Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

3/4 cup yellow mustard

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons Heinz chili sauce, or something similar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon garlic powder

Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

• Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine

• Use the hell out of it!

Crispy Honey Garlic Wings

Double fried wings tossed in sticky sweet deliciousness - good lord they’re sooooo good!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup soy sauce

• 3/4 cup honey

• 4 cloves garlic, crushed

• 2 Tablespoons cider vinegar

• 2 tablespoons sriracha

• 2-3 pounds chicken wings

• 1 cup corn starch

• 2 tablespoons granulated garlic

• 3 cups neutral oil for frying

• Sliced green onion & toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Directions

1. Combine soy, honey, vinegar, garlic & sriracha in a small pot

2. Bring to a boil to over medium heat, then turn down and let simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes

3. White it simmers, dry wings well with paper towels and then toss with cornstarch & granulated to coat well

4. Heat oil to 325 degrees and fry wings for 5 minutes in batches so you don’t overload the pan

5. Remove to a cooling rack, and fry the rest

6. Turn heat to 375 and fry winhgs again for another 5 minutes

7. Remove from oil, let dry slightly then toss with sauce (not too much) plate and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

8. En-fricking-joy!

Sweet Potato Hash

This might be the 2nd best use for frozen sweet potato fries.

INGREDIENTS

• 8-10 ounce frozen sweet potato fries
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• ½ cup each red bell peppers, red onions and white onions - all diced small
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ cup green onions, chopped
• ¼ cup parsley chopped
• Poached egg
• Olive oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook fries according to package directions – but get 'em crispy
2. While they cook, heat oil in a skillet on medium-high, then add bell peppers and onions - saute until onions get a little caramelized, about 5 minutes
3. Take fries out, rough chop then add to the vegetable mixture
4. Add butter and a little oil to the hash and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder - mix
5. Add green onions and parsley, reserving a little to garnish at the end
6. Plate the hash and serve with a poached egg like I did, or do what you want
7. Garnish a drizzle of olive oil, green onions and parsley

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Steak & Onion Taco

Steak, grilled onions & melty cheese. #justmakeit

Makes 4 tacos

INGREDIENTS

• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup red onion, finely sliced
• 3/4 pounds thinly steak (NY, sirloin, filet, flank, skirt - pretty much whatever thinly sliced)
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, or
• 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak Seasoning
• 4 slices provolone cheese
• ½ cup romaine lettuce, finely shredded (preferably from the fatter, crunchier end)
• 4 -6 inch corn or flour tortillas

Sauce

• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons chili sauce (the ketchup kind)
• 1 tablespoon capers with a tiny drizzle of caper juice
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl, mix well and set aside
2. Heat a medium non stick pan with a tablespoon of oil and add onions
3. Cook over low/medium until golden and beautifully softened, 5-7 minutes, set aside and keep warm
4. Using same pan, turn heat to high, and just before it smokes add a little more oil and the steak, salt, black pepper or steak seasoning – cook a couple minutes stirring quickly
5. In the pan, make 4 piles of the steak and add cheese to each on each, cover with a lid for another 30 seconds
6. Build taco: tortilla, sauce, lettuce, steak/cheese and onions.

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POBLANO SHIITACOS

There’s something about this that makes me want to eat about 50 of them.

Makes 5 or 6, but probably 5 delicious fricking tacos

INGREDIENTS

Cilantro Sauce

• 6 ounces nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1 large clove garlic, chopped
• 1 small (or ½ of one large) bunch cilantro, mostly tops but some stems are always ok
• Juice of ½ lime  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Tacos

• 2 large poblano chiles
• Neutral oil and butter
• 8 ounces shiitake mushroom caps, thinly sliced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• ¼ teaspoon each garlic powder & cumin
• Kosher salt to taste
• 5 corn or flour tortillas, approximately the 5.5 inch size
• Nonfat Greek yogurt
• Finely chopped red onion, for garnish
• Finely crumbled Cotija cheese, for garnish
• Chopped cilantro, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Put all sauce ingredients in a processor and mix until smooth - set aside, and/or put into a squeeze bottle
2. Blacken poblanos - either broil in oven until blackened on all sides, or over an open flame on the stove
3. Then place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave 10 minutes. Peel off the black, remove seeds and slice into thin strips
4. Heat a non stick pan to medium, add a tablespoon each of oil and butter and then the mushrooms
5. Cook until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes then add poblanos - continue to cook
6. Add garlic powder, cumin & Kosher salt - stir well to combine
7. Heat tortillas until just beginning to get a wee bit crispy, add a layer of yogurt, the mushrooms & poblanos, a good squeeze of cilantro sauce, red onion, some cheese and and a final sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

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Pastrami Egg Rolls with Russian Dressing

No description needed - they are exactly what you think they are. And they’re baked, not fried.

