Saturday, March 31, 2012

Baked Lasagna

Oh Lasagna!  Another family favorite!!  It's really not that hard to make and there is such a HUGE difference from homemade and the store bought!  You can make this up and freeze it for later or you can make it and freeze the leftovers!  You could also make two at once, eating one now and the other freeze for later.   I just am not sure what they actually put in that famous store bought lasagna, like to me the sauce taste like the sauce for spaghetti O's...... I know some people just love it but once you make your own it's so very hard to buy that!

When our family makes this we also make this incredible garlic bread!  Here is the link to the Garlic Toasted Bread it's very addictive and oh so good! 

I pretty much grate all my cheese but it seems like alot of mozzarella shredded cheese doesn't have all that chalky stuff in it and it's more moist than the other bag cheese... Now If I am at the grocery store and I buy mozzarella cheese I buy the block and grate it myself.  If I am at Costco or Sam's I buy pre-grated cheese.  There is this really great place called Restaurant Depot in Dallas and in many other cities!  Restaurant Depot has a great selection of cheese!  You have to have a tax id and a business that somewhat is involved in food like a restaurant or catering but churches can sure get one and other businesses can too you would just have to check first!  It's a free membership which is awesome!  They have some of the best cheeses which come in large & small blocks, shredded, sliced and cubed!  They have a great variety too!  It's a great place to find unique cheeses without paying a huge price!  It's also a great place to find large quantities of things along with restaurant equipment and they have all kinds of boxes for cakes, pizza, to go containers and etc.

A great salad goes well with Lasagna as you I'm sure know!  I have some really great salad dressing recipes on here, again once you start making your own it becomes hard to buy the bottles at the store! Here is the link to Salad Dressings my favorite is the Creamy Italian and Honey Mustard, the thing is you probably already have all the ingredients in your fridge!  A fresh head of lettuce goes further and is much better than the bag stuff, just saying!  I buy green leaf, red leaf and even ice burg often and I will often add two different kinds of lettuce to a salad.  That bag stuff has chemicals in it to keep it from turning brown which leaves a hint of the chemical in your mouth or at least it does mine!  I promise if you bought a fresh head of lets say green leaf lettuce and chopped it up you would get double what you would in that bag.... a head of green leaf is about $1.79 and a bag is I think $2.99 just takes a minute to chopped the portion you need.

I like to top my lasagna with Marinara Sauce (click if you want recipe) on each piece I serve.  You totally don't have to!  I often keep marinara in the freezer, you can make some up and keep some in fridge and some in the freezer for later! 

The hardest part of making lasagna years ago was getting those slippery noodles out of the boiling water!  They would slide off and tear along with being super hard to handle because they were hot!!  You can now buy Barilla NO-BOIL noodles which you just simply lay them on to the layers and they cook in the lasagna!  Brilliant!  You really do want to add the 4 noodles to each layer because it need the stability to hold the things in between the layers.





Sometimes you can find Italian sausage like this but often it's in a pre-package tube (like regular sausage).  Once in a while you can't find it so you could just do the hamburger meat or I have in the past gotten mild sausage and added some Italian seasoning.


Chop garlic...garlic makes everything taste good!

Brown hamburger meat and Italian sausage along with garlic, spoon off excess fat.  Add seasoning to meat.


Add tomato paste, whole tomatoes and I add 1 can of tomato sauce, you don't want more that or it will be to saucy.  If I am doubling the recipe I add a 15oz can and if I am making 1 I just add an 8 oz can


In a bowl combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Lawry's garlic salt, pepper, parsley and eggs


I doubled this because I am making two lasagnas

I put marinara on the bottom but you can do meat sauce if you don't decide to make marinara


layer 4 of the Barilla lasagna noodles on the bottom


Spread some of the cheese mixture onto noodles it can be tricky so I hold the noodle with one hand and spread the cheese with the other so that it doesn't slide around.


Add some meat sauce


Sprinkle cheese on top of meat sauce then repeat layers





end with a generous amount of shredded cheese



Just out of the oven!


I like to top mine with marinara but it's fine without it!  I just like alot of sauce!

Layers of goodness


Baked Lasagna


1 lb Italian sausage half ground beef
 2 cloves of garlic
1 T Italian Seasoning
1 T basil
1 ½ t salt (I use about 1 tsp of Lawry's Garlic Salt with green lid instead)
1 -8 oz can tomato sauce
1- 1lb cans (2 cups) whole tomatoes
2 – 6 oz can tomato paste

10 oz box of Barilla No-Boil lasagna noodles 

3 cups Ricotta cheese or cream style cottage cheese (small curd)
2 beaten eggs
2 t salt ( again I add Lawry's garlic salt instead)
½ t pepper
2 T parsley flakes
½ cups grated Parmesan cheese


1 lb mozzarella cheese (sliced or shredded)  You might want more than that

Brown meat slowly, spoon off excess fat.  Add next 6 ingredients
Simmer uncovered 30 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally.

Cook noodles in boiling water till tender drain rinse in cold water
Or use noodles that cook in sauce.

Meanwhile combine with eggs, seasonings & Parmesan
cheese.

Place some sauce in bottom of pan then layer with lasagna noodles
In a 13X9X2 inch baking dish.  Spread half the ricotta cheese mixture
over & half of the meat sauce then half of the mozzarella cheese
Repeat layers

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes let stand 10 minutes then cut.









Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Granola Bars with Dried Fruit


These truly are delicious!  They have a nice buttery taste to them with a hint of a salty taste then all the sudden you get this sweetness from the fruit!  Great for a snack, breakfast or even dessert. 

I added dried apricots, dried blueberries and craisins but you can really add any kind of fruit you would like!  I just happen to have all three of those at home.  I have made this before with just apricots but I do love the three together!  I have also made them thinner using a larger pan but I think I really do like them thicker. If you are making a single recipe use a  9 " pan but if you are doubling it use a 9X13 " pan.

I do like to double the recipe when I make these because it's a great thing to grab and take with you for now or a snack later.

Store in an airtight container.



Melt butter in a saucepan or in the microwave. In a bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla and dried fruit.  Pour melted butter over mixture and stir well till combined.

Pour into a butter pan ( I doubled recipe so I  used a 9X13 pan) and press down. Bake for about 35 minutes.


These truly are delicious


Look at all that goodness







Oatmeal Bars with Dried Fruit

Ingredients:
·    12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut up
·    2 teaspoons soft butter for greasing pan
·    ½ cup chopped dried apricots
·    1/2 dried blueberries (optional)
·    ½ cup dried craisins (optional)
·    1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
·    1 cup all-purpose flour
·    1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
·    1/4 teaspoon salt
·    1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
·    1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
Put the 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter in a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir with the wooden spoon until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Using a pot holder, remove the saucepan from the heat and set it aside to cool.

Preheat an oven to 350°F.  Lightly grease the bottom of pan with soften butter use a  9-inch square baking pan.

In a bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Stir with a wooden spoon until well blended and no lumps of sugar remain.

Add apricots, blueberries and craisins, melted butter and vanilla to the bowl. Stir until well blended. The dough will be moist and crumbly. Dump the dough into the prepared baking pan. Press the dough into the pan with your fingers.

Bake until the top is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.  Remove the pan from the oven, set on a wire cooling rack and let cool completely.



Monday, March 26, 2012

Sophia


I met Sophia and her mom Seena last year at the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas.   I do a little kids cooking class there every 2nd Tuesday night of the month.  The Tuesday night Sophie came we made cinnamon rolls (recipe is on here under Refrigerator Yeast Rolls)!  A couple of weeks later I saw them again and they mentioned they had made the cinnamon rolls when they were at home.  We began to talk and I learned Sophia was going to be having a bone marrow transplant. I told them I was at Children's alot because I volunteer there and then our group Creating Heartstrings visits kids there also so I would stop by each time to check on them.  The dates kept changing for them but finally on December 15th Sophie had her transplant.


This was in November when I met Sophia and her Mom Seena..she was helping make cinnamon rolls!

I am part of a group called Creating Heartstrings and we visit kids who are in the hospital here in Dallas.  Most of the kids we visit are here for months at a time.  Alot of these families live hours away so they are kinda just stuck in this big city.  We have met families from as far as Ethiopia to California to East Texas. 

