Potato Chip Grilled Cheese (of course bacon is optional)

Ingredients 

2 pieces of bread 

3 slices of American Cheese
thinly sliced pickle slices, dabbed dry
1 thin slice of tomato
Good handful of potato chips (Ridged chips work best)
tablespoon of butter

Directions

(Assemble bottom to top: bread, cheese 1, pickles, tomato, cheese 2, chips, cheese 3, bread)

Heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium heat, once bubbling carefully add your sandwich.

Lightly press the sandwich down with a spatula or here I used a pot lid just to apply a little pressure to the sandwich.

After about 3-4 minutes, lift sandwich up, add the other 1/2 tablespoon of butter and flip the sandwich to grill the other side. (At this point you may want to turn the heat to low...you don't want the sandwich to cook too quickly because you need the cheese to melt...)

Again, apply light pressure to the sandwich.

After another 3-4 minutes or so, turn off the heat. (If cheese still isn't totally melted, allow the sandwich to sit in the pan covered for a few more minutes.)

Slice with a serrated knife and enjoy

Easy Breezy Pot Roast

Friends..........it doesn't get any easier than this. You can thank me later.

Random late night cooking and baking

Above is the apple and peach cobblers. 

Fried Turkey above. 

Cheetos Crispy Treats

Description

These seem to work... depending on what flavor Cheeto you get... I'm guessing you could also use ANY other chip too...

Ingredients

• 2 bags (9 oz. each) Cheetos Crunchy snacks
• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 1 (10 oz.) bag miniature marshmallows

Directions

Lightly spray a 9-x13-inch baking dish; set aside.

Open a bag of Cheetos to let the air out. Scrunch the opening back up to close, then crushed the bags to break up the Cheetos in roughly smaller pieces. Repeat with the second bag then set aside.

In a large sauce pan, melt the butter. Once melted, add the marshmallows and continue to heat over medium low heat, stirring constantly until the marshmallows are completely melted and smooth. Immediately, and quickly, stir in the two bags of Cheetos (or just 1 1/2 bags if you want them more gooey). Continue to gently mix until the marshmallows are evenly distributed.

Transfer immediately to the prepare baking dish and press to evenly spread. Let cool, then cut into squares.

Crown Royal Cookies

Hmmmm go for it. 

Cheesesteak egg rolls - Philly Roll

Let me tell I have had this idea on my mind for a while.  That crunch that you get from an egg roll and the food that I grew up on The Philly Cheesesteak. (Ironically I am still upset that my sisters stole money from me when I was a kid so they could get a Cheesesteak.....sorry I got off track!)

Here is the mushrooms and onions.

Then I added the meat to cook with mushrooms & onions for the filling. 

Now I added the meat and pepperjack cheese before folding up and frying. 

Now that jawn is ready. (Jawn is a Philly term that basically can replace the subject in which you are speaking about.) So this Philly cheesesteak egg roll is what I have named "Philly Roll". 

Bacon Cheeseburger with Mac & Cheese bun

Bacon Cheeseburger with Mac & Cheese bun 

Cheese sauce for the mac & cheese has sharp cheddar, velvetta, monterrey jack, blue cheese and bacon.

Mac & Cheese buns before coating of Panko crumbs and fried.

The burgers with plenty of mushrooms.

Since everything is being fried! What the heck........deep fried the bacon.

The Best Banana Pudding Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen Cookies OR 2 bags Vanilla Wafers
• 6 to 8 bananas, sliced
• 2 cups milk
• 1 (5 oz.) box French Vanilla pudding
• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (12 oz.) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Instructions

1. Line the bottom of a 13x9 inch inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
2. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer.
3. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth.
4. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.
5. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended.
6. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve!

Bacon Double Cheeseburger Stuffed Meatloaf

Bacon Double Cheeseburger Stuffed Meatloaf
Serves 4-6  |  ACTIVE TIME 15 Min  |  TOTAL TIME 1 Hour 15 Minutes

1 pound 93% lean beef
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
½ cup 2% milk 
6 tablespoons ketchup, divided
1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg
1 tablespoon brown sugar
8 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pound bacon, uncooked

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl combine beef, bread crumbs and milk.  Pouring milk directly over bread crumbs.  Add 2 tablespoons ketchup, Worcestershire and steak seasoning. Set aside.

In a small bowl, crack egg and beat it slightly.  This helps prevent overworking the meat while combining, resulting in a tougher meatloaf.  Add egg to large bowl with meat mixture.  Combine well with hands, do not overwork the meat mixture.

Gentle press meatloaf into bowl and divide in half.  Place first half into 7x10” baking dish and form into a flat meatloaf  Gently press the center in to create a rim around the outside of the meatloaf.  Add shredded cheese into the center of the meatloaf.  

Form remaining half of meatloaf in the bowl into a size similar to the meatloaf in the pan.  Set op top and press the sides together to seal in the cheese.  Form into a loaf shape about 1½ - 2” tall.

You may notice cracks in the loaf.  Run your hands under warm water and then across the meatloaf to smooth the cracks out.  Set meatloaf aside.

In a small bowl combine 4 tablespoons ketchup and 1 tablespoon brown sugar.  Mix well with a fork.  Apply glaze evenly all over your meatloaf (except the bottom).  

Arrange bacon slices over the top of the meatloaf.  Start by wrapping a piece of bacon across the front side and a second piece of bacon across the back side.  Arrange remaining bacon over the top.  Tuck the ends of the bacon under the meatloaf (this prevents curling).

