Shrimp Scampi and Grits

So a couple of months ago, you tried polenta with us, right?  And it was good, right?  So you trust us now.  Ok.  Grits.  I know that if you live north of the Mason Dixon line, you're scared of this weird Southern food.  I was too.  The first time I actually saw someone eat grits we were in West Virginia meeting some of Lee's family.  Until then I thought it was the type of food that people made up to make their kids feel better about what they had on their own plates.
Since then, grits have been making a culinary resurgence. Maybe it's just starting to migrate north, I don't know, but what I do know is that pretty frequently, I'll find them on a restaurant menu, paired with something tasty like shrimp or scallops.  I've found versions I love and versions I hate.

This is a version I love. It might have something to do with the cheese involved.  But this is Southern cooking, right?   Either way, when you take a bite of the grits they literally melt in your mouth.  It's like spoonfuls of heaven.  So yummy. But warning: Grits will fill you up!!
And then those shrimp!  Wow!   Buttery, lemony and so fresh! I couldn't get enough!

Oh and in case you're wondering, you find grits by the oatmeal in the grocery store.

Jalapeno Poppers

I took these tasty appetizers to a party this weekend. It was the second time I'd brought them to share with my kickball team, the Recess Renegades... this time by special request.  More than one of my teammates weren't able to get these off their minds since our last get together!

As far as party food goes, these are pretty cheap and easy to put together.  Plus, they make you look really tough when you bite into a great big jalapeno pepper.  On the spicy level, you can make them as hot, or not hot as you want, it just all depends on how much of the spicy seeds and membranes you leave in the pepper.  I like mine not so hot, so Lee dug it all out.  Truth be told, this batch could have even been a little spicier and still have been delicious!

Overall, the taste is more sweet than spicy, which is surprising when you're looking at this giant pepper.

WARNING! When you're cutting and handling your peppers, don't be a hero, wear gloves.  We get the nitrile gloves that you can find at the pharmacy.  They will save you a lot of pain later.

Beer Cheese Soup

We were planning on the Packers being in the Super Bowl when we made our menu, yeah, Lee was THAT excited about cooking on Super Bowl day.  So what is more Wisconsin than beer cheese soup? I mean, that's Wisconsin in a bowl!  
I've long been a beer cheese soup aficionado and the last time we tried it at home, it had the consistency of ball park nacho cheese, not cool.  

 

The Remake of Fried Chicken Dinner

I realized I hit the husband lottery the first night I came home from work to find dinner making its way on to the table.  Tonight I opened the door and knew that something tasty was just about ready.  Score one for perfect timing!  
Tonight, we give you THREE recipes for the price of one, together they make a happy dinner for four (or in our case, a happy dinner for two plus tomorrow’s lunch!) 

The Colonel has nothing on this fried chicken dinner!

The chicken was a perfect balance of moist and crispy.  I’m a big fan of the potatoes, I’ve been pretty happy about all the paprika lately and I love a non-fried fry.  And the green beans are an old stand-by that Lee makes a lot- let’s face it, everything is better with bacon and we’ve had quite a bacon shortage lately- it’s been a week since our last post containing Lee’s mistress food.  


So here’s everything you need for tonight’s super easy dinner. 


Crispy Butter Garlic Chicken
4 Chicken breast 
½ cup flour
2 cups milk
3 cups crushed cornflakes
3 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic (Minced)
Oil for frying 

1. In a shallow pan, heat about an inch or two of oil to 325.
2. Take chicken breast and cut in half to butterfly and make thinner.  Dredge in flour and shake off, then dredge in milk and place in cornflakes until coated. 
3. Once oil is hot fry chicken until crisp and cooked through, about 8 minutes on each side.
4. Drain and let cool while you put your butter and garlic in another saucepan to melt on medium heat.  Once melted, spoon the butter garlic sauce over plated chicken.

Nutrition Facts for Chicken
Calories 557   Calories from Fat 157
Total Fat 17.4g
Saturated Fat 7.6g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 172mg
Sodium 392mg
Total Carbohydrates 36.8g
Dietary Fiber 1.0g
Sugars 8.5g
Protein 60.7g
Vitamin A 19% • Vitamin C 8%
Calcium 19% • Iron 48%

Spiced Oven Fries
4 potatoes (cut into wedges)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoon onion powder
3 tablespoon oil 

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. In a Ziploc bag, combine all ingredients and shake to coat potatoes.
3. Pour into an ovenproof dish and bake for about 40 minutes turning halfway through cooking.

Nutrition Facts for Potatoes
Calories 338  Calories from Fat 29
Total Fat 3.2g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 1192mg
Total Carbohydrates 72.1g
Dietary Fiber 12.2g
Sugars 6.1g
Protein 8.1g
Vitamin A 37% • Vitamin C 145%
Calcium 6% • Iron 21%


Green Beans with Bacon
1 lb of fresh green beans (Trimmed)
2 slices of bacon (Diced) 
1 teaspoon minced onion
Salt and pepper

1. In a large sauté pan fry bacon until slightly crisp but still pliable.
2. Remove bacon and sauté green beans in bacon fat for 10 minutes on medium high heat.  
3. Add minced onions, salt, pepper, and a splash of water.  Cover to steam for about 12 minutes.  

Nutrition Facts for Green Beans
Calories 174  Calories from Fat 74
Total Fat 8.2g
Saturated Fat 2.7g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 21mg
Sodium 453mg
Total Carbohydrates 16.6g
Dietary Fiber 7.7g
Sugars 3.2g
Protein 11.2g
Vitamin A 31% • Vitamin C 62%
Calcium 9% • Iron 15%


What's your go to weeknight dinner? 

Almost Famous Bacon Tuna Melts

I’m often asked how I afford Lee.  He’s expensive and likes to make fancy food.  The simple answer is that we keep an eye on the sales and the coupons.  This week, we matched up a sale and coupons and stocked up on packs of tuna.  It can be kind of a rush to get tuna for fifty cents.  We probably will never fall in the Extreme Couponer category, but we could be categorized as Reasonably Moderate Couponers. 

But this is not a coupon blog. This is a food blog. 

Lee put those packs of tuna to work in his almost famous tuna sandwiches.  Now, this tuna salad is super good without the bacon and cheese, but really, if you can add bacon and cheese to anything, why won’t you?  The bacon here makes a meat bite before the softness of the tuna and the onion roll.

Bacon and cheese make everything more delicious!

Tuna Melts 

makes 2 giant sandwiches

2 cans Tuna (drained)

Half of onion (diced)

6 slices of bacon

4 slices sharp cheddar cheese

2 onion rolls

½ cup real mayo

2 tablespoon mustard

2 tablespoon pickle relish or chopped sweet pickles

1 tablespoon chopped capers (optional)

1. Drain tuna and place in a bowl, mix in onion, mayo, mustard, relish, and capers.
2. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.
3. Preheat Broiler to High and place rack on the very top level.
4. Fry bacon and set aside.
5. Slice rolls and butter each half and place in a hot skillet to toast.
6. Take the bottom roll and cover with your tuna mixture. Next top with bacon, then the cheese.
7. Place on a sheet pan and broil for about 3 -4 minutes keeping an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. 
8. Once done place the top part of the bun on and enjoy. 
   

Nutrition Facts

Calories 500   Calories from Fat 243

Total Fat 27.0g

Saturated Fat 9.8g

Cholesterol 70mg

Sodium 787mg

Total Carbohydrates 24.6g

Dietary Fiber 1.7g

Sugars 6.5g

Protein 38.8g

Vitamin A 10%  Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 32%      Iron 13%

What do you do to afford your fancy food obsession?

Bacon- the Mistress Food

All of my friends or anyone on Facebook knows my love of bacon; I rejoice its greatness on this earth every week.  

I can’t remember exactly when my love of bacon came about, but I guarantee you it was way before everyone jumped on the bacon fad bandwagon over the last 5 years.  I’ve always liked bacon as a breakfast side over all the other sides.  No offense sausage, but you’re not crispy and salty, and ham, just forget about it, take your smoking jacket and pipe and go home. 

Christmas Dinner!

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with our parents, Lee's sister, and our nephew.  Tonight also happened to be Lenny, our dog's, birthday.  

Christmas Dinner Sides!

It was a feast and everyone contributed.  Lee's mom brought the brisket and mini key lime pies.  One thing you'll learn is that Lee has two cooking idols, his mom and the Food Network.  Margy's parents brought the rolls and Lenny's birthday cake.  Lee made Brussel Sprout Gratin and a Vegetable Tarte.