Sophia is from Little Rock, Arkansas.  She is 14 yrs old and she LOVES purple, she has the coolest purple leather Nike tennis shoes!  I am not even a tennis shoe wearer but I might just have to get me a pair!  You can read Sophie's story here  http://www.rmhdallas.org/what-we-do/our-families/   it will direct  you to it on the Ronald McDonald House website.  She has a great story!


Jason, Seena and Sophia


Sophie (sorry I keep going back and forth with saying Sophie and Sophia but I do that in person too:), was admitted to Children's Hospital in November and had her transplant on December 15th.  She was in the hospital for Christmas and New Years! After having a bone marrow transplant there are many side effects that come with it and Sophia had them.  I would go up and visit her and leave there thinking what a fighter she was and how any problem I ever thought I had was nothing!  She endured months of pain and side effects but through it all she was a true example of a fighter!


Creating Heartstrings made Sophie this "purple" blanket  

Can I tell you what a GREAT hospital Children's Medical Center is!  I have been volunteering there for 14 yrs and I do not intend to stop!  As long as I live in the area and as long as I can walk I will forever volunteer at Children's.  You just leave there a different person each time you go.  You have such gratitude for life.  Doesn't matter how much you are going through those kids, families and staff have a way of changing you!  You realize your problems are nothing compared to what so many of these kids go through.  Sophie was featured on Children's Med (such a great show), here is a link for the first episode http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLSuECp9TtA and she is in the second episode also that will be an option to click on after viewing the first one.


Sophia's goal was to get out of the hospital and move totally into The Ronald McDonald House in Dallas, they have transplant apartments for families.The Ronald McDonald House is a remarkable place, truly amazing!   Sophie would have to be there for 100 days then would be able to go home!  Sophie's 100 day mark was March 24th! Yeah!!!  She gets to officially go home March 27th which is tomorrow!!  She would have gone home on the 100th day but you can't go home on a weekend and so she has clinicals on Monday then they will release to go home.  They will pull out on Tuesday morning sometime and since they have been here so long they now are having to rent a uhaul for the "extra" stuff !  Sophia and her mom will be in their car and her step dad Jason will be following along in the uhaul. He said last night I hope I can keep up because Sophia will be saying let's get out of here as fast as we can!  She is so ready to be home!


I just want to add what a great family Sophia has!  Her dad, sisters, brothers, family and friends came down to visit quite often.  Her Mom and Step Dad both quit their jobs to be right there with her all the way.  Every time I visited her I was amazed at the love and care they gave to her.  They are now both going to be looking for jobs again, Seena is a nurse and Jason is a computer guy!  Let's pray they find something quickly because they are remarkable people!  One day I was leaving and Seena said her Mom and Dad where coming to visit and they would be there any minute.  As I was walking on the sky bridge I see this couple walking in towards me on the other side, the grandpa had on a razorback hat, as I was passing them I stopped and said are you Sophia's Grandparents?  They said yep, wonder what give it away!  lol

While she was in the hospital her mom Seena and I were talking and she said we are going to use this 100 days to cook together.  Seena has had to cook everything Sophia eats, she could have NO outside food (doctor's order) like from a Restaurant or the meals that The Ronald McDonald House so graciously provides.  So a few days after she said that a light bulb went off and I thought I can take them a recipe or two weekly with the ingredients for them to make!  So we started it the first week of her 100 day stay.

I took them recipes and ingredients for the following recipes on this blog; Smothered Chicken, oh my gosh this has so much flavor - Angel - 7-up Biscuits - the best biscuit recipe I have found (Seena said she has made these over and over again), - Italian Chicken Soup, such a great soup, Seena said she has made this several times, Cheese-and-onion-Enchiladas with Tex-Mex Gravy Chili. I love these ;), Kung Pao Chicken, I need to post this one day soon, great recipe, Seena said they made it more than once, Cornbread, one of the best recipes I have ever found for cornbread, Seena said they made it many times, Calzones-Pizza, using Sam's Club pizza dough from the Cafe, great find!!! New York Style Cheesecake, Sophia loves cheesecake, Enchilada Casserole, one of my childhood favorites, Sopapilla Cheesecake, my friend Stephanie brought the stuff for this and they loved it!  I need to post recipe one day soon!  Cinnamon Rolls of course which the link is at the top of post. There were a few more but I'm blank!

