Potato wedges are so unappreciated. They are really a bomb side dish! And they are too easy to make. My recipe tastes exactly like the ones my family gets from a local restaurant. They are baked, but you wouldn’t believe it by taste alone. I’ll show you how I make crispy potato wedges in your oven!
For years, I was afraid to even look at the macaroni salad I saw in deli’s and on buffet spreads. I honestly don’t remember when I actually decided to give it a try. But, I’m so glad I did! It’s amazing! I chuckled while developing this recipe. Because I never imagined I’d eat this stuff let alone create a whole recipe for it. But, hey, here we are.
Fresh is definitely best when it comes to salads. Pick the best bell peppers and herbs you can find for this one. Your taste buds will thank you. I also use quality mayonnaise as well.
An easy to prepare, deli style macaroni salad with fresh ingredients and lots of flavor. The perfect summertime side dish.
Prep Time20minutes
Rest Time8hours
Total Time8hours20minutes
Servings8people
Ingredients
1lbelbow macaroni
2cupsmayo
1/2cupsour cream
1TBSwhite vinegar
2TBSDijon mustard
1tspcreole mustard
2tspgranulated sugar
1tspgarlic powder
2tsponion powder
1celery stalkdiced
1/4of a red onionfinely diced
1/4of a red bell pepperdiced
1/4of a green bell pepperdiced
1/4cupfresh parsleychopped
Chiffonade basil2-3 fresh basil leaves
4ouncesMonterey Jack cheese cubedoptional
Salt to taste
Instructions
n a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, Dijon mustard, granulated sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder to make the dressing.
Stir well.
Season with the sea salt to taste.
Add the celery, red onions, bell peppers, and parsley to the dressing; stir well to combine.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
Cook elbow macaroni according to package instructions.
Allow macaroni to drain completely; do NOT rinse.
Stir the macaroni to keep it from sticking together and help it cool to room temperature.
When the macaroni has cooled, add it to the refrigerated dressing and veggies.
Toss well to combine.
Seal the bowl again with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hrs or overnight.
Remove the macaroni salad from the fridge and taste.
Guacamole is my favorite dip ever! I love the simplicity of it. You have to use the freshest ingredients to ensure that the taste is right. I learned the process from a local restaurant and I wanted to share it with my Cookies.
To stay as authentic as possible, I use a molcajete for this recipe. It’s a mortar and pestle. This renders the most flavor into your guacamole. It’s the absolute best tool to use to grind up spices and ingredients. I highly recommend incorporating this into your kitchen equipment.
When choosing avocados for your guacamole, make sure that it’s ripe. Give a gentle squeeze. If it gives a bit, it’s ready to use. Ripe avocados have a creamy flesh which are delightful in this recipe.
I prefer a chunky textured guacamole. So, I use the pestle to mash the avocados instead of grinding it up into a paste. But, the consistency is totally up to you. Make it as chunky or as creamy as you desire.
Watery guacamole is a huge no-no! Be sure to seed and pat the tomatoes dry before dicing and adding them to the mix. Be sure to check out my method in the tutorial.
A restaurant quality guacamole recipe made with all fresh ingredients that’s ready to serve in under 20 minutes.
Prep Time15minutes
Total Time15minutes
Servings4people
Ingredients
2largeripe avocados
1/4cuponiondiced
1tspgarlicminced
1jalapeñodiced
2TBSfresh cilantrofinely chopped
Juice from 1/2 of a lime
2Roma tomatoesseeded and diced
Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
Using a Molcajete:
In a molcajete bowl, add in half of the onions, half of the jalapeños, half of the cilantro, all of the garlic, and 1/2 tsp of salt.
Use the pestle to grind the ingredients into a paste.
Cut, peel, and pit the avocados and add them into the molcajete bowl.
Smash the avocado with the pestle, combining it with the paste until the desired consistency is reached. Be sure to leave chunks of avocado.
Add in the rest of the onions, jalapeños, cilantro, tomatoes, and lime juice.
Gently fold everything together.
Taste and add more salt as needed.
Enjoy!
Using a regular mixing bowl:
Cut, peel, and pit the avocados and add them to your bowl.
