Chili Dog

Serves 4

Of course you can always put fries on a hot dog (and should) but there’s something about crispy hash browns that changes things. And then to combine them with sour cream and melty queso makes the whole thing ridiculous – in a good way of course.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 hot dogs
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1 ½ cups chili, heated
• 1 cups cooked, hot, crispy, hash browns 
• 4 hot dog buns
• 1 jar Salsa Con Queso
• 4 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

• Cook hot dogs your favorite way – mine would be to grill them to perfection 
• Open each bun, butter and cook on a flat griddle until golden brown
• Remove lid from cheese jar and microwave until melty smooth – about a minute
• Build the dog in this order:

1. Bun
2. Sour cream
3. Chili
4. Hot dog
5. Hash browns
6. Drizzle queso over the top

Grilled PB and Jelly

Makes one

This is not as goofy as it seems. If you like a PB & J, and who doesn't?...then this is a must-try. Give it a whirl for lunch one weekend.

Ingredients

• 2 pieces of bread (if you're asking me, this needs a heavier grain bread)
• PB - of course
• Jelly - of course (I would go grape here, trust me)
• Butter

Directions

1. Spread PB on one slice of bread, and the J on the other.
2. Put both slices together with the gooey stuff in the middle- as if that wasn't obvious.
3. Lightly butter outside of one slice and place face down in a warm pan.
4. Squish down and flatten a little with a spatula or your hand, but watch out for the sides.
5. Butter top piece of bread and flip over once the bottom has browned slightly.
6. Cut into wedges and enjoy!

Pear & Gorgonzola Bread

Makes one loaf

This comes from our wonderful friend Peg, who lives up the street. I added the sauteed red onions because almost everything is better with them.

Ingredients

• 1 large red onion, cut into thin slices
• Olive oil
• 1 loaf good crusty bread, like an Italian or French loaf
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese
• 4 pears, ripe and sliced into thin slices

Directions

1. Cook red onion with a little olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat until well softened
2. Preheat oven to broil
3. Mix butter and gorgonzola well in a small bowl, set aside
4. Slice loaf in half lengthwise
5. Drizzle olive oil on cut side of bread and place under broiler a minute or so until it just starts to get crispy
6. Remove and cover cut side of bread with red onion and then cover that with pear slices
7. Then spread gorgonzola butter over pears
8. Put under broiler until light brown and bubbly
9. Remove and slice into serving pieces

Philly Cheese Steak

Probably makes 4

Here's the thing - I've never been to Philly, I don't know anyone from Philly and even if I did I'm sure they would say I did something wrong here. But you know what? I don't worry about them because this is awesome with out their advice. Just make it and enjoy it.

Ingredients

• 1 green pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 pound rib-eye steak, thinly sliced
• 4 slices provolone cheese
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• fresh sandwich rolls, split in half crosswise and lightly toasted
• salt and pepper
• olive oil

Directions

1. Saute onions and peppers in hot pan with a little oil about 10 minutes, remove
2. Season meat with salt and pepper
3. Add more oil, then sliced meat and cook until almost no longer pink
4. Mix onions and peppers in with the meat and add Worcestershire
5. Top mixture in pan with provolone and cover - allow to melt
6. Put the melty-cheesey-peppery-onion stuff on the toasted bun and look out - it's way good!

Chili Frito Bags

This is one of those things that people make fun of until they try it – then, they're hooked. But you must have those little individual sized bags of Frito's for it – the fun is eating it right out of the bag.

Ingredients

• Any chili – yours, your mom's, or out of a can (the can is easier)
• Fritos, the individual sized bags
• Shredded cheddar cheese, sharp
• Hot Sauce

Directions

1. Heat chili
2. Open Frito bag
3. Spoon some chili in the bag - yes, IN the bag
4. Top with some cheese, IN the bag
5. Add a few drops hot sauce, IN the bag
6. Add a spoon and eat, OUT of the bag

Mac & Blue Cheese with Bacon

Serves 8

What kryptonite was to Superman, this macaroni is to me. It is my one, true weakness. If I make it – I can eat the whole thing...

Ingredients

• 1 package Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (I didn't say you had to start from scratch did I?)
• 6-8 strips of bacon, diced
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 3 tablespoon butter
• 1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs (Japanese bread crumbs available in the supermarket Asian aisle)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Heat a large frying pan, add bacon - cook until halfway done
3. Add onions - saute until softened and bacon is crispy
4. Make macaroni according to package directions and add onion, bacon and blue cheese
5. Mix well and place in oven proof casserole dish
6. Melt butter and mix with Panko crumbs, put on top of mac
7. Bake until top is brown and crispy - maybe 20 minutes

View fullsize

Watch me make this

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Sam's Kettle Corn

Sure you can buy this at the fair, but is the fair on right now? Cuz if it's not - I've got you covered. So say goodbye to that microwave business and get this happening.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup popcorn
• 1/4 cup oil - vegetable or canola is fine
• 1/4 cup sugar

Directions

1. Put all ingredients in a large pot
2. Stir so all kernels are covered with sugar/oil mixture
3. Turn heat to medium, cover pot with lid & wait
4. Once popping begins, shake pot continuously to keep kernels from sticking to bottom & burning
5. When popping slows - remove from heat and pour into a bowl
6. When slightly cool, separate big clumps and eat - mmmmmmm

Sesame Noodles

This is so good either alone or as an accompaniment. In fact, it's a perfect match for the Asian Scallops - see recipe.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or white-wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter - creamy is best
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 pound lo mein or linguine
• 1/4 pound snow peas, trimmed & strings discarded
• Chopped peanuts for garnish

Directions

1. Combine soy, vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, peanut butter, sesame oil, ginger, and chicken broth in a small saucepan
2. Simmer and stir until it is thick and smooth and let cool.
3. Cook snow peas in medium saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about a 2 minutes.
4. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool; drain well.
5. Cook noodles in boiling salted water - do not overcook.
6. Drain and then rinse noodles under cold water.
7. Drain again well and transfer to a bowl.
8. Add the snow peas to the noodles and toss both in the sauce.
9. Serve at room temperature with a sprinkle of chopped peanuts.

Chilaquiles

Serves 2 or 4, or maybe even just 1

I like to make it in a Pyrex pie plate and add a couple fried eggs on top. it's the perfect 'late-night-after-being-out-partying' food, and also the perfect 'morning-after-with-a-hangover' food. talk about versatile...

Ingredients

• 1 cup green enchilada sauce
• Tortilla chips
• 1 cup salsa verde (green salsa)
• 1.5 cups Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
• 4 eggs, optional

Directions

1. Cover the bottom of a pie plate with 1/2 the enchilada sauce
2. Cover the sauce completely with tortilla chips
3. Pour 1/2 the salsa over chips and top that with about half the cheese
4. Top with more chips, more enchilada sauce and rest of the salsa
5. Finish with remaining cheese
6. Microwave 5 minutes
7. If you're going to, this is the time to serve it topped with fried eggs

Poutine

Serves 3 - 4

If there was a dish that could be called "Canadian" this would be it.

Ingredients

• 1 bag frozen french fries

• One 12 ounce jar beef gravy

• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 1 tablespoon Maggi, soy or Worcestershire sauce

• 1 cup cheese curds, broken up or fresh mozzarella, diced fairly small

Directions

1. Preheat oven per french fry package instructions

2. Spread the fries evenly onto a baking sheet and bake as package instructs - until browned and crunchy

3. In a small pot mix the gravy with some freshly ground black pepper to taste and the Maggi/soy/Worcestershire sauce and heat over low heat until hot and bubbly

4. Break up the cheese curds or dice the mozzarella

5. On a plate layer as follows: french fries, cheese, gravy/sauce mix

6. Add a little more freshly ground black pepper to taste

7. Be sure to get a little of everything in each bite

8. Oh Canada!

Pesto Grilled Cheese

Makes 2 sandwiches

My first bite and I was like "what the hell...I should have done this years ago"

Ingredients

• About 1/4 cup pre made pesto
• 4 slices sourdough bread
• 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
• 4 slices Havarti cheese
• Soft butter

Directions

1. Warm non stick skillet over medium heat
2. Spread pesto on two slices of the bread, top with tomato slices, fresh ground pepper, 2 slices of cheese on each and then top with the other slice of bread
3. Butter both sides of sandwiches and cook in pan until golden brown on both sides

Smokey Bacon Guacamole

Makes about 2 cups

Really - you're not doubting this are you?

Ingredients

• 3 avocados - make them ripe please
• 1/2 cup chunky red salsa
• 1/3 - 1/2 pound bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
• 1/2 - 1 chipotle pepper, minced fine
• Juice of 1/2 lime

Directions

1. Spoon out avocado flesh and put in a bowl
2. Mash a bit with the back of a fork - but not too much
3. Add salsa, bacon, chipotle pepper and lime juice
4. Mix well and serve

Carne Asada

Serves 6ish

One of our favorites, and if you make extra you'll have enough for Carne Asada Fries. And if ur making tacos, we suggest this most delicious Avocado Cream

Ingredients

• 1 bunch cilantro (no stems) finely chopped

• 3 large cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon cumin

• 2 teaspoon brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon each Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

• 1/2 cup neutral oil

• Zest & juice of one lime

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 pounds skirt, flap or flank steak (I like skirt and flap)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients except the steak- mix well

2. Put steak and marinade into a large zippered bag, zip shut and squish around to make sure steak is well covered

3. Refrigerate 1-4 hours

4. Heat grill to high and grill steak approximately 5 minutes a side or as necessary until approx 130 degrees

5. Remove from grill, cover with foil and let rest about 10 minutes before cutting across the grain (very important btw) and serving

Hot Buttered Doughnuts

Makes 4 servings

Once again there's truth in advertising. These are exactly as the name suggests - doughnuts that have been simply cooked in hot butter - and boy are they good.