They invited me last night to have dinner since they would be leaving on Tuesday.  So Sophia cut up the veggies, I grated the cheese and washed the lettuce,Seena browned the meat and made some beans for our delicious Taco Salad and Jason ate, lol!  Sophie cut her finger...but kept going! 


Just a little cut, didnt' get her down!  She got a band aid then moved onto the green onions!


Cutting Green Onions


Seena & Sophia cutting up lettuce


They are my kind of peeps, they grate their own cheese too ;)


Seasoned ground beef....very tasty


Yum


Seena, Sophie and me

I keep asking Sophia "what is the first thing you are going to do when you get home"?  She finally said " I'm going to sit down on the couch and soak it all in"!! 

What a great future Sophia has in front of her!  What a inspiration she has been to so many!  What a joy she is and what a testimony she has!  I'm going to miss that little purple Nike tennis shoe girl but I'm going to see her soon!  Her next doctors appointment is in June and since she can now eat out, I have some great places in mind to take her!  If you haven't seen my Favorites Restaurants click on my favorite places and it will take you to the link and believe you me we will go to one of those tasty places!  



Sunday, March 25, 2012

Favorite Restaurants in the Dallas Ft Worth area Part II



Campisi's!  Another place I have gone to as long as I can remember!  My Mom and Dad's first date
was at the Campisi's on Mockingbird which is the original location.  When you drive up it says it's an Egyptian Restaurant but it's Italian!  They don't have your average round pizza it's more of a rectangle.
They have wonderful Italian dishes like their family Lasagna and rumor has it that Mr Campisi's was in the mafia so you know that Lasagna recipe is good!  FYI the Kroger across the street sells unbaked Campisi's Pizza so you can just bake it at home.  When you walk into Kroger it's on the far left side up against the wall that faces the street (they moved it there last time I got some).  Here is the website  http://campisis.us/ they now have 8 locations but I usually go to the original one at 5610 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, Tx, 214-827-0355


Patrizio's ~ this restaurant is in the Highland Park Village shopping center.  Again another restaurant I have gone to for years and they actually opened one near me in Cedar Hill!  I saw Troy Aikman once at the one in Highland Park eating dinner with his family.  We didn't bother him but we sure did want to get a pic!  They have really great Italian food pretty much anything I have ever gotten is delicious!  You have to get their garlic bread, they also have great pepperoni bread!   Website is http://www.patrizios.net/  address 25 Highland Park Village, Dallas 214-522-7878


Sam's Pizza ~ is just one of those places that has consistently good food!  It's fast service and pretty hard to choose what you are going to order because everything is soo good!  You walk up and there are freshly baked calzones, strombolis, stuffed pizza's and whole pizza's by the slice then you can order from many Italian dishes, their Lasagna is delicious!  They also have some of the best marinara!  It's in Cedar Hill's downtown which is not a very big downtown but has this great place and then Babe's Chicken across the street!  Cedar Hill has some great things to do if you ever want to venture that way!  If you like hiking the Cedar Ridge Preserves has 10 miles of trails (it is partly in Cedar Hill and partly in Duncanville)!  Off 1382 across from the Cedar Ridge Preserves is Joe Pool Lake which has a great road you can walk, run, roller blade, ride your bikes on that goes 3 1/2 miles one way.  No cars are allowed on the road although you might see a Park Ranger once in a blue moon.  The lake is right next to ya when you are walking giving you an awesome view!  Sam's Pizza doesn't have a website, their address is 601 Cedar St, Cedar Hill, Tx 972-293-0013




Italian Inn ~ is a fun place that has lively piano music and singing waiters. They definitely entertain you while you are there. We used to go here alot to celebrate birthday's! The Italian Inn has been open since 1967!  They have really good food and if you go on your birthday you get a free dessert!   You just don't find many salad bars anymore but they have a great soup and salad bar!  Here is their website http://www.theitalianinn.com/ and the address is 6323 Camp Bowie Blvd.,  Ste. 123,  Fort Worth, TX  76116-  (817) 737-0123  Ft Worth is a great town for sure!

