‘Celebrate with 8’ for Friendship Day
Looking to give back to the friends that mean so much in your life?
Check out this Gift Guide to celebrate Friendship Day!
Celebrate with 8’ is a weekly feature at Bottom Left of the Mitten – learn more here.
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
What friend wouldn’t love a box of items for the ultimate in self-care? This gift box from PeaceOrganics is full of pampering items like a candle, bath bomb, and lip balm. PeaceOrganics is offering a discount for Bottom Left of the Mitten – enter code BLMITTEN10 to get 10% off the entire purchase in the shop!
This sweet little Good Friends are Like Stars Bracelet from LayeredandSimple make a great statement for the closest of friends. Choose from over 20 different colors to customize with your friends favorite color.
Give your friend the best of statement pieces with this Best Friend Enamel Pin from HennelPaperCo. Jean jacket possibly required to rock the best look for her ‘flair’.
Whenever your BFF reaches into the Personalized Makeup Bag from MoonwakeDesignsCo she will think of you.
Does your friend love the show, FRIENDS? This FRIENDS TV Show Wood Picture Sign from shopbohomey give a great way to display fun memories.
This personalized candle from TheShabbyWick is a great gift to really let your friend know that you really know everything about her!
No matter how far you and your friend are let them know that ‘Friendship Knows No Distance’ with this Mug from Hugalatteboutique. It’s 100% customizable to whatever city, state, or country that separates the two of you.
Define your friendship with this pillow from carrabelle. You can use their definition or you can also come up with your own defining description to make this a very special and touching gift.
‘Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud’~Maya Angelou. Celebrate.
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
Roast Beef Sandwich
Well, it’s official. This Mitten Movie Night marks 1 month until….my birthday! In honor of the downward slide and creeping closer to the middle of 40, I figured I would treat myself to one of my favorite food groups-sandwiches. There is nothing better than a BIG sandwich that you can sink your teeth into and just enjoy. The best thing about sandwiches is that almost anything goes and that goes for this roast beef sandwich that’s anything but average.
One (of many!) of the best sandwiches I ever had was in Louisville. It was mine and my husband’s anniversary get away. No kids, just us. We visited museums and did all the touristy things and then we would hit breweries for lunch or dinner. While we have been to Louisville several times since then (it’s our favorite place to visit when we are looking for a quick kid-free getaway) I always think back to this trip and the roast beef sandwich that I had there. It was full of meat, cheese, and onions. Droooolllll.
So when I was thinking of what type of sandwich to make I decided to make it like a big sub sandwich. Growing up my mom would make sub sandwiches in the summer and it was always a special treat. While I was at it I thought some bacon would be really good with this too. Then finally, let’s slather a blue cheese sauce on it.
The beefy concoction will pair perfectly with Bell’s Pooltime Ale. This beer is slightly tart from the cherries which make a perfect contrast to all the beef and tangy blue cheese in this. I may even say that I hit this combination out of the park!
For the movie recommendation, I HIGHLY suggest Father of the Year. Who doesn’t love Adam Sandler movies? David Spade returns to a little bit of Joe Dirt character which made this movie too funny! So now on to the roast beef sandwich recipe.
First, start by cooking the bacon. I like bacon very crisp so I cooked it for about 6 minutes then turn and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes. Take the loaf of bread and cut it in half. Spread with butter and place face down on a cookie sheet. Put into a preheated 350-degree oven and let it toast up for about 5-8 minutes.
Once the bacon is done remove it from the pan and put on a plate with paper towels to allow it to drain. Remove all the grease in the pan from the bacon reserving about 1-2 tsp. Add 1 Tbs of butter to that (this is not very diet friendly if you can’t tell) then add the sliced mushrooms and onions. Let those cook down for about 5 minutes. Then add the roast beef.
While those cook flip the bread over and spread the cheese equally on each side. Put back into the oven and let the cheese melt, around 5 minutes. Now make the sauce which is just mixing the blue cheese, mayonnaise and horseradish sauce together. Crumble the bacon and add to the cooked roast beef. Take the bread out of the oven then pile it high onto one side of the bread then top off with the other. Cut into 6 pieces then serve. Let others add lettuce, tomatoes, and the blue cheese mixture as they like. And here you are…..
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 15 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 1 loaf Italian bread
- 1 pound bacon
- 1 pound cooked roast beef from the deli area
- 8 ounces white mushrooms cleaned and sliced
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 1-1/2 Tbs butter
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup horseradish sauce
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
- lettuce and tomato for topping
Ingredients
|
|
- Start by cooking the bacon. Cook for about 6 minutes then turn and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes.
- Take the loaf of bread and cut it in half. Spread with butter and place face down on a cookie sheet. Put into a preheated 350-degree oven and let it toast up for about 5-8 minutes.
- Once the bacon is done remove it from the pan and put on a plate with paper towels to allow it to drain. Remove all the grease in the pan from the bacon reserving about 1-2 tsp.
- Add 1 Tbs of butter to that then add the sliced mushrooms and onions. Let those cook down for about 5 minutes. Then add the roast beef.
- While those cook flip the bread over and spread the cheese equally on each side. Put back into the oven and let the cheese melt, around 5 minutes.
- Now make the sauce which is just mixing the blue cheese, mayonnaise and horseradish sauce together.
- Crumble the bacon and add to the cooked roast beef.
- Take the bread out of the oven then pile it high onto one side of the bread then top off with the other. Cut into 6 pieces then serve. Let others add lettuce, tomatoes, and the blue cheese mixture as they like. Enjoy!
My Dad’s Chicken & Rice
I’m serious when I say that I have been eating this meal most of my life. It’s a recipe that my dad invented, thus the name ‘My Dad’s Chicken & Rice’. He cooked it for us growing up and when I was old enough he gave the recipe to me and I’ve been making it myself for about 20 years now.
My dad is a great cook! He makes the most unbelievable grilled chicken. My mouth is watering a little right now as I’m thinking about it. I want to think that he got his skills from my grandmother. On Sunday’s growing up, we would have big dinners of lamb, creamed spinach, and croissants. Dessert was almost always chocolate pudding with whipped cream. I loved those Sunday’s and I try and keep the tradition alive in our house. Sunday’s here usually start with Swedish Pancakes and end with a big comforting meal like Crock Pot Ranch Pork Roast.
For quick weeknight dinners though I look to this chicken and rice recipe. It’s full of chicken, meaty mushrooms, and crunchy water chestnuts. Perfect when you want a one-dish meal that goes from stove to table with little cleanup. Now on to My Dad’s Chicken & Rice recipe.
The key to really good chicken and rice is making sure the chicken in really crispy. In order to do that it means cooking the chicken separate from the mushrooms and onions. First, take the chicken and cut into cubes. On a plate, put the flour, garlic powder, and pepper. Dredge the chicken in the mixture coating all pieces.
In the bottom of a large pan, I use a covered stockpot, heat about 1 tbs. of oil in the bottom of a pan. Add the chicken to the pan and cook until all the chicken is nice and crispy around 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally to make sure all parts are browned. *Look at that! Again, this is what makes this dish amazing.*
Once the chicken has cooked take it out of the pan and set aside. In the same pan add butter and let it melt. Add the sliced mushrooms and chopped onion. Cook until the mushrooms start to shrink and the onions are browned.
To the pan add the chicken back in. Now add the wet ingredients: chicken broth, fancy mixed vegetables (do not drain liquid), water chestnuts (do not drain liquid), and soy sauce. Finally to the pot add the rice and stir it all together. Cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes check to see if you need to add any additional chicken stock so that the rice doesn’t dry out and stir so the rice doesn’t stick to the pan. If there’s still plenty of liquid allow to cook another 5-8 minutes covered.
Taste to make sure that the rice has cooked thoroughly and then add salt, pepper, and more soy sauce to your taste. I always end up adding more but please add at your discretion. Top with some crunchy noodles and here you are……
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Originally published March of 2016. Updated photos & recipe July of 2018.
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 25 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins cut into chunks
- 1 cup instant brown rice
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 Tbs butter
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 small yellow onion
- 1 tbs vegetable oil
- 1 8-ounce can water chestnuts chopped
- 1 14-ounce can fancy mixed vegetables
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
Ingredients
|
|
- Take the chicken and cut into cubes. On a plate, put the flour, garlic powder, and pepper. Dredge the chicken in the mixture coating all pieces.
- In the bottom of a large pan, I use a covered stock pot, heat about 1 tbs. of oil in the bottom of a pan. Add the chicken to the pan and cook until all the chicken is nice and crispy, around 10 minutes. Stiring occasially to make sure all parts are browned. Once the chicken has cooked take it out of the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan add butter and let it melt. Add the sliced mushrooms and chopped onion. Cook until the mushrooms start to shrink and the onions are browned.
- To the pan add the chicken back in. Now add the wet ingredients: chicken broth, fancy mixed vegetables (do not drain liquid), water chestnuts (do not dain liquid), and soy sauce. Finally to the pot add the rice and stir it all together.
- Cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes check to see if you need to add any additional chicken stock so that the rice doesn't dry out. If there's still plenty of liquid allow to cook another 5-8 minutes covered.
- Taste to make sure that the rice has cooked thoroughly and then add salt, pepper and more soy sauce to your taste. Enjoy!
Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos
I’ve got something spicy on deck for this Mitten Movie Night! These Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos are full of so much flavor. Soft tortillas filled with chicken, pico de gallo, cheese and finally topped with a buffalo ranch sauce that you will be putting on everything once you try it.
