Make amazingly scrumptious donuts from home! Cheap, easy and scrumptacular! No need for a donut making machine if you've got oil and a lg pot or deep fryer your good to go! There is not much like a freshly deep chizzled donut, and I bet you miss them now that Crispy Cream is out of business! Well I'm going to help you get your fix ;) I have never been much of a fan of the frosting type glaze so I am going to show you how to make one with real chocolate. Side note: I use to work for Dunkin Donuts in my teens, if you would like more donut recipes let me know in the comments section, always love to hear from my readers!
What you'll need:
Pack of Pillsbury jumbo biscuits
Hershey chocolate bar
Powdered sugar
A deep fryer or large pot
Oil (recommend buying a large jug from GFS, Costco or Sam's Club
Bottle cap from soda bottle
Preparing and cooking:
Preheat deep fryer to 350F, if using a lg pot with oil you do not need that much oil, around 3 inch's thick, (enough for the donuts to float on top) medium to medium high heat
Open your biscuits and separate them
Press them down a bit to flatten (I like to use the bottom of a plate for this), you want them about about a 1/2 inch thick
Take your bottle cap and place it in the center of the biscuit, press down, remove doe (You've just created a donut hole!)
Place them in the deep fryer or pot with oil and keep a close eye on them, use tongs to flip, will not take long and you will know when there done when they are golden brown.
When your donuts are done place them on a plate on top of paper towel, let them cool for a bit then pat them over a bit with paper towel.
For chocolate glaze:
(The taste of these is heaven sent! Must try to understand.)
Take your Hershey chocolate bar and place it in a bowl, heat in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute (need to check on this frequently, every microwave is different) heat until melted.
spread your melted chocolate over the top of them with a rubber spatula.
Add sprinkles etc if you'd like!
For powdered donuts:
Sprinkle your powdered sugar over the donuts
Now THAT'S Scrumptious!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Italian Spaghetti n Meatballs
Italian Spaghetti n Meatballs:
Who doesn't like spaghetti? Our scrumptacular spaghetti n meatball recipe is sure to be a hit on any occasion!
What you'll need:
2 pounds ground beef (wouldn't go for lean, will miss a lot of flavor if you do)
Jimmy Dean Italian sausage (use half of the roll)
Pack of spaghetti noodles
2 bottles of Ragu brand spaghetti sauce, pick two different types for instance: pick one with mushrooms, another with veggies etc (gives more flavor). Later on I will post how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch but it is a long process and most people probably will not want to mess with it.
Italian seasoning shaker
4 garlic cloves (minced)
2 onions (chopped)
More mushrooms if you'd like
Salt & pepper
Oil
Prep:
Mince all of your garlic and chop both onions, set aside.
To prepare meatballs:
Preheat oven to 350F
Spread your ground beef out flat same with half of the Italian sausage roll, set the Italian sausage on top of the ground beef, sprinkle an even layer of Italian seasoning, 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 chopped onion, roll the meat mixture up and mix it up good with your hands.
Form the meat mixture into meatballs, I usually make them around an inch and a half thick, make sure you get them all around the same size or it will complicate cooking.
To cook the meatballs:
In a frying pan place 1 tbs of oil and heat on medium high for around 3-4 minutes
Place meatballs in frying pan. (You'll get some smoke, don't worry that's how you know your cooking properly! That fat in the ground beef is where you get your flavor, it is going to heat up into a liquid form and sear back into a solid state while leaving scrumptacular flavor!)
Let them get a good sear and turn them so that each side gets a good sear, cook until you've got a good sear on all sides, don't worry about overcooking we are going to finish them off in the oven just make sure you don't leave them on one side too long and if it's heating up on each side too fast turn your heat down a little but make sure your using enough heat.
Place the meatballs in a baking dish (needs to have sides but no lid) enough room for them to all be on the same level not all bunched in.
Sprinkle with your Italian seasoning, salt & pepper then place in your 350F preheated oven.
(Check on these while cooking the rest of your ingredients. When they are done they should be firm when pressing with your index finger, check my steak article to learn how to easily tell when meats are done)
Now it's time to boil your noodles:
Fill your pot with water put it on the stove on high heat, turn down when your water starts to boil to medium - medium high, throw your noodles in there along with a tsp of oil so the noodles won't stick.
