisque, but saw in a cook book how sweet corn is also used in a similar dish...I had some left over scallops, and could see no reason not to utilize them in this recipe!
1. 1 can of low sodium chicken broth
2. 12oz. of half and half cream
3. 1 red bell pepper, chopped coarsely
4. 1/2 cup chopped onion
5. I can sweet corn, drained
6. 8oz of seared scallops
7. 12oz. cooked crab meat
8. Old Bay seasoning, to taste
Saute red pepper and onion in butter until cooked but still firm. Add chicken broth, half and half, sweet corn and heat on low. Add a cold water(2oz)and corn starch (3Tbs) mix to thicken broth. stir until hot and thickened, add seafood. Heat 5 min. and season with Old Bay to taste.
You will find this to be a filling, excellent bisque to enjoy with or as a meal!
P.S.- The photo of the locally made candy..Sweetlands! In business for 90 years, it is a great place- and they have a web site, if you're interested..

Happy Valentine's Day, Our Way.-500th Post!

2010-02-14T11:30:00.006-05:00

This is my 500th post! I am so happy to have met you all! Happy Valentine's Day to all! First, I would like to comment on Tavolini- they are getting married today! How romantic is that!!! I bless them both, as they are good people in deep, real love...I know these things.. Second, Otin and Blue Violet have found a bond I really think will last, forever.. Today is about love and caring..skeptics may leave now.
I have cared deeply for my wife and the mother of my children, for 36-1/2 years- she is the only woman that could put up with the likes of me. I am a load. I am a man's man..always playing cards, drinking too much, friendlier than I should be..but I always came home. Ladies and men..We won't change! Find someone that knows who you are. and accepts you as you are.. If we were perfect, they'd nail us to a cross.
The rest of this post will be food!
Valentine's Day is more of a weed-end with us.. it lasts longer than one day! my wife's favorite meal is stuffed pork chops,so Friday, that's what I bought and fixed..
I had high hopes for today, as far as a menu goes..Such are the plan of mice and men..What we ended up with is a dish of scallops, sauteed and seasoned, with a stupidly complicated salsa that was so good, along with rice..well, you had to be there.. I gave my wife a box of locally made chocolates, and she gave me a couple of needed shirts! I spoil her, and she looks out for me! Love is not about one day..It's about a lifetime..learn it, live it! My folks only made 64 years.. I hope my wife and I beat that record! May the good Lord bless you like I have been blessed!
May all have love in their lives, for all to see!
P.S. I used papaya, mango, pineapple, POM juice, and chili spices to create the best fruit salsa you ever had! This, with any seafood, is killer! POM is the Bomb!

Cold Weather Comfort Food- Because We Need It!

2010-02-11T14:22:00.004-05:00

I made spaghetti and meatballs one night..Big deal! When you make your own sauce, and top it with two kinds of real Italian cheese, it does get to be a little bigger deal..When you do it when the snow is falling hard, and you need a warming, filling, spicy dish- now it is a big deal! It hit the spot- 'nuff said!
The next night, with more snow falling, I remembered Katherine's favorite homey food- tuna noodle casserole... I was a newly wed, when a product called Hamburger Helper came out. It was a huge marketing success, followed by different flavors, and a Tuna Helper! Newlyweds are notorious for being broke a lot, and as I didn't know much about cooking then- we used a lot of both products! As I found out I could duplicate darn near everything that came out of a box better and cheaper, we forgot about this filling, tasty one plate meal. I made our version of Tuna noodle casserole, and it brought back memories- and hit the spot! 12 oz. of solid white Albacore tuna, flaked..buy it on sale, it is the least fishy tasting tuna there is! For a sauce, I mix Cream of Mushroom soup, milk, with cheese and spices, stirring into cooked egg noodles, topping with bread crumbs, and baking uncovered until bubbly (30min.@350F). Simple things done well..
Next post will be my 500th...whoda thunk? I'll try and make it a barn burner!

