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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Peanut Butter Smoothie

Featured recipe on Back to School Day TV episode.

Makes 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 cup milk
• 6 ounces plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup peanut butter, creamy or smooth

DIRECTIONS

1. Put everything into a blender and blend for a couple of minutes, until smooth
2. And this next part should be really, really obvious: put in a glass and drink.

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WATCH HOW TO MAKE THIS...

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Buffalo Chicken Burger

Makes 3

Who says ground chicken is dry?  This is moist, messy and stupid good.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/3 cup finely diced celery
• 1/3 cup finely diced green onion
• ¼ cup finely chopped curly parsley
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
• Franks Red Hot
• 1/3 cup panko crumbs
• 2 tablespoons each mayo & sour cream
• ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
• 3 buns – and make good ones like brioche
• Shredded lettuce for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl put chicken, celery, green onion, parsley, salt, pepper, 2 teaspoons Franksand panko – mix well
2. Shape into 3 patties, put on a wax paper or a parchment lined plate and refrigerate at least 30 minutes
3. Meanwhile combine mayo, sour cream & blue cheese – mix really well and set aside
4. Cook burgers any way you like (but a cast iron pan is always a good thought)
5. Once you flip them over, brush the tops with more Franks and cook until done
6. Grill or toast buns
7. Build burgers: bun, sauce, lettuce, burger, bun

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Mexican Breakfast Bowl

One of my all time favorite breakfasts - and it’s not just good, it’s good for you. If this is eating healthy, call me Richard Simmons

Makes 4

INGREDIENTS

• 15 ounce can black beans, drained
• 1 pinch Kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon cumin, chipotle chili powder & garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup red onions, thinly sliced
• 4 eggs, beaten
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped white onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• Hot sauce, any you prefer (I like Cholula)

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat on black beans in a small pot, add salt, cumin, chipotle and garlic powder-mix well, keep warm on low heat and set aside
2. Put a non-stick pan over medium and add butter
3. As it melts add red onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes
4. Stir in eggs and cook to your desired doneness (which hopefully is not too dry) - season with salt and pepper, remove from heat and keep warm
5. Compile your bowl in thirds starting with ½ cup of rice, then ¼ of the black beans and scrambled eggs - repeat with remaining bowls
6. Top each bowl with avocado, some white onion, cilantro and a couple of dashes of hot sauce

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GRILLED STUFFED TERIYAKI BURGER

Not to sound like a broken record, but it’s time to stop eating the same thing all the time. So for something a little different, I suggest trying a stuffed burger. And this one has sautéed onions, Swiss cheese and well, you’ll just have to watch, then make it.

Makes 2 burgers

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup red onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon butter
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 slices Swiss cheese
• 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
• 4 pineapple rings
• Iceberg lettuce

Directions

1. Cook onions with butter in a non-stick pan until softened, season with salt & pepper and set aside.
2. Flatten beef into 4 patties, and using your hands or burger press, make a pocket in two of them. Put half the onion and one piece of cheese (folded to fit) into the pockets and top with second patty. Season each stuffed burger well with salt & pepper.
3. Preheat grill to medium high and put on the burgers and pineapple slices. Cook until done on one side, then flip them over, and begin brushing both with teriyaki. When both sides of burgers and pineapple are almost done, add more sauce, then toast buns on the grill.
4. Build burger: bun bottom, lettuce, burger, pineapple slices, bun top.

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Fried Bologna Sandwich

RECIPE FEATURED ON MY TV EPISODE "NOT SO HEALTHY DAY"

I wasn't a bologna fan until I fried some. This is crazy delicious and should not be ignored.

Makes one, but a really good one.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ½  medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bun or roll of your choice
• butter, softened
• 5 slices of bologna
• ½ tablespoon grainy mustard
• ½ tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2 slices American cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat small sauté pan on medium-high with olive oil, add the onions and cook until slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes
2. While they cook, lightly butter the inside of each bun, place cut-side down on a flat top or large non-stick pan untillightly toasted
3. Evenly space three small cuts, about 1/2 inch long into the outside edge of bologna (this will help it from curling up) and place on a heated flat griddle or non-stick pan
4. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side or until getting golden on the edges
5. Melt 1 slice of cheese on 2 slices of bologna
6. Spread mustard and mayonnaise on bottom half of the toasted bun and top with caramelized onions
7. Then stack all the slices of bologna on the onions, starting with a melted cheese bologna on the bottom, then the other 3 slices and top with the remaining melted cheese bologna
8. Place the top half of the bun on the sandwich

FEATURED RECIPE ON STCG "ONLINE" SHOW

FEATURED RECIPE ON MY TV SHOW

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Better Butter Burger

Makes: 4 burgers
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

The idea of cramming a big chunk of butter inside a burger might not be the first thing you think of – but it should be.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ lbs ground sirloin

• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

• 4 hamburger buns, toasted

• Herb Garlic Butter, see recipe 

• Lettuce, tomato, mayo – you know what to do here
   

DIRECTIONS

1. Form meat into 4 loose balls

2. Remove Herb Garlic Butter from fridge, unwrap and cut four ½ inch discs, and gently press a disc into each ball, then gently form patty around the disc

3. Preheat grill to medium high and cook burgers to your desired doneness, about 4 to 5 minutes a side for medium rare

4. Build on toasted buns with whatever you like – not that it’ll really matter, cuz honestly it’s that good.

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Really Good Croutons

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Of course you can buy pre-made croutons, but when these are sooo good, why would you?

4 cups torn bread pieces: French, sour dough – up to you

¼ cup butter

1 tablespoon garlic powder

Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

¼ cup finely chopped curly parsley

• Toss bread in a dry, medium hot non-stick pan until getting toasty – about 5 minutes

• Then add the butter, garlic powder, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper and parsley

• Continue mixing until all croutons are coated – 2 to 3 minutes

• Serve 

Butter Tarts

The quintessential Canadian dessert? Yes or no, it’s still crazy delicious… eh.  

Makes approximately 12

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pre-made pie crusts, rolled out to approximately 14 inches in diameter
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup softened Finlandia butter*
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup pecan halves
• Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Cut pie dough into 3 ½ inch circles, and fit into cups in amuffin pan
3. Put remaining ingredients in a bowl, except pecans and mix very well to combine – then stir in pecans
4. Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full and bake approximately 20 minutes
5. Let them cool in the pan about 10 minutes before carefully removing and eating…if you can wait the 10 min

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WATCH HOW EASY THEY ARE TO MAKE...

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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Wings with Curry Sauce

When it comes to curry, I’m like the little old lady in the Frank’s commercial – I put that shit on everything.

INGREDIENTS

• 18 chicken wings

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 1 tablespoon flour 

• 2 tablespoons curry powder

• 1/3 cup coconut milk

• 1/3 cup milk

• 1 tablespoon Sambal Chili Paste or Sriracha

• Kosher salt

• cilantro or diced green onion for garnish 

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat broiler

2. Place wings on a foil lined baking sheet and broil until done, 10 - 15 minutes a side

3. While they're cooking, melt butter in a small pot over medium/low heat

4. When it’s melted, add flour and curry powder – stir well, mix together about a minute 

5. Pour in both milks – stirring well with a whisk until it begins to thicken

6. Add chili sauce, season with salt and stir well – keep warm

7. Remove wings from oven, put in a large bowl and toss with as much curry sauce as you like

8. Plate and garnish with cilantro or green onions

9. Serve

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Garden Dill Slow Scrambled Eggs

Serves: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

The Finlandia creamy gourmet cheese makes this ridiculous – and I mean that in the best way possible. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon Finlandia butter
• 2 eggs
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
• 1 ½ tablespoons Finlandia Garden Dill Creamy Gourmet Cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt butter in a small skillet over low to medium heat, making sure it covers the bottom and sides
2. Crack the eggs in a small bowl, add salt & pepper, beat well and then add to the pan
3. Cook slowly, stirring often making sure the eggs don’t stick to the pan
4. When the eggs are about halfway done, add Finlandia Garden Dill Cheese and continue stirring until eggs are cooked though but still creamy
5. Serve.

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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Crazy Effing Good Chicken Sandwich

This is the ultimate football/sport watching food.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tube fridge biscuits
• 1/3 cup Finlandia butter*
• 1/3 cup Franks hot sauce  
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 4 pre-cooked Fried Chicken tenders, room temp
• 2 tablespoons Kewpie (Japanese) Mayonaise
• 1 cup Iceberg lettuce, shredded

 DIRECTIONS

1. Cook biscuits, as per instructions, put to the side and keep warm
2. Melt butter and hot sauce, on low heat for 1 minute
3. Add honey to sauce, add the fried chicken, coat well and cook on medium for 2 minutes
4. Layer your sandwich: half biscuit, tablespoon of mayo, tablespoon cooked sauce, lettuce, chicken tender, top with biscuit, eat!

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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Butter Potatoes

The simple potato is pretty darn good by itself. But, when some delicious Finlandia butter* is added… look out. 

Serves: 3-4 people
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound small new potatoes
• Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper
• ¼ cup Finlandia butter*, softened
• Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper
• 1-2 teaspoons fresh thyme

DIRECTIONS

1. Put potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water and add 1 tablespoon of salt
2. Bring to a boil, lower the heat slightly and cook until potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork – about 15 minutes then drain well – set aside
3. Melt butter in a heavy pan, add potatoes and toss carefully making sure potatoes are covered with butter
4. Season with salt, pepper and add thyme – mix through and serve.

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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Grilled Cheese and Dill Pickle

If the title isn't enough for you, you need some help.
This is the perfect midnight snack. Try it.

