tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66400417070907758952024-03-18T20:58:05.302-07:00Top Secret RecipesKristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-23663311286435704772009-10-05T12:00:00.000-07:002010-06-13T23:27:34.300-07:00Top Secret Recipe: Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwRq7dOgPqc1NgULmbJ4bAuZ9VQDpeZjGAv_HV0tWxGAmXN2zP4ugQN8EQUfF7v_MA6NuTjQRyzP9oYmhy9kOBITYHTQsRBzFLX8RYf1Vih3XkRdFvTiIFxykKlLuysILjuCJXUlTsR39/s1600/m_pg25alice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwRq7dOgPqc1NgULmbJ4bAuZ9VQDpeZjGAv_HV0tWxGAmXN2zP4ugQN8EQUfF7v_MA6NuTjQRyzP9oYmhy9kOBITYHTQsRBzFLX8RYf1Vih3XkRdFvTiIFxykKlLuysILjuCJXUlTsR39/s320/m_pg25alice.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Top Secret Recipe: Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken<br />
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Alice Springs chicken is one of the most delicious items on the Outback menu. It is a rich chicken breast layered with cheese, bacon and mushrooms – and the sauce is a sweet and sour sauce that is absolutely to die for. Here’s a recipe that will allow you to make your very own Alice Springs Chicken at home.<br />
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2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts<br />
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard<br />
2 tablespoons honey<br />
6 strips of bacon<br />
1 cup sliced mushrooms<br />
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese<br />
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese<br />
Small bit of olive oil<br />
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Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and brush with oil. Get the grill very hot before cooking the chicken, so that the sides sear a bit and caramelize. Cook the chicken for about 20 minutes or 10 minutes on each side. Ensure that it’s cooked all the way through. While the chicken is cooking, sauté the mushrooms in a bit of olive oil and fry the bacon slices until they’re just on the edge of crispy.<br />
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When the chicken is finished, place the mushrooms on top followed by the bacon and then sprinkle the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses on top. Place the chicken in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese. <br />
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Make the sauce by mixing the Dijon mustard with the honey. This is a delicious recipe that will impress friends and family! This is also a great recipe to make a day before any party. Simply prepare the chicken the day before and layer with the mushrooms and bacon. Leave the cheese off and then the day of, sprinkle it on top and pop the chicken in the oven for about 30 minutes or until it’s thoroughly reheated and the cheese is melted. The sauce can be made before as well, and stored in the fridge.<br />
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Photo: <a href="http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/7/10/central/4213279&sec=central">www.thestar.com</a>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-32420724392069888112009-10-02T11:58:00.000-07:002009-10-02T11:58:00.342-07:00Top Secret Recipe: Stuffed New PotatoesThese delicious appetizers are served at many restaurants and individuals devour them! They are rich and tasty, and perfect for serving at any party or regular dinner. Below, you’ll find a top secret recipe that rivals any restaurant version and will go over extremely well with your family or with guests at your next get together. <br /><br />You’ll need:<br /><br />12 new potatoes, cleaned and rinsed<br />2 large eggs<br />2 tbsp mayonnaise<br />Small pinch chopped garlic<br />1 Teaspoon Parsley<br />2 Tablespoons finely chopped onions<br />1 Ounce caviar<br /><br />First, place the eggs in a small pan, cover with water and boil for about ten to fifteen minutes. While the eggs are boiling, place the potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Season the water with salt and pepper and boil for about eight to ten minutes or until you can put a fork through the potatoes. <br /><br />When the eggs and potatoes are done, dunk them in cold water to shock and cool them quickly. Once they’re cooled, take them out of the water. Peel the eggs and then use a small knife to cut a small hole in the tops of the potatoes. Scoop out the inside of the potatoes and reserve, ensuring that there is enough potato left to hold the stuffing. Grate the eggs using a cheese grater, and mix the eggs with the potatoes. Add the mayo, onions, garlic and parsley. <br /><br />Season with salt and pepper and then stuff the new potatoes with the mixture. This is all you have to do! If you want to try a variation, sprinkle cheddar cheese on the tops of the potato and pop them in the oven for about five to ten minutes.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-34578146334511929462009-09-25T11:56:00.000-07:002009-09-25T11:58:43.082-07:001. Top Secret Recipe: Jack in the Box Rice Krispies ShakeJack in the Box is notorious for inventive and delicious foods, like their Rice Krispies milkshake. It sounds a bit ‘iffy’ at first, but upon trying it, individuals are more than surprised with how great it is. Below is a top-secret recipe that mimics the shake exactly. <br /><br />The first thing you need to get is a good quality vanilla ice cream. The quality of the ice cream really does matter and the taste of the ice cream will affect the taste of the whole shake. Try a top quality ice cream like Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream to make this delicious shake with. You’ll need one cup of that ice cream, two tablespoons of milk, a tablespoon of marshmallow cream, and two tablespoons of the Rice Krispies cereal.<br /><br />Mix together all of the ingredients except for the Rice Krispies. Stir or blend until it has a good, thick milkshake consistency. When you’ve reached this consistency, add in the Rice Krispies and stir again. This milkshake is absolutely delicious and if you’d rather not buy and use the marshmallow cream, you can use the Rice Krispy treat cereal instead. This creates a very, very similar milkshake without the need for the marshmallow cream. <br /><br />Create your own variations of this milkshake by experimenting with the ingredients. Use chunks of actual Rice Krispies treats, blend in a bit of extra vanilla for a richer flavor, or make it a bit tangy with a few tablespoons of citrus juice like orange, lime or lemon. The only way to really get the best out of top-secret recipes is to experiment with them and make them your own! Enjoy.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-64194328808001832522009-01-12T07:42:00.000-08:002009-01-12T07:43:21.663-08:005 Cooking Tips the Pros Don’t Want You to KnowCooking can be a lot of fun. You can make beautiful masterpieces at home, that look just like the pros. There are a lot of professional cooks who do not want you to learn the secrets, because you now can make beautiful and wonderful tasting dishes from the comforts of your own home, and save yourself a lot of money on food.<br /><br />1. You do not need to cook with expensive wine just to make a dish fancy. The most important thing to know about cooking with wine is that you need to cook down the wine by simmering it so that you do not have the rough alcohol taste, yet just the flavor of the wine.<br /><br />2. A simple way to give your recipe a little zip is to add a small amount of lemon juice, or even a little lemon zest. A little can go a long way, so do not add too much. This can make your boring recipes a lot more flavorful. It is always nice to have a couple of lemons handy at all times when you are cooking.<br /><br />3. Wait to season your sauté mushrooms at the end of baking them. The salt in most seasonings will take out any liquid of the mushroom and they will only boil in their own liquid. If you want to keep the flavor in your sauté mushrooms, wait for the seasoning till the end.<br /><br />4. Serve your family the fruit that is in season. This is important because you will get such a better quality than when they are not in season. Select recipes that include the fruit in season. You will also get a better deal on them at the grocery store because they have so much more of them.<br /><br />5. Do not be afraid to make a mistake. What is going to make you a better cook is trial and error. We are all going to make mistakes, but learning from your mistakes will only make you a better cook. Adjust recipes accordingly and even create your own recipes. This will make you one of the pros.<br /><br />There are a lot of secrets from the pros that you can learn to be a better cook. It is going to take some time, and you can even take cooking classes locally to make yourself a better cook.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-7493583904720762992009-01-10T07:45:00.001-08:002009-01-10T07:45:01.104-08:00Importance of Using Quality Ingredients While CookingCooking in the home can be a lot of fun. You can also learn a lot by cooking for your family and friends. It is a skill that a lot of us would like to master, and with a little practice, you can be cooking like the pros. The choice of ingredients you choose to use in your recipe can make that little bit of difference to put your food above the rest.