Can you believe that this Summer is half over? Where did the time go? What seems really odd is that we haven’t even been busy this summer. So in order to celebrate the mid-summer slump let’s pair these fresh tacos with some Summer Love Ale from Victory Brewing Company. A perfect fruity compliment to the bite of the buffalo sauce and the jalapeno in the pico de gallo.
For tonight’s movie, I recommend ‘How It Ends’. I am a big fan of post-apocalyptic movies and this one was right up my alley. Check out Netflix to find this title. So now on to these buffalo ranch chicken tacos!
Start by cutting each chicken breast in half to thin these out a bit. I then cover with plastic wrap and use a mallet to beat the chicken down to about 1/2″ thick. Heat the oil in a pan then sprinkle the creole seasoning over each side of the chicken. Place the chicken into the pan and cook each side 4-6 minutes. Placing the seasoning on the chicken make it look almost ‘blackened‘.
While the chicken cooks make the pico de gallo. You can hand chop all the vegetables and then mix them with the lime, cilantro, and cumin or you can save so much time by using a food processor. It does make it a little watery from the tomatoes so what I do it strain in a mesh strainer over a bowl. Saves so much time and tastes just as delicious.
Once the chicken has cooked all the way through remove from the pan and cube. In a bowl combine the buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. This sauce is the key to making this chicken taco recipe the BEST!
For the flour tortillas, I love to cook them over the open flame on my stove. You can, of course, skip this step if you like and just cover 8 tortillas with a warm, wet paper towel and microwave for 25 seconds. Now fill the shells with chicken, cheese, pico de gallo then drizzle with buffalo ranch sauce. Serve with Double Batch Smashed Beans and here you are…..
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 10 minutes |
| Servings |
tacos
|
- 8 flour tortillas, fajita size
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded thin
- 2 Tbs creole seasoning
- 2 Tbs avocado oil or vegetable oil
- 1 cup mexican blend shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
Ingredients
Chicken for tacos
Buffalo Ranch
|
|
- Start by cutting each chicken breast in half to thin these out a bit. Then cover with plastic wrap and use a mallet to beat the chicken down to about 1/2" thick.
- Heat the oil in a pan then sprinkle the creole seasoning over each side of the chicken. Place the chicken into the pan and cook each side 4-6 minutes. Placing the seasoning on the chicken make it look almost 'blackened'.
- Once the chicken has cooked all the way through remove from the pan and cube.
- You can hand chop all the vegetables and then mix them with the lime, cilantro, and cumin or you can save so much time by using a food processor. *If you make this in the food processor: Strain in a mesh strainer over a bowl.
- In a bowl combine the buffalo sauce and ranch dressing.
- Fill the tortilla shells with chicken, cheese, pico de gallo then drizzle with buffalo ranch sauce. Enjoy!
Sausage Hash Brown Casserole
Do you love making big breakfasts during the weekend? Or like to make a breakfast casserole on Sundays so there are plenty of leftovers for weekday mornings? If you say yes to either of those then this Sausage Hash Brown Casserole is for you! Loaded with potatoes, sausage, cheese, eggs and a special ‘secret ingredient’ this stick to your ribs recipe is made for a crowd or even better as leftovers.
I first had this dish while staying the weekend with my family up in Muskegon. It was such a great weekend visiting with family and lots of great food. On Sunday morning we woke up and my stepmom made a big breakfast and the main dish was this sausage hash brown casserole. It was so good!
While I was gobbling it down I asked her what was all in it so that I could make it once we got home. She said the first few ingredients which were a given: hash browns, sausage, cheese….but then she said ‘french onion dip’. What? You mean like chip dip? Yes! Even though it’s not something that I would have thought of I now can’t imagine a savory breakfast casserole that isn’t a combination of creamy sour cream and french onion dip. Now on to the breakfast casserole recipe!
Start by defrosting the hash browns according to the package directions. If you try to cook them frozen your casserole will take about…5 hours to cook. Now if you are having a really lazy Sunday then fine but you would probably have all your coffee drank by then and what fun is that?
While the hash browns are thawing in a pan on the stovetop cook the breakfast sausage and onions until cooked all the way through. Should take around 8-10 minutes. Remove the sausage from the pan and place on a plate with a few paper towels. Depending on how fatty your sausage is there may be grease that needs to drain off.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 dish. Next in a bowl whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and Spanish paprika. In a large bowl add the container of sour cream and french onion dip. Stir to combine. Now add the thawed hash browns to the bowl followed by the egg mixture. Finally, add all but 1/2 a cup of the cheese to the bowl.
