Tag: food

“Leftover Chicken” Chicken Soup

“Leftover Chicken” Chicken Soup

Let me tell you – mom is right, this is not the same as hers, but it is a pretty gosh-darn good chicken soup (with perfect timing since I might be starting to come down with something!) So, look for those sales and then make a tasty roast chicken and turn the leftovers into an awesome soup!

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins

Just in case you have not had enough Pumpkin Recipes, I give you… Pumpkin Muffins! These muffins may look ‘difficult’ but they could not have been easier. (Ok, I guess they could have been easier – but not really, you get what I’m saying?) We 

Crispy Oven Fries

Crispy Oven Fries

I am trying to eat healthy. This blog does not help. Neither does living with someone who loves (and encourages my cooking). Another fact not helping in the healthy-eating movement is things like these fries, and cravings, and foodgawker, and my lack-of will power.

BUT – on a good note, these are at least ‘healthier’ fries (served with ‘healthier’ buffalo chicken). “Healthier than what?” you may ask – well healthier than what you would get at a restaurant of course! Now, I am not saying by any stretch of the imagination that this is good for you, but its not really that bad for you. A meal like this once in a while partnered with a regularly scheduled healthy diet and some activity equals a well balanced and happy life (I’m working on that moving more part – thanks to those around me for helping me by yelling at me to motivate me)!!

Crispy Oven Fries

  • approx. 3 russet potatoes (about 24 oz. total), peeled and cut lengthwise into even sized wedges
  • 5 T vegetable, canola or light olive oil, divided
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

Preheat the oven to 475˚ F.  Place the potato wedges in a large mixing bowl.  Cover with hot water; soak for 10-30 minutes.  Put about 4 tablespoons of the oil onto a heavy, rimmed baking sheet.  Tilt the sheet side to side to evenly coat the pan with oil (a pastry brush or fingers can help with this).  Sprinkle the pan evenly with the salt and pepper.  Set aside.

Drain the potatoes.  Spread the wedges out on layers of paper towels or on clean kitchen towels.  Pat dry with additional towels.  Wipe out the  bowl so it is dry.  Return the potatoes to the bowl and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.  Arrange the potato wedges on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.  Cover with foil and bake for 5 minutes.  Remove the foil and continue to bake until the bottoms of the potatoes are spotty golden brown, 15-20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet after 10 minutes.  Using a metal spatula and tongs, flip each potato wedge keeping them in a single layer.  Continue baking until the fries are golden and crisp, 5-10 minutes.  Rotate the pan as needed to ensure even browning.

*NOTE – at some point in this process my smoke alarm always goes off from the high heat and oil – no worries, that just means its working the way it should

When the fries are finished baking, transfer them to a paper-towel lined serving dish to drain some of the grease.  Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.  Serve warm.

This goes amazing with Buffalo Chicken Tenders (and the combination of these fries with the amazing chicken tenders earned me not only my normal thank you & an extra compliment, but a kiss as well – so you know its got to be good.)

.

One Year Ago – 2010 Pack the Pantry @ DDF!

And I leave you with this, Today’s Question of the Day… What was the last thing you made that earned you extra praise/appreciation?

[Skeleton] Mudslide Jigglers

[Skeleton] Mudslide Jigglers

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2011!
The color was just right, the flavor was awesome, and they are so easily adaptable to whatever you want to make with them! I can see these guys being so cute for Winter in a Snowman (or snowflake) pan!!!

Caramel Apple Bars

Caramel Apple Bars

I first made these Caramel Apple Bars from My Baking Addiction for school a few weeks ago & they went like hot-cakes (or hot apple pie, if you will). I didn’t take photos that time AND I slightly under-baked them, so they didn’t turn out 

Apple Maple Pulled Pork

Apple Maple Pulled Pork

I love using my crock pot! It usually gets pulled out an average of once a week during the fall/winter months. There is just something so wonderful about spending some time in the morning to put together a meal and then coming home at the end of the day to the house smelling amazing and your dinner practically done!!

After making my Apple Butter and having lots of Apples I decided to make a family favorite – Pulled Pork, but with a twist. This Apple Maple Pulled Pork (with a kick) was an awesome variation of my normal pork. The Apple/Maple flavors were there, but I wanted more. I could have easily added more Maple as well as some more diced Apples, but I was craving something else… I remembered that we had some Spicy Apple Jack BBQ Sauce made by Bonfatto’s and knew that with a splash of that the flavors would really be “amped up” – that was the perfect touch! The Maple Apple Pulled Pork is a Perfect Fall Classic Dish, no matter how you “kick it up a notch” at the end!

Apple Maple Pulled Pork
Author: Rachel (teacher-chef)
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 3 lbs pork shoulder/butt
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • about 4 Tbs Steak Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp dry ground mustard
  • 1/2 tsp ground Paprika
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 teaspoon (or more) red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup pure Maple Syrup
  • 1 apple, peeled & cored and sliced into rings
  • optional sauce to finish it off
Instructions
  1. Place the pork into your crock pot and pour in the apple cider vinegar. Add the dry spiced, garlic, onion and chilies. Drizzle the Maple syrup over then top with apple slices.
  2. Cover and cook on low for around 8 hours. If you are home (I wasn’t) about half way through the cooking time check on it and stir it up/break the meat apart a bit and I find this helps in coaxing into the ‘pulled’ status. About 30 minutes before you eat it and it finishes you might want to break it apart again.
  3. This is a good time to taste test & maybe add some more syrup (if cider/spices if it seems a bit bland – or maybe even a splash of Apple Cider).
  4. Serve on rolls with cole slaw or sauerkraut (my choice) or enjoy just as it is.
Notes
Mine was a bit dry so I added about 1/4 cup more cider, 1/4 cup of Bonfatto’s Apple Jack Sauce and about a half cup of water. The Apple Jack Sauce kept up the Apple Flavor while adding a nice kick and was the PERFECT compliment to finish off this meal, I highly recommend it!

adapted from Behind the Skillet

 

One Year AgoPumpkin Carving 2010 (Pumpkin Carving 2011 coming soon)

And I leave you with this, today’s Question of the Day… We bought the Apple Jack Sauce on an Impulse at a Festival – what impulse buy do you find yourself using more often than you thought you would and loving every minute of it!?