Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Air Fryer Egg Rolls have the same crispy, crunchy outside as fried egg rolls only made with less mess. They make a great appetizer or a meal for two.
For this Mitten Movie Night, I decided to just make 8 eggs rolls to serve just my husband and me to eat while enjoying a few beers that we brought back with us from our trip down South. Air fryers are perfect for small-batch snacking recipes like this one!
What beer pairs well with small-batch snacks like egg rolls?
The beer: Cheetah from Rhinegeist Brewery.
One of my favorite parts of traveling is seeing what the area we visit has to offer as far as craft beer. Recently we traveled from Michigan to Charleston to Savannah to Atlanta to Indianapolis to Chicago. PHEW! we found some great beers along the way including this one from a Cincinnati area brewery.
American lagers are what many deem as mainstream beer. Most breweries and taprooms have a lager available year-round so it’s a great recommendation for those who are looking to dip their toes into something new.
Want more food and beer pairings with American Lagers?
What movie goes great with small-batch snacks like egg rolls with sweet and sour dipping sauce?
BINGE WATCH ON! Gearing up for Season 3 of Ozark so we’re rewatching Season 2. I mean, who remembers everything that happened last season when it’s been a year? Snacks, drinks, Netflix-night made.
How to make Air Fryer Egg Rolls:
For these egg rolls, I used some leftover pork that I used to make BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza. I cooked the pork once in the crockpot and got double duty meals out of it. Win-win! If you prefer chicken or beef feel free to swap them out in this recipe in a one-to-one ratio.
Start by chopping the cabbage and green onions. Shred the pork.
In a pan add 1 tsp oil and sautee the egg roll filling until the cabbage is softened and pork is slightly crispy around 10 minutes.
Once the cabbage has softened add the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ground ginger, sugar, and garlic powder. Turn off the heat and let the filling cool slightly.
Grab the egg rolls wrappers, a plate and a small dish of cool water. Don’t use warm water it will make the wrappers gummy).
On a plate or piece of wax paper lay down one egg roll wrapper with one corner facing you. Slightly below center add two spoonfuls of filling. Be careful not to overfill.
Using your finger, dab it into the dish of water then rub water on all four sides side.
Fold the bottom over the filling.
Bring each side into the center, folding over the filling. Finish by rolling the rest of the way.
Spray the bottom of the air fryer with oil. Lay the prepared egg rolls into the air fryer tray, 4 at a time, then spray the top with more oil. *Make sure to check your air fryer manufacturer’s directions to see if it’s safe to use oil in it before proceeding.
Set the temperature for 350 degrees and ‘fry’ for 5 minutes.
Flip the egg rolls after 5 minutes, spray with more oil then ”fry’ for another 3 minutes.
Remove from the air fryer tray, pour some sweet and sour sauce into a dish 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 | 20 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 16 ounces egg roll wrappers, premade
- 4 Tbs cool water
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup cooked pulled pork shredded
- 1 cup head cabbage chopped
- 2 green onion stalks chopped
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Ingredients
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- Chop the cabbage and green onions. Shred the cooked pork.
- In a pan add 1 tsp oil and sautee the egg roll filling until the cabbage is softened and pork is slightly crispy around 10 minutes.
- When cabbage has softened add the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ground ginger, sugar, and garlic powder. Turn off the heat and let the filling cool slightly.
- On a plate or piece of wax paper lay down one egg roll wrapper with one corner facing you. Slightly below center add two spoonfuls of filling. Be careful not to overfill.
- Using your finger, dab it into the dish of water then rub water on all four sides side.
- Fold the bottom over the filling.
- Bring each side into the center, folding over the filling. Finish by rolling the rest of the way.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer with oil. Lay the prepared egg rolls into the air fryer tray, 4 at a time, then spray the top with more oil.
- Set the temperature for 350 degrees and 'fry' for 5 minutes.
- Flip the egg rolls after 5 minutes, spray with more oil then ''fry' for another 3 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer tray and serve with sweet and sour sauce. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Empanadas
Air Fryer Empanadas are the answer snack time or anytime! Made with flaky pie crust, savory beef filling, and cheese you will find yourself making batch after batch.
There’s nothing better than a great recipe to have in the back of your pocket for nights when you just want some comfort snack foods that don’t take too much effort. Good thing I’ve got this ground beef empanada recipe for just those kinds of nights!
The great thing about this air fryer beef empanada recipe is that you don’t use all of the ground beef for the initial preparation. What I do is freeze the additional beef that’s leftover so I can make these again without having to remake all the meat.
