Carolina Cocktail Sauce

As much as I enjoy a traditional cocktail sauce with my (darned good) deep-fried shrimp, I’ll take a twist on the classic any ole time. This Carolina cocktail sauce is fantastic, the perfect dipping sauce for my shrimp. In many ways it’s like the ‘usual’ yummy cocktail sauce, but the addition of vinegar makes for a really subtle but delicious difference. This is really great stuff.

Carolina Cocktail Sauce

I didn’t used to care for horseradish in anything, let alone cocktail sauce. But somehow I’ve come to enjoy it more and more. So much so that I actually added a bit more to this Carolina cocktail sauce than the recipe calls for. If you love it too, add more. If not, it’s going to be great with a little less. Just don’t skimp on the vinegar. That’s what makes this sauce different and very, very good.

This cocktail sauce is perfect for dipping my crispy fried shrimp.

This recipe was inspired by a recipe on The Cooking Channel.

Carolina Cocktail Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Carolina Cocktail Sauce

This Carolina cocktail sauce is fantastic, the perfect dipping sauce for my shrimp. In many ways it’s like the ‘usual’ yummy cocktail sauce, but the addition of vinegar makes for a really subtle but delicious difference. 
Course Dipping Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword cocktail, sauce
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 2.5 cups
Calories 234kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the ketchup, Worcestershire, horseradish, lemon juice and vinegar.
  • Add hot sauce to taste, stir.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1926mg | Potassium: 752mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 996IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Bloody Mary Rim Salt

I’m not a bartender or mixologist by any stretch of the imagination. If you asked me anything about mixed drinks you’d get a blank unknowing look in response. However, I can make two drinks that my wife does enjoy: a dirty martini and a Bloody Mary. Now, we’re not talking big-time fru-fru drinks here. My Bloody Mary isn’t like some you see on TV that are garnished with bacon, sliders and hot peppers or whatever. I keep it simple and tasty. And the key to my Bloody Mary is the rim salt. I make a big batch of it and keep it in the pantry, ready just in case someone requests a Bloody Mary.

Bloody Mary Rim Salt

Bloody Mary rim salt isn’t just for making drinks better, either. I love to sprinkle it on chicken wings hot out of the deep fryer or off the grill. It’s wonderfully different. It’s also great as a seasoning on grilled steaks.

If I buy my rim salt, I almost always pick some up from Pepper Palace. There stuff is amazingly good!

Bloody Mary Rim Salt
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5 from 1 vote

Bloody Mary Rim Salt

My Bloody Mary isn’t like some you see on TV that are garnished with bacon, sliders and hot peppers or whatever. I keep it simple and tasty. And the key to my Bloody Mary is the rim salt.
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword Bloody Mary, seasoning
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 16 servings
Calories 5kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a jar or sealable container. Shake to combine. Note: If you want a finer salt, place the salt into a spice grinder first and pulse a few times until the desired size is obtained.
  • To rim a glass, moisten the edge of your glass then dip into the salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 5kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2206mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 221IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Chicken Stock

I’m a big huge fan of making chicken stock at home. It’s the idea of not wasting anything, from keeping vegetable trimmings to freezing chicken parts and pieces that never quite made it into a dish. If I had a bigger freezer I’d probably make a lot more stock because I’d have more room to keep the items (that would normally be discarded) to make stock. Wing tips are something that I always end up with a lot of because I cook a lot of chicken wings. Wing tips are perfect for making slow cooker chicken stock not only because of their size but because they pack a ton of chicken flavor into a small space.

Slow Cooker Chicken Stock

Although the recipe calls for carrots, celery and onion, that doesn’t mean you have to use nice, pretty vegetables. Next time you have the end of a carrot leftover, throw it into a bag or container in the freezer, along with any bits of celery or onion you come across. This recipe isn’t about using perfect looking ingredients, it’s about using up ones you might normally toss into the trash or onto the compost pile.

I don’t add salt to my stock while I’m cooking it. You never know where you might end up using your stock, so you don’t know if you’ll need salt or not. And you sure can’t take it out once you’ve added it!

Also try my stovetop chicken stock.

Slow Cooker Chicken Stock
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Chicken Stock

Although the recipe calls for carrots, celery and onion, that doesn’t mean you have to use nice, pretty vegetables.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, crockpot, slow cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings 10 cups
Calories 214kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from A Southern Soul

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chicken pieces
  • 3 carrots halved
  • 3 stalks celery halved
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 teaspoon peppercorns
  • water

Instructions

  • Place all but the water into your slow cooker. Add enough water to fill the cooker to about 1/2″ below the top.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
  • Turn off cooker, remove lid and let cool for 30 minutes. Strain liquid into container for later use.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3245IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Hot Bologna Sauce

Ah, fried bologna sandwiches. Now, they aren’t something I eat every day, but when I do make them I do them up right. And that means brushing them with plenty of this hot bologna sauce. Well, maybe brushing isn’t the right word. ‘Slathering’ is more like it. The sauce adds a bit of a tang, a bit of a sweetness, and a bit of heat. The perfect combination for a hot-off-the-grill or hot-out-of-the-skillet bologna slices. The beauty of this sauce is that you can really change it up by adding a different BBQ sauce depending on your mood.

