Seasoned Fries

Who doesn't like fries? Once a week I have a craving for some type of potato, i've done potato wedges, baked potatoes, potato salad, etc. but I wanted to do something a little different. I've always had trouble getting fries as crispy as I want & getting that perfect seasoned taste. All it took was one boring Friday night & I finally got it right. I sat and ate the entire batch myself, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Ingredients

• 2lbs russet potatoes
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Peanut oil, for frying (Vegetable oil if you have allergies)
  

Directions

• Slice potatoes into french fries (You can peel them if you prefer)
  
• Place cut potatoes into a bowl of cold water to keep them from browning.

• Heat oil to 400 degrees in deep fryer or large skillet.
  
• While the oil is heating, sift the flour, salt, paprika, garlic salt, onion powder, & cayenne pepper in a seperate bowl & mix together.

• Take your potatoes from the water & drop them into the seasoning, a few at a time depending on how large your bowl is and place onto a plate. (It is not necessary to dry the potatoes, the water will help the seasoning stick)
  
  
• If you prefer fries with more seasoning take the remaining flour mixture, add water & stir until it is a pancake batter texture. Dip your seasoned fries into the batter for a thicker & flavorful coating, I did not do that this time.

• Drop your fries into the heated oil, about a handful at a time, being sure not to overcrowd the fryer. (You may also bake them for a healthier version, if so you will need to add 1 tablespoon of corn starch to make them crispier in the oven)
  
  
• Fry until golden brown & the fries are floating.
  
  
• Remove from fryer & drain on paper towels, sprinkle more salt on top when you pull them out for extra flavor.

Taco Soup

It doesn't have to be cold outside to enjoy this soup, I could eat it everyday. I was having the worst day & was trying to think of anything to cheer me up, of course it would be food, and this is the only thing I wanted. It worked, one bite of this taco soup & you'll be in your own little world. It's THAT good, not to mention so simple to make.

Ingredients

• 2lb ground beef
• 1 diced onion
• 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
• 1 can Rotel® diced tomatoes & green chiles
• 2 cans black beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
• 2 cans chopped green chiles
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 1 envelope dry ranch seasoning 
• Fritos® corn chips 
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

• In a large skillet, brown ground beef and onions over medium heat.; Drain grease.

  

• Add tomatoes, black beans, pinto beans, corn and green chiles.

  

• Stir in the taco seasoning & ranch seasoning.

• Cover the pot and simmer soup over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

• Garnish your soup with Fritos® corn chips & shredded cheddar cheese, you can also add sour cream or anything else you would like.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I always have a batch of cookies in my house at all times. Once I started making them from scratch there's no going back to store bought cookie dough. Peanut butter is my favorite so this is my go-to recipe. They are so soft & stay that way, you could leave them on the counter for days and they still taste like the day you baked them.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
  

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

• Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk & vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.

• Add egg. Beat just until blended.
  
• In a seperate bowl, combine flour, baking soda & salt.

• Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.
  
• Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. 
  
• Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern with tines of fork.

• Bake one baking sheet at a time for 8 minutes or until set and just beginning to brown. (They will not look done after 8 mins, but I assure you they are. Do not over-bake)

• Cool 3 minutes on baking sheet, do not remove them earlier or they will break.

• Carefully remove cookies to foil or rack to cool completely.

Quick & Easy Baked Ziti

We all have those nights where we do not feeling like cooking, or simply have no time to do so. This is the perfect recipe for nights like those, so simple yet delicious. This is just a simple base recipe, you can eat it like this or feel free to add any meat or vegetable of your choice to make it perfect for your family.

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried ziti pasta
• Kosher salt
• 2 - 16 oz. pasta sauce
• 8 oz. finely shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch red pepper flakes
  

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously, and boil the pasta until al dente & drain.

• Toss the cooked pasta with the pasta sauce. (You will use more sauce than you would in a normal pasta recipe so the pasta is not dry when you bake it)

• Transfer the pasta to an oiled 9 by 13-inch baking dish.

• Fill dish with half the pasta, layer half the mozzarella, half the Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and pepper flakes on top; Repeat with the remaining pasta & cheese.

• Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. (Mine was not cooked this long as we like our cheese just melted, but if you leave it in for the full 30 mins, you will have a nice melted slightly browned cheese on top)

Buttermilk Biscuits & White Gravy

You can't go wrong when you start (or end) your day with a soft, buttery biscuit smothered in white gravy. Serve them for breakfast or as an addition to any meal.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons shortening (You can always substitute more butter if you don't have it on hand)
1 cup buttermilk

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt.
• Using your fingertips, rub butter and shortening into dry ingredients until mixture looks like crumbs.
• Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. 
• Stir just until the dough comes together. (You want a very sticky dough)
• Turn dough onto floured surface, dust top with flour and gently fold dough over on itself 5 or 6 times. (It does help to put some flour on your hands or you will have dough sticking everywhere) 
• Once your dough is folded, press into a 1-inch thick round. Cut out biscuits with a 2-inch cutter, or you can even use a drinking glass, being sure to push straight down through the dough. (Don't twist it or you won't have nice flaky layers)

• Place biscuits on baking sheet so that they just touch. Reform scrap dough, working it as little as possible & continue cutting. (It never hurts to brush melted butter on the top of the biscuits as well)

• Bake until biscuits are tall and start to brown on top, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  
  
  White Gravy 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This is my quick version, it can easily be made in 5 mins while your biscuits are baking. 
  

Ingredients:
 
4 tbsp. butter 
4 tbsp. flour 
Salt & Pepper 
2 1/2 c. milk


Directions:

• Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. 

• Blend in flour; cook until smooth and bubbly. 

• Whisk in milk; add salt & pepper to taste. 

• Heat to boiling on medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir & boil 1 minute.

I will post my more time consuming & equally delicious recipe, for those of you who prefer sausage gravy, at a later date.

Beer Burgers

This is the most simple recipe, but it has become one of my favorites. I swear once you eat one of these burgers you will never want plain ones again!

Ingredients:

3 pounds ground beef
1/4 cup beer (Do not use light beer, it gives the burger a bland taste)
2 tablespoons grill seasoning
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon season salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

• In a large bowl mix together all ingredients until well incorporated.

• Shape the beef into equal portions and flatten into patties.

• Place on platter and cover. (Refrigerate if not cooking immediately)

• Set up outdoor grill or indoor grill pan for direct cooking over medium-high heat. (You can also grill a sliced red onion before grilling your burgers to give it even more flavor)
  
  

• Place patties on the hot oiled grill and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium.