Slow Cooker Pimento Macaroni and Cheese

We hit a patch of cool fall weather here and I got into nesting mode quick. I needed some warm, tasty comfort food. Something cheesy. Something creamy. And something easy. Out came the crockpot and soon, I was enjoying a batch of slow cooker pimento macaroni and cheese. The perfect fall dish. Nothing complicated here, just good ole eats!

Slow Cooker Pimento Macaroni and Cheese

Live Mas

I coulda changed up this slow cooker pimento macaroni and cheese. And I might the next time I make it. But it’s great just as it is. Classic flavors with lots of cheese. What’s not to love?

If was thinking of changes I might consider adding some roasted chopped green chiles. Or even jalapenos. Or I might change up the cheese. I used ‘normal’ Velveeta, but Mexican blend would be great too! And ya know, there’s always room for more cheese, so don’t be afraid to add more!

You can easily double this recipe and make a big batch for a family get-together. Like Thanksgiving! It’s perfect for that!

Also try my mac and cheese soup. Yes, soup.

Slow Cooker Pimento Macaroni and Cheese
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Pimento Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy and easy. The perfect comfort food!
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword macaroni and cheese, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Servings 8
Calories 259kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the water and salt to a large pot.
  • Bring to a boil and add the pasta.
  • Cook for 6 minutes and then drain well.
  • Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker.
  • Add the pasta and remaining ingredients and stir.
  • Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 923mg | Potassium: 297mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 846IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 253mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

General Tso’s Chicken

Oh me. Oh my. This General Tso’s chicken made me so happy. The sauce hit the spot for me. Nicely sweet. And a little heat, too. Crunchy chicken bites. Served over rice. Nothing complicated, nothing fancy, but oh so delicious! I loved the sauce so much that I made a big huge batch and kept it in the fridge for a few days, using some for this chicken dish and some for deep-fried wings! Oh my!

General Tso's Chicken

Sweet Heat

I love the combination of sweet and heat in this General Tso’s chicken. You might not want so much spiciness in yours. If not, just cut back on the red pepper flake. But don’t leave it out. It adds a lot to this dish.

I used boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces for this dish. You can use chicken breasts too. Try and cut your chicken into equally-sized pieces so that they call fry evenly. Larger pieces will take longer to cook, obviously. You can also pull one out and test the temperature on it before deciding if yours are all ready.

Also try some oriental chicken salad.

General Tso's Chicken
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5 from 1 vote

General Tso’s Chicken

Wonderfully sweet with a little heat, too!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword Chinese, deep-fried
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 222kcal

Ingredients

For the chicken

  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 pound boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • rice cooked, for serving

For the sauce (I prefer to double the amounts)

Instructions

For the sauce

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Stirring often, bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer.
  • Continue simmering, stirring, until the desired consistency is achieved. Keep warm until ready to use.

For the chicken

  • Heat 3"-4" of oil to 350 F in a Dutch oven or deep-fryer.
  • Place chicken into a bowl.
  • Add the cornstarch and toss the chicken to coat well.
  • Deep-fry the chicken 4-6 minutes, depending on the size of your pieces, until they reach 165 F.
  • Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Transfer chicken to a bowl and drizzle with the sauce. Stir gently to coat.
  • Serve over hot rice.

Notes

I like to double, and even triple, the sauce recipe because the sauce is so good!

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 109IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Everything Bagel Seasoning Chex Mix using an Outdoor Griddle

This was my second time making a Chex Mix treat on my outdoor griddle. It has become my go-to snack when I’m outside grilling. Everything Bagel Seasoning Chex Mix using an outdoor griddle has a wonderful flavor. The seasoning really cranks up the taste from what is already a great treat. And the wonderful crunchy caramelization you get on each and every little tasty morsel, thanks to the griddle, is fantastic. Well, that and hey, it’s fun cooking outside on a griddle!

Everything Bagel Seasoning Chex Mix using an Outdoor Griddle

Make It Your Way

I admit it, I didn’t use the exact ingredients listed for this Everything Bagel seasoning Chex Mix using an outdoor griddle. Not the dry ones at least. The key is just get to around 13 or so cups of ‘stuff’. Chex cereal. Goldfish crackers. Whatever. It’s entirely up to you. Just keep the butter mix the way it is. Don’t mess with that. But go nuts with the snack part all you want. I’m a whatever-I-have-on-hand kind of guy so that’s what I used. Stuff I found in the pantry!

