While we had a freak thunderstorm that lasted about 20 minutes yesterday afternoon, the rest of the day was gorgeous!
We I woke up so late yesterday, there was no need for breakfast considering it was almost lunch time. We hit up a place, and the only reason I am mentioning it is so that no one else goes there. It’s in Crystal Lake on the corner of Main and Route 14. Don’t even pull into the parking lot!
Our first clue was when we walked in there was only one other table. And our food took forever!
I got kung pao chicken - not spicy at all and way too much breading and way too sweet
Tony and I then went to the store to get stuff for Meatfest 2010. First of all, I am pretty sure I would not even be let into our neighbors front door without my baja fresh salsa. I am sure you are sick of seeing it, but it is a summer staple!
After that was one, I started on an appetizer that only me and our neighbor Brett would eat. It works out perfect because me and Brett like spicy, and Tony and Amy don’t. I used a grapefruit spoon to scoop out the seeds:
Then mixed 3 ounces of cream cheese with 2 ounces of sharp cheddar and stuffed them. I cooked them on the gas grill for about 20 minutes off of the heat – they cooked at about 350 degrees.
cheesy, spicy goodness!
Then it was time to make my two barbecue sauces. I failed to get a good picture of either one. First up was my North Carolina Mustard BBQ sauce – the only difference I did this time was to add 1 tablespoon of dry mustard. Then a classic BBQ sauce. We cooked two slabs of ribs in the oven at 225 for about three hours, then finished them off on the grill at the neighbors.
I also made this carrot cake. I didn’t have any good pictures of it either – other than this one before I frosted it. This carrot cake is like crack it is so moist and delicious. Um, maybe its the 1 1/2 cups of oil in the batter?
Next up – the easiest drop biscuits you’ll ever make. Everything is done in the food processor and then you just drop them on your cookie sheet:
while the dough make seem thick, the results are light and fluffy
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits (printer friendly version here)
Makes 10 servings (each biscuit: 196 calories, 11 fat, 18 carbs, 1.6 fiber and5.8 protein)
Ingredients
| 1 3/4 | cups flour |
| 2 | teaspoons baking powder |
| 1/2 | teaspoon baking soda |
| 1/2 | teaspoon salt |
| 6 | tablespoons butter, cold |
| 3/4 | cup buttermilk |
| 1 | cup cheddar cheese |
| 1 | tablespoon minced garlic |
| 1/2 | teaspoon garlic powder |
Directions
- Preheat oven to 450. Put flour, baking powder, baking soda adn salt in food processor. Add butter and pulse until it starts to crumb. Add buttermilk and pulse just until the dough comes together.
- Add remaining ingredients and pulse until cheese is combined. Drop on baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
Our neighbors made this marinated steak appetizer – steak that was cooked medium rare, then chilled with a horseradish dipping sauce – I’ve never had cold steak like that but it was delicious!
They also did apple smoked turkey breasts and chicken kabobs and grilled asparagus – so good! (don’t worry, no onions were ingested by me) 
Our ribs finished and off the grill:
And some of the best baked beans I’ve made – I did a test run of this recipe in anticipation of my MIL’s family reunion I am bringing it to – I’ll post the recipe next week.
My plate:
I added the baked beans to my plate after this picture was taken. So while my dinner plate wasn’t bad, I ate too many cheese and crackers and chips and salsa. Next time we get together we decided we were going to do a tapas menu – just small plates since we nearly filled up on the appetizers alone!
Then we played cards for a couple hours – lets just say me and Amy dominated the men!
Hannah and I went out to breakfast this morning, then to the grocery store, which is why this post is so late. Great grocery shop!
On the menu? (remember breakfast and lunch is just me)
Breakfast:
- blueberry lemon pancakes with turkey sausage
- south of the border frittata
- open faced omelet with arugala salad
- zucchini scrambled eggs with goat cheese and whole wheat toast, fruit
- green monster ?? (I am probably the last food blogger to try this, but I am scared!)
Lunch
- grilled chicken caesar salad
- turkey wrap with red pepper apple salad
- chili baked potato
- leftover zucchini parmesan
- moo shu pork in lettuce wraps
Dinner:
- braised pork chops with lemon thyme sauce over egg noodles with green beans
- zucchini and penne pasta parmesan casserole
- baked fish and chips
- rosemary chicken with parmesan zucchini ribbons and garlic mashed potatoes
- chili mac three ways (using my Best Buffalo Chicken Chili recipe)
- potato and bacon pizza with pecorino cheese and fresh parsley
I am still waiting on a few emails, so I’ll do my 101 days of summer update tomorrow. Enjoy your Sunday!
Stuffed jalapenos!!! I’m so there! Also the garlic cheese biscuits! Can you tell that I’m a huge cheese lover? I pretty much love anything with cheese.
I love creamy horseradish with steak. I haven’t had it with cold steak before either. I bet it’s still really good.
I’ve been doing good on the challenge despite being on vacation. Andy and I rented bikes, ran, hiked and snorkelled lots in Kauai. I plan on upping my mileage a bit and getting to 100 miles ran by August 30th. I’m at 65 miles right now.
OMG everything looks so good! Love that you and your neighbors have such a fun tradition!
Hi Biz! You had a Bizzy day in the kitchen!!!
Those peppers almost look like chili rellenos! My God it ALL looks so good. I’m entirely done asking you to come and be our family chef as you’ve ignored my requests again and again. You should be snatched up by a food magazine to do their photography…you really have a knack, Beth. Thanks for always being so upbeat and energized!
You are too sweet Leslie!
BUMMER about the bad Chinese food. Nothing upsets me more!
Looks like your grilled dinner made up for it though…especially the kabobs! I just got an indoor grill…do you think I can do stuff like the kabobs like you do with the outdoor grill?
Absolutely! I use my indoor grill pan in the winter all the time – just be prepared for a smokey kitchen – I usually set off the smoke alarm!
Oops, thanks for reminding me to send my email–I’ll do that ASAP! Man, your food looks so incredible.
“and the only reason I am mentioning it is so that no one else goes there. “……..thanks
Great food pics!
And don’t be afraid of the Green Monster (I was, too!)…they are wonderful!
Hmmmm – all this cheesy goodness looks so wonderful.
Everything looks great! I want a stuffed pepper right now!!!
EVERYTHING looks delicious omg! I definitely have to try your biscuit recipe one day mmmm.
Wow, Biz!!! Everything looks positively scrumptious! Looooove the stuffed jalapenos. You’re a girl after my own heart. <3 I have the same grapefruit spoons; I call them excavating spoons. hehe
Jenn
We’ve got gray and hazy skies here, so that first cloud picture made me smile!
Everything looks great. I am going to try the garlic cheddar biscuits.
Just curious why it is called meatfest with so many non meat dishes
Looks good otherwise. You should try to get a domain like meatfest.com. LOL
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