Use a fork to smash up the avocados to your desired consistency.
Add all remaining ingredients and stir gently to combine.
Salt to taste.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Notes: To keep the guacamole from turning brown, cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Be sure to pat the wrap onto the surface of the guacamole to push all of the air out. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Hey my Cookies! I have some exciting news to share. I am a 2021 Brand Ambassador for Reynolds Wrap® Foil and I am thrilled! Why? For years, Reynolds Wrap® has been the only foilof its kind that my family has used and trusted. You know how much I love simple cooking and easy cleanup after prepping food. Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil makes cleanup a breeze! It’s also super durable and safe to use with heavier foods without worrying about it breaking or tearing. This makes Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil perfect for cooking my Garlic Butter Steak Tips and Potato Packets recipe!
Steak:
My local butcher shop has these amazing filet tips that are perfect for this recipe. If you can’t find that specific cut of beef, no worries. Just use sirloin steak or beef tenderloin. The size of the cuts of beef will vary:
For well done steak: Cut the steak into 2 inch pieces.
For medium steak: Cut the steak into 3-4 inch pieces.
For rare steak: Cut the steak into 5-6 inch pieces
Potatoes:
I prefer to use buttery, Yukon gold potatoes. They pair perfectly with the meat and garlic. Chop them into quarters for even cooking. Don’t even bother peeling off the skin. There’s a lot of flavor there!
You’ll also want to parboil the potatoes. This will ensure that they cook on cue with the steaks. Just a quick 4-5 minute boil in salted water will do.
Let’s Talk Seasoning:
You know how I feel about flavor! We need it. I believe that placing onions and bell peppers at the bottom of our foil packs will render the best flavor! When heated, the aroma from the veggies will release into the meat and potatoes. Flavor overload! Use any color of bell peppers you’d like. I love using green and red bell peppers for this recipe.
Grill or Bake:
For this recipe, I always opt to grill my Garlic Butter Steak Tips and Potato Packets. There’s just something about that charcoal flavor on my steak that makes me drool! However, an oven will work as well. Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil is high quality and is safe to use in an oven or on the grill. So, the choice of cooking method is all yours!
I prefer a little char to my steaks. So, during the last 4-5 minutes of grilling, I leave the pack open at the top to crisp up the edges of the steak tips a bit. Warning: the smell will make you want to eat them immediately! Don’t do it. Be patient.
Safety:
When handling your l packets, please use care. They will be extremely hot to touch. Use tongs or heat resistant gloves to remove them from the grill or oven. Use caution when opening the packets, too. There will be lots of heat and steam released. Keep your face and skin away for protection.
Easy and flavorful steak and potatoes packet recipe made using durable Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil. These packs can be prepared on a grill or in the oven. Cleanup is a breeze!
Prep Time20minutes
Cook Time25minutes
Total Time45minutes
Servings4packets
Ingredients
2lbsfilet tipstop sirloin, or beef tenderloin (cut into desired-sized pieces; see notes above)
1TBSWorcestershire sauce
1lbYukon gold potatoesquartered
2TBSolive oil
4TBSsalted buttercubed
1bell pepperthinly sliced
1onionthinly sliced
1TBSminced garlic
1/3cupfresh parsleychopped
1TBSHerbes de Provence seasoning
2tsponion powder
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste
Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil
Instructions
Cut the steak into the desired serving size.
Toss the steak in the Worcestershire sauce.
Set aside and allow it to come to room temperature.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and parboil the potatoes for 4 minutes.
Drain the potatoes and set aside to cool.
Once the potatoes have cooled, add the potatoes and steak into a large mixing bowl.
Season the steak and potatoes with kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
In a small mixing bowl, stir to combine the olive oil, garlic, parsley, onion powder, and Herbes de Provence seasoning.
Pour the olive oil and seasoning blend over the steak and potatoes; toss gently to combine.
Tear off (4) 16” long sheets of Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil.
Toss the onions and bell peppers together. Then, add half of the mixture to the center of each sheet of foil..
Separate the steak and potatoes into two servings
Add one serving of the steak and potatoes on top of the onion and peppers per each Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Foil sheet.
Bring up the long sides of the foil, so the ends meet over the food.