Beef Brisket And Burger Stove Top Chili

2010-02-08T15:13:00.005-05:00

First, this is NOT my Buffalo Dick's competition chili! This is home chili, using what good ingredients I have on hand! I use basic ingredients integral to my first string chili, but with certain variations....
In a large pot, place the following:
1. 1 can diced tomatoes
2. 1 can red beans, drained
3. 1 medium onion, diced large
4. 1 blanched tomato, skin off, chopped
5. 1 can beef broth, 6 oz. of V-8 juice, 4oz of POM pomegranate pure juice
6. 2 chopped Jalapeno peppers, diced fine
7. 4 tablespoons of mild dark chili powder
8. 2 " " chopped garlic
9. 1 " " Mexican oregano
10. Start all this on stove top until simmering
11. Brown 1LB. ground beef, seasoned with chili powder, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, ground, toasted cumin to taste.. to sweeten a bit use brown sugar, or some jelly, honey, etc.( about 1 big tablespoon)
12. Drain and add to chili
13. Add chopped beef brisket(already cooked)
14. Simmer all until tender, uncovered until proper thickness
15. Add 1 tablespoon of Cholula(Pequin pepper) hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon of cumin 20 min. before serving
16. Top with a soft mild cheese(shredded) with a side of Tortilla chips..
The people at POM were kind enough to send out samples of their fine product to me. I incorporated it into a delicious chili, and plan to do a salsa and BBQ sauce using it also!

Thin Cut Pork Steaks And Butter Noodles

2010-02-07T15:21:00.002-05:00

I like a thin cut pork steak, as I usually quick pan fry them in real butter. By not cooking them forever, they come out pretty tender..with a higher fat content than a pork chop, they stay a bit juicier, too!
We had some no yolk egg noodles, that we discussed doing either Alfredo, or just buttered with parsley sprinkled on.. The buttered noodle won, and went well with the pork.
I used to run big Super Bowl parties at the club I belong to, but got tired of feeding 100+ people,, then cleaning up... Today, I'll stay home, watch the game, and hope I win the few bets I made!

An Egg McMuffin, Before The World Ever Had One!

2010-02-04T19:21:00.004-05:00

As I have mentioned before, I grew up in a West Michigan Dutch background.. My Grampa Jake went to a neighborhood bakery twice a week to get cracked wheat bread and cookies.. Oatmeal raisin cookies, hot from the oven are still hard to beat! About once a week, my mom would dump me off at his house(1/2 block away!) to go do mom stuff.. I think he could only cook oatmeal, eggs, and tea- as that all I remember him eating while I was around! A fried egg sandwich was a staple- and I liked them! As I got older, I started cooking- but wanted to dress up this plain Jane sammich! I added cheese, then later, ham- still using a grain bread, unfried.
With the wife still working a goofy shift, I made a two fried egg, one piece of cheese, two slices of ham in a sandwich on whole wheat... That brought back memories of simpler days.. Good food grounds you. Good food brings back memories of times when you were hungry, and devoured simple things done well. Escargot are great, and I love many gourmet dishes- but anything that helps you remember where you came from should never be lost!
Share with us your humble meal while growing up.. there is nothing to be ashamed of, and a lot to be proud of!

German Chocolate Cake- Kind Of...

2010-02-03T16:04:00.002-05:00

We like to keep a sweet in the house, for when the sugar attack hits. The carrot cake was gone, so I decided to whip up a quick dessert. I had a box mix for German Chocolate cake, and a frosting mix that was pecan and coconut..I had some left over dried, sweetened cranberries, and some walnuts left- so I threw them in the batter! It came out tasty...usually all people throw in a cake is some chocolate chips, so this was kind of different- in a good way!
Wife goes on normal schedule starting next week, so food postings should start being a little more regular, and hopefully interesting!

Oven Beef Brisket Prepared Like BB-Q Brisket- Except Indoors!

2010-02-01T14:17:00.003-05:00

Saturday, I took a thawed beef brisket weighing 7.8lbs, trimmed it a bit, and dry rubbed it generously with coarse salt,coarse pepper,garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, various herbs and spices, with a splash of Worcestershire sauce- and placed it in the fridge overnight. People are often intimidated by this cut of meat. Not cooked long enough, you could beat someone to death with it. Cooked too long, and it doesn't cut well, gets dry, and shreds instead of cuts...
I learned to do brisket in an offset fire box smoker from a guy who won that category at our State cook-off. 215F unwrapped for 5 hours, 5 hours wrapped, rest for 45 minutes.
Too cold to smoke outdoors Sunday, I decided to try a technique in the oven very similar- but different!
I took the brisket out of the fridge an hour before cooking, slathered it in in mustard and Worcestershire sauce, with another hit of seasoning. Placed in an aluminum pan, I poured a can of beef broth in the bottom for moisture. I baked at 390F for 1-1/4 hour uncovered, allowing a nice flavored crust to form, then turned it down to 315F tightly covered with aluminum foil for 3-1/2 hrs. Removed from oven, I opened the foil and let the meat rest for 20 minutes before cutting. Sliced beautifully, with a tender, moist, flavorful taste. The sauce was a mix of K.C., Asian, and a touch more of Worcestershire sauce in it.
Leftovers for sandwiches tonight!

Loaded Chicken Breast

2010-01-31T10:48:00.003-05:00

Knowing we were to have a 7-1/2 lb. beef brisket Sunday, I steered clear of beef Saturday.. Two huge chicken breasts were seasoned and covered with cheddar cheese and bacon, after they had roasted until done.. One was enough to split with wife, other will be converted into chicken salad! We are still on a weird schedule, but doing what we can to enjoy food when possible! Our freezer is stocked, our pantry is full- so good things could be happening in the next couple of weeks..
I have never done a brisket in the oven before, even though I have taken 3rd and 4th in the Brisket category in the State BB-Q cook-off... We'll see how I did in the next post!
P.S.- Crappy photo...sorry!

The Best Kind Of Pizza- Free!

2010-01-29T14:43:00.002-05:00

Well, not exactly... a couple of months back, I ordered a pizza from my go to pizza joint- Florentines'.. two blocks from my house, we have had nothing but great pizza, delivered on time(or earlier!) for almost 20 years! Except the last time... Told it would be here in 1/2 hour, it came 1/2 hour late.. cold and pretty much inedible. I'm not the sort who complains to hear my own voice, but over 20 years, you'd think we had formed what I call a bond... I called up and asked for the manager.. a woman came to the phone and wanted to know the problem. I did not recognize her voice, and had never seen a woman in charge of this place. She proceeded to tell me she had been in charge the whole time- which I know was B.S... She was quite short with me, and said she would send out a gift certificate to cover the cost of the pizza.. We finally received it, and plan to use it tonight, as it's colder than all get out and we don't want to grocery shop! After watching some of those shows on TV where employees do nasty things to your food- I'm a little nervous!

Steak And Vegetable Soup, A Winter Warming Meal

2010-01-26T09:54:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was a typical cold winter's day, some snow, some wind, and gray skies...I had a smattering of veggies due for replacement, and wanted to use them up. A warming thought of a hearty beef vegetable soup sounded like just the ticket!
A slow cooker is ideal for soup making- long low heat, allowing all the flavors to meld and become just the right texture...
1 large potato, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 LB beef, cubed
1 large tomato, chopped
24oz of low sodium beef broth
6 oz of V-8 juice(really!)
salt, black pepper,garlic, herbs and spices to taste
All in slow cooker together, on high heat setting for 1-1/2 hr., on low for 5hrs.
Add 1/2 cup of thick brown gravy (optional)for a thicker broth
Soups on!
I also made those crescent rolls everybody eats, but nobody admits to.. was going to make mini cheddar cheese sandwiches out of them, but wife just wanted them with butter!

Whole New York Strip Loin , Cut To Your Liking..

2010-01-24T10:55:00.002-05:00

You know how? You buy one on sale, and cut it up yourself! I bought a close to 7.8lb. cyropacked boneless NY strip loin, cut it into various sized steaks, and one small roast- all hand cut and trimmed by me... That pile of meat you are looking at in the photo only cost $27.14! One skinny one will be pan fried for son today in the form of two steak sandwiches, three of the less attractive ones will become Monday's steak and potato soup, and the rest will be frozen.
Friday we were out of town, and Saturday wife worked and I was sick, so lack of food posts hopefully explained..

An Old Memory, Jogged Into A Post!

2010-01-20T17:49:00.002-05:00

In my senior year in high school, I only needed three classes to graduate. They had them spaced so I had to be there all day! The only out, was to have a job you had to be to in the afternoon... I had a part time job that started at 4:30PM. I had to get the employer to sign a slip saying it was OK for me to have all my classes in the morning.. By withholding the actual facts from both sides, gave me from 11:30AM until 4:30PM as personal time for an entire school year! It was Heaven! I would go and play paddleball at the local Y.M.C.A. with businessmen on their lunch hours, take a sauna, shower, and go home, ready to go to work- where I was the night desk man, and could do my homework! I have been outfoxing the "by the book" types all my life! It started even earlier than this..My friends would only shake their heads trying to figure out how I got away with the stuff I did! One of my son's was pretty good at it too...

