Ragin’ Cajun Cheddar Ranch Bugles

Bugles snacks don’t need a whole lot of help to be even more addicting than they already are. I decided to kick them up with some spicy Ragin’ Cajun Fixin’s Cajun seasoning, with a hint of cheddar and Ranch. Crazy good. Make a batch of Ragin’ Cajun cheddar ranch Bugles for the next big party at your house. Folks will know you didn’t just put a bowl of bagged snacks. You went the extra mile! You didn’t just call it in, you nailed it!

Ragin' Cajun Cheddar Ranch Bugles

Witching Hour

Remember to always put a few Bugles on the ends of your fingers and make sounds like a witch. You have to. You can’t help it. Then get back to enjoying these Ragin’ Cajun Cheddar Ranch Bugles. Stop playing around. There are some great snacks to be enjoyed!

Also try my Sriracha Bugles.

Ragin' Cajun Cheddar Ranch Bugles
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4 from 1 vote

Ragin’ Cajun Cheddar Ranch Bugles

Make a batch of Ragin’ Cajun cheddar ranch Bugles for the next big party at your house. Folks will know you didn’t just put a bowl of bagged snacks. You went the extra mile!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword cheddar, Ranch, snack
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 4kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Combine seasonings in a small bowl.
  • Place chips into a large plastic bowl.
  • Spray lightly with oil, gently stirring to get good coverage.
  • While stirring the chips, slowly pour in the seasoning mix.
  • Spread chip mixture out evenly onto a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 5 minutes.
  • Let cool completely before serving

Notes

It’s ok to add more seasoning for more cheesiness!

Nutrition

Calories: 4kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

BBQ Pasta Salad

This is the perfect BBQ pasta salad side for a cookout. It’s a nice twist on your standard traditional macaroni salad (it has BBQ sauce in it!). Great with burgers, hot dogs, ribs, chicken… anything!

BBQ Pasta Salad

This Isn’t Grandma’s Pasta Salad

Use a spicier BBQ sauce for more kick in your BBQ pasta salad. You can use homemade sauce, too. I was in a bit of a rush so I grabbed a bottle of store-bought sauces. I also think cubed pepper jack cheese would go great in this salad, so I’ll add some next time I make it (which will be soon!). Roasted red pepper (or chopped pimentos) also adds a fantastic flavor.

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my easy pasta salad.

Inspired by a recipe from Gonna Want Seconds.

BBQ Pasta Salad
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5 from 1 vote

BBQ Pasta Salad

This is the perfect BBQ pasta salad side for a cookout. It’s a nice twist on your standard traditional macaroni salad (it has BBQ sauce in it!).
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, pasta salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 302kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook pasta per package instructions. Drain well and let cool.
  • Place bell pepper, celery, green and red onions in a large bowl and mix.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, BBQ sauce and hot sauce.
  • Add in the vinegar, sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper, and garlic powder and mix well.
  • Add sauce to the bowl of vegetables and stir.
  • Add in the pasta and cilantro and stir gently until combined.
  • Chill until ready to serve.

Notes

Serve leftover salad chilled.

Nutrition

Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 358mg | Potassium: 201mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 736IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Grilled Banana Sundae

I worked at a Baskin Robbins as a teenager. It is still one of my all-time favorite jobs. One of our biggest sellers (besides my awesome milkshakes) were banana sundaes. These are not those treats. We did not serve grilled banana sundaes at Baskin Robbins. We should have because they are crazy good! All the same flavors as the classic but with a nicely grilled ooey-gooey banana too!

Grilled Banana Sundae

Grilled Bananas? Optional

My wife is not a fan of grilled bananas, specially if they get a bit soft. And they do when grilled. So, if you’re the same way, just use regular ole fresh bananas and you’ll still have a great dessert. I think the grilled bananas add a little mystique to the dish. Something different.

Substitute grilled Twinkies for the banana for a totally different twist on a sundae!

Grilled Banana Sundae
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5 from 1 vote

Grilled Banana Sundae

All the same flavors as the classic but with a nicely grilled ooey-gooey banana too!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword dessert, grilled
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 126kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Start up your grill for direct cooking.
  • While still keeping the skins on, cut the ends off of the bananas and then cut a slit into the skin, lengthwise. Do not cut all the way through the banana.
  • Place the bananas on the grill and cook until one side is black.
  • Flip and cook until the other side is black.
  • Place ice cream into bowls.
  • Unroll the bananas from their skins, halve, and place in bowls alongside the ice cream.
  • Add chocolate syrup, whipped cream, cherries and peanuts and serve.

Notes

Also great topped with roasted pecans, walnuts or cashews.

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 427mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Pantry Pizza Sauce

This isn’t a big-to-do, fru-fru, fancy pizza sauce. It doesn’t have wine or fresh basil or whatever. It isn’t like our favorite homemade sauce that takes a little effort (and a lot more ingredients) to throw together. Everything that goes in it is probably already in your pantry… hence the name, pantry pizza sauce.