You can also make awesome popcorn on your griddle!

Everything Bagel Seasoning Chex Mix using a Griddle
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5 from 1 vote

Everything Bagel Seasoning Chex Mix using an Outdoor Griddle

A super-tasty snack that feeds a small crowd!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword Chex mix, griddle
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 495kcal

Ingredients

For the dry

For the wet

Instructions

  • Pre-heat your griddle over low heat. Make sure that it’s clean. Depending on the size of your griddle, you might have to do make the mix in batches. The easiest way to do that is to halve the mix and butter mixture first.
  • In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients.
  • Melt the butter in a small bowl or pot. Whisk in the remaining ingredients.
  • Add the butter mixture to the dry mixture and stir to coat and combine.
  • Add the Chex Mix ingredients to the griddle. Immediately spread it out.
  • You want to toast the mixture for 2 minutes. Keep it moving constantly or it will brown. You want it to get a little color to it. A little char here and there is fine too.
  • Keep the mixture moving as you continue to toast it. You’ll need 5-10 minutes to get it to the desired color and crispiness.
  • Immediately remove the mix to a large baking sheet (or two) and spread out to cool slightly.
  • Serve warm or cold. Store leftovers in an air-tight container.

Notes

The dry ingredients can be any of your favorites, just try to get to a total of 13 cups. 
Cover any leftover mix.

Nutrition

Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 1496mg | Potassium: 316mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 735IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 15mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Big Game Italian Sliders

We have a confession. We didn’t even have a big game on the TV. I think we were watching a game show. That counts, right? Either way, no matter what we might be watching, these Big Game Italian Sliders are gonna make us happy. And they’ll make all of our guests happy too. Even if our team is down 35 points with 18 seconds to go, we’ll still be smiling. Well, about the food, at least!

Big Game Italian Sliders

We Have The Meats

These Big Game Italian Sliders don’t care what meats you use. Heck, go nuts. Make different ones. Have a slider bar. Do some turkey. Ham. Roast beef. Different strokes for different folks. They’ll disappear in no time no matter what.

If your salad mixture gets a little runny (hey, it’s got liquidy stuff in it!) you can press it in a strainer real quick before adding it the sandwiches. Or add more chopped lettuce to help ‘soak it up’. It won’t hurt anything to be a little drippy (I like to soak that stuff up with my bread). The drippings are mighty tasty too!

Sliders are the perfect game-watching food. Also try my (grilled or cooked in a skillet) Big Mac sliders!

Big Game Italian Sliders
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5 from 1 vote

Big Game Italian Sliders

Perfect game-time eats!
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword sliders
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 663kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • In a bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, tomato, peppers, and jalapenos.
  • Add in 1/2 cup of the mayonnaise along with the Italian seasoning, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Stir well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Cut the buns in half horizontally, trying to keep the two halves intact.
  • Transfer the bread to the baking sheet, with the bun bottoms cut-side up and the bun tops cut-side down.
  • Top the bun bottoms with the meats. Add cheese slices.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, just long enough to get the bread warm and a little toasted, and just starting to melt the cheese.
  • Add salad mixture to bun bottoms and spread out evenly, all the way to the edges.
  • Slather the cut-side of the bun tops with the remaining mayonnaise.
  • Place bun tops on the sandwich and transfer to a cutting board.
  • Cut into individual sliders and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 663kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1448mg | Potassium: 322mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1122IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Italian Panini Dressing

One of my favorite things to make for lunch is a panini. I use my Cuisinart Griddler to get my bread nice and toasty golden brown. The cheese gets ooey gooey deliciously melty. I use good Italian-style deli meats as a kind of gift to myself. All I need is a good squirt or two of my Italian panini dressing just before serving to top off the perfect lunch. The dressing adds a nice herbaceous taste to my sandwich.

Italian Panini Dressing

Give Any Sandwich A Boost

This Italian panini dressing is great on a lot more than a panini. Any submarine sandwich is better with a little of this dressing drizzled over the top. I keep a bottle of it on my countertop, ready to go any time I make a sandwich, which is darned near daily.

This dressing is also good for soppin’ with some crunchy Italian bread.