Uno's Chicago Grill ~  Uno's has some of the best deep dish pizza!  I am a thin crust girl but I love their deep dish pizza.  Over the years it seems like they have incorporated so much more than pizza.  Their other food looks delicious but I will honestly have to say I always stick with the pizza!  The Uno's I go to is in downtown Ft Worth.  Ft Worth has a great downtown loaded with lots of really great restaurants! There is just so much to do in Ft Worth from the Zoo to the Botanical Gardens.  It's a big city with a small town feel.  Of course Ft Worth is known for the Stockyards!  Uno's website is http://www.unos.com/ and the address for the Ft Worth location is 300 Houston St, Ft Worth, Tx, 817-885-8667



Joe T Garcia's ~ Is in the the Stockyard area of Ft Worth.  I started going here when it was in a little house with a pool in the back.  I can remember sitting and eating in the house and also by the pool, like they still have a pool but back then it was as if you were in someones backyard.  Now you feel like you are in Cancun or Cozumel!  It's HUGE and beautiful!  They now have so many sections to the restaurant you feel like you are at a resort.  In the beginning they could seat 16 (in 1935) and now they can seat 1000!  Basically they have 3 items on their menu - enchiladas, beef fajitas and chicken fajitas!  They keep it simple and that works for them!  They also own a bakery that is a block away it's called Esperanza's Bakery and Cafe they have gone from just being a bakery to a cafe too!  Website for Joe T's is http://www.joets.com/  address is 2201 N Commerce St, Ft Worth, TX  817-626-4356


Rosa's Cafe ~ Home of the Tuesday Tacos, for just $3.69 you get 3 tacos, rice and beans. 
Rosa's has a hot sauce bar and they make their own tortillas!  My parents are the ones who actually told me about Rosa's. I hear their tamales are very good!  Oh and they have great Sopapillas! They now have 14 in the DFW area, I have only been to the ones in Ft Worth.  Website is http://www.rosascafe.com/





Oma's Jiffy Burger ~ is outside of the downtown area of Waxahachie. It's a total hole in the wall but they have some great hamburgers.  Oma's opened in 1970, you walk in and there are bar stools on the left and booths on the right.  You order at the counter from the menu on the wall.  The regular hamburger has 1 small piece of meat then a large has 2 or you can also get a 3 meat  hamburger. The meat is small but has the best flavor, they use really good meat.  It's a very well known famous place here in Waxahachie.  Waxahachie has a farmers market downtown which is just about 6 blocks from downtown. The Farmers Market runs from April to October.  Waxahachie also has a great walking path that is 3 1/2 miles long.  It's lined with beautiful trees and at one point you walk next to a pasture with some horses.  It's really beautiful!  If you park in the right spot you can leave your car downtown, go walking then stop by the farmers market then have lunch at Oma's.. Perfect day!  Website for Oma's  http://www.omasjiffyburger.com/  403 Water St, Waxahachie Tx 972-937-9190.


Fuel City Tacos ~ is at the edge of downtown Dallas on Riverfront Blvd inside a gas station, yes you heard me right!  I discovered this place years ago when I was leaving Children's Hospital after volunteering.  The traffic was awful so I drove down Industrial Blvd (which today has been changed to Riverfront Blvd) to avoid the highway and I stopped to get a Dr Pepper.  The smell of the tacos could be smelled when I got out of my car!  I got two and that was all I need to get me hooked!  Today the tacos are $1.40 each and if you can get there by 10:00 a.m. you can get breakfast tacos!  They warm up the tortillas and fill them with what ever type of meat you want!  Don't be scared of the area there are plenty of police and it's a fast pace place.  You have to try this place at least once but I promise if you try it once you will go back!  Website http://www.fuelcity-tacos.com/home.htm  801 S Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX


Norma's Cafe ~ The picture above says it all...this place has mouth watering food!  You got to love a restaurant that says...."Life is short. Eat dessert first"  They have breakfast, meat loaf, chicken fried steak, hamburgers, chicken an dumplings and the list goes on!  They have 3 locations in the Dallas area I go to the one off Riverfront Blvd which is just outside of downtown Dallas. Website is http://www.normascafe.com/  Norma's opened in 1956!


Saturday, March 24, 2012

Green Beans

Now I love some good ole slow cooked fresh green beans with some bacon and potatoes in the pot cooking for hours but I am going to be honest and say probably 80% of the time I use can green beans!  I don't buy any other vegetables in cans unless you count whole tomatoes as a vegetable!  I buy frozen and fresh corn & broccoli then everything else I get is fresh.