Southwest Grilled Chicken French Bread Pizza

Easy And Delicious

What this pantry pizza sauce is is easy, fast, and tasty. It’s perfect for when you just want to throw together a quick pizza. And that’s exactly what I did. But don’t let things like ‘fast’ and ‘easy’ throw you. This sauce is packed with flavor. It’s not overly sweet. It’s not overly herby. It has the perfect balance of flavors.

This sauce is also great as a dipping sauce for breadsticks.

It takes a little more time, but also try my house pizza sauce.

Southwest Grilled Chicken French Bread Pizza
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5 from 1 vote

Pantry Pizza Sauce

Makes enough for a medium or French bread sized pizza.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword pizza, sauce
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 153kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Break up any clumps of cheese and let the mixture set, at room temperature, for 30 minutes before using.

Notes

Store leftover sauce in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 252IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Banh Mi Hot Dogs

This is my take on Banh Mi hot dogs. It’s simple and straightforward. Nothing fancy. There’s a great contrast between the vinegary carrots, the cold crunchy cucumbers, creamy mayo, and of course the raw heat from the jalapenos. The carrot and cucumber mix is really what makes these dogs so great. It is also great on sandwiches or even hamburgers.

Banh Mi Hot Dogs

Freshly Different

For a little extra kick, mix in some Sriracha with the mayo. Mmmmm good! Or if heat isn’t your thing, leave off the jalapenos and still enjoy some great Banh Mi hot dogs. Also check if your local grocery store carries Japanese mayonnaise. It’s a bit thicker and not as sweet as your typical mayo.

Also try my Big Kahuna dogs!

Banh Mi Hot Dogs
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5 from 1 vote

Banh Mi Hot Dogs

This is my take on Banh Mi hot dogs. It’s simple and straightforward. Nothing fancy. There’s a great contrast between the vinegary carrots, the cold crunchy cucumbers, creamy mayo, and of course the raw heat from the jalapenos. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 253kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 carrots shredded
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 hot dogs grilled or cooked however you prefer
  • 4 hot dog buns
  • mayonnaise with some Sriracha mixed in if you prefer
  • 1 small cucumber sliced thin
  • 1 large jalapeno sliced
  • handful cilantro leaves only

Instructions

  • Stir together the vinegar and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Stir in the shredded carrots and the salt. Set aside for 10 minutes.
  • Place hot dogs in buns.
  • Top with mayonnaise, a few slices of cucumber, jalapeno and cilantro.

Notes

You can cut back on the number of jalapeno slices if you want!

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 833mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5162IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Deli Hot Dogs

I wasn’t really skeptical about how these deli hot dogs would turn out. Well, maybe a bit. I wasn’t sure how the egg salad would taste on a hot-off-the-grill all-beef dog.

Well, my worries were unfounded because the combination is wonderful. I used well-chilled egg salad, which contrasted perfectly with the hot grilled hot dog. The black pepper is a must. It gives just a little ‘bite’ to contrast the creaminess of the egg salad.

Deli Hot Dogs

I Like Mine Spicy

I topped the deli hot dogs with McClure’s spicy pickle relish. It is amazing and has a great kick to it. Like the black pepper it contrasts well with the creamy potato salad. Come to think of it, everything from McClure’s is great. You can of course use a non-spicy pickle relish if you want. Or don’t use relish at all!

Also try my yummy derby dogs.

Deli Hot Dogs
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5 from 1 vote

Deli Hot Dogs

I used well-chilled egg salad, which contrasted perfectly with the hot grilled hot dog. The black pepper is a must. It gives just a little ‘bite’ to contrast the creaminess of the egg salad.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 973kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place dogs in buns and top with the egg salad. I piped the egg salad onto the dogs, but you can just spoon it on as well.
  • Add dill pickle relish and sprinkle with freshly cracked black pepper.

Notes

Nutritional values do not include the egg salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 973kcal | Carbohydrates: 133g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 2747mg | Potassium: 526mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 104IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 340mg | Iron: 11mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Sriracha Aioli

Nothing is as easy to throw together as a simple aioli like this Sriracha aioli. Make a big batch and keep it in a squeeze bottle in the fridge. It’s great for topping roasted turkey sandwiches. Or regular sandwiches, wraps, and hot dogs. And it’s great on burgers.

Roasted Turkey Sandwiches with Sriracha Aioli

Any place you now use mayonnaise, substitute this Sriracha aioli instead. It’ll take something that was just ok and make it taste fantastic. Sriracha has a great spiced flavor, with just a little heat. If you’re not a fan of Sriracha you can substitute your favorite hot sauce instead.

For a smoky, spicy version of this Sriracha aioli, try my chipotle aioli.