Stir it all together so the everything is all combined well. Add it all into the prepared pan and spread it all evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese on the top. Cover the pan with tin foil then cook for 50 minutes. Cut into 12 pieces and serve with a big bowl of fruit, biscuits and jelly. And here you are……
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 50 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 8 ounces french onion dip
- 30 onces frozen hash browns thawed according to package directions
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 6 eggs, large
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp Spanish paprika
- 8 ounces shredded colby jack cheese
Ingredients
|
|
- Defrost the hash browns according to the package directions.
- In a pan on the stovetop cook the breakfast sausage and onions until cooked all the way through. Should take around 8-10 minutes.
- Remove the sausage from the pan and place on a plate with a few paper towels. Depending on how fatty your sausage is there may be grease that needs to drain off.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 dish.
- In a bowl whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and Spanish paprika.
- In a large bowl add the container of sour cream and french onion dip. Stir to combine. Now add the thawed hash browns to the bowl followed by the egg mixture. Finally add all but 1/2 a cup of the cheese to the bowl.
- Stir it all together so the everything is all combines well. Add it all into the preprared pan and spread it all evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese on the top.
- Cover the pan with tin foil then cook for 50 minutes.
- Cut into 12 pieces and serve. Enjoy!
Bull’s Eye Beer Cocktail
Man, has it been hot here in Michigan!?! Sheesh, with what equates to tropical humidity and almost 100-degree temps I’ve been spending a lot of time hiding out in the air conditioning. While it’s been nice I have to admit that it’s not conducive to a nice tan and getting much personal use out of our pool. So what better way to enjoy the refreshing pool than make a cocktail to float in the pool with? A Bull’s Eye beer cocktail to be exact.
Since I blog mainly about beer and food pairings, but I’ve been dreaming about fruity strawberry daiquiris or margaritas, I decided the best of both worlds would be to start playing with some beer cocktails! Now, I do not prefer an overly fruity drink or what my brother-in-law calls ‘purse drinks’ but something light is right up my alley. After doing some research I came across this article in Marie Claire, 15 Super Simple Beer Cocktails to Cool You Down this Summer. All of them looked great but I was intrigued by the ‘Bull’s Eye’. While the article states this is a Cuban drink I felt since it’s made with light beer and ginger ale it was waiting for a Michigan twist.
So to the store I headed to pick up Michigan’s own Vernor’s Ginger Ale. Then I picked up some Local’s Light Ale from Short’s Brewing. I have a deep fondness for Short’s Brewing. They have such unique and delicious brews that they make pairing them with food so much fun! A few of my favorites are:
- Toad in a Hole with Soft Parade
- Beef Tips & Gravy with The Double Magician
- Fried Jalapeno Burger with Michigantuan
- Jerk Chicken Sandwiches with Bellaire Brown
Enough of the reminiscing and let’s get on to the recipe. This is will make 2 drinks. I made them right in the glass. I’m sure if you were serving a crowd you could easily double and make right in a pitcher. You might even avoid the overflow that you see below!
To a glass add 1/2 of the beer. Then add 1/2 Tbs sugar and half the amount of the lime juice, about 2-1/2 Tbs. This is where the bubble up will happen so let the fizz settle then using a spoon stir the ingredients together. Top off with half a cup of ginger ale then fill to the brim with ice. Add more ginger ale as needed to fill the glass. Give it one last stir and top with limes for garnish and straw. This beer cocktail is both refreshing and light, perfect for a hot day. And here you are….cheers!
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
drinks
|
- 1 12-ounce light beer I used Short's Brewing Local's Light
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 1 cup ginger ale
- 1 Tbs white sugar
- ice
- lime slices for garnish
Ingredients
|
|
- To a glass add 1/2 of the beer. Then add 1/2 Tbs sugar and half the amount of the lime juice, about 2-1/2 Tbs.
- Let the fizz settle then using a spoon stir the ingredients together.
- Top off with half a cup of ginger ale then fill to the brim with ice. Add more ginger ale as needed to fill the glass.
- Give it one last stir and top with limes for garnish and straw. Cheers!
Duck Breast Wrapped In Bacon #CookoutWeek
For my last #CookoutWeek recipe I made something that I’ve never cooked at home before, duck. I was so excited to receive from one of our sponsors, Maple Leaf Farms, a whole bunch of duck goodies. Duck breasts, duck bacon, and half roasted ducks. So it was time to get creative and I think I created a winner for sure in this duck breast wrapped in duck bacon.
While I’ve had duck many times at restaurants and really enjoy it for me it’s like fish entrees, I prefer to eat them out instead of worry about how to make them at home. But I am up for a challenge and what better place to take a shot than Cookout Week?!
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy. I received Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breasts,
Duck Bacon and roasted half ducks complimentary but all opinions stated in this post are my own.
For more information about visit Maple Leaf Farms site or Instagram.
For this recipe, I decided to keep it simple. As simple as it gets to WRAPPING IT IN BACON! Make sure that the duck breasts are unthawed. Pat each one dry then place on a rack. Open 1 package of bacon then wrap at least 3 pieces on each breast. You won’t use the whole package so what I did was add the bacon to the sheet that I baked these on and my family enjoyed them as an addition to the breasts. The duck bacon was amazing! The boys raved and raved about it.
I ended up baking the breasts in the oven since Michigan weather has been kind of a pain (rain, rain, and more rain). Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and they should be done in around 1 hour. Next time I plan on cooking these on the grill! But I was very happy with how these turned out without going to grill route and it gives me a way to make these all year round.
One of my favorite combinations of flavors is chicken blackberries. Since duck has a similar flavor profile I thought a sweet sauce would be great with this. And then it’s summer so why not heat things up a little with chili powder? Yes! It’s so simple. Remove the pit from the apricots and chop. Add the preserves, salt, red pepper and chili powder. Done!
Check the final temperature to make sure the duck is cooked all the way through. It should be at an internal temp of 165 degrees. And here you are….
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Don’t forget to enter the #CookoutWeek giveaway! This prize pack has an ARV of over $750! You have until June 30th at 11:59 PM to enter, follow our sponsors and bloggers on social media by entering your information below:
To enter, follow our sponsors and bloggers on social media by entering your information below:
Check out all these delicious recipes from all the participants of #CookoutWeek!
Follow the other bloggers as well to get great ideas for your next cookout. Here are all the bloggers who are part of #CookoutWeek 2018:
The PinterTest Kitchen ♥ 2 Cookin Mamas ♥ A Day in the Life on the Farm ♥ A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures ♥ April GoLightly ♥ Authentically Candace ♥ Blogghetti ♥ Body Rebooted ♥ Bottom Left of the Mitten ♥ Cheese Curd In Paradise ♥ Chef Sarah Elizabeth ♥ Coconut & Lime ♥ Cookaholic Wife ♥ CookwithRenu ♥ Daily Dish Recipes ♥ Everyday Eileen ♥ Fairyburger ♥ Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice ♥ Family Around the Table ♥ Fix Me a Little Lunch ♥ For the Love of Food ♥ Frankly Entertaining ♥ Frugal & Fit ♥ Get the Good Stuff! ♥ Hardly A Goddess ♥ Herbivore Cucina ♥ Join Us, Pull up a Chair ♥ Jolene’s Recipe Journal ♥ Jonesin’ For Taste ♥ Karen’s Kitchen Stories ♥ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets & Treats ♥ Mildly Meandering ♥ Moore or Less Cooking ♥ Our Good Life ♥ Oven Tales By Syama ♥ Palatable Pastime ♥ Sarah Cooks the Books ♥ Savory Moments ♥ Seduction In The Kitchen ♥ Strawberry Blondie Kitchen ♥ Sweet Coralice ♥ Tampa Cake Girl ♥ Technotini ♥ That Recipe ♥ The Baking Fairy ♥ The Beard and The Baker ♥ The Freshman Cook ♥ The Simple Supper ♥ The Spiffy Cookie ♥ The Weekday Gourmet ♥ This is How I Cook ♥ Who Needs A Cape? ♥ Wildflour’s Cottage Kitchen
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 1 hour |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 2 7.5 ounce boneless duck breasts
- 12 ounces duck bacon
- 1/2 cup aprictot preserves
- 2 apricots chopped and pitted
- 2 Tbs water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
Ingredients
|
|
- Make sure that the duck breasts are unthawed. Pat each one dry then place on a rack.
- Open 1 package of bacon then wrap atleast 3 pieces on each breast. You won't use the whole package so what I did was add the bacon to the sheet that I baked these.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and they should be done in around 1 hour.
- Remove the pit from the apricots and chop. Add the preserves, salt, red pepper and chili powder.
- Check the final temperature to make sure the duck is cooked all the way through. It should be at internal temp of 165 degrees. Top with the apricots and enjoy!
Margarita Pie #CookoutWeek
I really don’t think that #CookoutWeek can pass without having an easy, no-bake dessert that everyone will love! My Mother-In-Law’s Margarita Pie is a creamy, citrus no-bake pie with a pretzel crust that’s the perfect summer treat.
I have previously updated the recipe for this pie and made a Cherry Limeade Pretzel Pie for National Pretzel Day. The change was great but for today I thought I would just make the classic Margarita Pie recipe that I’ve been enjoying for years now.
This Margarita Pie also gives off some serious summertime vibes. Full of creamy filling mixed with lime and orange juice it’s the perfect compliment to the salty pretzel crust. No turning on the oven when it’s 100 degrees but you NEED to get a dessert made for that cookout your heading to. Now on to the recipe because Summer is short!
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy. I received Barlean’s Butter Flavored Coconut Oil complimentary but all opinions stated in this post are my own.
For more information about Barlean’s visit their About page.
For the crust, it’s as simple as crushing the pretzels. You can use a food processor or a good old Ziploc bag and a rolling pin. Melt the Barlean’s Butter Flavored Coconut Oil, which made a fabulous swap for regular butter in this recipe, then either add it to the bag or slowly pour into the food processor while pulsing to combine and get the pretzels nice and fine. Add the sugar to the mix then press the crumbs into a 9-inch pie plate.
In a seperate bowl add the whipped cream, lime juice, orange juice then the sweetened condensed milk. Fold the ingredients together from the bottom up. Keep stirring until all the ingredients are well combined. Add the filling to the pretzel crust. Put into the refrigerator to set for at least 1 hour. Slice into 8 pieces and here you are……
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Don’t forget to enter the #CookoutWeek giveaway! This prize pack has an ARV of over $750! You have until June 30th at 11:59 PM to enter, follow our sponsors and bloggers on social media by entering your information below:
To enter, follow our sponsors and bloggers on social media by entering your information below:
Check out all these delicious recipes from all the participants of #CookoutWeek!
Follow the other bloggers as well to get great ideas for your next cookout. Here are all the bloggers who are part of #CookoutWeek 2018:
The PinterTest Kitchen ♥ 2 Cookin Mamas ♥ A Day in the Life on the Farm ♥ A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures ♥ April GoLightly ♥ Authentically Candace ♥ Blogghetti ♥ Body Rebooted ♥ Bottom Left of the Mitten ♥ Cheese Curd In Paradise ♥ Chef Sarah Elizabeth ♥ Coconut & Lime ♥ Cookaholic Wife ♥ CookwithRenu ♥ Daily Dish Recipes ♥ Everyday Eileen ♥ Fairyburger ♥ Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice ♥ Family Around the Table ♥ Fix Me a Little Lunch ♥ For the Love of Food ♥ Frankly Entertaining ♥ Frugal & Fit ♥ Get the Good Stuff! ♥ Hardly A Goddess ♥ Herbivore Cucina ♥ Join Us, Pull up a Chair ♥ Jolene’s Recipe Journal ♥ Jonesin’ For Taste ♥ Karen’s Kitchen Stories ♥ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets & Treats ♥ Mildly Meandering ♥ Moore or Less Cooking ♥ Our Good Life ♥ Oven Tales By Syama ♥ Palatable Pastime ♥ Sarah Cooks the Books ♥ Savory Moments ♥ Seduction In The Kitchen ♥ Strawberry Blondie Kitchen ♥ Sweet Coralice ♥ Tampa Cake Girl ♥ Technotini ♥ That Recipe ♥ The Baking Fairy ♥ The Beard and The Baker ♥ The Freshman Cook ♥ The Simple Supper ♥ The Spiffy Cookie ♥ The Weekday Gourmet ♥ This is How I Cook ♥ Who Needs A Cape? ♥ Wildflour’s Cottage Kitchen
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 0 minutes |
| Servings |
pieces
|
- 1-1/2 cups pretzels, crushed
- 3 Tbs Barlean's Butter Flavored Coconut Oil melted
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1/4 cup lime
- 1/4 cup Orange Juice I use the type WITH pulp
- 8 ounces whipped cream thawed
Ingredients
|
|
- Crush the pretzels using a food processor or a Ziploc bag and a rolling pin.
- Melt the coconut oil then either add it to the bag or slowly pour into the food processor while pulsing to combine and get the pretzels nice and fine.
- Add the sugar to the mix then press the crumbs into a 9-inch pie plate.
- In a seperate bowl add the whipped cream, lime juice, orange juice then the sweetened condensed milk. Fold the ingredients together from the bottom up. Keep stirring until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Add the filling to the pretzel crust.
- Put into the refrigerator to set for at least 1 hour. Slice into 8 pieces. Enjoy!
BBQ Baked Potatoes #CookoutWeek
I’m so excited to be participating in another #CookoutWeek! Time sure goes by fast when it feels like we just got done with Choctoberfest. Here we are though heading straight into summer and that means grilling out! Give these BBQ baked potatoes a try. Loaded with a beef and beans then topped with cheese and green onions this potato makes a wonderful summer meal.
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy. I received Chef Shamy complimentary but all opinions stated in this post are my own. For more information about Chef Shamy visit their About page. You can purchase Chef Shamy here and save 10% with the discount code 10BUTTER10 through July 4th.
I feel like summer just started yet we are a week away from the 4th of July. Michigan is odd though because due to the law we do not start school until after Labor Day. Where we live in Michigan it’s very close to Indiana and they’ve already been out of school for what feels like weeks! I’m sure they feel the same when they go back to school close to the beginning of August and we’re still chilling through Labor Day though.
Well whenever your summer starts no matter where summer usually means cooking out. So let’s get to my first contribution to #CookoutWeek, BBQ baked potatoes.
Chef Shamy sent me two tubs of what I am referring to now as ‘the good stuff’. From beginning to end Chef Shamy is what made these potatoes. The whole time we were eating them my 11-year-old kept saying, ‘The butter is what makes it.’ He is my best go to for honesty on recipes and he loved these BBQ baked potatoes. So let’s get to the recipe!
After looking into a few different variations of making BBQ baked potatoes on the grill it seemed like the only logical choice would be to season the tin foil that we are wrapping our potato in. So start by ripping off 6 large sheets of tin foil. Wash the potatoes then set them aside. In a microwaveable bowl melt the Chef Shamy Garlic butter. With a basting brush spread the butter on one side of each piece of tin foil. Sprinkle with sea salt.
Poke each potato with a fork to make holes for steam to escape as they cook. Put the baked potato right in the center of the tin foil then fold at the top then the sides. It is now ready for the grill. Crank the heat on the grill to medium heat so these cook low and slow for 45 minutes-1 hour.
In the last 15 minutes of the potato cooking make the toppings. I decided on beef, beans and a slightly sweet BBQ sauce would be perfect! In a pan brown the beef, garlic and chopped onion until the meat is cooked all the way through. Drain off the extra fat from the pan. Now add the beef broth, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar, molasses, chili powder and paprika. Stir to combine and heat through.
Take the potoatoes off the grill and let set for a few minutes. Open the foil carefully since steam will escape. Cut the potato in half. Fluff the potato then add some more Chef Shamy Garlic Butter. Top with the beef and beans. Sprinkle cheese and green onion. Return to the grill for 2-4 minutes to melt the cheese. And here you are….
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Don’t forget to enter the #CookoutWeek giveaway! This prize pack has an ARV of over $750! You have until June 30th at 11:59 PM to enter, follow our sponsors and bloggers on social media by entering your information below:
To enter, follow our sponsors and bloggers on social media by entering your information below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out all these delicious recipes from all the participants of #CookoutWeek!
Follow the other bloggers as well to get great ideas for your next cookout. Here are all the bloggers who are part of #CookoutWeek 2018:
The PinterTest Kitchen ♥ 2 Cookin Mamas ♥ A Day in the Life on the Farm ♥ A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures ♥ April GoLightly ♥ Authentically Candace ♥ Blogghetti ♥ Body Rebooted ♥ Bottom Left of the Mitten ♥ Cheese Curd In Paradise ♥ Chef Sarah Elizabeth ♥ Coconut & Lime ♥ Cookaholic Wife ♥ CookwithRenu ♥ Daily Dish Recipes ♥ Everyday Eileen ♥ Fairyburger ♥ Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice ♥ Family Around the Table ♥ Fix Me a Little Lunch ♥ For the Love of Food ♥ Frankly Entertaining ♥ Frugal & Fit ♥ Get the Good Stuff! ♥ Hardly A Goddess ♥ Herbivore Cucina ♥ Join Us, Pull up a Chair ♥ Jolene’s Recipe Journal ♥ Jonesin’ For Taste ♥ Karen’s Kitchen Stories ♥ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets & Treats ♥ Mildly Meandering ♥ Moore or Less Cooking ♥ Our Good Life ♥ Oven Tales By Syama ♥ Palatable Pastime ♥ Sarah Cooks the Books ♥ Savory Moments ♥ Seduction In The Kitchen ♥ Strawberry Blondie Kitchen ♥ Sweet Coralice ♥ Tampa Cake Girl ♥ Technotini ♥ That Recipe ♥ The Baking Fairy ♥ The Beard and The Baker ♥ The Freshman Cook ♥ The Simple Supper ♥ The Spiffy Cookie ♥ The Weekday Gourmet ♥ This is How I Cook ♥ Who Needs A Cape? ♥ Wildflour’s Cottage Kitchen
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 55 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 6 large baking potatoes
- 1/4 cup Chef Shamy Garlic Butter melted
- 2 Tbs sea salt
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbs lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 Tbs yellow mustard
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp dark molasses
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp Spanish paprika
- 1/4 cup Chef Shamy Garlic Butter not melted for topping after potatoes have cooked
- 1/2 cup shredded colby jack cheese
- 1/4 cup green onions chopped
Ingredients
|
|
- Rip off 6 large sheets of tin foil. Wash the potatoes then set them aside.
- In a microwaveable bowl melt the Chef Shamy Garlic butter. With a basting brush spread the butter on one side of each piece of tin foil. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Poke each potato with a fork to make holes for steam to escape as they cook. Put the baked potato right in the center of the tin foil then fold at the top then the sides.
- Crank the heat on the grill to medium heat sthen place these on the grill and cook low and slow for 45 minutes-1 hour.
- In the last 15 minutes of the potato cooking make the toppings. In a pan brown the beef, garlic and chopped onion until the meat is cooked all the way through. Drain off the extra fat from the pan.