Place meatloaf in the oven and bake until bacon is crispy, about 1 hour.  

Remove from oven.  Allow to rest uncovered for 20 minutes.  Serve and enjoy!

State Fair Turkey Legs

State Fair Turkey Legs

2 liters lemon-lime soda

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons hot sauce

2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 Vidalia onion, chopped

1 tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows

3 tablespoons honey

4 turkey legs

Preheat grill. Combine all ingredients, except the

House Seasoning and honey, in a large stock pot and

bring to a low boil. Add turkey legs and boil for 30

minutes or until the turkey legs register 165 degrees

F. Put turkey legs on the grill, season with House

Seasoning and brush with honey. Grill over medium heat

for about 15 minutes, rotating occasionally as needed.

The turkey legs should be crispy and golden brown when

done.

House Seasoning:

1 cup table salt

1/4 cup pepper

1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix the ingredients together and store in an air-tight

container for up to 6 months. Use as a seasoning on

meat and when cooking vegetables.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

When I don't have access to a grill I put the legs on the oven rack(with the oven preheated on 350) with a drip pan underneath. 

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing (Serves 2)

Dressing:

1/4 C. bacon grease
2 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 1/2 T. red wine vinegar
pinch each of salt and pepper

Over medium heat, combine the bacon grease and brown sugar whisking until the sugar is well incorporated. Add in the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine. Reduce heat to simmer to keep warm.

Salad:

4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (reserve bacon grease)
2 hard boil eggs, peeled and sliced
4 oz. fresh baby spinach
1/4 C. crumbled parmesan cheese

On a serving platter, add the spinach top with the sliced eggs, crumbled bacon and crumbled parmesan cheese. Pour the warm dressing over the top. Serve immediately.

The Boss - Bloody Mary

Sooooo what can I say? I saw this on the menu and just had to order it......I mean c'mon its got a chicken wing on it! I've never even had a Bloody Mary until now. Win win situation having a drink and getting vegetables.

Deep Fried Oreos

Wellllllll I was at the South Carolina State Fair so you know I had to investigate. I have heard of them and by passed them last year to get the donut burger! But anyway it's now that they just batter the Oreo but after they are fried (needless to say I didn't see them use a temperature needle to make sure they were properly cooked!) they are buttered and covered with powdered sugar!

I really don't know how to describe it.....my mouth was confused and I didn't want to burn my tongue. Lets just say  it's just something that you just have to try for  yourself.

Bon Appétit¿

Philly Cheese Steak Dip

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
2 lbs cheesesteak meat, frozen and cut into 1" pieces
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 lb cream cheese, softened and cut into 2" pieces
1 (15-oz) jar Cheez Whiz dip
1 lb Velveeta, cut into 1" pieces
3 baguettes, sliced into 1/4" pieces
Preparation:

Pour the oil into the Ninja 4-in-1 Multi-Cooker insert and preheat for 6 minutes on the stovetop high setting. Add the onions and peppers and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the frozen meat, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce and cook, covered, stirring a couple of times, for 8–10 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through.
Add the cream cheese, Cheez Whiz, and Velveeta. Cook, stirring constantly, until thoroughly melted, combined, and warm. Place the knob on the warm setting and enjoy with the sliced baguette.

Sweet Asian Hot Wing Sauce

 

Sweet Asian Hot Wing Sauce
makes enough for about 30 wings
2/3 cup hot sauce (such as Texas Pete or Frank’s)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1-2 cloves garlic, smashed

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes. Discard garlic when ready to serve. 

I like to add fresh ginger and red pepper flakes also.

Deep Fried Tequila! Yeah I said it.....

I have cool twitter follower that sent this to me as I bow down like Wayne & Garth from "Wayne's World" saying I'm not worthy! Here is cake, deep frying and tequila. All good things now put together to get you white girl wasted!

Deep Fried Tequila Yummy Goodness Recipe

The Pit - Raleigh N.C.

I don't know why it took me so long to post about The Pit. The Pit Restaurant is located in Raleigh N.C. and is a cross between fine dining and BBQ. Those two things you rarely hear in the same sentence but fit together. 

From the excellent servers, host,and Pit Master that has been there for years I have found no place like this although you plenty of imitators. You can walk back to see the meats  being smoked to help decide what you will order. But make sure you order the maple or sweet potato cornbread oh my lawd they are so good. 

BBQ ribs & brisket with Mac and cheese & collards

Brisket and Chopped BBQ 

Banana pudding 

Pumpkin cornbread 

Rigatoni-pasta-pie

This is a pretty simple recipe that guests or family will definitely remember. 

http://livelovepasta.com/2013/04/rigatoni-pasta-pie/

Bourbon glazed grilled salmon

Grilled salmon with a bourbon glaze. #dinnerisserved

Beilers pickle patch, bakery and doughnuts

Beilers pickle patch, bakery and doughnuts is far from just being a doughnut shop. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the variety of donuts made on site in front of you. From classics like glazed and jelly to fruity peebles covered.

http://readingterminalmarket.org/merchants/56-beiler-s-donuts-and-salads

the mamas and the tapas - Columbia S.C.

This nice restaurant with an outdoor patio caught me by surprise.  I was invited to an event that was being hosted by some friends and then I saw the menu and my eyes almost popped out like a cartoon character. I ordered the "Crab Mac & Cheese".

It is sensational. Perfectly seasoned, rich and tender.