Roasted Turkey Sandwiches with Sriracha Aioli
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4 from 1 vote

Sriracha Aioli

Nothing is as easy to throw together as a simple aioli like this Sriracha aioli. Make a big batch and keep it in a squeeze bottle in the fridge. 
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword mayonnaise, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Calories 1556kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all but the salt.
  • Add salt to taste and stir.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

Stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 1556kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 168g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 2113mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1207IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Grilled San Antonio Hot Dog

Sloppy, dripping, spicy good. That’s really all you need to know. The best dogs, like a grilled San Antonio hot dog, make a big mess. Same goes for sandwiches and burgers, come to think of it. The messier the better. Wonder why we all love Sloppy Joes? Because they’re sloppy! Same thing applies here! I love chili on a hot dog. And cheese sauce, well that’s a given. And jalapenos for a kick! This is the ultimate dog!

Grilled San Antonio Hot Dog

Big Dogs Big Flavor

I used large all-beef dinner dogs to make this grilled San Antonio hot dog. Bigger dogs make for more flavor. And they cover the buns from end-to-end, side-to-side. My goodness, how I get sad when I see tiny wieners on a big ole bun. Your first four bites are nothing but bun! We aren’t having buns! We’re having hot dogs on buns! And while we’re on the subject of sadness, why is it so hard to find a package of hot dogs that matches the number of buns in a package? Can we get some coordination on that? 8 dogs? 8 buns!

Also try my Buffalo hot dogs.

Grilled San Antonio Hot Dog
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5 from 1 vote

Grilled San Antonio Hot Dog

Sloppy, dripping, spicy good. That’s really all you need to know. The best dogs, like a grilled San Antonio hot dog, make a big mess. Same goes for sandwiches and burgers, come to think of it. The messier the better.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 1228kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Grill the hot dogs as desired.
  • Place dogs on buns and top with chili. Lots of chili.
  • Spoon cheese sauce over dogs. Don’t be shy with it. These are going to be messy to eat. There’s no point in fighting it.
  • Add pickled jalapenos to taste.

Notes

I like to cut a shallow slit down the length of my hot dogs before cooking. It opens up a bit when cooking, giving the toppings a little place to go and not fall off when you take a bite!

Nutrition

Calories: 1228kcal | Carbohydrates: 142g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 6067mg | Potassium: 1068mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 4410IU | Vitamin C: 128mg | Calcium: 474mg | Iron: 14mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Ranch Dipping Sauce for Wings

Visit my other site, For The Wing, for all things chicken-wing!

This is my go-to Ranch dipping sauce for wings. By using homemade Ranch mix I save a bundle on making this sauce versus using store-bought packets, so I usually make a big batch of it. There’s nothing worse than having a lot of hot wings and not having enough Ranch dipping sauce to cool them off.

Of course, this great sauce isn’t just for wings. You can put it on your salads, too. Or use it as a dip for vegetables. Any place you normally use Ranch dressing out of a bottle, substitute this homemade version.

Ranch Dipping Sauce for Wings

This sauce gets “happier” if you let it set in the fridge overnight.

Also try my herby ranch dipping sauce.

Ranch Dipping Sauce for Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Ranch Dipping Sauce for Wings

This is my go-to Ranch dipping sauce for wings. By using homemade Ranch mix I save a bundle on making this sauce versus using store-bought packets, so I usually make a big batch of it.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword dipping sauce, Ranch
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Calories 699kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the yogurt, mayo, and Ranch dressing mix.
  • Refrigerate overnight.
  • Stir in the parsley just before serving.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 699kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 62g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 2661mg | Potassium: 322mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 567IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Orange Creamsicle

It’s a nice hot day here in Indianapolis. The perfect weather to sit out on the deck and enjoy a super-cold orange creamsicle. Just like you remember from your childhood. Actually, better. Way better.

The really cool thing about this recipe is that you aren’t just restricted to making an orange creamsicle. Grab any juice you like and mix it in. Grape creamsicle? Why not?

Orange Creamsicle

Test Your Molds

Our ice pop popsicle molds hold just over 2 cups of liquid. Test yours first using water to find out how much they hold, and adjust the recipe if you need to. If you end up with too much of the mix just freeze it in any container. It’s great eaten with a spoon, too!

Another of my summer favorites (and super easy to make) are sno-cones with homemade syrup and no-carb sherbet pops.

Orange Creamsicle
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5 from 1 vote

Orange Creamsicle

It's the perfect weather to sit out on the deck and enjoy a super-cold orange creamsicle. Just like you remember from your childhood. Actually, better. Way better.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword homemade ice cream, orange
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 54kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 1 cup orange juice I used fresh-squeezed, but bottled would work just fine also, just go with the no-pulp variety
  • 1 cup vanilla soy milk plus a little more

Instructions

  • Whisk together the juice and soy milk, adding more soy milk to taste.
  • Pour into molds and freeze at least an hour.

Notes

Try these using other fruit juices, too!

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 356IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.