Screwed Up Schedule Food Post

2010-01-18T11:22:00.005-05:00

My wife is going through a change in her job..it's a promotion, but the schedule has been changing darn near daily... Food has been hit and miss. Two days we had a late breakfast, and no dinner to speak of. Friday she had off, as she had to work Saturday... Son has had his schedule changed, too! We had my son and his girlfriend over for waffles, and all went to that country market I've written about before- Bird's. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts- $1.49 a lb., Hamburger- $1.49 a lb., New York Strip (whole loin) $3.29 a lb., pork steak- $1.09 a lb., etc... Saved a bunch of money and gave quite a bit to my son- who is really starting to get into cookiing!
Saturday we just had hot dogs with cheese and bacon(we call them frankcheesies!), and I made a very interesting dessert for Sunday.
Imagine a cracker crumb crust, can of pumpkin pie, 4 eggs, 1 can of evaporated milk, 1 can of coconut milk(really!)white sugar, pumpkin pie spices, and salt. Baked according to can instructions, but the last 10 minutes I topped with shredded sweetened coconut until toasted... It was really good! Why coconut milk? Because the recipe called for two cans of evaporated milk, and I only had one! I'm glad I tried this, as it was a new twist to an old favorite- pumpkin pie! If that cake pan looks old and beat up, it's because it is! It was my moms, and has to be 50 yrs. old...

America, The Melting Pot- A Mini-Meme!

2010-01-14T13:44:00.002-05:00

If you are an American, your ancestors didn't move here from wherever because things were going so well for them in the country they immigrated from! This led to a tremendously diverse ethnic population, which met, married, went forth, was fruitful, and multiplied.. It created the "melting pot" of people in this country today.. Face it, most Americans who have been here for more than 100 years are mutts! This is our strength, not a weakness! It also has given us a cuisine that is diverse, and probably the most varied in the world today.. Where I am going with this today, is the normal two part Mini-meme- two questions..
1. What is your favorite food that reflects your ancestry?
2. What is your favorite food that has no connection with your ancestry?
Me first!
1. My background is mainly Dutch, and my hands down favorite from that country is Gouda cheese! It comes in mild, medium, and sharp- with medium being my personal favorite. Edam is another cheese I favor, but Gouda (pronounced Gouw-da, not Gooda!)is a big export item from the Netherlands. American made is not as good as the real deal..
2. Pasta- I have no Chinese(where it first came from)or Italian (where they perfected it!)blood in me whatsoever! I love the sauces, the various shapes of pasta, and of course- our most popular food, Pizza! It's a rare week where we don't have pasta or pizza at least once..
Love to hear your answers, it doesn't take long!

Hot Turkey Open Face Sandwich, With Gravy

2010-01-12T11:46:00.004-05:00

Then we start on the turkey leftovers, the first thing we usually have is a hot turkey sandwich! This is my wife's idea of a great meal! I prefer cold sandwiches, but a warming meal these winter days is always welcome! I make a jack-leg gravy from the broth of the turkey, and a dry mix of chicken and brown gravy powder...This gravy is good, quick, and in different proportions works on pork as well. My broth was simmered and seasoned for about four hours, with poultry seasoning and a bit of dried savory spices and herbs. The bread was a home made white and rye flour mix, toasted, which held up well to the moistness of the toppings.. I made some crescent rolls- just because they sounded good!
Wife had her work schedule changed again, so she took a turkey and cheese sandwich along with her today for supper.. I'll have a similar bite to eat later today!

Sunday Supper- Bone In Turkey Breast

2010-01-10T16:59:00.005-05:00

Saturday, I decided the weather wasn't getting any warmer to allow BB-Q, so I thawed and brined a bone-in Turkey breast I had for a while..
The brine was simple and basic- 1 cup of Kosher salt, 1/2 cup of white sugar with enough hot water to have them dissolve, cold water(enough to cover bird) and in goes the turkey breast for 16 hours (refrigerated).
I cooked it breast side up, coated with olive oil, and threw a cut up apple in the cavity for moistness. Took 3 hours, counting rest time after cooking. It came out very moist and flavorful! 1 hour before done, I threw some potatoes in the same roasting pan, so they would be done at the same time as the bird..
Dessert was a chocolate cake, home made frosting, sprinkled with cinnamon- pretty good!
I see more than one turkey sandwich in my future this week...
The last photo is an Airedale that really loves turkey!

Retro Meal..When We Were First Married..