Double fold the ends, leaving room for heat to circulate inside.
Double fold the two short ends to seal the packet.
To avoid juices puddling around the food, use a grilling fork to punch 2-3 drainage holes throughout the bottom/sides of the packet.
Grill:
Place the steak and potato packets on a hot grill for 10 minutes.
Carefully open the packet and check the level of doneness using a meat thermometer. Also pierce the potatoes to check tenderness.
If the steak and potatoes are tender and cooked to your liking, carefully slide the packets off the grill using tongs. If not, reseal them and continue grilling until cooked to your liking. OPTIONAL: For more charred steak and potatoes, leave the packet open at the top and continue grilling.
When steak and potatoes are grilled to your liking, remove the packets and allow them to rest closed for 10 minutes before serving.
Oven:
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Bake the packets on a shallow baking sheet.
Bake the packets for 15-20 minutes before carefully checking doneness.
When the steak and potatoes are cooked to your liking, carefully remove the packets from the grill and allow them to rest closed for 10 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Notes: Handle packs will caution! Steam and juices will be very hot. Carefully open the packets away from your face to release the steam after cooking and before serving.
So, I know this pandemic and quarantine will render countless baby showers this year! And you’re going to need some bomb recipes to serve the shower guests! Cause if I attend a baby shower and the food sucks, I’m taking my gift back! Okay, okay, back on subject. You need my crispy, fried chicken wing recipe!
Winging it
I purchased the wings already separated. I’m lazy. We know this. But, if you’re less fortunate and have to cut your own, don’t fret. It’s super easy. Just chop at the joints.
Sometimes, you’ll encounter some chicken that was handled by someone like me. And those pieces of bird will still have a few feathers attached. Pluck ‘em! We want our wings hairless.
Spice it Up
This recipe is ridiculously easy! This is crazy. Now, we want to mix up our spice blend. Pour the spice in a bowl and mix with a spoon or something. The end. I know, right?!
Poof!
This is my favorite part. Not really. That dang flour gets every damn where! Why did I keep it g rated in the beginning only to use profanity at the end? Pray for me. Flour mixture! Yes! Okay, I won’t lie and say that I studied the science of this. I haven’t. This may not even be a real thing. But, I add baking powder and cornstarch to my flour to make it extra crispy! Listen, it works for me. Could be in my head, but just do it cause we’re friends. I love you, too.
Throw that Old A** Oil Away!
Peanut oil. Yep. You need it. Unless you’re allergic. If so, don’t. No, seriously, please don’t. I’d cry. But, I love frying chicken in peanut oil. Again, in my mind, it contributes to the crunch in this chicken. While we’re here, we need to talk. IMPORTANT: THROW THAT OLD A** GREASE AWAY!!! I don’t care what yo mama did. (Mine did it, too. Hey, Ma!) I don’t care what they did! We’re stopping that generational curse! USE FRESH OIL EVERY TIME YOU FRY. YES! Every time. I’m not playing. Don’t argue with me. Thou shalt not win.
Can chicken be sexy? I don’t care. It is. Look at this bird!!! Bless, God! Major key alert: drain the chicken on a wired rack. Leave the paper towels alone. You need that wired rack to circulate the air around the wing and deliver the ultimate crunch! Paper towel draining can lead to soggy wings. Look it up. No, really look it up cause I didn’t, and I want to know if it’s true.
Okay, I think I’ve told you all you need to know. The rest you can figure out from the recipe down there and the tutorial on the You to the Tube. Anyway, I’m tired of typing. Grab the hot sauce. Peace.
No holiday spread is complete without a turkey. Well, at least in my household. The turkey is a given menu staple. And it HAS to be right! No dry bird allowed! Turkey gets a bad rap. Because, it’s very easy to dry out if not prepared correctly. If juice, flavorful turkey is your goal, you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading, babe.
When to Thaw the Turkey?
If you’re like me, you’re not about to pay extra for a fresh turkey. Frozen bird me, please! But, we have to thaw that thang well before roasting, of course. There are two ways to do so. You can thaw in the refrigerator or thaw in cold water. Whichever option you choose is up to you. See charts below for timing:
Refrigerator Thawing:
4 lbs: 1 day to defrost
8 lbs: 2 days to defrost
12 lbs: 3 days to defrost
16 lbs: 4 days to defrost
Make sure you don’t just throw the bird in the fridge. Place it in a large bowl to prevent leaks. The ice has to go somewhere. You don’t want to ruin your fridge with this bird. Trust me.
Cold Water Thawing:
4 lbs: 1 hours to defrost
8 lbs: 4 hours to defrost
12 lbs: 6 hours to defrost
16 lbs: 8 hours to defrost
This method is great if you forget to take the turkey out of the freezer. However, it takes a little more babysitting. You have to refresh the water every hour or so to ensure that the water stays cold and fresh. You’ll need approximately 30 minutes of cold water soaking per pound of turkey.
Now, that our turkey is thawed and ready. Let’s get to business.
Coop, No Brine??
No, baby. No brine. I’m lazy. I rely on injectable marinades. They have never failed me and they won’t fail your bird either. My preference is pictured. It can be hard to find, so if you have to go with another brand, it’s cool. Or, you can just use my homemade marinade recipe provided below.
Stuff It
I’m a serial “stuffer”. I jam pack my birds with goodness. Onions, garlic, peppers, herbs, and an orange. Yes, an orange. I use oranges instead of lemons, because I love the subtle citrusy, sweetness they add to the flavor of the turkey.
Butter or Oil?
Both. I need crispy skin on my turkey. Oil is the key to that. I chose olive oil. It’s light tasting, but still gets the job done. Both oil and butter will give you that beautiful brown color. But, butter burns. However, I still want that butter flavor. So, what can we do? Load that butter up with fresh herbs and spread it under the skin of the breasts. Then, massage that oil over the turkey and sprinkle on your favorite seasoned salt and dried herbs. A win for all!
Oven Time
The roasting timing of the turkey depends on its size. Don’t throw away the packaging of the turkey before removing and saving the little price tag. This will tell you the size of the turkey for accurate timing. I estimate that it takes about 13 mins of roasting per pound of the turkey. But, don’t quote me. Use the chart below as a guide. And don’t forget to grab a meat thermometer.
Size of Turkey
Timing at 325°F
10-12lbs
3 – 3 ¼ hours
12-16bs
3 ¼ – 3 ¾ hours
16-20lbs
3 ¾ – 4 ¼ hours
20-24lbs
4 ¼ – 4 ¾ hours
I also cover the breasts and legs with aluminum foil to prevent early browning. I remove the breast covering halfway through the roasting time right before the first basting. I leave the foil on the legs throughout the duration of roasting time.
Let it Rest:
This is the hardest part. Waiting on this beautiful bird to rest before carving. Resting is imperative if you want a juicy turkey. Cover it with foil and allow it to rest for at least 1 hour. 2 hours is best, but I won’t torture you like that. Be patient and enjoy the best turkey you’ve ever had!
The most moist and flavorful turkey you’ll ever eat! No brining necessary. The perfect blend of Cajun spices, fresh, and dry herbs combine to render a turkey that you’ll want to include in your holiday spread every year!
Prep Time1day
Resting Time1hour
Total Time1day1hour
Servings8people
Ingredients
Turkey:
10-14lbturkeyfresh or thawed
Lemon juice for washing
16ozCajun Butter injectable marinade*
1tspsalt
1/2onion
1/2bell pepper
1orange
4garlic cloves
1celery stalk
2sprigs rosemary
1sprig thyme
1 1/2cupchicken broth
1TBSHerbes de Provence
Cajun or Creole seasoning
Olive oil
Herb Butter:
1stick unsalted butter
1sprig freshchopped rosemary
2sprigs fresh thymeremoved from stem
1tspsalt
Homemade Marinade (ONLY use if you can’t find the injectable marinade above)
1stick unsalted butter
2TbsCajun or Creole seasoning
1Tbsonion powder
1Tbsgarlic powder
2tspcayenne pepper
2tspcracked black pepper
2tspAccent seasoning optional
2cupschicken stock
Instructions
Herb Butter:
Mix all ingredients together and set aside.
Turkey:
Remove all contents of the turkey cavity (save it for gravy)
Rinse the turkey with lemon juice and water
Pat dry very well.
