Why is there a chip on your shoulder? Miss your mouth?

Last Friday was National Potato Chip Day! Yum!  In honor of that, today's post is all about...you guessed it! Potato Chips!!!

I grew up in a small town in Southeastern Indiana about thirty minutes from Cincinnati Ohio.  When I was a kid, I had no clue so well loved brands were regional.  I grew up with bands like Mike-Sells,
Grippo's, and Husman's.

My Grandmother was a huge fan of Mike-Sells.   When I was very young, I always remember having that familiar red and silver foil bag in the house.   I am not a huge fan of their plain chips...the rippled or as they call them "groovy"ones are so good for dips.  I have shared many a bag of Mike-Sells groovy chips and some sort of onion dip with my Mom over the years. 

As I got older and developed my own tastes...I fell in love with BBQ chips.  There are so many kinds, but there is still only one today that I crave, beg people to mail me, and will order on-line despite ridiculous shipping charges: Grippo's BBQ.  They are sweet and smokey, yet after you swallow them, it hits you with a bit of heat that I find delightful.  I have requested these chips for birthday presents, holiday's, and just because.  I look forward to having them as a snack almost as I look forward to my visit to Skyline Chili when I go back home to visit. Grippo's also has this flavor that is my second favorite called Sweet Bermuda Onion. 

I personally never cared much for Husman's.   They always seemed to leave a coating in my mouth.  A few years back long before I moved to the East Coast, Husman's had out Montgomery Inn and Cincinnati Chili flavor's that were pretty good. 

I have lived in a couple places on the East Coast the last few years and the brand here seems to be Utz.  There is also Cape Cod up in Massachusetts, but they seem to be getting more and more national.  As for the Utz chips...my favorite is the Carolina BBQ flavor.  The are kinda acidic like a salt and vinegar chip, but have a hint of spice.  That is something very tasty with a sandwich. 

Now that I am done babbling about potato chips...how about a recipe to use some!

J.J.'s Potato Chip Chicken

 

Ingredients

• 4 cups favorite flavor of potato chips, crushed (1 cup)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of Complete Seasoning or favrite seasonal of your choice
• 1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoons of olive oil
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)

Directions 

1. In shallow bowl, mix crushed potato chips and seasonings. 
2. In another shallow bowl, beat egg and Worcestershire sauce.
3. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. 
4. Dip chicken into egg mixture.
5. Coat with potato chip mixture.
6. Cook chicken in oil 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, until deep golden brown and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).

Yeild: 4 Servings

Happy Thanksgiving, Yo!

Thanksgiving is next week and lets face it...most people don't give thanks but stuff themselves with good food.  This fat kid is thankful for many things whether I say things or not. So before we get to the recipes here is what I am thankful for:

1. Good friends...without you I may go totally insane.
2. People that send me recipes to try! Without you I wouldn't have this blog.
3. Medicare...yeah it has its issues, but it is so much better than no insurance at all!
4. The Food Network...I get a lot of inspiration from there.
5. The internet...it has been keeping me entertained since 1994. Thanks, Mrs. Walker, for the introduction during study hall!

 RumChata® Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• 4 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted plus more for the preparing the pan
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/3 cup RumChata®
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

 Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and pierce each one 2 or 3 times with a fork. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool.

Turn the oven down to 350 degrees F. Scoop the sweet potato out of their skins and into a medium bowl. Discard the skins. Mash the potatoes until smooth. Add the butter, brown sugar, salt, RumChata® and pepper to taste. Whisk the mixture until smooth.

Butter an 8 by 8-inch casserole. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pan and sprinkle the top with the pecans. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until a bit puffy. Serve immediately.

What it s RumChata® you ask?

RumChata® is rum cream made as an authentic replica of the best Horchata you have ever tasted. It is made from scratch using real ingredients - rice, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. This is Real Horchata, not an imitation flavored horchata beverage.

