Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Here is my version of Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Use for my Derby Day Truffles or enjoy anytime as a great pie by itself.

Ingredients:

• 1 (9 inch) Pillsbury pie shell crust
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup Jim Beam Bourbon (or bourbon of your choice) or water
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoon cornmeal
• 2 teaspoon Rodelle vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Derby Day Truffles

A sure sign of spring is the running of The Kentucky Derby in early May. The 1.25 mile horse race is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY., on the first Saturday in May. It is the first race of the Triple Crown and is considered the crown jewel of the horse racing world. In Louisville it is a two-week long festival including parties and parades. The festivities kick off with Thunder over Louisville, fireworks and airshow, two Saturday’s before the Derby. The show is considered one of the largest in the country. Derby Day is a glamorous affair, where the rich and famous wear their spring finest, with most women wearing very elaborate hats. It is the place to be and be seen.

Kentucky Derby History Alternatively referred to as “The Run for the Roses” or “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the Kentucky Derby is a 1.25 mile race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The Kentucky Derby draws an average of 150,000 visitors each year, including residents, out-of-towners, celebrities, presidents, and even members of royal families.Kentucky Derby History:The first Kentucky Derby race occurred in 1875. Close to 10,000 people watched as 15 thoroughbred horses ran what was then a 1.5 mile course. In 1876, the length of the race was changed to 1.25 miles. By the early 1900s, owners of winning Kentucky Derby horses started sending their winners to run in the Preakness Stakes in Maryland and the Belmont Stakes in New York. In 1930, sportswriter Charles Hatton coined the term “Triple Crown” in reference to the same horses running the three races consecutively. Courtesy of Kentucky Derby Facts and History from about.com

Many foods are synonymous with The Kentucky Derby. The most famous is probably the Mint Julep (click here for the recipe from KentuckyDerby.com).  I guess this is technically not a food, but a drink, but after you have 2 or 3, you won’t care anyway.

Churro Cheesecake Bars

So Cinco de Mayo is coming up in a few weeks. This is not an official holiday in the USA, but I’m an international blogger and many in the USA seem to like this day.

In our house this is a big holiday. Not because we love Cinco de Mayo (even though we do) but May 5th is my oldest and only son Ethan’s birthday. This year is more special since he will be 16 and getting his drivers license. He is a good driver, but it is making me feel old and a little nervous. Probably because my insurance will be going up, up and up!!!

Ethan has an experienced palate and is a great help taste testing and critiquing my creations. Sometimes we don’t agree but I do listen to what he thinks. Hopefully I have instilled in him the joy of cooking, if so he will make his wife very happy someday.

I am always using holidays or events to create new recipes. Cinco de Mayo is always fun because of the many ways you can combine Mexican and American foods.

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16.

Here is a great example. I love churros but I am not a big fan of frying. To messy and fattening.

A churro is a fried-dough pastry—predominantly choux—based snack. Churros are popular in Spain, France, the Philippines, Portugal, Ibero-America and the Southwestern United States. In Spain, churros can either be thin or long and thick . Wikipedia

Now I’m not saying that this dish is any healthier, but it is definitely easier and cleaner to make. Very tasty and a great combination of ingredients. Not as crunchy as the original churro but still with all the flavors and a bonus, cream cheese filling.

Enjoy!

Pizza Cabbage Roll Casserole

I love simple comfort food that is easy and makes enough for leftovers the next day. When I was kid my mom would make stuffed cabbage rolls. I loved the meat filling but was not a big fan of cabbage.

A cabbage roll (also known as pigs in a blanket) is a dish consisting of cooked cabbage leaves wrapped around a variety of fillings. It is common to the ethnic cuisines of theBalkans, Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe, as well as West Asia.

In Europe, the filling is traditionally based around meat, often beef, lamb, or pork and is seasoned with garlic, onion, and spices. Grains such as rice and barley, eggs,mushrooms, and vegetables are often included. Pickled cabbage leaves are often used for wrapping, particularly in Southeastern Europe. In Asia, seafoods, tofu, and shiitake mushroom may also be used. Chinese cabbage is often used as a wrapping. (courtesy wikipedia.org)

As an adult I love it. My kids tolerate cabbage, depending on the dish I make. A few years back I decided to turn the traditional stuffed cabbage roll into a time friendly casserole. All of the same flavors but with half the effort, but my kids still didn’t rave about it. They were like me and would eat the filling, but not much of the cabbage.

Then I had and idea to add pizza flavors to the dish and amazingly they loved it and asked for seconds. This recipe actually serves like a lasagna when cut. You could also add other pizza toppings like pepperoni or sausage with great results. Great meal that is easy and gets the kids to eat more vegetables.

Assemble the recipe the night before and refrigerate overnight. When you get home, remove from fridge, allow to come to room temperature before baking, otherwise add additional 15-20 minutes to the covered cooking time. This makes a large amount of food. Leftovers will freeze well for a quick dinner on another night.

Crock Pot Method:  You can also make this recipe in a crock pot. Brown meat, and veggies and place in crock pot. Add remaining ingredients,  stir to combine. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Crock Pot Pork Carnitas

Here is a very simple, 5 ingredient, pork carnitas recipe for your crock pot. Prepare all ingredients in the morning, before you leave for work. (10 minutes) When you get home, shred the pork and keep warm in the crock pot with the sauce. until you are ready to eat. My kids love this, especially on practice nights.