<br /><br />While you may just be trying to save a little money at the grocery store, it is important to use quality ingredients when you are cooking something. Even if the ingredients in the generic products you purchase are the same, they can often be diluted and not even have the same flavor as the original.<br /><br />You also want to purchase your ingredients fresh. After they sit in your cupboard for awhile and are still sealed, they still may become stale. Purchase your groceries from a local grocery store that you can trust. This way you are know the freshest ingredients available.<br /><br />Use the right ingredients according to the recipe. Some recipes taste so good for a reason, and using anything other than the ones instructions will jeopardize the flavor. Make sure that you are using the ingredients you should be to get the best recipe possible.<br /><br />It is also important to use those high quality ingredients at the correct temperature that the recipe calls them for. If your recipes asks for eggs, make sure they are large, and let them warm up to room temperature for about 15 minutes before adding them into your recipe.<br /><br />You want to impress others with your recipes. Cooking food at home can be a lot of fun, as well as you can allow others to see your creativity with food. You are able to show off your skills to others. You can make this happen by using high quality ingredients in all of your recipes.<br /><br />Some of the basic things you need to remember is to keep your ingredients fresh, do not buy generic brands in your grocery store, and to shop for a store that you can trust the quality from. All this tips can help you be a better cook with better quality and tasting food.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-32651058481402336112009-01-08T18:54:00.000-08:002010-06-13T23:30:40.502-07:00Low-Fat Top Secret Recipes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpH1YyYqqXVflXj5iFcdRRqxGcSS8mA5J1M4gMyAe5VAgSLGQjRupOikLcEVMLP9jXuN7NQlnbkCYAGtZfizTy8hfk4I5hGydTgfbf624loWgq_JdEGCSs6BoZue9K2xg_Ftl0gJIv7li/s1600/photo_8272_20090919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpH1YyYqqXVflXj5iFcdRRqxGcSS8mA5J1M4gMyAe5VAgSLGQjRupOikLcEVMLP9jXuN7NQlnbkCYAGtZfizTy8hfk4I5hGydTgfbf624loWgq_JdEGCSs6BoZue9K2xg_Ftl0gJIv7li/s320/photo_8272_20090919.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Todd’s at it again – ‘clone chef’ Todd Wilbur is best known for providing his Top Secret recipe books, letting us all know the secrets to making some of our favorite restaurant and fast food yummies. However, learning how to make an exact replica of a Big Mac or Wendy’s Frosty may not be that attractive to someone who is dieting or watching their caloric intake. Well, he’s jumped in and saved the day for all of us who are watching what we eat – with ‘Low-Fat Top Secret Recipes.’<br />
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This book lets readers learn how to create some of the best low-fat foods available, such as:<br />
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- Gardenburgers<br />
- Nabisco Honey-Maid Graham Crackers<br />
- Reduced Fat Oreo Cookies<br />
- Entenmann’s Light Low-Fat Cinnamon Rolls<br />
- And more!<br />
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However, the greatest thing about this book is that Todd shows us how to take some very delicious but fattening foods and create a low-fat clone. In fact, most of the low-fat recipes come within a hair of tasting exactly the same – while some come out better than their originals. <br />
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This is a great book for people who must keep track of their diets and still want to enjoy the delicious fast foods they love. Learn how to make great foods like the McDonald’s Egg McMuffin, Wendy’s Chicken Caesar Fresh Stuffed Pita and Bennigan’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. This would make a great gift for anyone who loves to cook and would like to make their own low-fat versions of popular foods.<br />
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Note: While most of Todd’s recipes are known for how little work is involved, there are a few extra steps to some of the recipes in this book. For instance, you must use colored paste and extras to create the perfect looking oreo! However, it’s worth the little bit of extra work to create these great treats. Complete with information regarding each recipe and nutrition facts – this one is a must-have!<br />
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Photo: <a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Kitchen_and_Dining_g187-Recipe_Book_p8272.html">Simon Howden</a><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wwwebaywriter-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0452281490&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-57327473525009753672009-01-03T18:57:00.000-08:002009-01-03T18:57:00.184-08:00Starbucks Copycat RecipeIf you love the delicious treats available at your local Starbuck’s and would like to learn how to create them at home, here’s a great start. Taken from <a href="http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/starbuckscaramelscones.htm">Gourmet Sleuth</a>, this Caramel Scone recipe is absolutely delicious! Make this for yourself or share with friends and family!<br /><br />I N G R E D I E N T S<br />3 cups unbleached all purpose flour<br />1/2 cup unsalted or salted butter (or margerine)<br />3/4 cup half and half or light whipping cream<br />1/3 cup granulated sugar<br />1/2 teaspoon salt (if unsalted butter is used)<br />1 tablespoon baking powder<br />1 cup milk (for best results use whole milk)<br />1 egg<br />2 teaspoons vanilla<br />1 cup butterscotch baking chips<br />Topping<br />1/3 cup butterscotch baking chips, fine chopped (use food processor)<br />1 egg white, slightly beaten<br />Confectioner's (powdered) sugar (optional) <br /><br /><br />I N S T R U C T I O N S<br />Preheat oven to 425 F. <br /><br />Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place flour and butter in a medium mixing bowl, combine with your fingers to a coarse meal consistency. Add sugar, baking powder and salt (if used) combine well. Stir in cream, vanilla and egg, blending well to form a soft dough. <br /><br />Scoop mixture onto baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg white; sprinkle ground butterscotch chips over top. Bake until browned - 16-18 minutes. Dust with confectioner's sugar when cool.<br />Consider making this for the next special occasion and watch family and friends go crazy for it. It’s very close to the real thing and you’re sure to enjoy it!<br /><br /><strong>Source: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/starbuckscaramelscones.htm</strong>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-56733322128682779622009-01-01T18:51:00.000-08:002009-01-01T18:53:50.352-08:00Top Secret Recipes: Creating Kitchen Clones of America's Favorite Brand-Name FoodsOne of the latest books from clone chef Todd Wilbur, this book contains some of America’s favorite foods – and tells you exactly how to make them in your own kitchen. This one contains 41 favorites that can be easily created with the ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. This book is really perfect if you have a love of fast foods and would like to create them in your home.<br /><br />Just some of the things you will learn how to make in your own kitchen with this book include:<br />• McDonald’s Big Mac<br />• Wendy’s Frosty<br />• Reese’s Cups<br />• Twinkies<br />• Orange Julius<br />• Dairy Queen Blizzard<br />• And so much more!<br /><br />This book is a great one to add to any cookbook collection – imagine presenting your friends and family with a round of Big Macs you created right in your own kitchen. In fact, you can make an Orange Julius in just a couple of minutes flat. One of the greatest things I’ve found about this book is that you have the ability to ‘health up’ these recipes if you want.<br /><br />For instance, rather than using ground meat for your Big Mac, you can use a vegetarian replacement which is just as delicious. I love the fact that you can build on the recipes Todd Wilbur has included here. In my own opinion, I feel that this is a great book to invest in and that it can provide a lot of great family time whipping up these easy recipes.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wwwebaywriter-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0452269954&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-18142193380818026392008-12-31T07:43:00.000-08:002008-12-31T07:43:00.312-08:00How to Find Top Secret Restaurant RecipesDo you find yourself eating out more because you just cannot make the same kinds of foods at home? Restaurants tend to have the added touch to some basic meals that keep us coming back for more. You can make some of those recipes right in your own home and save yourself a lot of money too.<br /><br />Decide on a few things that you love to eat at popular restaurants that you want to try and make from home. It can be anything from an appetizer to your favorite dessert. Whatever may be your favorite out to eat item, put it down on the list. This will help you remember what you are looking for later.<br /><br />There are a lot of profession bakers out there who love to strive to recreate restaurants secret recipes. They have tried out several versions and they are not satisfied until they have made the perfect recipe. You can usually find their recipes on the internet, as they are more than willing to share their creation with you.<br /><br />Talk to some of the wait staff about how the item is cooked and prepared when you are ordering. This will give you a little inside information of how the prepare it, which you can incorporate these tips at home. They may not give everything away, but you can find out what ingredients they use, as well as how it is prepared.<br /><br />Make sure when trying to recreate the recipe that you use high quality ingredients. You will not get the same flavor from generics, as they seem to be less flavorful. Shop at a grocery store that sells quality ingredients and one store that you can trust.<br /><br />Scour the internet in search of restaurant quality recipes. There are even people who formally worked for these restaurants and they are willing to share the secrets of creating the same dishes at home. There are thousands of websites that will help you recreate the same thing at home. Once you have found the recipe you are looking for, print out a copy for future reference.<br /><br />Trial and error. You may not get the exact flavor you were looking for, but it is all about trial and error. The more you cook, the more knowledge you will gain and you will learn from your mistakes. After trying to recreate the recipe several times, you can adjust it to the flavor you were looking for.<br /><br />You can make restaurant quality recipes at home if you have some time for research and trial and error. It can be a lot of work, but you can save a lot of money on food if you can learn to make the same food at home.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-61898141017189716342008-12-29T09:49:00.000-08:002008-12-29T09:49:00.924-08:00Top Secret Recipes - Waffle HouseI knew a guy who enjoyed Waffle House hash browns so much that he begged and begged the manager at a local one to sell him a case of the potatoes to cook at home! If you like them as well and would love to create the delicious food at home, here is a great copycat recipe you can use, taken from <a href="http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/eatingout/eating_w/waffle-house-hash-browns.htm">Razzler Dazzler Recipes</a>.<br />Waffle House Hash Browns<br /><br />4 cups peeled and shredded potatoes<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />Water <br />1 cup ice <br />Vegetable oil for frying<br /><br />Place prepared potatoes in a 2-quart bowl, and add salt. Add ice and pour enough water to cover potatoes. Stir to mix salt and ice in the potatoes. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.<br /><br />Place shredded potatoes in a colander, rinse with cool tap water and drain completely. At this point you can place potatoes back in the refrigerator covered until ready to fry. The uncooked potatoes will keep up to 5 hours.<br /><br />Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add enough vegetable oil to lightly cover bottom. When skillet is hot and oil has been heated, place two cups of drained shredded potatoes in skillet. Fry until crisp, shaping with a spatula. Fry about 12 to 15 minutes, without turning. Time depends on the temperature and size of the shredded hash browns. When potatoes are golden, flip over carefully and fry tops of potatoes for 2 - 3 minutes. Do not cover hash browns while frying or stir through them.<br /><br />Waffle House Hash Browns Scattered all the Way!<br /><br />1 slice American cheese (covered)<br />1/4 cup diced yellow onion (smothered)<br />Sliced jalapeno peppers, to taste (peppered)<br />1/4 cup diced fresh tomatoes (diced)<br />1/4 cup mushrooms (capped)<br />1/3 cup diced lean ham (chunked)<br />1/3 cup chili with beans, heated<br />1 serving Waffle House Hash Browns<br /><br />Prepare Waffle House Hash Browns as directed. Leave them in the skillet, and add cheese, onion, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and ham. When done, add chili on top of all.<br /><br />This is a great recipe and makes for a delicious meal, however – it’s not dead on as far as the consistency and taste of the Waffle House hash browns. This is especially true if you like them ‘scattered all the way!’ The difference probably lies in the preparation and although it isn’t enough to really matter – there is a difference worth mentioning. Still, this is a delicious dish that you can make for a brunch or even a different dinner idea.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-25905478646640902042008-12-26T09:45:00.000-08:002008-12-26T10:53:58.317-08:00Top Secret Recipes - More Copycat RecipesIf you love finding recipes which mimic your favorite restaurant’s dishes, you’re going to love the following ones. These are copycat recipes from some of the best restaurants and some of the most popular dishes!<br /><br />Sometimes, when a guy says the only reason he visits Hooter’s is for the hot wings – he’s telling the truth! Hooter’s has some very delicious hot wings and below, you will find a copycat recipe taken from <a href="http://recipes.robbiehaf.com/H/76.htm">Robbie’s Recipe Collection</a> which really hits very close to Hooter’s secret recipe.<br /><br />Prep. Time: 1:45<br />Serves: 4<br />1 cup all-purpose flour<br />1 tsp. salt<br />1/2 tsp. paprika<br />1/2 tsp. garlic powder<br />1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper<br />1/4 tsp. black pepper<br />20 chicken wing segments<br />1/2 cup butter OR margarine<br />1/2 cup hot sauce (see Notes, below)<br />In a shallow dish, combine flour, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and peppers.<br />-Coat chicken entirely in the flour mixture; refrigerate coated wings for 1 hour; coat chicken again with remaining flour mixture.<br />-In a 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and hot sauce just until butter melts; turn heat to low and keep warm on stove top.<br />-Deep-fry chicken, 8 - 10 pieces at a time, in 375 degree oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil) for 13 minutes, turning once or twice.<br />-Drain chicken on a wire cooling rack for 30 seconds, then immediately toss fried chicken in buffalo sauce mixture and remove with a slotted spoon.<br />-Repeat with remaining chicken.<br /><br />Adjusting the spiciness of the sauce: As is, the recipe produces a medium sauce. To change the amount of spiciness, simply adjust the butter-to-hot sauce-ratio:<br /><br />Mild: Use 3/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup hot sauce.<br /><br />Hot: Use 1/4 cup butter and 3/4 cup hot sauce.<br /><br />Notes: I use Frank's® Buffalo Wing sauce in the recipe, as I enjoy the flavor of Buffalo sauce, but not the heat. If you like spice, you can use regular Frank's® Hot Sauce. I'm sure another hot sauce like Tabasco® would work fine, but Frank's® has a great flavor, not just heat. Use ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing as a dip for these fabulous wings!<br /><br />This is a delicious recipe! The only point that should be made is that the longer the hot wings sit after you cook them, the ‘mushier’ they get. If you’re preparing these for a large group, its best if you use a large deep fryer so you can get them all completed in one or two batches. Served fresh, these hot wings are delicious. Add some cheesy fries and you’re good to go!Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-84205723172391649752008-12-26T07:49:00.000-08:002010-06-13T23:36:29.265-07:00Benefits of Eating at Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL39vbm_KkFMK_FDl5tqs8pKXP9PVSuXY1PWNvoAQ7Z13S1sPJBlyHhpDFeLzpL9bM9tRZQMpAl7m_2rCE9HFw21LMA947bg1bUMm4Kp1ZzEjr-AZRykZ866W0HPRNzt_W1pm6TuVMc8p7/s1600/photo_4561_20090214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL39vbm_KkFMK_FDl5tqs8pKXP9PVSuXY1PWNvoAQ7Z13S1sPJBlyHhpDFeLzpL9bM9tRZQMpAl7m_2rCE9HFw21LMA947bg1bUMm4Kp1ZzEjr-AZRykZ866W0HPRNzt_W1pm6TuVMc8p7/s320/photo_4561_20090214.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Cooking a meal at home for the family can be quite a task. It is much easier to pack up the family in the car and go out to eat. It is a lot more convenient, and is common to go in a busy lifestyle. Eating at home and making a meal has a lot of benefits to the whole family.<br />
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The main benefit to eating at home is the amount of money you will save over time if you eat regularly at home. Depending on the type of restaurants you choose to eat out at, it can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year.<br />
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It is important to plan your meals you are going to cook at home ahead of time. While this can take some careful planning, you will also know what you are going to make ahead of time so that you can shop sales and deals at the grocery store. Carefully planning your meals ahead of schedule can really save you a lot of money.<br />
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Quality time together as a family is another big benefit to eating at home instead of going out to eat. It is the one time during our busy lives to be able to sit down as a family and bond. People are too busy these days to be able to plan an event for the whole family, and simple things like dinner make these happen.<br />
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Your family will be much healthier when you eat more at home. You know what kind of food and ingredients you are putting into your meals, therefore, you know the choices that your family is eating. There is less grease and fat, making your family lead a lot healthier lifestyle.<br />