Bonus, you can freeze storebought pie crust. Grab them when they are on sale so when you want to whip these up, the beef and the crust are already in my freezer. I just put both items in the refrigerator to thaw the night before and it’s HELLO snack time the next night!
What movie pairs well with air fryer empanadas?
For this Mitten Movie Night, we are watching The Great Outdoors in honor of the late, great John Candy who passed away 26 years ago this week.
What beer pairs well with flaky pie crust stuffed with ground beef and cheese then dipped in lots of sour cream and salsa?
The beer: Dirty Blonde from Atwater Brewery.
You will see this beer in many of my posts because it just happens to be 1) my favorite, 2) a perfect example of blonde ales because it can literally be paired with any dish.
Do you own an air fryer? If so, check out these other air fryer recipes on the site:
How to make Empanadas in the Air Fryer:
The key to making this empanadas recipe is to KEEP IT COOL.
- Make sure the ground beef has cooled completely before using it.
- Roll out one sheet of pie crust at a time, keep the other one in the refrigerator and only remove when ready to cut the circles out.
Start by browning the ground beef. Cook over medium/high heat on top of the stove. When the beef is halfway cooked, add the garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder, and cumin.
Once the ground beef is cooked all the way through and no longer pink drain the grease from it and add to a bowl. LET IT COOL COMPLETELY.
When the beef has cooled, remove one of the pie crusts from the refrigerator to start cutting out the circles.
On a piece of wax or parchment paper add a small amount of flour and roll the pie crust out onto it.
Using a glass or biscuit cutter cut out 7-8 circles.
There will be remaining dough. Pick it up and roll it together into a ball.
Using the same glass, roll the dough out into a circle again and cut additional circles. I can usually get 11-12 circles of dough out of each crust.
Add the cooled ground beef and shredded cheese onto one half of the pie crust circle. *Any additional ground beef that is leftover put into a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to a month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator 24 hours before use.
The best way to make sure that they seal and you don’t make a mess of the air fryer basket, pinch the edges then fold the edges over. Crimp the folded edge with a fork.
Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with spray vegetable oil. Add the prepared empanadas to the basket. Spray the tops with additional oil or brush with melted butter (this is my favorite way to make them but spray works well too).
Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and fry for 8 minutes. With a fork, gently flip each one. Spray again with oil or brush with butter and fry for 1 more minute.
Remove the empanadas from the basket and continue the process until they are all made, should take about 3-4 times. Keep the already made ones warm in the oven or eat as you make them!
Serve these with sour cream and salsa. 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 | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time | 24 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 1 pounds ground beef I used 80/20
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp chili powders
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 2 9-inch pie crusts
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 1 Tbs flour
- chunky salsa for serving
- sour cream for serving
- vegetable oil spray
Ingredients
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- Start by browning the ground beef. Cook over medium/high heat on top of the stove. When the beef is halfway cooked, add the garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder, and cumin.
- Once the ground beef is cooked all the way through and no longer pink drain the grease from it and add to a bowl. LET IT COOL COMPLETELY.
- When the beef has cooled, remove one of the pie crusts from the refrigerator to start cutting out the circles.
- On a piece of wax or parchment paper add a small amount of flour and roll the pie crust out onto it.
- Using a glass or biscuit cutter cut out 7-8 circles. There will be remaining dough. Pick it up and roll it together into a ball.
- Using the same glass, roll the dough out into a circle again and cut additional circles. I can usually get 11-12 circles of dough out of each crust.
- Add the cooled ground beef and shredded cheese onto one half of the pie crust circle. *Any additional ground beef that is leftover put into a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to a month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator 24 hours before use.
- The best way to make sure that they seal and you don't make a mess of the air fryer basket, pinch the edges then fold the edges over. Crimp the folded edge with a fork.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with spray vegetable oil. Add the prepared empanadas to the basket. Spray the tops with additional oil or brush with melted butter.
- Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and fry for 8 minutes. With a fork, gently flip each one. Spray again with oil or brush with butter and fry for 1 more minute.
- Remove the empanadas from the basket and continue the process until they are all made, should take about 3-4 times. Keep the already made ones warm in the oven or eat as you make them!
- Serve these with sour cream and salsa. Enjoy!
Italian Sub Stromboli
All the ingredients you love in a great Italian sub are rolled up in pizza crust and baked to perfection in this Italian Sub Stromboli. Serve with pizza sauce for an easy meal or appetizer.
If you follow my blog at all, you will know that one of my favorite things in life are sandwiches. ALL kinds of sandwiches. Carb nirvana wrapped around delicious fillings and capped off with a different array of toppings and sauces. What is not to love?
So with this stromboli, I took my favorite ingredients for Italian subs and baked it in a pizza crust-thus a stromboli. Ham, salami, pepperoni, two types of cheese, tomatoes, peppercini’s and then topped with Italian dressing. All baked together to a golden brown. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm.
Want more sandwich recipes?
Italian Sub Stromboli makes for a great meal or appetizer and goes from plain pizza crust to table in 30 minutes.
How to make Italian stromboli:
For this recipe, I used Wewalka Classic Pizza Crust. I liked using this because it already has parchment paper included which made rolling up the stromboli so easy.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Start by rolling out the pizza dough.
Next, start placing the Italian Sub ingredients onto one side of the dough, not in the middle.
Layer the ham, salami, pepperoni, swiss cheese, peppercinis, diced tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Pour the Italian dressing over the top, splitting between the two.
Since this pizza crust has the parchment paper built-in the rolling up of the stromboli is so simple. Start by folding the pizza crust over the filling.
Peel down the parchment paper down and repeat the process until the pizza crust is all rolled up and the filling is completely rolled up into the pizza crust.
Crimp the end of the pizza crust to seal the stromboli completely.
Whisk an egg then brush on top of the crust. This gives it a nice brown color on the top.
Using a knife, make 5-6 cuts on top of the crust so the heat can escape while baking.
Sprinkle with garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the Italian Sub stromboli from the oven. Slice and serve with prepared pizza sauce. 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 | 20 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 2 14 ounce Wewalka Classic Pizza Crust
- 9 ounces Black Forest ham slices
- 1/4 pound hard salami
- 3 ounces sliced pepperoni
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 slices swiss cheese cut into 8 slices
- 1/4 cup prepared Italian dressing
- 2 roma tomatoes diced
- 1/4 cup medium peppercinis
- 1 medium egg
- 1 Tbs garlic powder
- 1 Tbs italian seasoning
- 16 ounces prepared pizza sauce
Ingredients
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- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Start by rolling out the pizza dough.
- Start placing the Italian Sub ingredients onto one side of the dough, not in the middle. Layer the ham, salami, pepperoni, swiss cheese, peppercinis, diced tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Pour the Italian dressing over the top, splitting between the two.
- Start by folding the pizza crust over the filling.
- Peel down the parchment paper down and repeat the process until the pizza crust is all rolled up and the filling is completely rolled up into the pizza crust.
- Crimp the end of the pizza crust to seal the stromboli completely.
- Whisk an egg then brush on top of the crust.
- Using a knife, make 5-6 cuts on top of the crust so the heat can escape while baking.
- Sprinkle with garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the Italian Sub stromboli from the oven. Slice and serve with prepared pizza sauce. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Rosemary Cashews
For parties or anytime it’s necessary to make sure you always have snacks on hand! Air Fryer Rosemary Cashews are full of flavor, crunch and they’re simple to make.
A handful of nuts is one of my very favorite snacks! Whether they are peanuts that I have to
A few years back my friend gave me a great recipe for Rosemary Cashews. The recipe was initially to be made in the oven but since I’m currently obsessed with my air fryer, I decided to give it a try in there.
Making these cashews in the air fryer meant that I could make a small batch for just me or a larger batch if we had guests or if I want to have extras for snacks. A handful of cashews with rosemary is great for snacking while enjoying a cold craft beer.
How to make Rosemary Cashews in the air fryer:
I made these in a small batch for snacking so I used 1/4 of the recipe that I have below. I love that I can whip up a small amount for movie night, it works great in the air fryer.
In a microwave-proof bowl melt the butter.
To the melted butter add Worcestershire Sauce, rosemary, chili powder, mustard powder,
Add the cashews to another bowl. Pour the butter mixture over the top.
Stir to coat the nuts with the butter mixture.
Place the nuts in a layer in the air fryer tray.
Set the air fryer to 300 degrees and cook for 4 minutes. Remove the tray and stir the nuts. Put the tray back and cook for an additional 4 minutes. Repeat one final time.
Check the nuts to see if they are golden. Take the nuts and spread them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper to cool.
Serve with some great craft beer and a good movie. Have extras? Store in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Tips for making cashews in the air fryer:
- When making a larger batch, half the mixture and make in 2 separate batches.
- Do not be alarmed when you see that they are ‘soft’ to touch. The cashews will harden as they cool.
Want more air fryer recipes?
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 | 2 minutes |
| Cook Time | 16 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 2 pounds cashews
- 2 Tbs butter
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 4 Tbs rosemary
- 1 tsp chli powder
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 4 tsp brown sugar
Ingredients
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- In a microwave proof bowl melt the butter.
- To the melted butter add Worcestershire Sauce, rosemary, chili powder, mustard powder, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
- Add the cashews to another bowl. Pour the butter mixture over the top.
- Stir to coat the nuts with the butter mixture.
- Place the nuts in a layer in the air fryer tray. When making a larger batch, half the mixture and make in 2 separate batches.
- Set the air fryer to 300 degrees and cook for 4 minutes. Remove the tray and stir the nuts. Put the tray back and cook for an additional 4 minutes. Repeat one final time.
- Check the nuts to see if they are golden. Do not be alarmed when you see that they are 'soft' to touch. Take the nuts and spread them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper to cool.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
No Air Fryer, No Problem Mix the butter mixture and nuts then add to a sheet pan. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-20 minutes, mixing half way through.
Smoked Sausage Nachos
Crispy tortilla chips, smoked sausage, a mix of peppers and onions drowned in beer cheese sauce. For the main dish or easy appetizer, Smoked Sausage Nachos are not your ordinary finger food.
I was looking around from some Midwest favorites to remake for Mitten Movie Night. That’s when I came across this article: 52 Comfort Foods All Midwesterners Know. Even as a Midwesterner, there were loads of recipes in here I had never even heard of. One that immediately jumped out to me on the list was Beer and Brat Nachos from Taste of Home.
A NACHO RECIPE LOADED WITH MEAT THEN COVERED IN BEER CHEESE? Yeah, that sounds good. For this nacho recipe, I swapped out the bratwurst and made it even simpler with cooked smoked sausage. Then made a simple recipe for beer cheese sauce and we are on our way to tasty town.
This week is a “celebration’ of sorts on the blog! It’s the first time that I get to show off what I’ve been up to besides the blog.
A few months back I was asked if I would be interested in writing recipe and craft beer pairings for an area magazine, Michiana Life. Having this honor really felt like Bottom Left of the Mitten is not only online but also reaching out to local readers too!
I had been struggling lately with the decision to rebrand the blog name for a larger audience, but this just made me realize that sticking with what I started with was the right move.
This week is also 3 months at my new job! The new year had me
Working from home can be lonely and frustrating. Long hours paired with long winters and work always beckoning from the sleeping laptop even when you want to focus on other things. It’s rough. Since Little A started school in the Fall I felt like this was a great time to look for a part-time job.
So with resume in hand, I jumped at the chance to apply for a job at our local library, and happily got it! I couldn’t have asked for a better position. It gets me out of the house while still affording me time to work on my virtual assistant business and blog. Bonus, I get to be around books all day.
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King in On Writing (print from InkInTheOzarks)
I’ve always been an avid reader so I thought this would be a great time to add another entertainment aspect of the blog and start adding book recommendations along with movies and TV shows. So let’s get started on these Smoke Sausage Nachos!
——-> Let’s follow each other on GoodReads! <——-
What book pairs well with beer and nachos smothered in beer cheese?
The book: No Exit by Taylor Adams.
Holy smokes, this book is a thrill ride from beginning to end. I could not put it down and you won’t want to either.
What craft beer pairs well with Smoked Sausage Nachos?
The beer: Larry’s Fruit Flight from Bell’s
The fruity notes and lime pair so well with not only the smoky sausage but the warm weather that is finally here!
How to make Smoked Sausage Nachos:
The best thing about this recipe is how easy it is! Let’s start with the beer cheese sauce.
For this, I used a recipe from one of my favorite bloggers, The Chunky Chef. This Creamy Beer Cheese Sauce turned out great using Yuengling.
Start the rest of the nacho recipe by chopping the smoked sausage, peppers, and onions.
In a pan heat up 1 tsp olive oil then
On a sheet pan spread out the tortilla chips. Add the sausage and peppers over the top.
Finally, pour the beer cheese sauce over the top. Add more chopped peppers and cilantro if you wish. Serve immediately.
Tips & Variations for this Nachos recipe:
- Eat these nachos IMMEDIATELY! The beer cheese sauce, once poured, can make the nachos soggy.
- What if I’m thinking of serving them at a party? Add the items in serving trays and bowls and let guests build their nachos directly on the plate.
- Not a fan of beer cheese sauce? Skip it and use regular shredded cheese. Put under the broiler in the oven to melt for 3-5 minutes.
Looking for more Sausage & Beer pairings?
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 |
servings
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- 1 13-ounce bag restaurant style tortilla chips
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 green pepper chopped
- 1 orange pepper chopped
- 1 yellow pepper chopped
- 14 ounces smoked sausage I used skinless smoked sausage
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 cups beer cheese sauce I used The Chunky Chef's Creamy Beer Cheese Sauce recipe
Ingredients
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- For the beer cheese sauce: I used a recipe from, The Chunky Chef. I used Yuengling for the beer.
- Chop the smoked sausage, peppers and onions.
- In a pan heat up 1 tsp olive oil then sautee the sausage, peppers, and onions until the peppers and onions are cooked, around 6-8 minutes.
- On a sheet pan spread out the tortilla chips. Add the sausage and peppers over the top.
- Finally, pour the beer cheese sauce over the top. Add more chopped peppers and cilantro if you wish. Serve immediately.
Fiesta Fries
Tired of the same old tacos? Looking to give fries a new life? Then try these Fiesta Fries for dinner or at your next party.
With the holidays behind us, I was ready to just relax on this Mitten Movie Night and make something super easy. These Fiesta Fries were on the table in less than 20 minutes and took ALL THE STUFF I LOVE IN TACOS and loads it on top of crispy french fries.
What TV show pairs well with loaded french fries and beer?
I am on the third episode of Escape At Dannemora. If you are into compelling dramas that are based on actual events, then this show is for you.
Patricia Arquette’s character is really one of the most complex I’ve seen in a long time. You want to hate her. You want to feel sorry for her. I can see why she’s up for awards for this role.
What beer pairs well with Fiesta Fries?
The beer: Tiny Bomb American Pilsner from Wiseacre Brewing Co.
We purchased this while we were on our trip to Nashville in November. This beer was very similar to my favorite type of blonde ale just slightly less sweet. Gave me a serious summertime vibe even in the middle of winter.
Like most people, I’m sure either you asked for an Instant Pot or an Air Fryer for Christmas this year. I asked for the later and have to admit I am so happy I did! For this recipe, I used it to make my fries nice and crispy.
How do you make crispy french fries in the air fryer?
According to my air fryer users guide frozen french fries should be cooked at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
I used this as a start but went 10 minutes at 400 degrees, taking out the basket and shaking, then cooking for another 10 minutes. They turned out perfect! (Fries go great with PB&J Burgers, Michigan Hot Dogs or Roast Beef Sandwiches)
How to make Fiesta Fries:
Next, make the beef with green chili enchilada sauce for the topping on the fries.
Start by browning 1 pound of 80/20 beef with 1/4 cup green onions. Save the green ends for garnish.
Once the beef is cooked all the way through add the green chili enchilada sauce. Heat through.
For the
The nice thing about these fries
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 | 20 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 32 ounces frozen french fries cooked according to package directions or made to air fryer specifications
- 1 pound ground hamburger (80/20 mix)
- 2 green onion stalks chopped, half for ground beef and half for garnish
- 10 ounces green chili enchilada sauce
- 1 Tbs creole seasoning
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 1/2 cup taco sauce
- 1/2 cup avocado ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup jalapeno & tomato for topping
Ingredients
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- Make the french fries according to package directions or made to air fryer specifications.
- Brown 1 pound of 80/20 beef with 1/4 cup green onions. Save the green ends for garnish.
- Once the beef is cooked all the way through add the green chili enchilada sauce. Heat through.
- Top with avocado ranch dressing, cheese, tomatoes, the rest of the green onions, and jalapenos. Drizzle with taco sauce. Enjoy!
Fried Cheese Curds
Fried cheese curds are a Midwest pub staple that can easily be made right at home. Little balls of cheese fried until crunchy. Dip them into marinara sauce or ranch and you have an appetizer or snack that fills that cheese void you’ve been looking for.
We are on to the first Mitten Movie Night of the holiday season. The tree is up, stockings are hung and I have to admit that I am getting pretty jazzed about it. Along with the holidays, Christmas movie watching and football playoffs you should always have a great snack on hand for that extra binge-worthy, lazy on the couch kinds of days. That’s where these Fried Cheese Curds come into play.
What movie pairs well with fried cheese and beer?
In the mood for a new Christmas movie? Check out The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix. Kurt Russell as St. Nick is pretty genius casting. Super cute and perfect to watch with the family.
What beer pairs well with Fried Cheese Curds?
The beer: Wisconsin Dells Brewing Co., Sconnie Smash
We just spent a wonderful few days for our youngest’s birthday in Wisconsin Dells. Yes, Wisconsin Dells can still be fun in the winter.
While the town was pretty dead and not many businesses were open, we stayed at Mt. Olympus which had an indoor waterpark. After a day of play, we hit Moosejaw Pizza & Brewing Co. for some great food (I even remade my favorite there, Portobello Mushroom Burger), homemade pop for the kids and a cold glass of beer for the adults.
I went with the Sconnie Smash. This beer was part of the Sconnie Beer line. It was so tart and flavorful, almost tasted like cherry pop. Before heading home we picked up a few 6 packs at the local liquor store.
For these cheese curds, I made them in the way of Culver’s. Some recipes call for using a batter but I like the breading on Culver’s curds so it was an easy decision of what method I would use.
Here is a pro-tip for making cheese curds: It takes time! Don’t plan on having these hot and ready in 20 minutes. You are looking more like 3 hours.
How to make Fried Cheese Curds:
Open the package of cheese curds and place them on a plate. Let them ‘sweat’ for about half an hour.
Set up an assembly line of 1 plate flour, 1 bowl of whisked eggs, 1 plate of breadcrumbs mixed with salt and Italian seasoning.
First, roll a cheese curd into the flour.
Next, dip the cheese curd into the egg.
Roll the cheese curd into the breadcrumb mixture.
Place on a large cookie sheet with a wire rack. Continue with the rest of the curds.
Put the cookie sheet with the cheese curds into the freezer and let sit for 30-60 minutes.
Set up a frying assembly line.
In a cast iron pan add the oil. Bring to frying level. On another cookie sheet add paper towels.
Add about 10 curds to the pan and fry for about 40 seconds, then flip. Fry another 10 seconds.
Remove and add to the paper towel sheet to drain.
Work these fried cheese curds in batches.
Once they are all cooked serve immediately with rach or my favorite, marinara sauce.
Make fried cheese curds and these burger & hot dog recipes:
And here you are…..
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from CopyKat.com
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 15 minutes |
| Passive Time | 90 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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Ingredients
- 1 pound cheese curds
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 Tbs milk
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp italian seasoning
- marinara or ranch dressing for dipping
Ingredients
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|
Instructions
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Open the package of cheese curds and place them on a plate. Let them 'sweat' for about half an hour.
-
Set up an assembly line of 1 plate flour, 1 bowl of whisked eggs, 1 plate of breadcrumbs mixed with salt and Italian seasoning.
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First, roll a cheese curd into the flour.
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Next, dip the cheese curd into the egg.
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Roll the cheese curd into the breadcrumb mixture.
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Place on a large cookie sheet with a wire rack. Continue with the rest of the curds.
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Put the cookie sheet with the cheese curds into the freezer and let sit for 30-60 minutes.
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Set up a frying assembly line. In a cast iron pan add the oil. Bring to frying level. On another cookie sheet add paper towels.
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Add about 10 curds to the pan and fry for about 40 seconds, then flip. Fry another 10 seconds.
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Remove and add to the paper towel sheet to drain.
-
Work these fried cheese curds in batches.
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Once they are all cooked serve immediately with rach or my favorite, marinara sauce. Enjoy!
Dry Rub Chicken Wings
This chicken wing recipe will make sure you don’t miss saucy wings at all. Dry Rub Chicken Wings are rubbed with a smoky and sweet coating then baked to a crispy perfection.
Kicking off Father’s Day weekend with Mitten Movie Night! I thought I would make my husband a special dish just for him.
When I was thinking about what to make my husband this weekend I remembered some really great wings that we had in Florida. While there we stayed in a condo so we hit the local Costco and grabbed some already made up dishes from the deli area. That is where we got the chicken wings and they were fabulous. We heated them up in the oven and paired with a giant salad.
When we got home sadly our local Costco did not have them. So light bulb moment, I will make my own dry rub chicken wings at home!
Full disclosure, I have never made wings before. If you read my post about Wing Sauce Sliders you would know why and how I just finally came around to buffalo sauce. I was willing to give it a try though you know since I kind of like the guy who has been a part of my life for the better part of 20 years.
So off to the internet I went to check out how some of my favorite bloggers make dry rub chicken wings. Then since I don’t have a grill, how to bake chicken wings.
How to make Dry Rub Chicken Wings:
For the rub, I visited Bewitchin’ Kitchen and followed the recipe for Sweet n’ Smoky Rib Rub.
It had all the spices I thought were in the rub I was basing these on. It turned out great and I didn’t need to go out and buy any fancy ingredients. I had all of them in my spice cabinet.
Next, I headed over to The Chunky Chef’s site and followed the directions for baked chicken wings from her Epic Dry-Rubbed Chicken Wings recipe.
To a large bowl, I added the wings then drizzled them with 2 Tbs oil.
Sprinkle them with 3/4 of the rub but saved some for after the chicken bakes to add some extra flavor.
Then rubbed all the wings with that good flavor.
On a prepared cookie sheet I put down tinfoil and a baking rack.
Layer the wings out then put into a preheated 400-degree oven for 45 minutes. Be prepared because if you make these the house will smell downright amazing!
Once the chicken was done I decided to use a part of The Suburban Soapbox’s Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings recipe.
At the end of the recipe, it called for melting 4 Tbs of butter. Pour it over the chicken.
Add the spice that was left over to it the bowl. Toss to coat the chicken with the butter and spices.
Make a bowl of blue cheese dressing to dip them into and a side of crunchy carrots.
What beer pairs well with Dry Rub Chicken Wings?
The beer: Greenbush Brewing, Star Chicken Shotgun.
These sweet and smoky dry rub chicken wings pair great with my hubbies favorite style of beer, an IPA.
Poultry and IPA’s work well together but add the spice of the rub and crispy skin and you have a perfect combination.
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 | 45 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 4 pounds chicken wings I used fresh but you could use frozen just follow package directions for thawing them
- 2 Tbs oil
- 1 Tbs Spanish paprika
- 1 Tbs brown sugar
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp coarse kosher salt
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 4 Tbs butter, melted
Ingredients
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- Mix together the paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, peppers, coarse kosher salt, dry mustard, chili powder, cayenne powder and cumin in a small bowl.
- To a large bowl, I added the wings then drizzled them with 2 Tbs oil. Sprinkled them with 3/4 of the rub but saved some for after the chicken bakes to add some extra flavor. Then rubbed all the wings with that good flavor.
- On a prepared cookie sheet I put down tinfoil and a baking rack. Lay the wings out then put into a preheated 400 deree oven for 45 minutes.
- When chicken is done melt 4 Tbs of butter and add the remining rub to it.
- Toss chicken in butter mixture. Serve with blue cheese dressing on the side. Enjoy!
Baked Coconut Shrimp Wontons
Coconut shrimp meets with a cream cheese wonton. Baked Coconut Shrimp Wontons are the best of both worlds. All wrapped together in a crunchy shell then sprinkled with powdered sugar. So sweet!
Happy Memorial Day weekend! Let’s start this Mitten Movie Night with a classic appetizer mashup. Do you love coconut shrimp? How about sweet and creamy wontons? Why don’t we just combine them? Of course we can. So now let’s sit back and start the holiday with a sweet beer and an even sweeter treat with these baked coconut shrimp wontons.
Have you ever went out to dinner and instead of ordering a meal you just order an appetizer….for yourself? I do because I can’t resist a good artichoke dip with crispy bread. A local restaurant here has the best potato skins with ranch that again I will order and just eat as my meal. This recipe came to me after I made these Sweet Cream Cheese Wontons from The Cozy Cook. They were so good so how could I make these appetizers into a meal? Add shrimp? Sure! I was just waiting for the right beer to pair them with…..and it all came together last weekend.
What beer pairs well with Baked Coconut Shrimp Wontons?
The beer: Palisades Pineapple from Golden Road Brewing.
My husband, the kids and I went up to Flint, Michigan for our nephews graduation party. With our in-laws we made a weekend out of it and got a hotel so the kids could swim and not worry about driving 6 hours round trip in one day. It was a great get away and of course while away why not treat ourselves? We stopped at the Kroger to pick up some beer. Wow! What a wonderful selection they had. After picking up then putting down a bunch of choices because it was hard to choose, I went with this Palisades Pineapple from Golden Road Brewing.
While it’s not a Michigan Craft Beer I have been on a fruit beer kick so, why not? This beer ended up being one of my favorites this year. Light, drinkable, fruity with pineapple and apricots but not overwhelming.
What movie pairs well with wontons and beer?
Finally, I have to perfect beer for Mitten Movie Night to pair with these wontons. Now to pair a great beer with a great movie? Since this beer was made in LA we’re watching Pulp Fiction.
While the ingredients for this recipe are pretty basic the assembly can make them a little tedious to make. Worth it but just a little *warning*.
How to make Baked Coconut Shrimp Wontons:
For the shrimp, I use already cooked salad shrimp. I always have a bag in the freezer and you can easily take out how much you need and thaw in some hot water and it’s ready. For this you need 2 cups.
On the stove top in a pan heat up 1/2 Tbs olive oil and add the thawed shrimp and sautee until brown around 2 minutes. Add 1 minced garlic cloves and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Once cooked through the meat needs to be minced. You can either do this by chopping it into small pieces with a knife or you can do like I did for this Shrimp Cannelloni and bring out the small food processor.
Next, set the shrimp aside to cool then preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
To another bowl add softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and the coconut. In a smaller dish crack one egg and whisk it to combine. Once the shrimp has cooled add it to the cream cheese and coconut mixture.
To this I added a ‘splash’ of sesame oil. While I love the taste it can be overwhelming so proceed with caution or leave this off the recipe if you think you or your guests might not like it.