Carnitas, literally “little meats,” is a dish of Mexican cuisine originating from the state of Michoacán. Carnitas are made by braising or simmering pork in oil or preferably lard until tender. The process takes three or four hours and the result is very tender and juicy meat, which is then typically served with choppedcoriander leaves (cilantro) and diced onion, salsa, guacamole, tortillas, and refried beans (frijoles refritos). Wikipedia.com

This recipe is can be used for many types of dishes  This will also be great for the upcoming Cinco de Mayo holiday.

I love my slow cooker. I usually use it twice a week. I plan on posting a new crock pot recipe each week. If you have a favorite recipe you would like converted to be cooked in the crock pot, let me know and I will give it a shot.

Easy Refrigerator Pickled Asparagus

Great easy recipe for summer. Check out all of Frugal Hausfrau creations on her blog.

Frugal Hausfrau

Pickling vegetables, almost any vegetable, is a simple process, and Asparagus is no exception. A jar or two for the refrigerator can be made in literally minutes, no “canning” or “processing” required! If you can boil water, you can make these fantastic little pickled Asparagus. It’s that simple.

Pickled Asparagus – shown in center of relish tray

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Quick Reduced Fat Chicken Alfredo

Last week we had rain almost everyday. This makes it hard to plan dinners, because we do not know if practice’s will be canceled until the last-minute. Always fun! We made up for it this weekend with over 20 hours spent at the fields watching the kids play.

My kids love Alfredo sauce, but it is so so fattening. I created this recipe last week using convenient items which I mostly had in my pantry. I just picked up the Bertolli Reduced Fat Alfredo sauce and a chicken from the store. This dish is much lower in fat and is a one skillet dish, that is quick and easy, your kids will love. The artichokes and mushrooms are optional, but adds great flavor to the recipe.

This recipe also takes advantage of using store bought rotisserie chicken to make it an even easier weeknight meal.

30 minutes or less.

Yum!!!

Southern Pimento Cheese Sandwich

This week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Masters Week!! Professional golf has four majors each year. The Masters, US Open, The Open (British) and the PGA Championship. The Masters is the only event played at the same venue every April. The other majors change courses each year. The Masters is played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Bobby Jones designed the course and created the event. The first Masters was held in 1934. (Read More)

I love watching the Masters because of the beauty and history of the course. I was lucky enough to attend Thursday and Friday rounds in 2013. This was a once in a lifetime, bucket list event. Thank you T. McCloy.

Since Augusta National holds The Masters every year all of the facilities are permanent, unlike other major where concession, restrooms and grand stands are temporary structures.

This is also Augusta National’s tournament! Not the PGA’s or the USGA, it is a private event so therefore they control everything. The food at The Masters is legendary. Not because it is fancy, but on the other hand, it is simple good and inexpensive. This is not the norm for a major sporting event where a beer will set you back $10.00 and a hot dog $6.00. Furthermore when you attend The Masters you are on the grounds from early morning until late in the evening. You are a captive audience and would be willing to spend  much more than Augusta charges for the food. One of the legendary concessions is the pimento cheese sandwich. It is simply pimento cheese spread on white bread in a green sandwich bag for the exorbitant price of $1.50. Check out the rest of the prices.

Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix

This is from my Crock Pot Pork Philly Cheese Steak Post. Thought it would be easier to find as a separate post.

Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup dried onion flakes

1/3 cup low-sodium beef bouillon granules

4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp parsley flakes

1/4 tsp celery seed

1/4 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp sugar

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container

About 5 tablespoons of mix are equal to 1 1¼-ounce package

To make onion dip: Mix 5 tablespoons with one pint of sour cream.

Adapted from AllRecipes.com and Food.com

Crock Pot Pork Philly Cheese Steak

Here is a simple, 7 ingredient crock pot recipe, for your busy weeknight dinner. If your family is like ours, you are in the middle of spring sports. For us this means games or practice at least six nights a week. Sometimes seven. Spring sports also means cancelled practices and games because we might as well be in the monsoon season here in Ohio. This makes it difficult to plan a good meal and we are typically eating at different times.

My kids “love them” a cheese steak sandwich. They are easy to make and I usually serve with a fruit or salad. I like trying new versions of cheese-steaks: chicken, steak or pork, depends on what I have in the freezer or what is on sale at Kroger’s.

This version uses low fat pork roast cooked in the crock pot until it falls off apart. It has plenty of flavor. After five hours, shred pork, return to crock pot and keep on warm. Everyone can eat on their own schedule.

One of the biggest complaints about crock pot cooking is that meat tends to dry out. My crock pot has two functions which allows you to stop the cooking and keeps meat from drying out. It has a temperature prob and timer that automatically switches to warm after a certain amount of time or temperature is reached. I need to get a WiFi crock pot which could be controlled by and app on my phone. There is a version on the market sold by Crock-Pot brand called WeMO, but I’m not sure how well it works. I will need to do more research. (Tip: Another trick is to place your meat in the crock pot frozen. This works best with chicken breasts or pork chops. Just make sure the food is cooked to the proper temperature before you serve)

This recipe uses Kirkland pork sirloin tip roast sold at Costco.

I love these because of the flavor and the size is perfect for a family. It is very versatile in recipes, especially for the crock pot. I have included a recipe for homemade dry onion soup mix, but Lipton store-bought mix will also work fine.

I hope enjoy this easy weekday meal. Please sign up for my weekly recipes, emailed directly to you, at www.dadwhats4dinner.com

Enjoy!

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