2010-01-08T13:10:00.003-05:00

I started to learn to cook back when my wife was 19 and I was 20- newlyweds! In Western Michigan, there is a large population of Dutch descended folks. I don't know why, but I heard once we use more cream of mushroom, or cream of chicken soup per population than just about anywhere! I was green, a newby to cooking..I had a couple of cookbooks, and a desire to become a better cook. Most of my recipes came off the box or the can! One of my first memories of a cooking success came from Campbell's Cream O Chicken soup! I spread the thick goop over some skin on chicken breasts and baked them.. I used Minute rice back then, as I didn't know any better.. It was a meal my wife and I enjoyed, both simple and good!
Last night, with our pantry getting low, I seasoned some boneless chicken breasts, dumped and spread a can of Cream of Chicken soup on them, and baked for an hour. I made white rice to go with it, which came out just right! the gravy is made with the chicken, which with added seasoning, was very tasty..
Sometimes it's good to revisit simple, it helps you remember good times when you were light on cash, but heavy on appreciating..

Pizza Bread And Onion Wraps, With Walnut Fudge Brownies

2010-01-06T21:59:00.005-05:00

My wife had bought some great sub buns- and they were getting a little stiff.. Perfect for a pizza flavored topping! Imagine designer whole wheat sub buns, split to make four halves.. Topped with a slow simmered tomato sauce loaded with basil, oregano, fennel, onion, garlic, red wine vinegar, salt and red pepper. Grated Parmesan, and Romano, mixed with shredded Mozzarella onto the sauce, topped with mushrooms and pepperoni- broiled until bubbly- well, it was good! My son and his girlfriend were able to stop by..we had the open faced pizza, onion wraps, and brownies for an impromptu meal that was fun for the fellowship, if not the food! I love family at the table.. It makes me feel like a part of something timeless and ageless.. It bonds families, I think.

Cold Subs, And Pork Tenderloin With Potatoes..

2010-01-04T10:17:00.004-05:00

Saturday, I went out in the cold for a bit, to shop for a few essentials in needed for supper. I grabbed a head lettuce, two decent tomatoes, sliced deli roast beef and ham, with a couple of fresh baked Portuguese rolls...I had a craving for a good, cold sub sandwich! When home, I built two subs that had ham, Havarti cheese, lettuce, sliced tomato with mustard and mayo for condiments. A Portuguese roll is elongated bread(not hogie length!), with a hard crust, and chewy, well flavored interior. They were large when finished, but did they hit the spot!
Sunday, I had decided to make a pork tenderloin roast(two tenderloins tied together)and marinate in an olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chopped garlic, oregano, basil, black pepper, salt, and lemon juice mix..Mediterranean flavor for sure! I roasted some Yukon Gold potatoes with it, and had made some chocolate walnut brownies for dessert.. Not a bad meal!
I hope to do a little more experimenting with foods in 2010, but still maintain my motto: "Simple things done well"..

New Year's Eve Food, And A Saturday Morning Breakfast

2010-01-02T09:46:00.004-05:00

The good news is we had plenty of food New Year's eve for 8 people! The bad news is we were running late, and there are no photos! Onion wraps, sweet and sour meatballs, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, along with a carrot cake and munchies, made for a snackie kind of night for playing Texas Hold'em with three other couples! They brought more munchies, so the night was filled with card playing, eating and drinking...Broke up about one o'clock..My wife and I won enough to pay for the food!
Spent New Year's Day watching football- congrats to Penn State, and Ohio State- you did the Big Ten proud!
This morning, a brunch of scrambled eggs and hash browns, with orange juice should get us off to a more productive day!
Oh yeah, that's our cat, Willow- who was wondering where the meat was...

Deep Fried Food, A Mess That's Worth It!

2009-12-29T10:52:00.002-05:00

A week ago, I bought a fresh jug of cooking oil for one purpose- to deep fry some treats for my out of state son! His last dinner here consisted of shrimp, onion, and fries- all deep fried by yours truly!
Deep fryers can be a bit intimidating to the uninitiated, meaning people like me who never worked in a fast food restaurant, and have found hot oil can burn you unpleasantly! I have deep fried turkey, a lot of Wall-Eye(fly-in fishing in Canada), and numerous other foods- which generally came out great! I got a neat little deep fryer last year for Christmas that is just the right size for a small gathering..
I have used Drake's mix for fry coating for at least 30 years. One bottle of strong beer, one egg, some Lawry's Seasoned salt, black pepper, and enough Drake's to get a consistency(thick or thin) that you like. Refrigerate, or throw some ice cubes in the batter for a tempura type coating..
It's an "eat as you cook" type of meal, bringing batches to the table, while more is cooking.. I made up a cocktail sauce with ketchup, hot sauce, horseradish, and lemon juice- pretty traditional..
My son left for K.C. 6:30AM this morning, to catch the train back to where he now lives.. It was good to see him!