 I buy the Allen Italian Green Beans most but I also buy De Monte regular green beans too!  I often buy the large can at Sam's because it's like $2.97, you just can't beat that especially when you are cooking for more than 6 or 7!  The can says it serves 25 but it's more like 20.  You can even freeze part of the large can of green beans if you would like in a zip lock bag. 

I drain all the liquid of the green beans. The green beans soak in that butter and honestly your not using that much.  With the liquid being gone the green beans can soak it all in easier.

Honestly when I cater people ask me all the time "how did you make those green beans".  It's really just so simple!

I used these today, drain all the liquid in the can then

melt butter, add black pepper and Lawry's Garlic Salt (with green lid) then pour green beans in pan


Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes

Buttery Green Beans and you really didn't use that much butter!







Green beans

1  can of green beans
1 to 2 Tbs of real butter
Lawry’s garlic salt (with green lid)
Black pepper

Drain liquid off the green beans and pour into a pan.
Add butter and some garlic salt & pepper to taste let cook on med-hi
For about 5 minutes then turn down to low and cook for
15 minutes.

When I am making the large can of green beans from Sam's I use 1/2 stick of butter sometimes more. Then just season with black pepper and garlic salt to your taste.







Friday, March 23, 2012

Potato Salad


I love a good potato salad!  I will pass up the store bought stuff faster than anything at a pot luck and go straight to the homemade one and if there isn't a homemade one I'll skip it!  When my niece Kirsten graduated from High School they had brisket, potato salad, beans and etc.  Oh the potato salad was delicious!  They added green olives to it, I thought at first green olives!  The olive brings that salty bite it needs and pairs nicely, really if you like green olives you should try it! 

I didn't put the green olives in the recipe below because it was for some lunches I was doing but when I dished out my protion I added  them to it!  I really like to use Hellman's Mayonnaise it gives a buttery taste to everything.  I use it so much for catering I buy the big container at Sam's (like it's huge).  If you like ranch dressing you need to start making your own, really!  I have the recipe on here under Salad Dressings, check out all the dressing cause they are super quick to make and really good!!!  When I cater there are a few things I make often one is Ranch Dressing and the other is Green Beans which I plan to post tomorrow!  I always always have people come find me and say how did you make that dressing or oh my those green beans, did you cook them for hours, nope!  Check out my post tomorrow!



Chop potatoes in a med size piece...if you get it to small they just nearly disintegrate-get mushy.
Then place in a pan and cover with water.  Boil on med to high heat until they are soft when poking htem with a knife..about 20 to 30 minutes.


Place eggs in a pan and cover with water (very important to keep eggs covered with water).
Once the water starts to boil turn your timer on for 12 minutes.  Then pour out hot water and cover with cold tap water, let set for 5 to 10 minutes and the shell will come right off!  I only used 2 eggs in the potato salad but since I was boiling them I made a few extra.


Drain potatoes well then pour into a bowl season with black pepper, lawry's garlic salt (green lid) and salt add chopped pickles and eggs then combine together with mayo.  You can add a Tbsp of mustard if you like mustard in your potato salad.



So good!



Potato Salad

6 to 8 peeled and chopped potatoes
2 boiled eggs, chopped
¼ cup pickles chopped
1 tbsp mustard (optional)
½ cup to a cup mayonnaise
Salt & pepper to taste
Lawry’s garlic salt (green lid) to taste

Directions
1.    Bring large pot water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender about 20 to 30 minutes.
2.    Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil; cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water; peel and chop.
3.    In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, eggs, pickles, mustard, mayonnaise and salt and pepper. Gently mix together and serve warm.
You can add chopped green olives, celery or whatever you would like!  My Grandmother Queenie used to put chow chow in it (pickle relish), lol!




Thursday, March 22, 2012

Favorite Restaurants in the Dallas - Ft Worth Area


This is a list of some of my places to eat out in the DFW area..  I'm not one that likes to eat out alot but when I do this is where I go!!  I will keep adding post but here is 14 of my favorite places to eat!


