Buffalo Sauce

A friend asked me to write down my "Buffalo Sauce" recipe for her.

So, I thought I'd share it with all of you as well. Warning, it isn't for those on a "low fat" or "low sodium" diet . . . . which is probably why I only make it on special occasions. It's super easy.
Here's what you'll need:
1 to 1 1/2 cups (or to taste) Hot Pepper Sauce (Frank's or Red Devil work well)
4 Tbsp Butter (Unsalted if you like)
2 to 3 Tbsp Blue Cheese Crumbles
Ground White Pepper, to taste.

Now, if you don't like Blue Cheese, hear me out . . . You really cannot taste it, but it provides a fuller flavor.  My husband adores this sauce, but if I am out of Blue Cheese, "It's Missing something!"  He's not a blue cheese kinda guy!

Melt Butter on low.

Add Pepper Sauce. Stir.

Add Blue Cheese, stirring until thoroughly melted and combined. Dang it!  I forgot to take a pic before stirring.  Can you see how it looks creamier?

Add White Pepper.

Allow to simmer on low for about 10 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Voila!  It takes about 30 minutes and you can make buffalo wings in the comfort of your own home.

You can put this in a jar and store it in the fridge.

Obviously, you can toss wings in it.
More often, I place boneless/skinless Chicken in a Baking dish, cover with sauce and bake until cooked through.
It is also great to make "loaded fries" with . . .

Oven bake fries, place on a platter, layer with shredded cheese (cheddar) and drizzle with Buffalo Sauce. Garnish with green onions if you choose. Serve with a side of Blue cheese dressing. Great for a Super Bowl Party!

Would you help my friend . . . .

If you are on Facebook, please check out the following:

"We're trying to win a contest that will help us pay for the rest of our wedding. Anyone that has ever had to pay for anything for a wedding let alone a wedding themselves should know what I mean. This should be the link: https://www.facebook.com/davidsbridal?v=app_166505043464802&app_data=action%3Dcontest_view_entry%26id%3D1982821

If it doesn't bring you to the "Share your love" contest please log on to Facebook and go to David's Bridal: https://www.facebook.com/davidsbridal

Then click on the tab that says "VOTE NOW: Share Your Love. We are on page 150 with the name Jessica. You can vote once daily.

Sharing this amongst your friends would be much appreciated also!"

 

I am helping Jessica by making customized accents for her wedding:

Card Box: 

https://apps.facebook.com/offerpop/Contest.psp?c=73108&u=14756&a=254553244581393&p=7884763294&v=Entry&id=238685&rest=1

Guest Book:

https://apps.facebook.com/offerpop/Contest.psp?c=73108&u=14756&a=254553244581393&p=7884763294&v=Entry&id=238685&rest=1

 

Thanks in advance folks! 

Storing the other half of that large onion . . . .

If you're like me, you don't always use the whole large onion in the same recipe. So what to do?
You could put it in a ziploc bag and place it back in the fridge, where it may get lost and turn into a creepy, gooey, bluish mass . . . Tupperware made these cool containers specifically for this purpose that my mom has.  It hangs below the shelf of your fridge, where you can see it!

I don't have room in my tiny kitchen for extra containers (appliances, etc) with only one use.

I decided to use an idea for making smoothies, etc that I saw on Pinterest a while back. I popped the onion that I was going to use into a mason jar,, placed my blender base on it and blended.

 I chose to puree it . . . it is going in soup and I didn't have time to sautee it this morning.

You could easily use a larger, small mouthed jar and chop it with your blender.

I flipped it over, wiped the rim, placed and lid & ring on top and set it in the fridge for later this week.

Sponge Sanitation

A month or so ago, my beloved dishwasher died . . . or at least its $500+ control panel did.  It has now been re-purposed as an extra large drying rack.
Since all of our dishes are now washed by hand, we have the lovely task of keeping kitchen sponges clean and stink free.
Previously, prior to my dishwasher dying, I would throw one on the dishwasher with each cycle.  Rotating, so one was always fresh.

Now that I no longer have that luxury, at the end of every wash session I throw one in the microwave for a minute and thirty seconds.  Making sure that it is thoroughly saturated and slightly soapy.  If it is too dry, it will burn . . . alas, I know this from experience.

My mom turned me on to this technique when I was in college. Circa 1997/1998, when the only way we had to clean our dishes wash the teeny tiny sink in our dorm room.  The first time my roommates and I tried this, the sponge was not wet enough, it was winter and our 6th floor dorm room (on the side of a mountain) wreaked of "burn sponge" (so did the rest of the floor .. . . oops).  We had the windows open for a few days, only closing them at night.

Another plus to this is, once you've nuked the sponge and let it cool for a minute or two, you can also use it to scrub the inside of the microwave.  The steam will have softened any particles or over flow. . . .

Homemade Mac n Cheese

Sorry I am a day late!
I was running late, so I purchased pre-shredded cheese . . . it simply melts quicker . . .
Start pasta water, salted, about the same time that you start melting butter.

4 Tbsp of butter

 Melt butter on low heat

Add 4 Tbsp of Unbleached white flour

Stir, allow the flour to absorb the butter.  You will need to keep it warm on low. (If you add too much flour, your sauce will be kinda grainy). Stir until clumped up. Grab a whisk and your milk.

Add 3 cups of milk. Whisk milk and roux (your flour and butter mixture), until smooth and milk steams slightly.

Add 4 to 5 cups of shredded cheese, 1 cup at a time, whisking as it melts.  About halfway through 1 to 2 tsp (to taste) of brown mustard, ground pepper.  Wait until cheese sauce is finished to salt, as your cheeses may be saltier than others.

Drain pasta when cooked and return to larger pot.  Pour Sauce over.  Note: The "shaped" pastas tend to hold cheese better.

Fold over with wide spoon or spatula.

At this point, you can choose to bake it in a cast iron dutch oven or serve.
Plate, salt to taste. Enjoy!

Enjoy this perfect "Fat Tuesday" dish!  
Since it is so calorically dense, this is a special occasion dish that I make once or twice a year. 

Home Made Mac N Cheese

Growing up, my mom made the best Homemade Mac N Cheese.  She would send me down to the corner store to get a One Inch chunk of C.B. Sharp (Brand) & a One in Chunk of New Yorker (brand) American Cheese.

After the Cheese sauce was made, she would mix it up with the cooked macaroni in a Cast Iron Dutch Oven (Check out the Cookware Section of: Products I recommend) and bake it.  We used to fight over who got the crunchy, cheesy outer ring!

Check back this week.  Since Monday is a Holiday, I am off school.  I will be making My Homemade Mac N Cheese.

If you'd like to make it, here's what you will need:
Unbleached white Flour
Unsalted Butter (2 to 3 Tbsp)
3- 8 oz chunks of cheese (I typically use sharp cheddar, extra sharp cheddar, fontina or Gouda; Or I buy 2 large flats of cheese chunks at Chuppa's)
1 one pound box of pasta (macaroni or a curly type work best)
Milk
Brown Mustard
Fresh Ground Pepper to taste.

You don't have to bake it.  My hubby and little man don't like it baked.  So, I generally put leftovers in a Fiestaware bowl and bake it in the toaster oven the next day.  Kinda like lasagna, this stuff reheats well.

Card Box for a Halloween Wedding Complete

So yesterday, we lined the inside covers of the guest book with this really cool, stiff felt!  Brought it all together!
We also wrapped a paper mache box (You can find them in various sizes at most craft stores!).
It looks super cute!!

If I do say so myself!