- Add the beef broth, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar, molasses, chili powder and paprika. Stir to combine and heat through.
- Take the potoatoes off the grill and let set for a few minutes. Open the foil carefully since steam will escape. Cut the potato in half.
- Fluff the potato then add some more Chef Shamy Garlic Butter. Top with the beef and beans. Sprinkle cheese and green onion. Return to the grill for 2-4 minutes to melt the cheese. Enjoy!
Cookout Week 2018 + Giveaway
#CookoutWeek 2018 is here! During the next week, I am joining over 50 of my blogger friends to celebrate summer by posting delicious cookout-themed recipes. If you love grilling, frozen treats, picnics, berries, s’mores, campfire meals, and other summer goodies… you are in the right place!
This week, we are also hosting a HUGE giveaway thanks to our generous #CookoutWeek sponsors. Enter below to win. Here’s what one lucky will will receive:
- Char-Broil Classic 280 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill from blog hosts The PinterTest Kitchen. This grill has 280 square inches of cooking space over porcelain-coated grates and two 12-inch side shelves for extra prep space.
- A Red KitchenAid Mixer and 5 Flavored Butters from our friends at Chef Shamy. Make the World a Butter Place® with Chef Shamy! The winner will receive Garlic Butter, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Honey Butter, Vanilla Bean Honey Butter, Strawberry Honey Butter, and French Onion Butter with Asiago Cheese to use in your favorite cookout recipes. And if you just can’t wait, use 10BUTTER10 starting today to get 10% off your Chef Shamy butter order on Amazon. These butters contain no oil, and the savory butters are perfect for keto recipes.
- A Duck Product Pack from our friends at Maple Leaf Farms consisting of 2 pkgs All Natural Boneless Duck Breasts (7.5 oz), 2 pkgs Fully Cooked Roast Half Ducks w/Orange Sauce (14 oz), 1 pkg Duck Bacon (12 oz), and 1 pkg All Natural Duck Legs (16 oz). Maple Leaf Farms is celebrating its 60th anniversary raising White Pekin ducks on local, family-owned farms.
- Butter-flavored Organic Coconut Oil from our friends at Barlean’s. This dairy free option offers all the healthy benefits of organic coconut oil, with the rich taste of butter. It’s great on toast, popcorn, baked potatoes, or cooked vegetables. You can also substitute it 1:1 for butter in baking, cooking, and frying, and of course it is perfect as a butter substitute for all your favorite cookout recipes.
- 24 Cartons of Vinegar Shots from our friends at Vermont Village. You’ll receive 12 cartons of turmeric flavor and 12 cartons of cranberry flavor. Each carton contains 12 individual, 1 fluid ounce vinegar shot pouches! This raw, organic apple cider vinegar has rich flavors from whole foods and is sweetened naturally with honey.
That’s a prize pack worth over $750!
To enter, follow our sponsors and bloggers on social media by entering your information below:
Here’s a full list of the bloggers participating in #CookoutWeek 2018! You can find yummy recipes by checking out any of the links below:
The PinterTest Kitchen ♥ 2 Cookin Mamas ♥ A Day in the Life on the Farm ♥ A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures ♥ April GoLightly ♥ Authentically Candace ♥ Blogghetti ♥ Body Rebooted ♥ Bottom Left of the Mitten ♥ Cheese Curd In Paradise ♥ Chef Sarah Elizabeth ♥ Coconut & Lime ♥ Cookaholic Wife ♥ CookwithRenu ♥ Daily Dish Recipes ♥ Everyday Eileen ♥ Fairyburger ♥ Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice ♥ Family Around the Table ♥ Fix Me a Little Lunch ♥ For the Love of Food ♥ Frankly Entertaining ♥ Frugal & Fit ♥ Get the Good Stuff! ♥ Hardly A Goddess ♥ Herbivore Cucina ♥ Join Us, Pull up a Chair ♥ Jolene’s Recipe Journal ♥ Jonesin’ For Taste ♥ Karen’s Kitchen Stories ♥ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets & Treats ♥ Mildly Meandering ♥ Moore or Less Cooking ♥ Our Good Life ♥ Oven Tales By Syama ♥ Palatable Pastime ♥ Sarah Cooks the Books ♥ Savory Moments ♥ Seduction In The Kitchen ♥ Strawberry Blondie Kitchen ♥ Sweet Coralice ♥ Tampa Cake Girl ♥ Technotini ♥ That Recipe ♥ The Baking Fairy ♥ The Beard and The Baker ♥ The Freshman Cook ♥ The Simple Supper ♥ The Spiffy Cookie ♥ The Weekday Gourmet ♥ This is How I Cook ♥ Who Needs A Cape? ♥ Wildflour’s Cottage Kitchen
Comment below with your favorite cookout recipe!
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