Bubba's! Truly one of my favorites places to eat! I have been going to Bubba's since I was 2 yrs old! Best Chicken tenders and their rolls are to die for!! Over by SMU - 6617 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, Tx
Just fyi...I get the reduced portion chicken tenders comes with 1 veg (I get mashed potatoes) and a roll..and you can ask for extra gravy (it's free).  You will want to get another roll!  Check out my roll recipe Refrigerator Yeast Rolls I was determined to find this recipe..this comes very close...found it in Southern Living years ago!  Great find for sure!!  Here is the website  http://www.babeschicken.com/bubbas-dallas.html


Babe's Chicken which happens to be owned by Bubba's!  The difference between Babe's and Bubba's is at Babe's you sit down and order and Bubba's you order at the counter then sit down.  At Babe's you basically order your meat then the sides just keep coming!  They first bring you out a salad with a sweet vinaigrette on top then your meat comes.  Your choices of meat are chicken tenders, smoked chicken (my fav), fried chicken, pot roast, fried catfish and then some locations have chicken fried steak, ribs and meatloaf.  There are several locations now in the DFW area, here is their website http://www.babeschicken.com/ they also have a steak place that I haven't been to yet called Sweetie Pie's Ribeyes. It's a fun experience for sure and with all the locations now it's much easier to get to!



Bread Winners, love their breakfast but they have a great lunch menu along with a great dinner menu!
I go to the one off McKinney Ave, Dallas the most but there are 3 locations.  I get the the Farmhouse breakfast which is basically scrambled eggs with potatoes, jalapeno bacon, onion and cheese!  Their Club Sandwich is great too!  Each table always has a bowl of assorted breads.  If you go on a Saturday or Sunday be prepared to wait it gets crowded! Here is the website http://www.breadwinnerscafe.com/


 Charco Broiler is a hole in the wall but they have some good steaks and are very reasonable!! In the middle of Oak Cliff ... Charco Broiler Steak House, 413 W Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX. Tel: 214-942-6806 I have been going here since I was a teenager!  Very good!  A 6oz Sirloin with a baked potato and salad is $6.45!!!! Highest price is a 12 oz T-Bone or a 10 oz Rib Eye for $13.99 again both come with baked potato and salad!  Website is http://charcodallas.com/


 Herrera's ~They bring your food to you piping hot! It's a hole in the wall in Oak Cliff but it's worth the trip!! I used to work at Bank One in Oak Cliff so we ate here about once a week!  It's one of those places that you crave!  Even though there are tons of mexican restaurants in Dallas, I still crave their cheese enchiladas!  I love HOT sauce but I'm going to warn ya, theirs is HOT!  I never dip my chip in butter first anywhere but here I do cause it cuts the burn!  Herrera's 2853 West Illinois Avenue, Dallas, TX 75233-1005 (214) 330-6426 and they have a second location 4024 Maple Avenue Dallas, TX 75219!


La Calle Doce ~Another great restaurant in Oak Cliff!  I have been going here for years!  They are known for their seafood and have really good mexican food!  I always get the tacos or enchiladas, I'm a creature of habit!  They have expanded over the years so there is great outdoor seating and then part of it is in the house.  It's a very popular place!  I go to the one in Oak Cliff but they do have on in the Lakewood area in Dallas.  Here is the address to the one in Oak Cliff 415 W. 12th Street Dallas, TX 75208 (214) 941-4304.  Website is  http://www.lacalledoce-dallas.com/ they also own another great restaurant in Oak Cliff called El Ranchito    
http://www.elranchito-dallas.com/  they both have Mariachi's!  


La Madeleine's ooh la la!  I have some friends that when we go out for dinner we always end up here for coffee and dessert after!  One reason is we love it and the other is most are open until 10:00 p.m and we talk alot!  A few close at 9:00 and there is one or two that are open till 11:00!  I'm love the Quiche Lorraine and the Caesar Salad is great.  I used to get the Tomato Basil Soup but I make that soup alot and it seems like that changed it.... maybe not but I like mine better!  If you want the recipe click here Tomato Basil Soup.  When I go with my friends I mentioned above I always get the regular French Coffee then I either get the French Vanilla Tart with fruit or the last time I got an incredible chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven!  I think I have been to every La Madeleine's in the DFW area!  Here is their website http://lamadeleine.com/


Hillstone's -Houston's Incredible food! Can be pricey but it's worth a splurge here and there! I go to the one  at 8300 A Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75225.  Their hamburger literally melts in your mouth, it's $14 but it's worth every penny!  They grind their meat everyday!  They make everything from scratch from the salad dressing to all the desserts to even the bun for that delicious burger!  Here is their website  http://www.hilstone.com/

Hattie's is located in the Bishop Arts District this place has some great food! Address is 418 Bishop Avenue Dallas, Texas 75208.  The whole Bishop Arts area has just boomed!  People used to think I was crazy for eating in that area years ago and now they flock to it!  I get the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Salad oh it's so good!  They have a great burger too along with a really great menu!  These website has their menu http://www.zagat.com/r/hatties-dallas/menu  After lunch or dinner head over to Cafe Brazil for a great cup of coffee!

Pappasito's = yum!  Once you get the fajitas it's very hard to get something else (one order truly feeds 2 or 3)!  They come out hot sizzling with a butter garlic sauce on the side and fresh homemade tortillas that they make right there!  Their chips are light and crisp and they come out warm/hot with hot sauce...I'm getting hungry!  The first time I ate at Pappasito's was in Houston while visiting my sister Julie years ago.  It was so delicious!  The first one they opened in the Dallas area was in Richardson and believe you me we drove across town to get there!  They finally opened several around the DFW area and they are always crowded but they get you in there and out pretty well.  All the Pappa Restaurants are really good!  Here is their website http://www.pappasitos.com/



eatZi's Market!!  Yum!  eatZi’s Market & Bakery is a European-style eatery place that has several sections to it!  You can go to the bakery and pick up a loaf of White Chocolate Apricot Bread, have them slice it for ya cause it makes some great toast!!  You will probably eat a piece before you toast it but it sure is good toasted with some butter!  In the middle of the store they have a great take out area (which is what you see in the pic) then on the left is a grill for some great finds I get the roasted chicken often.  In the back they have sandwiches to order and salads then there is also another corner of prepackaged foods and also on the way out great unique drinks.  Like Italian Lemonade oh and they have a to die for dessert area! Not alot of seating inside because most is take out but they do have outdoor seating.  http://www.eatzis.com/ there are two locations in Dallas, I go to the one on Oak Lawn.  I read they are opening one in Grapevine!


My friend Paula got me hooked on Rudy's!  For the longest time they were just in the San Antonio -Austin area but they are now in the DFW area!  You have to keep a bottle of their bbq sauce in your fridge at all times, lol  They have a sissy sauce or their regular sauce that has a kick to it!  I get the regular one cause I am not a sissy!  It's really a great experience eating there you feel like you are in an old restaurant but it's new.. It looks like a gas station outside and they actually do have pumps outside for gas!  They have several locations in the DFW area now... check them out!  http://www.rudysbbq.com/


Chuy's ~ Another place I have been going to for years!  I get the light plate which is 1 taco, guacamole and queso because their chips are so good they come out hot...you eat so much before you come out your not as hungry!  They don't have your normal hot sauce they have more of a pico de gallo and make sure you ask for their ranch dressing sauce it has a kick to it and I don't even like ranch dressing!  When I don't get the light plate I get the Chicka Chicka boom boom enchiladas which has roasted chicken and cheese with Boom Boom sauce, made with cheese, roasted green chile's, cilantro and lime juice. Yum!  I actually make these enchilada along with the ranch sauce, I will get them on the blog soon!  http://www.chuys.com/  I like to eat at the one on Knox Henderson but there are now several locations around the DFW area.  OH and they have a happy hour..no not a drink happy hour (well probalby that is apart of it but I don't drink) a FOOD happy hour from I believe 4-6 or 7!  It's a free appetizer bar, really!


Fuddruckers ~ I love love love their hamburgers!  You can tell alot about a hamburger by the meat and they use some quality meat!  You order by the lb like 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 lb burger!  I believe I get the 1/3 but once in a blue moon a 1/2 lb.  They make their buns there and toast them up (I love a toasted bun) then serve it with some fries.  You then go over to the fixin's table which has tomatoes sliced or diced, onions, lettuce and the list goes on.. they also have an area with ketchup, mayo, mustard, cheese and.....  http://www.fuddruckers.com/ sadly a few locations closed but there are still several in the DFW area! 

 








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