Inject the every part of the turkey with the marinade
Cover with foil or place in a large marinating bag and refrigerate for 24 hrs.
Preheat oven to 325°F
Place the turkey in a roasting pan
Pat dry again with paper towels
Rub olive oil all over the skin of the turkey
Gently push the herb butter until the skin of the breasts.
Sprinkle 1 tsp of salt into the turkey’s cavity
Stuff the onion, bell pepper, orange, garlic, celery, rosemary, and thyme into the cavity.
Sprinkle a thin, even layer of Cajun or Creole seasoning all over the skin of the turkey
Do the same with the Herbs de Provence seasoning
Tuck the wings behind and under the turkey
Tie the legs together with kitchen twine or dental floss
Cover the ends of the legs with foil and lay a piece of foil over the breasts to prevent early browning and burning
Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting pan under the turkey.
Place the turkey in the center of the oven and roasted according to the instructions on the turkey packaging. (Approx: 13 mins per pound)
Halfway through the roasting time, carefully remove the turkey and baste it with the turkey drippings.
Place it back into the oven, but rotate it in the opposite direction from the last time you placed it into the oven. (See tutorial for a visual.)
When there is about 30 minutes left in the roasting time, remove the turkey from the oven , baste again, and remove the foil from the breast.
Continue roasting until a meat thermometer stuck between the leg and the breast registers 165°F. To ensure an accurate read, be careful not to poke bones with the thermometer.
Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with foil, and allow it to rest for at least 1 hour before carving.
Enjoy!
Homemade Marinade:
Melt the butter
Add the remaining ingredients
Stir and simmer for 5 minutes.
Strain the marinade using a mesh strainer
Allow marinade to cool completely before injecting.
You guys have been asking for this for years! Literally since I first started blogging. I’ve been hesitant, because I wanted it to be right. Sweet Potato Pie is a major thanksgiving menu component. It’s heavily debated. But, I don’t care about the opinions anymore. I’m giving you what my family and I enjoy.
I used two big sweet potatoes poked holes all over them. We’ll be baking them. I prefer baking over boiling because it preserves the flavor.
Please don’t be like me. Wait for them to cool first before peeling the skin and scooping out the flesh.
Mash your potatoes up a little before using your electric mixer. The mixer is extremely handy with this recipe. It will help you pull out those pesky sweet potato strings. Mix well and then rinse the strings off of the mixer and continue until the majority of strings are gone. Don’t try to remove every little string. That’s impossible. Just get as many as you can.
Don’t panic if your filling appears a little pale in color. It’s all good.
I suck a pressing my pie crust into the dish. Please don’t laugh at my poor crust. I have a bomb homemade Pie Crust on the site. But, store bought crust is perfectly fine as well.
Pie Crust shields are available for purchase. Or at least that’s what I call them. I just tear pieces of foil and gently cover the exposed pie crust with it. This will prevent the crust from baking too fast and burning before the filling is completely cooked.
Southern sweet potato pie with just the right balance of sugar and spice.
Ingredients
2lbssweet potatoes
1stick salted buttermelted
2eggsroom temp
1 1/2cupgranulated sugar*
1/2cuppacked light brown sugar
2TBSself rising flour
1/2cupevaporated milk
1TBSpure vanilla extract
1TBSlemon juice
1/2tspallspice
1/2or 1 tsp cinnamon
1/2tspsalt
1pie crust
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F
Poke potatoes with a fork
Bake on a baking sheet for 50-55 mins or until cooked and tender
Allow the potatoes to cool
Peel and scoop out the flesh of the potato and place into a mixing bowl
Mash the potatoes and then blend with an electric mixer to remove the strings
Add in all remaining ingredients except the pie crust.
Blend well
Taste and add more sugar if needed
Pour mixture into unbaked pie crust
Tear pieces of foil and fold it over the exposed edges of the pie crust to prevent quick browning.
Bake on 350°F for 45-55 mins until done.
Cool on a baking rack
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*The amount of sugar will vary based on taste and potato size. Sweeten to taste by adding 1/2 cup of sugar at a time. More or less than listed above may be used.
