Fried Mozzarella Sticks

Oh boy. Fried mozzarella sticks. Another food that I cannot be trusted with. I have no self control around them. Someone has to be the adult, and it’s not me. Ooey gooey cheese sticks covered in bread crumbs, cheese and a little seasoning. All ready to be dunked into some warmed marinara sauce right before the journey into my mouth.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks

As difficult as it is to do, you’ll need to wait a minute or two to let these fried mozzarella sticks cool before devouring them. I try to think about something else, like yard work, to distract me during the painful waiting period.

I use my Fry Daddy fryer for most of my frying ‘tasks’.

Also try my Italian breadsticks and my mozzarella pepper sticks.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks
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5 from 1 vote

Fried Mozzarella Sticks

Oh boy. Fried mozzarella sticks. Another food that I cannot be trusted with. I have no self control around them.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, deep-fried
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 16 sticks
Calories 569kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the flour into a pie pan.
  • In a separate pie pan beat the eggs with the milk.
  • In a third pie pan combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic salt and seasoning salt.
  • Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
  • Dredge the cheese sticks in the flour, followed by the egg wash and lastly the breadcrumbs.
  • Place cheese sticks into the egg wash and then the breadcrumbs on more time then transfer to the baking sheet.
  • Freeze for 1 hour to overnight (longer is better).
  • Heat oil to 350 F.
  • Working in batches, fry the cheese stocks for 30 seconds-1 minute per side until golden brown then flip and fry another 30 seconds-1 minute.
  • Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Serve with warmed marinara sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 49g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 67IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Italian Sausage Sandwiches Version 3.0

These Italian sausage sandwiches have become somewhat of a tradition in our house around New Year’s and the Superbowl. I make a nice big batch of them and let them slow cook either on the stove or in a slow cooker, ready to eat at any time. Perfect eats for watching football games, specially college bowl games. Spicy sausage with a flavorful tomato sauce loaded with peppers, onions, and mushrooms. All topped (of course) with ooey-gooey cheese.

Italian Sausage Sandwiches Version 3.0

I’m not sure I’ve ever made my Italian sausage sandwiches exactly the same way each year. Sometimes I go the spicy route, sometimes I use sweet sausages. Sometimes I add more bell peppers, sometimes I just add more mushrooms. It just kind of depends on how I feel that day. If you don’t mind spicy, add more red pepper flake and a good amount of hot sauce.

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.

Also try my other version of Italian sausage sandwiches, all fantastic:version 1.0 and version 2.0.

Italian Sausage Sandwiches Version 3.0
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5 from 1 vote

Italian Sausage Sandwiches Version 3.0

These Italian sausage sandwiches have become somewhat of a tradition in our house around New Year’s and the Superbowl. I make a nice big batch of them and let them slow cook either on the stove or in a slow cooker, ready to eat at any time.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword Italian, sandwich, sausage
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 45 minutes
Servings 10 sandwiches
Calories 540kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the pizza and tomato sauces into a large pot over medium heat.
  • In a large Dutch oven, heat a splash or two of oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the sausages, browning on all sides. Transfer browned sausages to the pot of sauce.
  • Add more oil to the Dutch oven and add all of the vegetables. Saute until just starting to get soft, then transfer to the pot of sauce along with the sausages.
  • Season with salt and pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flake.
  • Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Slice the bread in half. I prefer to do this by cutting a ‘V’ down the top of the bread, making a trench for the sausages and sauce. I find that the bread doesn’t split so easily this way. I also remove some of the bread inside just to make more room for the great toppings.
  • Cut bread into lengths a tad shorter than the sausages.
  • Add meat and top with sauce and a little bit of the vegetables.
  • Top with cheese and place on a sheet pan under the oven broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1752mg | Potassium: 1099mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2158IU | Vitamin C: 106mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Pizza Hot Dogs

Yes! Give me some pizza hot dogs any day and I’m a happy guy! Great sauce and ooey-gooey cheese with a little basil. What is there not to like? I approach these dogs exactly like I would a pizza crust. I can put the same toppings on my hot dog as I can put on my pizza. Onions, mushrooms, pepperoncinis, it doesn’t matter what!

Pizza Hot Dogs

I make a big batch of marinara sauce in our slow cooker and keep some on hand in the freezer for easy meals like these pizza hot dogs. Just warm the sauce a bit and spoon it over a cooked dog. This is also a great way to use up those last few tablespoons of jarred pizza sauce that we always end up with.

Also try my salsa dogs.

Pizza Hot Dogs
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5 from 1 vote

Pizza Hot Dogs

Yes! Give me a pizza hot dog any day and I’m a happy guy! Great sauce and ooey-gooey cheese with a little basil. What is there not to like? 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 407kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 hot dogs or substitute halved Italian sausages for even more pizza flavor
  • 2 hot dog buns
  • ¼ cup marinara sauce I used our slow cooker sauce
  • 4 slices Mozzarella cheese
  • pinch basil fresh, chopped, or substitute a bit of dried

Instructions

  • Cook dogs and warm buns as desired.
  • Place dogs on buns and top with sauce and cheese.
  • Place under broiler just long enough to start melting the cheese.
  • Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1036mg | Potassium: 264mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 374mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Bacon Biscuit Pull-Aparts

When I first saw these bacon biscuit pull-aparts on the Picky Palate, I thought, “These have to be illegal in most states. They look just too good.”. They have everything that is yummy in them: biscuits, cheese and bacon with warmed maple syrup on top. These biscuits are perfect for breakfast, or as a side for dinner.

Bacon Biscuit Pull-Aparts

The result is soft, cheesy gooey yumminess. The bacon biscuit pull-aparts were just as good left over as they were the evening I made them.

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.

I love making pull-apart breads. Try my pumpkin version. It’s perfect for fall. Actually, it’d be great for breakfast too!

Bacon Biscuit Pull-Aparts
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4 from 1 vote

Bacon Biscuit Pull-Aparts

When I first saw these bacon biscuit pull-aparts I thought, “These have to be illegal in most states. They look just too good.”
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword bacon, biscuits
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 753kcal

Ingredients

  • 5 slices thick-cut bacon or 1/4th of a breakfast sausage roll
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tube biscuit dough
  • 6 fresh mozzarella sliced thin
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • maple syrup warmed (for serving)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Cook bacon (or sausage) and let drain on a paper towel.
  • Brush butter around the inside of a 9″ cast iron skillet.
  • Place biscuits in skillet. You’ll want to pack them in much like dinner rolls.
  • Top with mozzarella, the bacon (or sausage) and cheddar.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes.
  • Serve topped with warm maple syrup.

Notes

Use a 8″-9″ cast iron skillet for best results. You can use an 8″ skillet too, but you’ll have to use one less biscuit (trust me on this).

Nutrition

Calories: 753kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 1571mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Calcium: 271mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

This is the easiest way to make a big ole loaf of yummy, cheesy garlic bread. Every slice is loaded with butter and cheese goodness. You can make these loaves ahead of time and bake them later. You can cut them thick, or you can cut them thin. If you end up cutting them real thin you might have to double or triple the ingredients for the ‘toppings’.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

You can kick up this cheesy garlic bread by substituting pepper jack cheese and adding a few pickled jalapeno slices. I sometimes make this using a baguette for smaller, almost crouton-sized slices of cheese bread.

Also try my gotta-have-it garlic bread and some gorgonzola garlic bread.

Cheesy Garlic Bread
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5 from 1 vote

Cheesy Garlic Bread

This is the easiest way to make a big ole loaf of yummy, cheesy garlic bread. Every slice is loaded with butter and cheese goodness. You can make these loaves ahead of time and bake them later. 
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cheesy, garlic bread
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 385kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread
  • 4 ounces Mozzarella cheese sliced thin
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder or more, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Make vertical cuts in the bread every inch or so, cutting to within 1/2″ of the bottom of the loaf but not all the way through.
  • Transfer bread to a large piece of aluminum foil.
  • Insert cheese slices into the cuts in the bread.
  • Melt the butter. Stir in the garlic powder and parsley. Brush over the bread and into the slits.
  • Wrap up the bread in the foil and transfer to the oven.
  • Bake 15 minutes.
  • Open foil and bake another 5 minutes until crispy.
  • Serve sliced or whole and let your guests pull it apart.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 707mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.