Lastly, is filling these baked coconut shrimp wontons. This is the step I warned you about taking some time. Place a small dollop in the middle of a wonton wrapper. Take your finger and dip it into the egg then rub all the edges with it.
To create the little pillows of goodness pinch the 4 corners with your index and middle finger on top then thumbs on the bottom and pull together making an ‘X’. A wobbly ‘X’ at best but sometimes flavor makes up for the presentation.
You won’t use all the egg for this so to the bowl add a splash of water then brush the egg wash onto the top of each wonton.
Pop these baked coconut shrimp wontons into the preheated oven for 12 minutes.
Sprinkle on some additional powdered sugar and serve with a side of sweet and sour sauce.
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 | 12 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 2 cups cooked shrimp, thawed
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 12 ounces wonton wrappers
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 'splash' sesame oil optional
- Powdered sugar for topping if desired
- 1 cup sweet and sour sauce for dipping
- 1 large egg whisked
Ingredients
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|
- Thaw 2 cups of frozen, cooked shrimp. On the stove top in a pan heat up 1/2 Tbs olive oil and add the thawed shrimp and sautee until brown around 2 minutes. Add 1 minced garlic cloves and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Mince the shrimp by hand or food processor. Set the shrimp aside to cool
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- To another bowl add softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and the coconut. In a smaller dish crack one egg and whisk it to combine. Once the shrimp has cooled add it to the cream cheese and coconut mixture. To this I added a 'splash' of sesame oil.
- Place a small dollop in the middle of a wonton wrapper. Take your finger and dip it into the egg then rub all the edges with it. To create the little pillows of goodness pinch the 4 corners with your index and middle finger on top then thumbs on the bottom and pull together making an 'X'.
- To the egg bowl add a splash of water then brush the egg wash onto the top of each wonton. Pop these into the preheated oven for 12 minutes.
- Sprinkle on some additional powdered sugar and serve with a side of sweet and sour sauce. Enjoy!
Stuffed Biscuits
Looking for a quick lunch or dinner recipe? These Stuffed Biscuits are filled with ham and cheese and go from oven to table in less than 15 minutes.
One day, Spring is going to get here and when it does I always like to have quick meals on hand that can be paired with quick side dishes too. With soccer and wanting to be outside finally after a long Winter, I want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the weather.
My cute Liz Lemon spoon from NobbinsBobbinsNBling is exactly how I’m feeling about Winter right now. When I say ‘Winter’ you would think that maybe I’m just over snow but No. NO. How about rain, flooding, heavy winds and then yes again, snow.
We are now in March though so…wait that am I saying because that means nothing in Michigan. Just prepare the same and we will get to the nice weather eventually.
How to make Stuffed Biscuits:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and open the can of biscuits. Did you know that some people are actually scared to open tubed biscuits? My best friend happens to be one of them!
The next step is why you need to make sure to use the ‘layered’ biscuits so that they can easily be split in the middle.
In your palm take the 1st half of the biscuit and press it down a little more so it’s a little larger. Place a pinch of ham in the middle. Then some cheese.
Now take the 2nd half of the biscuit and put it on top. The bottom half should be a little larger so now fold the edges up and over the top to make little ‘pockets’.
Pinch the sides to close it up completely. When they bake some may not be 100% closed but that okay they should still all be intact.
Place the biscuits onto a cookie baking sheet and continue with the rest of them. Slide into the oven and cook for 14 minutes.
Make a quick side dish to go with it. Stuffed biscuits also go great as a dipper for hearty soups during the winter.
Need more easy sandwich recipes?
- Turkey & Bacon Sliders with ‘Isn’t That Special’ Sauce
- Cream Cheese Slider Sandwiches
- Deli Counter Turkey Sandwich
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 | 14 minutes |
| Servings |
biscuits
|
- 16 ounce jumbo buttermilk biscuits make sure it is the 'layered' type
- 1/2 package Ham, cooked I used Oscar Meyer Deli Black Forest Ham
- 1/2 cup tripe cheddar cheese, shredded
Ingredients
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|
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and open the can of biscuits.
- Split each biscuit down the middle.
- In your palm take the 1st half of the biscuit and press it down a little more so it's a little larger.
- Place a pinch of ham in the middle. Then some cheese. Now take the 2nd half of the biscuit and put it on top. The bottom half should be a little larger so now fold the edges up and over the top to make little 'pockets'. Pinch the sides to close it up completely.
- Place the biscuits onto a cookie baking sheet and continue with the rest of them. Slide into the oven and cook for 14 minutes. Make a quick side dish to go with it. Enjoy!
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