In the western hemisphere, horchata is made from rice, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and either water or dairy. The only way to make 'Real Horchata' is to make it from these ingredients, not horchata flavor. If it says horchata flavor or it does not include not rice, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla it's not 'Real Horchata'.

Now that you know a little more about RumChata® here is a great shot or drink to have while waiting for dinner to cook.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

• 3 parts RumChata®
• 1 part vanilla vodka

Shake with ice and strain into a shot glass.

Serve with a piece of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal on top.

My bar serves it sans the cereal and with a splash of pineapple juice I believe.

I haven't tried this but it sounds YUMMY!

Cinnabon

• 3/4 oz. RumChata®
• 1/4 oz. Kahlua

Pour into a shot glass.

Duchess Potatoes

Ingredients

·         2 pounds potatoes (Yukon Golds work best), peeled and cut into chunks

·         Salt

·         1/4 cup heavy cream

·         4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

·         1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

·         1/2 teaspoon black pepper

·         3 egg yolks

Method

1 Place potatoes in a medium to large pot (3 qt) and cover with a couple inches of cold water. Add a couple teaspoons of salt to the water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender (the tines of a fork easily pierce), about 20-25 minutes.

2 While the potatoes are boiling, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and set aside. You will use this butter to coat the potatoes right before they go in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°. 3 When the potatoes are cooked, drain in a colander and put the potatoes back in the pot set over low heat. Allow them to release steam for a minute or so. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and mash the potatoes until the butter has been incorporated. Add the nutmeg, black pepper, heavy cream and continue mashing the potatoes. Once everything is incorporated, add salt to taste and the egg yolks. Continue to mash until the mixture is smooth. Do not over-mash or your potatoes will end up with a gluey consistency.

4 Using a piping bag with a large star point, pipe the potatoes onto a cookie sheet. Alternatively, you can just fill a casserole dish with the mashed potatoes, and use a fork to create lots of peaks on the surface. The swirled edges from the star-point piping bag forms or the peaks of mashed potatoes in a casserole dish will brown nicely in the oven.

The browned parts taste great, so you want to maximize them. Whether you make piped portions or a casserole, paint the potatoes with the melted butter. Bake in the 425°F oven until nicely browned, about 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• (or 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz.) Pumpkin
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk
• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
• Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

 POUR into pie shell.

 BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

 Pumpkin Bread        

• 3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. each nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon - or a teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/2 c. each granulated sugar and packed brown sugar
• 1 c. oil
• 2 c. canned pumpkin
• 4 eggs
• 1 c. each raisins and nuts (optional)

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Add the sugars, mixing well.

Mix dry ingredients with the oil and pumpkin, stirring until well combined.

Add eggs, one at a time, blending thoroughly. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9 1/2 x 5 1/4-inch loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes. Remove from pans. Place on wire rack to cool.

I love pecan pie...I have used ths recipe for the last 12 years.

Pecan Pie

• 1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup - this is one time I go brand name and I prefer dark
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans
• 1 (9-inch) unbaked or frozen** deep-dish pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.

3. Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.

4. **To use prepared frozen pie crust: Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet.

5. RECIPE TIPS: Pie is done when center reaches 200°F. Tap center surface of pie lightly - it should spring back when done. For easy clean up, spray pie pan with cooking spray before placing pie crust in pan. If pie crust is overbrowning, cover edges with foil.

6. VARIATION: coarsely chopped walnuts may be substituted for pecans to make a walnut pie.

I'm here for October...barely!

Here are two for October...My Mother and Grandmother used to make these out of the leftover mashed potatoes.  I like to make them for breakfast and have them with eggs.

The second recipe is one I stole from an ex.  I always loved it when they made this. 

Also...if you are out there...let me know you are there! Send me a recipe, just say hi, follow me or something!