Spice It Up

If you’d like to add a little spiciness to your dressing just toss in a few good pinches of red pepper flake. Give the dressing a good stir or shake and you’re good to go.

I store my homemade sauces in squeeze bottles. If refrigerated, I set them out thirty minutes to an hour before using so they come to room temperature. You don’t want to put cold sauce on hot food!

Try this dressing on a copycat of the sub from Jersey Mike’s!

Italian Panini Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Italian Panini Dressing

An easy way to spice up any sandwich.
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword dressing, sandwich
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 14kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a jar, squeeze bottle or other resealable container.
  • Seal and shake to combine.
  • Serve drizzled over your favorite sandwich.

Notes

Stir or shake again before using.
For a spicy version, add a few pinches of red pepper flake before shaking.

Nutrition

Calories: 14kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 37IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Air Fryer Smoked Sausage Sandwiches with Chimichurri Sauce

I really don’t know what happened to me. I made some of these air fryer smoked sausage sandwiches with chimichurri sauce and something ‘clicked’. Things changed in my world just like that. I could not get over how much I loved each and every bite. Maybe I just needed a change from my usual smoked sausage or hot dog dishes. What I was missing was chimichurri sauce. Boy, does it ever change up a boring sausage. Crunchy onions. Herbs. Oil and vinegar. It’s almost like having a salad dressing but oh, oh so much better.

Air Fryer Smoked Sausage Sandwiches with Chimichurri Sauce

Chimi-What

Don’t let the name fool you. The chimichurri sauce is easy to make. Usually it’s found on grilled beef or pork. I decided it needed to also be on my air fryer smoked sausage sandwiches. I actually doubled the sauce ingredients because I guessed that I was going to love it. And I did. I loaded up on it. I couldn’t get enough of it. Heck, I even dunked my smoked sausage in it. Now that’s true love right there!

PS: The sauce is also great on fried chicken or air fried chicken wings! Trust me! It’s not just for beef!

A Little Tip

I like to make a little cut lengthwise down my smoked sausages before I toss them into the air fryer. Not all the way through. I’d say halfway at most. As the sausages cook they open up a bit. Then, when I put them on the buns I put them cut-side up. That gives the toppings (such as the chimichurri sauce) a great place to settle in. And stay there. It’s so much better than taking a bit only to have the toppings squirt out the end.

I use a pretty straight-forward air fryer, that doesn’t have a lot of bells (ok, it has a bell for when the timer goes off!) and whistles. It gets the job done.

Also try my smoked sausage sandwiches with beer-braised onions.

Air Fryer Smoked Sausage Sandwiches with Chimichurri Sauce
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5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Smoked Sausage Sandwiches with Chimichurri Sauce

Wonderfully herby, flavorful sandwiches that are sure to impress!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer, smoked sausage
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 353kcal

Ingredients

For the chimichurri sauce

For the smoked sausage sandwiches

  • 4 smoked sausage links or whatever links you prefer, such as hot dogs or andouille
  • 4 large hot dog buns split

Instructions

For the chimichurri sauce

  • Combine all ingredients and set aside until ready to use. Give the mixture another stir before using.

For the smoked sausage sandwiches

  • Preheat your air fryer to 390 F.
  • Add the buns and toast for 30 seconds. Remove.
  • Add the sausages and cook for 4-6 minutes until lightly charred, turning once.
  • Assemble sandwiches by placing links on buns and topping with plenty of the chimichurri sauce.

Notes

Store any leftover chimichurri in the fridge, covered. Let come to room temperature before stirring and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1621mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 438IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Gumbo

I love gumbo. I love the history of it, the flavor, the ingredients. Everything about it. And I love the time it takes to make it right. The time it takes to make a roux, to develop all those flavors, is time well spent. So I went into this slow cooker gumbo kinda suspicious. Kinda pessimistic. And you know what? It was delicious. Even the broth, the part I love the most about a good gumbo, was fantastic. This was the perfect bowl of gumbo greatness, made in a slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Gumbo

The Perfect Idea

I got the original recipe for slow cooker gumbo from a great cookbook, the Southern Slow Cooker Bible. If you have a slow cooker, you need this cookbook. It’s not your ‘usual’ collection of crockpot ideas. It’s new and different. Like this gumbo. Heck, for my money the cookbook was worth it just for this recipe. Easily. Hands down.