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Also when you are cooking your own meals from home, you can control the portions of everyone’s food. Everybody knows that when you order a meal at a restaurant, you typically get a lot more food than you can handle. You find yourself stuffing your face just to make it look like you ate something. At home, you will eat a lot less and have the same “full” feeling.<br />
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Eating at home has a lot of benefits for the whole family. If you are feeling pressed for time, have the whole family chip in on the cooking, and keep the cook time down to a minimum. You can even purchase cookbooks that can help you prepare a meal in no time. <br />
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There is nothing wrong with going out to eat once and awhile with the family, it can be a lot of fun. With these tips you can save yourself a lot of money on food, and keep your family healthy and happy.<br />
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Photo: <a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Kitchen_and_Dining_g187-Kitchen_p4561.html">Suat Eman</a>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-6761854045599640482008-12-24T11:39:00.000-08:002008-12-24T08:54:49.005-08:00Top Secret Recipe Expert - Todd WilburApparently it all started with Mrs. Fields cookies (which are great, by the way) and Todd Wilbur was on his way to a career copycatting top secret restaurant recipes. From recreating a Big Mac to giving away his secret recipes in 8 bestselling top secret recipe books – Todd Wilbur is a busy guy! That’s great for those of us who want to be able to recreate our favorite restaurant foods but don’t have the ability to figure out the recipes ourselves. He even knows how to clone a twinkie – gotta love a guy who can do that!<br /><br /><strong>Make Your Own Twinkie</strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-yeyy4mQoes&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-yeyy4mQoes&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>Make Your Own Big Mac</strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uqVCk2oDpSE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uqVCk2oDpSE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-90335301452782941162008-12-24T08:52:00.000-08:002008-12-24T08:53:55.699-08:00Cheesecake Factory Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake RecipeCan you say ‘yum’ enough to the following recipe? This is absolutely perfect for a party when you want to wow the guests. Alright, so you don’t have all those ‘prep’ chefs to help you create this masterpiece but one bite and all the work will have been worth it!<br /><br /><strong>Cheesecake Factory Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake Recipe<br />Crust:</strong><br /><br />1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (filling removed) or 20 crumbled Oreo cookies (filling removed)<br />1/3 cup margarine, melted<br />Filling:<br />1/2 cup raspberry preserves<br />1/4 cup water<br />4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese at room temperature<br />1 1/4 cups granulated sugar<br />1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature<br />2 teaspoons vanilla extract<br />5 eggs at room temperature<br />4 ounces white chocolate, chopped into chunks<br />Garnish:<br />2 ounces shaved white chocolate (optional)<br />whipped cream (optional)<br /><br />Directions: <br />1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.<br />2. Place a large pan or oven-safe skillet filled with about 1/2-inch of water into the oven while it preheats.<br />3. This will be your water bath.<br />4. Combine the raspberry preserves with 1/4 cup water in a medium microwave-safe bowl.<br />5. Heat for 1 1/2 minutes on high in your microwave.<br />6. Stir until smooth.<br />7. Strain to remove the raspberry seeds, and discard seeds.<br />8. Allow strained preserves to cool, then put the bowl in the refrigerator until later.<br />9. Measure 1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (or crush 20 Oreo cookie wafers-- with the filling scraped out-- in a resealable plastic bag) into a medium bowl.<br />10. Mix in 1/3 cup melted margarine.<br />11. Press the crumb into a 9-inch spring form pan that has been lined on the bottom and side with parchment paper.<br />12. Use the bottom of a drinking glass to press the crumb mixture flat into the bottom of the pan and about 2/3 the way up the side.<br />13. Wrap a large piece of foil around the bottom of the pan to keep the cheesecake in the water bath and prevent it from leaking.<br />14. Put the crust in your freezer until the filling is done.<br />15. Use an electric mixer to combine the softened cream cheese with the sugar, room temperature sour cream, and vanilla.