Another Hooiser Blogger

This blogging community I belong to is so wide, so varied, and so big I never have to look far to find something new I want to try in my kitchen. I love introducing ya'll to bloggers I love to read, and maybe ones you aren't familiar with yet, especially when it's a fellow Hooiser!

That's right, my good buddy Cris over at Goodeness Gracious, lives right here in Indiana, and blogs about her life, food, her family...her site really is a one stop shop for all things GOODe! 

A couple weeks ago her and I were talking about the "good ole' days" of blogging, before we really knew what we were doing, and how we wished we could go back and fix some of the photos are young blogger selves took. (I've actually been doing this all year long. You know, those recipes I've re-blogged from the days when only Adam and my mom read EMM!) What can I say? You live and learn, and in the early days of food photography, you're just happy to get a shot, and not really worried about what it looks like. She shared this recipe with me as an example of her early days, and honestly, I wasn't even looking at the photo after seeing the food! Oh my blog! It sounded fan-freakin-tastic, and she actually described it as the BEST chicken EVER. With a description like that, and how much I love chicken on the grill, you know I had to try it. (Oh, and if you click on the link above, you can see Cris's original post she was telling me about, but don't be critical, remember she was a young food blogger!) 

We grill year round, but if you're grilling season is winding down, do NOT let it close without making this! The marinade is so flavorful, and the chicken itself is juicy, tender and exactly what you want from grilled meat! And for those looking at it thinking "Oh, can I take the skin off?" You can, I'm not going to know, but I'm going to warn you, the skin is what absorbs the huge flavor of the marinade, gets crispy on the grill and makes this extra finger lickin'. But I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea, and I'm sure it would be delicious either way! 

If you aren't a reader of Cris's blog yet, I highly encourage you to become one. She always has something yummy cooking in her kitchen. We Hoosiers gotta stick together, and share some chicken when we can!

Grilled Beer and Mustard Chicken Inspired by Goodeness Gracious

10 chicken drumsticks, skin trimmed, but left on

1 (16 oz.) bottle beer (I used Bud Light)

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1/4 c. spicy brown mustard

1 TBS hot sauce

2 TBS Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 TBS grill seasoning

4 cloves garlic, minced 

Cooking Spray for grilling

In a large bowl combine beer, onions, mustard, hot sauce, Worcestershire, garlic and grill seasoning. Mix well. Add chicken. Toss to coat. Cover and marinade in fridge or 6 hours. When ready preheat grill to high. Spray with cooking spray. Place chicken on grill to sear, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking, turning every 5 minutes for 25-30 minutes until juices run clear. 

Shared on The Counry Cook Sept. 13, 2013

Comfort Food Convenience { A Review of Blake's All Natural Foods}

When it comes to comfort food, who isn't a fan? Nobody I know! And who wouldn't love to have delicious, hearty meals on their table with little or no prep time? Oh, and let's not forget they need to be filled with warm, quality ingredients that remind you of home! Well, now you can have all of that in one scrumptious dish!

Blake's All Natural Foods' all natural and organic line of comfort food pies and pastas is just the answer! With favorites like Chicken Pot Pie, with big chunks juicy chicken, veggies and an absolutely mouth watering, flaky crust; and creamy, cheesy Mac n Cheese, which tastes like something mom would make, these meals are literally comfort in a box!

I'm not exaggerating when I say the Chicken Pot Pie was one of the best I have ever had. And to be honest, I was a little apprehensive because of cooking in the microwave. (Now, that was my choice. I could have used the oven, but I was in a hurry.) But the crust was incredibly flaky, buttery and mouth watering. I literally could not get enough. I was licking the spoon!

The Mac n Cheese was something from a restaurant! Creamy, with perfectly cooked pasta and a down home bread crumb topping. We are mac and cheese aficionados in this house, and it scored very high!

These meals are perfect for a simple, lunch (especially if you have a microwave at work), or for busy on-the-go- families that still want wholesome dinners, but need convenience and simplicity too.

Blake's idea is simple: do things the hard way - make the meals from scratch, using the highest quality ingredients, so that for the consumer, it is easy as pie. Blake's meals can be purchased online and are also available in stores near you.

Still Time For A Picnic

We are a picnic loving family. It's one of our favorite summertime rituals. But with Labor Day behind us, and the stores filling up with pumpkins and scarecrows, I have got to face the fact autumn is well on it's way. It's knocking on the door, just waiting for us to answer.

But there is no doubt we've still got some warm, sunny days ahead of us (I love Indian Summer days!!), so why not enjoy a picnic then too? Sounds like a great idea to me; and I've got the perfect dish for you picnic basket.

My mom and grandma have been making this macaroni salad for as long as I can remember. And I must admit, while I'm happy to be continuing the tradition, no matter how many times I make it myself, it will never taste as good as theirs. Never. I've given up!

If you love hard boiled eggs, or you love green olives, this pasta salad is going to become your new favorite. They are definitely what makes it unique and stand out from others I've had before. I can tell you first hand, I've seen this sitting on a table at a pot-luck, with other pasta salads, and it is always the first to go. Everyone loves it. Simple but scrumptious, those are the two perfect words to describe it.

Now, many of you might read this and say "I don't use Miracle Whip, will mayo work." Quite frankly, no. I am a mayo lover and 99% of the time it is all I have in the house, but when I know I'm going to be making this, I have to buy the other. Why? Well, first off, it is what grandma and mom have always used, and that means I don't mess with it. But I actually have tried it with mayo before, and it just doesn't taste the same. The "whip" has a little more tangy flavor, marrying so well with the mustard and briny olives. I guess to be fair though, you won't have anything to compare it to, so if you want to use mayo, I'm sure it will still be yummy, it's just not what our family is used to; and I always want to be completely honest with you.

If you live in an area of the country where it is picnic weather year round...lucky you! You can enjoy this anytime. But if you're like us, just trying to fit in a final picnic or backyard barbecue of the season before the autumn leaves begin to fall, be sure to add this to your menu!

Mom's Macaroni Salad

1 lb. rotini pasta, cooked, rinsed and drained

1 ( 10 oz.) jar green olives, sliced

1 small onion, finely chopped

6 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1 1/2 c. Miracle Whip (mayo does NOT taste the same in this dish)

3 TBS mustard

3 TBS sweet relish

1 tsp. celery seed

Salt and Pepper to taste

Paprika, for garnish

In a large bowl combine pasta, olives,  eggs and onions. In a small bowl whisk together Miracle Whip, mustard, relish, celery seed, salt and pepper. Pour over pasta mixture. Stir well to combine. Cover and chill until serving, at least 2 hours. Before serving, stir again and sprinkle with paprika.

Shared on The Country Cook Sept. 13, 2013

Church Supper # 101

Good Morning and welcome to another Sunday! I hope this finds you enjoying your weekend and ready to share in some good fellowship and great food!

Thanks for stopping by today. I truly appreciate you sharing with our foodie family!

Please link up your favorite recipes from the week. And remember I wish you God's blessings all week long!

 " Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

Last Week's Most Viewed Recipe:

30 of the Best Dessert Recipes

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Six Sisters' Stuff

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Soul Food Saturday #21

Welcome to the first weekend of September! Bekki is celebrating one of our favorite fall traditions in this house, football!!! We love the pigskin, and everything that comes with it, and she has a great recipe for the next time you're watching your favorite team!

To me it is officially fall when football season starts. Whether the weather has decided it or not food changes in our house. There is nothing like a big bowl of spicy chili with rice during a game. What would be better than having a little prep in the morning, to come home and have it all ready to serve up? This recipe does just that with the help of your slow cooker. It easily doubles for a big crowd with no extra time needed. I love that! So, to all of you football fans out there, this one’s for you!

 

 

 

Spicy 2 Bean Slow Cooker Chili Adapted from Taste of Home

 Cooking spray

 1 lb. ground beef

 1 large onion, chopped

 6 mini sweet peppers, diced

 2 jalapenos, diced

 2 medium garlic cloves minced

 1 15 oz.) can red beans, drained and rinsed

 1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

 1 (10 oz.) can of diced tomatoes

 ½ tsp. dried oregano, crushed

 1 tsp. ground cumin

 1 tsp. chili powder

 ¼ tsp. black pepper

 ½ tsp. salt

 2 ½ c. chicken broth

 

Coat a large nonstick pot with cooking spray. Add ground beef, onion, sweet peppers, jalapeno. Cook over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add garlic and cook additional 5 minutes. Add meat mixture into a 5-quart slow cooker. Then add beans, tomatoes, oregano, cumin, chili powder, pepper, salt and broth. Cover and cook on low setting for 7 to 8 hours or until heated through.

Serve with rice and your favorite toppings, Enjoy!