Makes 1 sandwich

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons Finlandia Garden Dill Cream Cheese* (or, just add fresh dill to plain cream cheese)
• 2 tablespoons Finlandia Cream Cheese*
• 2 tablespoons Finlandia Butter*
• 2 slices of white bread
• 1 dill pickle

 
DIRECTIONS

1. Spread the dill cream cheese on one slice, and plain cream cheese on other slice
2. Pat one dill dry, then slice lengthways into slices, approx. 1/4'' thick
3. Add pickles to sandwich
4. Preheat you grill pan on low/medium heat, spread 1 tablespoon Finlandia Butter on the top side of sandwich, place this side down into pan, cook sandwich for 2 minutes
5. Spread remaining butter on top side, then flip and cook the other side for 2 minutes
6. Slice and enjoy.

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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Cacio e Pepe

One of the absolute simplest and most delicious pasta recipes ever.  A classic from the old country (Italy, not Canada) and it must be in your lineup of pastas.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• ¼ pound dried spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons Kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1-2 teaspoons course ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup Pecorino romano cheese, finely grated

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook pasta in salted water for 7 minutes
2. Put olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add pepper – cook, stirring often about 3-4 minutes, turn off the heat and add 1/3 cup of the pasta water
3. When the pasta is ready, drain – keeping about a cup and a half of the pasta water and add pasta to the pan with pepper
4. Turn the heat back on low and add the cheese
5. Stir the pasta with the cheese well, adding reserved pasta water to make a smooth sauce – as thick or thin as you like
6. Plate with a little more cheese and fresh ground pepper

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Grilled Chili-Lime Corn

Makes: 6 ears
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

You may never want plain corn again.

6 ears of corn, husks removed and silk pulled off

8 ounces butter

2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

2 tablespoons chili powder

Juice from 4 limes

Neutral oil

Kosher salt

• Heat grill to medium

• Slowly melt butter in a small pot and add the garlic, chili powder & juice from 3 of the limes - mix well - let sit on very low for the flavors to get better - btw this could easily be done well beforehand, just remelt it when ready to go

• Brush the ears lightly with a little of the oil (and btw why the hell are they called ears??) then grill until soft, nicely browned in spots and beautiful - this can take up to 30 minutes.

• Start basting about 5 minutes in, then baste often until finished cooking

• When done remove to a platter, brush one last time, squeeze on some of the remaining lime and sprinkle lightly with the salt

• Serve

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Smoked Salmon Benedict With Dill Hollandaise

Makes 4 benedicts

INGREDIENTS

• Blender Hollandaise, see recipe
• 2 English muffins, split & toasted
• 6 ounces lox, thinly sliced
• 4 Poached Eggs, see recipe
• ¼ cup finely chopped dill, plus a little extra for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Make Hollandaise according to recipe, add ¼ cup dill in the final moments of blending - keep warm
2. Top English Muffins with lox, then a poached egg and finely with Hollandaise
3. Sprinkle with a little more dill

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FRESH SPRING ROLLS

Perfect food for when it is 800 degrees outside (San Diego summertime).

INGREDIENTS

• 8 rice wrappers (approx 8 inch diameter)
• 1 cup poached shrimp, chilled, shells and tails removed, sliced lengthways
• 1 cup my Black Bean Salmon  recipe, chilled
• 1 cup shredded Napa Cabbage
• 1 cup matchstick carrots
• 1 cup matchstick red pepper
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• big handful of lettuce leaves

SAUCE

• hoisin sauce
• Chili Garlic sauce (Huy Fong brand, the same people that make Sriracha)

DIRECTIONS

1. Prep everything
2. Mix Sauce: 3 parts Hoisin to 1 part Chili Garlic sauce, set aside  
3. Fill large bowl with warm water
4. One at a time, place 1 rice paper in water for 15 seconds
5. Place flat on clean kitchen cloth
6. Layer a strip of each ingredient, on top of each other, then roll it up like a mini buritto  
7. Repeat until you have used up all the ingredients
8. Serve with sauce, dip and enjoy! 

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MORE RECIPES

WHITE-ISH MEXICAN CHEESE SAUCE

This is amazing poured over a Mexican Eggs Benny, or Nachos, soooo good.

INGREDIENTS
  

• 2 teaspoons Olive oil
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 4oz small can Green Chiles
• 1 can Roasted Green Chili Chopped tomatoes, drained
• 1/2 teaspoon ground chili
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 8oz Jalapeño Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 8oz Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup whole milk  
• 1 pinch Kosher Salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium pot, on medium/low heat, sautée onion until soft, about 5 minutes
2. On low heat, add garlic, cook 1 minute
3. Add chili and cumin, stir well
4. Add all the cheese and milk, keep stiring for 3 minutes, until all melty and loose.

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Asian dressing

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• Pinch Kosher salt
• A few grinds black pepper

 DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients and mix really really well in a bowl or in a shaker
2. Use on everything

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