Mashed Potato Pancakes

• 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (left over)
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 green onion (finely chopped)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 -2 tablespoon milk
• 2 -3 tablespoons shortening or 2 -3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:

1 Beat the egg.

2 Mix the beaten egg with the mashed potatoes.
3 Stir in the dry ingredients.
4 Add the milk and mix well.
5 The batter should be very thick.
6 Melt the shortening or heat the oil in a skillet.
7 Spoon batter into the skillet to form 3" to 3-1/2" inch wide pancakes, about 1/2" thick.
8 Brown on one side, over medium heat. Turn and brown on the other side.
9 Serve with ketchup.

Chicken - Rice - Broccoli Casserole  

•  1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped broccoli
• 2 c. cooked, cubed chicken - I season mine with rosemary, garlic, pepper, and poultry seasoning
• 2 c. cooked rice
• 1 c. cheese, grated
• 1 (10 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup - If you don't like mushrooms use cream of chicken or celery
• 1 (3 oz.) can French fried onions
• 1 soup can milk

Combine chicken, rice, cheese, broccoli, and soup. Add 1 soup can of milk; mix well. Pour in buttered 1 1/2 quart casserole. Top with onions. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until onions are brown and crisp.

One potato, two potato, three potato, four! Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more!

What is cooking in this fat kids kitchen? Tons of interesting things. I have been entertaining the last couple of weekends and twice baked/loaded mashed potatoes has been on the menu.

 

 

J.J.'s Twice Baked Potatoes

 

Ingredients

• 4 large russet potatoes, about a pound each
• Olive oil
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 Tbsp butter, softened
• 1 Tbsp cream
• 1 cup grated cheddar/Gouda cheese
• 4 strips bacon
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion or chives

1 Bake the potatoes. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Scrub the potatoes clean under running water. Poke each potato in several places with the tines of a fork so that when the potatoes are cooking they don't explode. Rub the potatoes all over with a little olive oil. Place directly on the middle or top rack of the oven. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through. They should give a little when pressed.

 

If short on time you can bake the potatoes in the microwave, 10 minutes on high heat for 2 potatoes, 15 minutes for 4 potatoes. The skins of microwave baked potatoes aren't nearly as crispy, so you may want to rub a little olive oil on them and finish them in a conventional oven at 400°F for 10 minutes.

 

2 While the potatoes are cooking, cook the bacon strips in a frying pan on medium low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Let cool. Crumble.

 

3 Allow the potatoes to cool to touch. Slice the top third lengthwise off the potato. Use a spoon to scoop out the insides, forming a potato "canoe", leaving about 1/4 inch of potato on the skin.

 

Alternatively you can slice the potatoes in half, lengthwise. In this case you may want to bake an extra potato so that you will have more potato filling to mound into the potato boats.

 

4 Place the scooped out potato insides, sour cream, milk, cream, and butter into a large bowl. Mash with a potato masher. If you want a creamy texture, beat with an electric beater until desired consistency. Note, do not over-beat potatoes, they can turn glue-y.

 

5 Mix in the extras with the potatoes. Reserve some of the extras to sprinkle on the tops of the potatoes. Spoon fillings into the potato shells. Sprinkle with extra toppings.

 

6 Heat oven to 350°F. Place potatoes on a pan and bake 15 to 20 minutes until heated through.

 

 

Amish Potato Salad

• • 2 lb Potatoes
  • 1-1/2 cup Mayonnaise 
  • 1 tbsp Vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Mustard
  • 2 med Celery stalks
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • ¼ tsp Pepper
  • 1 Onion
  • 4 Eggs, hard cooked

  
  

   

  
  

  Prepare and boil potatoes, cool slightly, cut into cubes. Mix  mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in four quart glass bowl. Add potatoes, celery and onion. Toss. Stir in eggs, cover and refrigerate for at least four hours. Makes about 10 servings

 

 

 

Hash Brown Casserole

 

Ingredients

• 1 (2 pound) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onion  
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken/mushroom soup
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray one 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.

 

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, butter, salt, pepper, onions, soup and cheese. Gently mix and pour into prepared pan or dish. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes.