Onion Rings

Travis comes up with the best recipes.  After this one, I knew I had to have him to do it again so I could write it down and take pictures.  That was a while ago and I can't find my pictures in my super organized photo stream.  I'll have to add them later, but if you follow this, you can take your own.  You'll want to so you can admire your work later.

Onion Rings

4 eggs
1/3 c milk (almond milk will work for this)
2 large onion (yellow or white)
2 c flour (we use whole wheat flour)
2 tbsp Emeril Essence
vegetable oil for frying

1 15 oz box Whole Wheat Panko Bread Crumbs

1. Put oil in the bottom of electric skillet or as directed for a fry daddy.
2. Heat oil to 350 degrees.
3. Put a couple of paper towels onto a large plate or cookie sheet.
4. Put flour and Emeril in shallow dish.  Mix well.
5. Put eggs and milk in another shallow dish, whisk until eggs are light yellow and smooth.
6. Put Panko in yet another shallow dish.
7. Peel paper off of onion and trim both ends off.  Slice thinly.  Push out middle and discard.  Separate pieces to make single rings.
8. Assemble onion ring:
1. put onion ring in flour,  shake excess flour off
2. coat in egg/milk
3. put in Panko, shake excess crumbs off
9. Cook in oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes
10. Remove from oil and place on paper towels
11. When cool, serve with fry sauce or ketchup.

Photo Courtesy of allrecipes.com

Best Bean Dip Ever

I have been known to exaggerate.  A LOT.  I love everything, I'm happy ALL the time, and put a gazillion adjectives everywhere.  The one downside to this is I don't know how to describe something that EVERYONE will LOVE.

You'll just have to trust me, and my many friends and family that request it.

So. Do you have that one recipe that everyone insist you bring to the party? And it gets to the point where they don't ask anymore, but you're expected to bring it? Yep. That's this dish. I hosted a BBQ one summer and was feeling more like salads and fresh, cool food and *gasp* didn't make it. Two different people asked where it was, so I just made it. Keep the ingredients on hand, people. You'll need them.

Now, if any of you in my life know where I got this recipe, I would love to know. I have been making it for over 15 years. Shane & Heather - from Bunko? JB & Jayne - from poker nights? Any family care to take credit?

Best Bean Dip Ever

1 15 oz can of refried beans

8 oz cream cheese, softened

16 oz sour cream

3 tsp chili powder

1/4 cup (4-6 stalks), green onion finely sliced (use the green and white parts), or heaping tbsp of onion flakes (optional)

1 lb bag of Kraft Colby Jack and Cheddar finely shredded cheese*

Call your friend to preheat their oven to 350-375 degrees. 

In KitchenAid mixer (or you can mix by hand or use a hand mixer, but a) why do all the work? and b) it makes a smoother dip) blend all ingredients except shredded cheese until smooth and no lumps.

Spread into a pan (can use 9" x 13" glass pan, or the beloved Pampered Chef 11" Round Baker Pie Pan as pictured below - if my pan could talk!)

Sprinkle (I dump since it's a HUGE bag of cheesy goodness) the cheese on top of the mixture.   Nicole swears it's better by mixing a cup of cheese into the dip before putting it in the pan, but I can't tell a difference when she does it.  LOL

Cover with foil to transport to your friend's house.

Remove foil.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden brown on edges, and bubbly.  I can also smell when it's done after making it a 100 times.  

Serve with tortilla chips, we like the blue corn chips.

*I have tried every brand, every texture, every flavor of cheese known to man, including shredding my own.  Kraft Colby Jack and Cheddar is the best amount, texture, and is the least oily.  Really, any kind will work, whatever you have on hand, but do NOT use a generic brand.  It is WAY too oily. This is my most requested recipe.  I can't go to any party with my friends without bringing it.  I don't even ask what I can bring anymore...yes, La will have her bean dip. I'm told the secret is the pan I bake it in, but I'm sure it will taste great for you, no matter the dish used.

Hot Pizza Dip

We double this recipe and use a 9" x 13" glass pan.  It's great left over.  If it's not completely gone from the party you took it to, that is.

Hot Pizza Dip

1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
1 tsp Italian seasoning
4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
3 oz shredded Parmesan cheese
1 jar (8 oz) pizza sauce
1/4 cup green pepper, diced

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg.
2. Combine cream cheese and Italian seasoning and spread into bottom of 8" x 8" glass pan
3. Spread 1/2 of the pizza sauce over cheese
4. Combine mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese and spread half over sauce
5. Spread remaining half of pizza sauce over shredded cheese
6. Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese
7. Add green pepper (or add after cooking if you like the crunch)
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and bubbly

Serve with toasted baguette slices.

Photo courtesy of Pampered Chef