Ingredients

• 16 glazed doughnut holes
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 lemon wedge
• 1 pint really good vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup caramel/butterscotch sauce, warmed
• Powdered sugar for garnish

Directions

1. Slice each hole in half
2. Melt butter in a non stick pan and add doughnuts
3. Cook on all sides but especially with the flat side down so they get brown, caramelized and crispy
4. Squeeze on lemon juice just before removing from pan
5. Serve with ice cream, drizzled with caramel/butterscotch sauce and dusted with powdered sugar

Pork Jerky Machaca Burrito

Makes six burritos

Not only does the jerky give this great taste, but it also gives it a nice toothsomeness.

Ingredients

• 1/2 large yellow onion, diced
• 1 small jalapeno, diced small
• 4 ounces pork jerky, chopped very fine
• 2 roma tomatoes, diced small
• 5 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 6-eight inch flour tortillas, warmed
• 2 avocados, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
• Sour cream

Directions

1. Heat large non-stick pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat
2. Add onion & jalapeno, cook about 3 minutes
3. Add the jerky, mix well and allow to soften, 5-7 minutes
4. Stir in eggs and cheese, cook until done the way you want (just don't dry them out)
5. Add some sour cream to a warmed tortilla, a layer of avo and then some of the jerky eggs
6. Fold anyway you can, and eat

Sriracha & Bacon Egg Salad Sandwich

Makes 2

We made this on the Livecast and everyone was very happy. VERY.

Ingredients

• 4 hard boiled eggs - if you're not sure how to properly hard boil eggs check out the recipe in the 'Things That Don't Fit In Any Other Category'
• 2 tablespoons diced green onion
• 2-3 tablespoons mayo
• About 1 1/2 tablespoons sriracha - it's up to you
• Kosher salt, to taste
• 6 slices bacon, cooked & crispy
• 4 slices good bread (whole wheat would be excellent), toasted
• Iceberg lettuce
• Mayo, to taste

Directions

1. Grate or chop eggs and put in a small bowl
2. Add green onion, mayo, sriracha & salt - mix well
3. Add a bed of lettuce to 2 slices of the toast, egg salad and then bacon - top with toast
4. Slice, eat and smile

Chipotle Sloppy Joes

Makes 6 slider-sized Joes

Ahhhh yes, the amazing Sloppy Joe - what's not to like? Especially ones made with chipotle.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil

• 1/2 onion, diced small

• 1 green bell pepper, diced small

• 1 pound ground beef

• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire

• 1 large clove garlic, minced

• 6 ounces tomato paste

• 1 cup really good beer, and something a little bitter wouldn't be a bad thing here

• 3-4 chipotle peppers, minced well

• Hawaiian rolls, or something equally as delicious for serving

• French's Fried Onions

Directions

1. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan, add onion and green pepper and cook about 3 minutes, then add beef

2. Continue cooking until beef is just cooked through, add garlic and cook 1 more minute

3. Season with S&P and add Worcestershire, tomato paste, beer and chipotles - mix everything well then simmer a few minutes on medium/low until slightly thickened

4. Serve on Hawaiian rolls and top with the crispy onions

South African Gatsby

Makes one sandwich

It's a bit odd, but good. Think hoagie, hero, sub - whatever but with the addition of fries and pretty much any kind of meat you'd like. In this version I use boloney because that's how I first saw it in Capetown.

Ingredients

• 4-5 slices of boloney
• 1 sub, hoagie or hero roll
• 1/3 - 1/2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
• 1 handful oven baked French fries, cooked, hot & crispy
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce

Directions

1. Grill boloney a couple minutes a side in a medium hot pan until beginning to brown
2. Slice roll lengthwise, leaving a hinge and add lettuce, cooked bologna, fries, ketchup and hot sauce - that's it :)

Classic Patty Melt

Makes 2 Sandwiches

Call it a burger...call it a sandwich...call it whatever you want, but the classic Patty Melt is an amazingly simple combination of deliciousness. Learn how to make it and save yourself a trip to Denny's.

Ingredients

• 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 5 tablespoons butter
• Olive oil
• 1 lb of ground beef
• Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
• 4 tbsp of soft butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 4 slices rye bread

Directions

1. Cook sliced onions in 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil until caramelized and soft - about 10 minutes
2. Stir in Worcestershire, remove from heat
3. In a large bowl, mix ground beef with garlic powder and season with salt & pepper
4. Shape into 2 patties, each a little larger than the rye bread
5. Heat a pan on medium high heat, and cook patties in a little oil about 5 minutes
6. Flip and add 2 slices of cheese to each patty add cook an additional 3-4 minutes for medium rare
7. Meanwhile, butter one side of 2 pieces of the bread and place butter-side down in a non-stick pan
8. Place one patty on each slice of bread, then a generous layer of onions and top with remaining bread
9. Cook on medium until golden brown - then butter the top, flip and repeat
10. Remove, slice and eat

Cool Asian Tots

Serves 4

Not sure what it is about tots, but they're one of the best things ever – and at times maybe THE best thing ever. And these ones are ridiculous.

Ingredients

• 1 bag tater tots
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 4 tablespoons sweet chili sauce (I use Mae Ploy)
• 2 green onions, diced fine

Directions

1. Cook tots according to package directions
2. Top with sour cream and drizzle with sweet chili sauce
3. Garnish with green onions