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup diced pastrami

• ½ cup diced swiss cheese

• ½ cup sauerkraut, squeeze liquid out

• 5 egg roll skin wrappers

• Grainy mustard

• Oil spray

Russian Dressing

• ¼ cup mayo

• 2 tablespoons ketchup or chili sauce

• ½-1 teaspoon horseradish (to your taste)

• ½ teaspoon Sriracha

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• pinch Kosher salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. In a bowl combine pastrami, cheese and sauerkraut

3. Lay out one egg roll skin with a corner pointed toward you. Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture in the center and spread a little mustard alongside the mixture-fold corner up over the mixture, then fold left and right corners toward the center and continue to roll, brush a little water on the final corner to help seal the egg roll then repeat with remaining wrappers

4. Place egg rolls on a foil lined baking sheet-with the oil spray lightly cover the egg rolls on both sides

5. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown

6. While the egg rolls are cooking make the sauce

7. In separate bowl, mix all dressing ingredients, serve with egg rolls.

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Homemade Hummus

Doesn't get much better than this.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• Juice of 1 small lemon
• ⅓ cup tahini
• 1 - 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, drained (reserve the liquid)
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ½ tablespoon fresh parsley, rough chopped
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Paprika
• Pita

DIRECTIONS

1. Using a food processor with the metal ‘S’ blade, add garlic and lemon juice
2. Process about 1 minute, until garlic is minced then scrape down sides of the bowl with a spatula
3. Add tahini, garbanzo beans and cumin
4. Continue to process another 2 to 3 minutes - add reserved liquid until hummus is relatively smooth and scoop into a serving bowl
5. Make it pretty with a little parsley, a good drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of  paprika
6. Serve with pita bread/chips, vegetables...whatever your heart desires

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Baked Brie with Shiitakes

This is one delicious appetizer.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 6 Shitake mushrooms, stems removed & thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
• Pinch Kosher salt and pepper to taste
• Pinch garlic powder
• 1 sheet puff pastry, removed from freezer about 30 minutes before using
• Flour
• One 8 ounce wheel of brie, with top rind removed
• 1 tablespoon grainy mustard
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°
2. Put non-stick pan on high/medium heat, add oil, butter and mushrooms - cook about 5 minutes until nicely softened, add thyme, salt, pepper and garlic powder - stir well to combine then remove from heat and set aside
3. Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to make it a little thinner
4. Place cooked mushrooms in the center of the pastry - spread out to approximately the same diameter as the cheese
5. Spoon mustard on top of brie, then place mustard-side down onto the mushrooms
6. Fold the pastry up over the cheese to cover and turn over - trim the excess - and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet and press down to seal. Reserve the pastry scraps for decoration (if you want)
7. Beat the egg and milk to combine in a small bowl with a fork or whisk. Place seam-side down onto a lined (parchment paper) baking sheet. Decorate with the pastry scraps, if desired - brush with the egg wash
8. Bake for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown - serve with thinly sliced baguettes or crackers.

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Oven Smoked Beef Ribs

No smoker? No worry, cause these are so delicious and cook just in the oven. 

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Makes approximately 4 ribs

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds beef back ribs
• 3 tablespoons liquid smoke
• 1/3 cup yellow mustard
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon five spice powder
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 275
2. Put ribs on a large sheet of foil, and brush with liquid smoke, then liberally with mustard
3. Season well with salt & pepper and wrap tightly with foil - place in oven
4. Bake 3-4 hours, checking after about 3 hours for your perfect level of tenderness - I like them very tender (just don’t tell anyone in Texas)
5. Combine hoisin, honey, soy, 5 spice, sriracha and sesame oil - mix well and set aside
6. When they’re ready, remove from oven and turn to broil
7. Open carefully (there will be steam) and either pour out liquid in the foil and put back on robs, or put ribs on a rack
8. Brush well with sauce and return to oven for until sauce starts to bubble
9. Remove and devour, I mean serve.

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Polenta Bruschetta

Serves 6-8 as an appetizer

Ingredients

• 4 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced small

• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

• 1 Polenta Chub (makes about 20 rounds)

• 3 tablespoons cooking oil (use what you have but I used avocado oil)

• ½ cup goat cheese, soften

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil - pinch of salt and pepper to taste; set aside

2. Open Polenta and remove rounded ends

3. Slice polenta into ½ inch slices

4. Brush oil onto polenta slices and season with salt and pepper

5. Grill on each side for 3-5 minutes until they get really good grill marks

6. Remove polenta from the grill

7. On each grilled polenta round, spread a little goat cheese, top with bruschetta mixture and serve.

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Mayo Cheese Bread

My mom's old school recipe never fails.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup diced yellow onion
• 1/3 cup shredded asiago cheese (or a combo of shredded Monterey jack & cheddar)  
• 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
• 1 sourdough baguette  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine mayo, onion, cheese & parsley - mix really well
3. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt, stir through
4. Cut baguette horizontally and spread on cheese mayo mix
5. Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly
6. Slice into pieces and serve

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Mexican-ish Poutine

Featured recipe on my BACK TO SCHOOL DAY TV episode.

Serves 2-4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bag frozen fries (I used waffle fries, but any french fry will work)
• 10 ounces pork chorizo
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 large poblano chile pepper
• ¼ cup chopped fresh green onions
• 1 cup shredded cooked chicken (deli rotisserie chicken works great)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven per french fry package instructions; spread the fries evenly onto a baking sheet and bake as package instructs - until browned and crunchy
2. Cook chorizo in a small sized saucepan until chorizo is done, about 5 minutes - add cream and let simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes
3. Roast poblano chile over your stove's open top and keep turning until blackened all around or you can place chile on baking sheet and broil until blackened all the way around - you'll have to turn them a couple times
4. Let the pepper cool, and remove blackened skin or put in a paper bag and seal for 10 minutes to steam then peel off charred skin, remove stem and seeds and dice small - set aside.
5. On a plate layer as follows: fries, chicken, chorizo gravy, poblano peppers and green onions
6. Be sure to get a little of everything in each bite

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White Clam Flatbread

FEATURED ON PANTRY DAY TV EPISODE

Serves 2-4

You won't believe how good and easy this is until you try it. It's epic!

Ingredients

• 1 flatbread
• 1 can Progresso White Clam Sauce (most of the juice drained)
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/8 cup Mozzarella
• 1 green onion, finely sliced
• fresh black pepper

Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 425
2. Heat a dry skillet on high heat, cook the flatbread for one minute on each side to crisp it up a bit
3. Spread the sour cream evenly all over the flatbread
4. Mix the clam sauce and fresh garlic and spread on top of the sour cream
5. Sprinkle on the mozzarella
6. Cook in oven for 10 minutes
7. Garnish with green onions and black pepper
8. Slice and serve

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Artichoke Hearts

FEATURED ON PANTRY DAY TV EPISODE

Serves 1-2

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can (15oz) whole artichoke hearts, drain, cut in half and dry on paper towels
• Avocado oil or any high retention oil to cook
• Kosher salt and fresh black ground pepper
• Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a wok or pan on high with about 2 tablespoons oil and add artichokes- let sit about a minute or until artichokes get some “charred” coloring
2. Add pinch of salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic and stir-fry about 30 seconds or so - add fresh parsley, stir and serve with squeeze of fresh lemon juice on top

Note: This is a fast cooking dish...prep all your ingredients beforehand

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Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These small, little bites of deliciousness are always welcome - and easy to make especially if you keep frozen, precooked meatballs in your freezer.  

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 pound ready made mini meatballs (in the freezer section)
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 2 green onions, white & light green parts only, thinly sliced on an angle
• sesame seeds for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a pot and heat on the stove over medium heat until sauce comes to a slight boil - then turn down heat and simmer
2. Place the meatballs in the pot, simmer 10-15 minutes until heated through
3. Serve over rice, garnish sesame seeds and green onions on top.

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Brussels Sprout & Bacon Flatbread

If you're a Brussels sprouts hater, there's a very good chance this could change your mind.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 bacon strips, sliced widthwise
• 3-4 whole brussels sprouts, sliced thin
• ⅓ cup ricotta cheese
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon each Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 pita bread
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
• ½ cup fresh baby arugula

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven 425 degrees
2. Heat a medium frying pan, add bacon - cook until just the edge of crispy, leave about ½ tablespoon of grease in the pan discarding the rest and add Brussels sprouts -  cook about 6-7 minutes and set aside
3. In a small bowl, combine ricotta, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic - mix well
4. Spread ricotta mixture evenly on pita, add bacon/Brussels mixture and top with Monterey Jack cheese
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cheese melts and pita is slightly crispy
6. While flatbread is in the oven, mix arugula with a little olive oil, season with salt and pepper
7. Remove flatbread, top with arugula and serve.

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The Best Deep Fried Shrimp...Ever

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups canola or vegetable oil to fry
• ¼ cup mayonnaise- I used Kewpie (Japanese mayo), but regular mayo can work too
• 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
• ½ lb (21/25 size) raw shrimp-peeled and deveined (dried really well)
• 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch
• Chopped green onions, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oil in wide deep pot to 350 degrees
2. In small bowl mix mayo, sweet chili sauce and chili garlic sauce; set aside
3. In medium bowl add shrimp and cornstarch, lightly coat shrimp well but shake off excess - set aside.
4. Gently place shrimp in oil, cook about 30 seconds or until shrimp gets slightly crispy; remove from oil
5. Coat shrimp with a little sauce at a time to your liking, place on serving plate, garnish with green onions.

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Best Grilled Pork & Pineapple Tacos

The spice of the pork and the sweet of the pineapple makes an outrageous combination

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 lbs boneless country style pork ribs
• 1-2 tablespoons oil
• 2 (½ inch) thick slices of fresh pineapple
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, roughly chopped
• 6 “street” size corn tortillas

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl to make the dry rub – set aside
2. Coat pork with 1 tablespoon oil and thoroughly sprinkle the rub mix on every side, reserve at least a tablespoon of the rub mixture
3. Preheat grill on med/high, cook 4-5 minutes on all 4 sides (pork temperature guide: 145 degrees)
4. Drizzle a little oil on each side of the pineapple, cook on grill (about 2 minutes each side)
5. Remove pork and pineapple from the grill
6. Thinly slice pork and dice pineapple into bite size pieces
7. In a separate bowl, mix sour cream with a little rub mix
8. Heat tortillas, spread sour cream then top with pork, pineapple and garnish with cilantro.

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Deep Fried Pizza with Ricotta & Onions

Pizza Fritta is a tad more work but super good and way fun.

Makes 1 individual pizza

INGREDIENTS

• 1 quarter of the 3 minute pizza dough
• 1/2 medium size red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ½ cup ricotta cheese
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Neutral oil (like vegetable or canola) to fry dough
• Kosher salt
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese - whatever you have is good
• ½ cup fresh baby arugula
• Extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Make pizza dough according to recipe directions
2. While dough is “resting” make the pizza toppings
3. In a nonstick medium skillet on medium/low heat, add olive oil, butter and onions; cook 8-10 minutes until golden brown - remove from heat; set aside
4. In a small bowl mix ricotta and garlic well and set aside
5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
6. Pour about ½ inch of oil into a large heavy pan (cast iron would be ideal) and heat to approx 350-375 degrees
7. Sprinkle a little flour on a working surface and roll out dough into a circle 6- 8 inches in diameter
8. Carefully put the dough into the hot pan - lay it down facing away from you
9. Cook about 1-½ minute on each side until golden brown - flip over carefully using tongs
10. Drain fried dough on paper towels, then place the crust on a baking sheet
11. Spread ricotta mixture evenly over the crust, top with caramelized onion, pinch of salt, red pepper flakes and shredded cheese
12. Bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese melts
13. While pizza is baking, mix arugula with a drizzle of olive oil and pinch of salt
14. Take pizza out of the oven, top with arugula, slice and serve...

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FEATURED ON MY TV SHOW

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Crispy Asian Fish Banh Mi

FEATURED RECIPE FROM FISH DAY
SAM THE COOKING GUY TV EPISODE

Makes 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground Opa
• 6 sprigs green onion, (white and light green parts only) chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Sambal garlic chili paste
• 1-½ cup Panko crumbs
• High heat oil, like avocado oil
• 4 french baguette rolls

Sauce

• ¼ cup Kewpie mayo
• 1 tablespoon Hoisin

BaNH-mi toppings:

• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 1 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• 2-3 sprigs green onion, cut thinly lengthwise

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl put fish, green onion, ginger, garlic, soy, chili paste and ½ cup of Panko - mix until until just combined
2. Form all the fish mixture into 10-12 patties, brush each side with a little oil -  then press into remaining panko to coat lightly
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a non-stick pan on medium-high heat, cook patties each side about 4 minutes or until cooked through
4. While fish patties are cooking, make the sauce - In a separate small bowl mix mayonnaise and hoisin; set aside
5. Cut the baguettes in half lengthwise and toast/grill lightly
6. Now let’s build the banh-mi: spread sauce on the insides of the rolls, add some carrots and green onion, some cucumber, cilantro and the fish
7. Close, cut in half and eat

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