<br />16. Mix on the lowest setting for a couple minutes or until the ingredients are smooth and creamy.<br />17. You don't want to beat too much air into the mixture, or it will fall and be grainy.<br />18. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.<br />19. Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl and then add them to the cream cheese mixture.<br />20. Blend the mixture just enough to integrate the eggs.<br />21. Remove the crust from the freezer and sprinkle 4 ounces of white chocolate chunks onto the bottom of the crust.<br />22. Pour half of the cream cheese filling into the crust.<br />23. Drizzle the raspberry preserves over the entire surface of the filling.<br />24. Use a butter knife to swirl the raspberry into the cream cheese.<br />25. Just a couple passes is fine, you don't want to blend the raspberry and cream cheese together too much.<br />26. Pour the other half of the filling into the crust.<br />27. Carefully place the cheesecake into the water bath in the oven.<br />28. Bake for 12 minutes at 475 degrees, then turn the oven down to 350 degrees and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the top of the cheesecake turns a light brown or tan color.<br />29. Remove the cheesecake from the oven to cool on a cooling rack.<br />30. When the cheesecake is completely cool, cover cheesecake with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to sit overnight.<br />31. Before serving, sprinkle the entire top surface of cheesecake with 2 ounces of shaved white chocolate.<br />32. To serve, slice the cheesecake into 12 equal portions.<br />33. Apply a pile of fresh whipped cream to the top of each slice and serve.<br /><br />Makes: 12 servings<br /><br />Let me know what you think of these top secret recipes! Do you have any you’d like to share?<br /><br /><strong>Original Recipe Source: </strong>http://www.topsecretcopycatrecipes.com/the_cheesecake_factory_raspberry_truffle_cheesecake_recipe.htmlKristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640041707090775895.post-42498835177489620192008-12-24T08:49:00.000-08:002008-12-24T08:50:31.856-08:00Outback Steakhouse’s Alice Springs ChickenOne of my favorite foods is the Alice Springs Chicken at Outback Steakhouse. Thanks to top secret recipes and copycat recipes, I’ve recently discovered that I can make the exact same thing at home. That’s the point of these ‘top secret’ recipes – to allow us the benefit of eating at home and still getting the delicious flavors we love. Try the copycat recipes above and determine whether they really are like the real thing!<br /><br />The following recipe is absolutely delicious. While this does involve a bit of prep time, this is a perfect recipe for entertaining dinner guests or when you just want to fix something delicious and special for your family. However, rather than just using the honey mustard, mix 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard with a tablespoon of honey. Add just a pinch of sugar and you’ve got that delicious outback sauce that is so good!<br />Outback Steakhouse’s Alice Springs Chicken<br />Ingredients<br />• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1/2 " thick <br />• honey mustard <br />• 6 slices bacon, sliced in half <br />• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick's Season All <br />• 1 cup sliced mushrooms, drained <br />• 3 cups shredded Colby or Monterey Jack cheese <br />Directions<br />1. Rub chicken breast with Seasonal All and set aside to marinate for 1 hour.<br />2. While the breast is marinating fry bacon crisp and drain.<br />3. Sauté chicken breasts on medium heat in pan with just enough oil to prevent sticking.<br />4. Cook on both sides until a slight golden color and cooked in the middle but not dry.<br />5. Remove from pan and place in a 9 x 13 dish.<br />6. Spread chicken breast with honey mustard, cover with a layer of mushrooms, three pieces of bacon and then sprinkle with shredded Colby/jack cheese, chicken should be covered with shredded cheese.<br />7. Bake at 350 degrees about 15 minutes or until cheese melts.<br />8. Sprinkle with parsley and extra honey mustard may be served on the side.<br /><br />This recipe is absolutely delicious and tastes just like the real thing! Add some French fries and you’re good to go!<br /><br />Can you say ‘yum’ enough to the following recipe? This is absolutely perfect for a party when you want to wow the guests. Alright, so you don’t have all those ‘prep’ chefs to help you create this masterpiece but one bite and all the work will have been worth it!<br /><br />Recipe Source: http://www.recipezaar.com/Outback-Steakhouses-Alice-Springs-Chicken-26350Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04914315673633616020noreply@blogger.com0