I plan on making this dish again soon. I might change a few things just to keep it different. Like maybe I’ll use smoked sausage instead of andouille. Maybe I’ll chop the meat instead of slice it. Maybe I’ll add the rice to the slow cooker and let it ‘get happy’ in all of the brothy greatness. But I won’t mess with the basic approach. It’s rock-solid deliciousness!

Also try my slow cooker Sloppy Joes!

Slow Cooker Gumbo
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Gumbo

Crazy delicious gumbo made in the crockpot!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword gumbo, slow cooker
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Servings 10
Calories 381kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 425 F.
  • Spread the flour out evenly in a small cast iron pan.
  • Bake 12-18 minutes, stirring at least once, until slightly brown.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the sausage. If you are using fresh sausage, cook until until the sausage reaches 165 F. For pre-cooked sausage you want to just get a slight char on the sausage for texture and flavor.
  • Remove the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool slightly before slicing.
  • Lightly spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, celery, canned tomato (along with the liquid), Creole seasoning, black pepper and cayenne. Stir.
  • Add the sausage slices.
  • In a large bowl, add the chicken stock.
  • While whisking, add in the flour. Continue whisking until the flour has dissolved.
  • Add the mixture to your slow cooker and stir.
  • Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours.
  • The last 10 minutes of cooking add in the green onion tops. Stir and cook another 10 minutes.
  • Remove the bay leaves and serve over hot cooked rice.

Notes

Serve with a little hot sauce if you want it spicier!

Nutrition

Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1234mg | Potassium: 630mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 496IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

The Best Soup and Stew Recipes

Copycat Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup

Cooler weather has arrived here in Indiana, and that means time to make our favorite big bowls of comfort food! Here are some of our favorite soup and stew recipes. Sure to fill you up and heat you up too!

1
Smoked Sausage Nacho Soup
Smoked Sausage Nacho Soup
I wouldn't change anything about this smoked sausage nacho soup.
Check out this recipe
2
Sopa De Fideo
Sopa De Fideo (Tomato Noodle Soup)
A wonderful traditional Mexican family dish.
Check out this recipe
3
Slow Cooker Hearty Sausage and Beans Soup
Slow Cooker Hearty Sausage and Beans Soup
This soup is packed with flavor, despite how simple it is to make.
Check out this recipe
4
Slow Cooker Kielbasa sauerkraut and Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sauerkraut and Potato Soup
You can leave out the caraway seeds if they aren't your favorite.
Check out this recipe
5
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Incredibly delicious comfort food!
Check out this recipe
6
The Best Vegetable Soup
The Best Vegetable Soup
Don't be shocked about the amount of dried basil. It might seem like a lot, but this recipe makes a LOT of soup.
Check out this recipe
7
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Perfect on a cold day, this soup is packed with fantastic onion flavor.
Check out this recipe
8
Mac and Cheese Soup
Mac and Cheese Soup
This soup was fantastic. It made for the perfect bowl of happiness on a cold, dreary winter’s day. Just the right amount of seasoning. Just the right of cheese. And oh so creamy smooth. I should’ve doubled the recipe.
Check out this recipe
9
Easy Kicked-Up Tomato Soup
Easy Kicked-Up Tomato Soup
You have those cans of tomato soup just sitting there in the pantry. It’s not bad soup. But those cans have been sitting there for a reason. That soups needs a little something.
Check out this recipe
10
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
This soup hit the spot, starting with an absolutely divine-tasting broth. Tender, flavorful chicken and a surprise… chickpeas… round out a big bowl of happiness.
Check out this recipe
11
Creamy Cheddar Soup
Homemade Creamy Cheddar Soup
Four servings? Ok, maybe. You’ll think that before you taste this creamy cheddar soup. After that first taste you’ll be thinking… only one serving! And all mine! 
Check out this recipe
12
Stuffed Cabbage Soup
Stuffed Cabbage Soup
No need to mess with making actual cabbage rolls, this soup combines all the same great flavors in a bowl without having to worry about stuffing boiled cabbage leaves. 
Check out this recipe
13
Creamy Pimento Cheese Soup
Creamy Pimento Cheese Soup
If no one had been looking, I would’ve just put down my spoon and picked up my bowl of creamy pimento cheese soup and poured it right into my mouth.
Check out this recipe
14
Cream of Celery Soup
Cream of Celery Soup
We both found this soup to be absolutely outstanding. It’s very creamy with just the right celery flavor. 
Check out this recipe
15
Celery and Cheddar Soup
Celery and Cheddar Soup
This celery and cheddar soup takes only a few minutes to put together, and just a few hours to cook in a slow cooker. When it’s done, you get to enjoy a creamy, smooth cheesy soup that has a wonderful hint of celery. 
Check out this recipe
16
Creamy Cheese and Tomato Soup
Creamy Cheese and Tomato Soup
This soup has just the right amount of tomato. And just the right amount of creamy cheese goodness. Every bite is perfectly rich in flavor.
Check out this recipe
17
Copycat Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup
Copycat Campbell’s Bean and Bacon Soup
It really is "M'm m'm good."
Check out this recipe
18
Cheeseburger Soup
Cheeseburger Soup
This thick, creamy cheeseburger soup absolutely hit the spot on a really cold day here in Indianapolis. We’ve had temperatures well below zero for days now. Having a big batch of this soup on hand really helped warm us up!
Check out this recipe
19
Creole-Style Bean Soup
Creole-Style Bean Soup
You had me at ‘okra’. I love okra. Grilled, fried, sauteed, roasted… or tossed into this Creole-style bean soup. 
Check out this recipe
20
Alphabet Soup
Alphabet Soup
This simple soup was fun to eat. It certainly brought back childhood memories of a quick bowl of alphabet soup for a school day lunch.
Check out this recipe
21
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
To get such great mushroom flavor, this soup is packed with mushrooms, both fresh and dried that have been reconstituted. If you really, really love meaty mushrooms, then you’ll love this soup right out of the pot. 
Check out this recipe
22
Mexican Corn Soup
Mexican Corn Soup
This Mexican corn soup is a great way to showcase a good sweet corn. 
Check out this recipe
23
Chet's Trucker Stew
Chet’s Trucker Stew
I don’t know Chet. I don’t even know if Chet is a trucker. But I do know that Chet’s Trucker stew is amazing. 
Check out this recipe
24
Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup
Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup
Wonderfully tasty thick, hearty soup.
Check out this recipe
25
Slow Cooker Spicy Kielbasa Cabbage Soup
Slow Cooker Spicy Kielbasa Cabbage Soup
Don’t let the ‘spicy’ part scare you. For us, at least, this soup did not come out overly spicy at all. The flavors mellow a bit as the soup cooks throughout the day.
Check out this recipe
26
Cheddar Cheese Soup
Cheddar Cheese Soup
This soup is crazy good. Heavenly good. Creamy. A bit smoky thanks to the bacon. A just a slight kick of heat.
Check out this recipe
27
Slow Cooker Spicy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
Slow Cooker Spicy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
I have a slow cooker (er, crockpot) for the same reasons everyone else does. I on occasion like a great, easy meal that I can toss into the pot and not have to fuss with
Check out this recipe
28
Spicy Tomato Soup
Spicy Tomato Soup
Wow. Talk about the perfect bowl of soup for a cold day. This spicy tomato soup is just fantastic. Super tomato flavor, with a hint of basil, and a really, really nice spicy kick.
Check out this recipe
29
Classic Hot and Sour Soup
Classic Hot and Sour Soup
I found this classic hot and sour soup to be so fantastic I couldn’t stop eating it. The broth is insanely tasty despite being so easy to make. There’s a great contrast between the woodsy mushroom and citrus lime flavors.
Check out this recipe
30
Lentil Soup with Smoked Turkey
Lentil Soup with Smoked Turkey
The smoked turkey adds just the right something to this Lentil soup. The soup could stand on its own without it, it’s just that good, but add in the turkey and oh yes, soup happiness!
Check out this recipe
31
Southwestern Turkey Soup
Southwestern Turkey Soup
It’s easy, it’s fast, and it is absolutely packed with great flavors. And it doesn’t matter how you cooked your turkey, whether it be smoked, fried, baked or roasted.
Check out this recipe
32
Country Five Bean Soup Mix in a Jar
Country Five Bean Soup Mix in a Jar
I made a few of these Country Five bean soup mixes in a jar and gave them out as gifts. The soup is simple and tasty and quite hardy. I keep a few jars of the mix on hand for a quick and delicious soup any time.
Check out this recipe

Quick Fix Cheesoning Potato Chips

I’m bored with store-bought flavored chips. Oh sure, companies keep trying to come up with new flavors to get us to buy them but usually they just don’t ‘wow’ me. That’s why, more and more, I season store-bought chips at home. The flavors are only limited by my imagination. Well, and my pantry! Today I made a batch of quick fix cheesoning potato chips. They came out great. They taste like parmesan chips, but they have an herby twist. Nice and savory. And gone quick too.

Quick Fix Cheesoning Potato Chips

Use Cheap Chips. Get Great Results.

You don’t have to start out with expensive, name-brand chips when you make some quick fix cheesoning potato chips. In fact, you’re gonna have great results with the cheapest chips you can find. Personally, I recommend wavy chips with those thick ridges. Ridges and waves help trap the seasonings and keep them on the chips. No big seasoning mounds in the bottom of the bowl here. You want that stuff to stick.

Be Heavy Handed

The Cheesoning seasoning from Dan-O’s is fairly mellow. So, it’s ok to be heavy handed with the seasoning. Big time. Load them up. If I wanted wimpy flavored chips I’d have bought the pre-made stuff. I want flavor. Everywhere. All over.

These chips go great with a cold cut sandwich.

Quick Fix Cheesoning Potato Chips
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5 from 1 vote

Quick Fix Cheesoning Potato Chips

The solution to boring potato chips.
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword potato chips, quick fix
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 452kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 275 F.
  • Spread chips out onto a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes. You should see that the oils in the chips have come to the surface.
  • Gently transfer chips to a large bowl and sprinkle with the seasoning. Use a spatula to carefully stir to coat.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Be gentle when stirring to avoid breaking the chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 448mg | Potassium: 1020mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Extra-Tasty Fried Shrimp

One of my fondest childhood memories is of the (very rare) times my family would eat out. My favorite place was Western Sizzlin Steakhouse and I always got the deep-fried shrimp. I have loved fried shrimp ever since then. I make it often. And often, the batter was the star of the show. The shrimp, although great, didn’t bring a lot of flavor to the party. Well these extra-tasty fried shrimp do. Big time. Beneath the crunchy delicious exterior are delicious shrimp. These shrimp are my new love.

Extra-Tasty Fried Shrimp

Load ‘Em Up With Flavor

These extra-tasty fried shrimp are not hard to make. And they definitely disappear in no time at all. I highly recommend making extra. The dipping sauce is great too. But it’s kinda optional because the shrimp are great by themselves or with just ‘plain ole’ cocktail sauce (spicy is my fav!).

The shrimp do have a slight ‘kick’ to them thanks to the hot sauce but trust me, they are not spicy. If you’d like yours to have some more heat, add a few pinches of cayenne to the flour and batter. Not a lot, though. You don’t want to override the fantastic flavors.

The Presto Fry Daddy is perfect for making smaller batches of food. It only uses a few cups of oil and comes to temperature quickly. Clean-up is easy too!

Dip your shrimp in some tasty Carolina cocktail sauce!

Extra-Tasty Fried Shrimp
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5 from 1 vote

Extra-Tasty Fried Shrimp

Crazy tasty with a crunchy coating to boot!
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword deep-fried, shrimp
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 670kcal

Ingredients

For the shrimp

For the dipping sauce (makes plenty for another batch of shrimp)

Instructions

For the dipping sauce

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl until well-combined and smooth.
  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

For the shrimp

  • Peel and devein the shrimp. You can serve them tail on or off, whichever you prefer.
  • In a large bowl combine all of the remaining ingredients except the flour, salt and oil.
  • Add the shrimp and submerge to coat well. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  • Place the flour in a shallow bowl. Add the salt and stir to combine.
  • Heat 2"-3" of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Working in batches if necessary, remove the shrimp from the batter. Let any excess batter run off the shrimp but do not shake them.
  • Dredge the shrimp in the flour and transfer to the hot oil and cook 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
  • Transfer shrimp to a paper towel-lined plate or wire rack to drain.
  • Serve hot with the dipping sauce.

Notes

You can skip making the dipping sauce and serve these yummy shrimp with cocktail sauce instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 670kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 198mg | Sodium: 3529mg | Potassium: 588mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 2800IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.