Hot Bologna Sauce

I used my smokehouse BBQ sauce when I made this hot bologna sauce. I like the little bit of smokiness that it adds.  This sauce is just as crazy good brushed onto grilled hot dogs or smoked sausages. Or hamburgers too!

I like to keep my sandwich sauces in squirt bottles. It’s fun to squirt sauces onto sandwiches or well, just about anything.

This sauce is great on my southern bologna burgers.

Hot Bologna Sauce
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3.50 from 2 votes

Hot Bologna Sauce

Ah, fried bologna sandwiches. Now, they aren’t something I eat every day, but when I do make them I do them up right. And that means brushing them with plenty of this hot bologna sauce.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword bologna, sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 3 cups
Calories 393kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients.
  • Brush on bologna while grilling or frying. Also great on hot dogs and burgers!

Nutrition

Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2707mg | Potassium: 550mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 73g | Vitamin A: 728IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Thai Sweet Chili Dressing

It was salad week here. Every few weeks or so, we have salads every night of the week. It’s a nice fresh change sometimes from a lot of grilled foods but that doesn’t mean that it’s a week of sadness. I mix it up by using a large variety of ingredients. And I always make at least one homemade salad dressing. Like this wonderful Thai sweet chili dressing. The dressing is a wonderful combination of tropical flavors, a little heat and a lot of Asian inspiration.

Thai Sweet Chili Dressing

Your salad doesn’t have to be Asian in nature to enjoy this Thai sweet chili dressing. It’s great no matter what you toss onto the plate.

I’m a huge fan of coconut milk and I was happy to see that this recipe has plenty of it. And fish sauce. Now, fish sauce is one strong smelling sauce. But don’t fear it. It really makes this dressing amazing. If you’re not sure about it, add a little, taste, and add more if you want. I use an expensive, quality fish sauce. I learned early on that you get what you pay for, specially when it comes to fish sauce.

Also try my herby Ranch dressing.

Thai Sweet Chili Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Thai Sweet Chili Dressing

This dressing is a wonderful combination of tropical flavors, a little heat and a lot of Asian inspiration.
Course Dressing
Cuisine Asian
Keyword homemade salad dressing
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Cooling Time 15 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 89kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine everything in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  • Stir until the peanut butter is dissolved.
  • Remove from heat and let cool before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 606mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Zax Sauce

It was one of those days where I just needed a bit of a kick of inspiration. It was cold out and I just wanted to eat something out of a box. I didn’t want it to be blah though, so I made a batch of this copycat Zax sauce from Zaxby’s. Sure, I just dipped chicken fingers in it at first, but after that I used the sauce on sandwich wraps and hamburgers. It’s great no matter what you slather it on. Or dip in it.

Copycat Zax Sauce

I was going to add some heat, some kick to this copycat Zax sauce, but I talked myself out of it. And I’m glad I did, too. It’s really quite good just as it is. And it does get better as it sits in the fridge so let it have that time.

Oh did I mention you can dip French fries in this too? Why aren’t mayonnaise-based dipping sauces for fries aren’t more popular in the US? It’s such a welcome change from ketchup. We need a campaign here to show people how great creamy sauces are for dipping fries!

For dipping sauces, try my copycat of Chick-fil-A’s dipping sauce, firecracker dipping sauce or my chili dipping sauce. All are great for dipping my crazy-good chicken fingers.

Copycat Zax Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Zax Sauce

Sure, I just dipped chicken fingers in it at first, but after that I used the sauce on sandwich wraps and hamburgers. It’s great no matter what you slather it on. Or dip in it.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, sauce
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 1 cup
Calories 840kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients until smooth.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using as a dip for chicken fingers, fries, or slathering on a burger or chicken sandwich.

Nutrition

Calories: 840kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 84g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1271mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Herby Ranch Dressing

We’ve been enjoying a week of grilling marinated chicken breasts, sliced thin, served on top of fresh greens with homemade salad dressings, like this herby Ranch dressing. I also mix up the salad toppings to keep things new and exciting. In no time we have a great salad for dinner.

Herby Ranch Dressing

This herby Ranch dressing has the flavors of a traditional Ranch, with an extra herb kick. Fresh herbs make it the best, but you can substitute dried, like I did. Just make sure you crumble the dried herbs first. You don’t want to bite into a big ole chunk of oregano, ya know!

These little sauce dipping cups are great for serving salad dressings. They keep me from over-dressing my salads, which is something I’m prone to do since I’m a dressing-aholic (and in particular, a Ranch-aholic). They’re easy to clean up, too. And they’re also great for dipping nuggets, tenders or even chicken wings.

Also try my dill ranch dressing and my amped-up Thai sweet chili dressing.

Herby Ranch Dressing
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4 from 1 vote

Herby Ranch Dressing

This dressing has the flavors of a traditional Ranch, with an extra herb kick. Fresh herbs make it the best, but you can substitute dried, like I did. 
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword homemade salad dressing
Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 2 cups
Calories 941kcal

Ingredients

If using fresh herbs

  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves chopped
  • ¼ cup Italian flat-leaf parsley chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano chopped

If using dried herbs

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients, adding salt and pepper to taste.
  • Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
  • Add more buttermilk if the dressing is too thick.

Nutrition

Calories: 941kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 98g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 887mg | Potassium: 425mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1611IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 312mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Dreamland BBQ Sauce

I found a big batch of smoked pulled pork in the freezer the other day. I was going to make one of my ‘usual’ BBQ sauces but this copycat of the sauce at Dreamland BBQ in Alabama has been on my to-try list for a while so I made a few quarts of it.

Copycat Dreamland BBQ Sauce

Visiting Dreamland BBQ (and honestly, just about any BBQ joint) is also on my to-do list, so I can’t vouch for how much of a copycat it is, but I can vouch for how good it is. Not too thick, not too runny with just a hint of heat. It’s a great all-purpose BBQ sauce.

You can make this sauce as shown, or play with it to suit your own needs. I was looking for a light red sauce, and that’s exactly what I got. The beauty of a good BBQ sauce like this is you’ve got a great base for your preferences. Want more heat? Add more cayenne. A little sweeter? More sugar. Thicker? Let it simmer a while longer. You can’t go wrong with Dreamland BBQ sauce whether you follow the recipe to a T or use it as a starter for your own version.

This sauce is fantastic on my Backyard BBQ wings.

Also try my copycat Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and Wood Shop’s BBQ sauce.

Copycat Dreamland BBQ Sauce
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3.50 from 2 votes

Copycat Dreamland BBQ Sauce

Visiting Dreamland BBQ (and honestly, just about any BBQ joint) is also on my to-do list, so I can’t vouch for how much of a copycat it is, but I can vouch for how good it is.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, sauce
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 quarts
Calories 447kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Note: Dark corn syrup makes for a nice dark syrup with a hint of molasses. For a lighter syrup, use light corn syrup.
  • Place puree and yellow mustard in a large saucepan and whisk until combined.
  • Whisk in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often.
  • Keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.
  • Note: If you prefer a thicker sauce, combine 1/4 cup corn starch and 1/4 cup cold water and whisk into the sauce as it simmers.

Nutrition

Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 95g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1974mg | Potassium: 2247mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 67g | Vitamin A: 5411IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 10mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

Last week was salad week here. Every once-in-a-while I go on a one-week long campaign to make salads. Not little ole wimpy salads, but meal-sized salads that dreams are made of. To add a special touch I often make dressings from scratch, like this copycat Chipotle honey vinaigrette. This dressing checked all the boxes. Perfect consistency (very important!). Nice and creamy. A little sweat. And a little heat. Heck, I just realized that my favorite salad dressings are a lot like barbecue sauces! Huh!

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

This copycat Chipotle honey vinaigrette is not only great on salads, it’s also great as a marinade for chicken. Just let chicken breasts (or whatever cuts you prefer) get happy in the dressing for an hour or so, then grill as desired. So make extra vinaigrette and enjoy!

Also try my copycats of Panera’s Strawberry Poppy Seed dressing and also Outback Steakhouse’s Ranch dressing.

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

This dressing checked all the boxes. Perfect consistency (very important!). Nice and creamy. A little sweat. And a little heat.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, vinaigrette
Prep Time 15 minutes
1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 167kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except for the olive oil into a blender.
  • Blend on low speed. With the blender still running, slowly add the oil.
  • Refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 225mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 104IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Angry Whopper Sauce

Burger King recently came out with their Angry Whopper. It’s loaded with all darned near everything you can imagine, from jalapenos to onion petals to bacon. And angry sauce. Now, I didn’t set out to make the Angry Whopper at home. I was after the Angry Whopper sauce. And I found it. Wonderfully spicy and creamy, the sauce turns my normal (but fantastic anyway) grilled burger into a delight.

Angry Whopper Sauce

I wouldn’t hesitate to kick up the heat in this angry Whopper sauce. A little more hot sauce and a little more cayenne pepper isn’t gonna hurt anyone, so I say go for it. This is also a great sauce for a cookout. No one wants that old boring ketchup. They want a great burger sauce instead!

Also try my Fire-Eater burger sauce!

Angry Whopper Sauce
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3 from 2 votes

Angry Whopper Sauce

I didn’t set out to make the Angry Whopper at home. I was after the Angry Whopper sauce. And I found it. Wonderfully spicy and creamy, the sauce turns my normal (but fantastic anyway) grilled burger into a delight.
Course Burger Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burger sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 67kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.