Be sure not to overcook the noodles it is a common mistake and common misconception that you cannot overcook a noodle. You want it done enough so that it has a little texture but not soggy at the same time, taste test while cooking.
Now for the sauce:
Place your Ragu or other brand of sause in a medium pot
Seasoning:
(This part is crucial, remember you have TONS of sauce here, you are going to need quite a bit of seasoning to evenly get threw it.)
Add the rest of the minced garlic and chopped onion (should be 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 chopped onion left)
Add 1/4 cup of italian seasoning to start
1 Tsp of salt to start
Couple pinch's of pepper to start
Mix well and taste test, this is where in my opinion spaghetti turns to art. Taste the mixture and add what you think it needs, you may want more garlic and onion (can also put powder form in) or you may need more Italian seasoning. In my opinion good spaghetti should have a good thyme taste which is in your Italian seasoning, you could choose to use fresh thyme or a shaker of that as well but be advised thyme is a very overpowering herb so you want to add that a little at a time. Another key is using enough salt, without it your spaghetti will be bland and flavorless, salt brings out the flavor of all of the ingredients. Season until it suites your tastes but don't be shy with the seasoning, that is the mistake far too many make!
Place noodles on plates, spread sauce on top and add meatballs, don't forget to make some garlic bread or Texas Toast!
Now THAT'S Scrumptious!
To Store:
Place sauce in a covered container along with the meatballs to store in your fridge (The sauce will keep the meatballs fresher)
Place noodles in a separate container.
Who doesn't like spaghetti? Our scrumptacular spaghetti n meatball recipe is sure to be a hit on any occasion!
What you'll need:
2 pounds ground beef (wouldn't go for lean, will miss a lot of flavor if you do)
Jimmy Dean Italian sausage (use half of the roll)
Pack of spaghetti noodles
2 bottles of Ragu brand spaghetti sauce, pick two different types for instance: pick one with mushrooms, another with veggies etc (gives more flavor). Later on I will post how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch but it is a long process and most people probably will not want to mess with it.
Italian seasoning shaker
4 garlic cloves (minced)
2 onions (chopped)
More mushrooms if you'd like
Salt & pepper
Oil
Prep:
Mince all of your garlic and chop both onions, set aside.
To prepare meatballs:
Preheat oven to 350F
Spread your ground beef out flat same with half of the Italian sausage roll, set the Italian sausage on top of the ground beef, sprinkle an even layer of Italian seasoning, 2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 chopped onion, roll the meat mixture up and mix it up good with your hands.
Form the meat mixture into meatballs, I usually make them around an inch and a half thick, make sure you get them all around the same size or it will complicate cooking.
To cook the meatballs:
In a frying pan place 1 tbs of oil and heat on medium high for around 3-4 minutes
Place meatballs in frying pan. (You'll get some smoke, don't worry that's how you know your cooking properly! That fat in the ground beef is where you get your flavor, it is going to heat up into a liquid form and sear back into a solid state while leaving scrumptacular flavor!)
Let them get a good sear and turn them so that each side gets a good sear, cook until you've got a good sear on all sides, don't worry about overcooking we are going to finish them off in the oven just make sure you don't leave them on one side too long and if it's heating up on each side too fast turn your heat down a little but make sure your using enough heat.
Place the meatballs in a baking dish (needs to have sides but no lid) enough room for them to all be on the same level not all bunched in.
Sprinkle with your Italian seasoning, salt & pepper then place in your 350F preheated oven.
(Check on these while cooking the rest of your ingredients. When they are done they should be firm when pressing with your index finger, check my steak article to learn how to easily tell when meats are done)
Now it's time to boil your noodles:
Fill your pot with water put it on the stove on high heat, turn down when your water starts to boil to medium - medium high, throw your noodles in there along with a tsp of oil so the noodles won't stick.
Be sure not to overcook the noodles it is a common mistake and common misconception that you cannot overcook a noodle. You want it done enough so that it has a little texture but not soggy at the same time, taste test while cooking.
Now for the sauce:
Place your Ragu or other brand of sause in a medium pot
Seasoning:
(This part is crucial, remember you have TONS of sauce here, you are going to need quite a bit of seasoning to evenly get threw it.)
Add the rest of the minced garlic and chopped onion (should be 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 chopped onion left)
Add 1/4 cup of italian seasoning to start
1 Tsp of salt to start
Couple pinch's of pepper to start
Mix well and taste test, this is where in my opinion spaghetti turns to art. Taste the mixture and add what you think it needs, you may want more garlic and onion (can also put powder form in) or you may need more Italian seasoning. In my opinion good spaghetti should have a good thyme taste which is in your Italian seasoning, you could choose to use fresh thyme or a shaker of that as well but be advised thyme is a very overpowering herb so you want to add that a little at a time. Another key is using enough salt, without it your spaghetti will be bland and flavorless, salt brings out the flavor of all of the ingredients. Season until it suites your tastes but don't be shy with the seasoning, that is the mistake far too many make!
Place noodles on plates, spread sauce on top and add meatballs, don't forget to make some garlic bread or Texas Toast!
Now THAT'S Scrumptious!
To Store:
Place sauce in a covered container along with the meatballs to store in your fridge (The sauce will keep the meatballs fresher)
Place noodles in a separate container.
The Perfect Pot Roast w/Homemade Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
The Perfect Pot Roast w/Homemade Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
This is an easy yet scrumptious meal that'll turn any large cut of beef into a flavorful delicious meal!
What you'll need:
Any large cut of beef (I usually use a rump roast, cheap yet scrumptious when slow cooked! You'd never think rump would taste this good!)
1 Tbs olive oil
Celery
2 Onions (Chopped)
2 Garlic cloves (Minced)
Mini carrots (Gives it a nice sweet taste)
Tbs of basil
Crockpot (preferred, or roasting pan)
Wash all ingredients besides basil and roast of course. Mince garlic, chop onions.
Line your crockpot or roasting pan with full stalks of celery less leafy tops.
Throw your carrots in there
Pour half a cup of water in the bottom
Take your roast out and coat it with tbs of olive oil or other oil
Rub on the minced garlic and chopped onions, sprinkle with salt and pepper, basil.
Place roast on top of celery stalks (This is key as it will keep your roast from overcooking ensuring it comes out juicy & scrumptious)
Cook on high heat for 10 minutes to get everything going, reduce to medium for around an hour finish on low. Again, every appliance is different, checking frequently is key! If you really don't want to mess with it cook on high for 10 min reduce to low will take aprox 2-3 hours or more.
Homemade mashed potatoes with garlic
What you'll need:
Around a half bag or more of roasting potatoes
2 cloves of garlic (Minced)
1 stick of salted butter
Tsp parsley Lg cooking pot
Wash potatoes, cut them in half (cooks quicker), place in lg pot (I prefer not to skin, more flavor and healthier for you!), fill pot with water over potatoes, start on high heat bring down to medium once boiling, cook until you can stick a fork in one of the potatoes with ease, mash with potato masher, throw your stick of butter in there as well as your garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
Homemade beef/veggie gravy from roast:
What you'll need:
Flour and juice from your roast
Empty jar with lid or whisk and bowl
1/2 teaspoon of salt, dash of pepper
Pour meat/veggie juice from roast into an empty jar or other container, add salt, dash of pepper, if using the jar method pour around a half cup of flour in initially, put the lid on and shake until smooth, test consistency by taking a spoon and dipping it in letting the gravy run off to see how thick it is, if not thick enough add a little more flour and repeat. If using a container and whisk you must slowly pour in the flour a bit at a time while whisking at the same time otherwise you'll have gravy with flour chunks. If you've made it too thick add more juice to level it out. You can also use a food processor which is the best method in my opinion.
Now THAT'S Scrumptious!
Twin pig's in the blanket
Pig's in the blanket overpowered by the crescent taste? I find putting two links in each balances out this popular meal. I also like to put shredded cheese on the crescent before cooking and press it in as well as some Italian seasoning.
Sausage links (I prefer smokey links)
Tube of Pillsbury crescent rolls
Shredded cheese (I prefer sharp cheddar)
Italian seasoning
Take your crescent roll tube and open it up, peel off a crescent roll, place 2 links inside and wrap the crescent roll around it. Take some shredded cheese and press it into the crescent roll, now sprinkle some Italian seasoning over it and repeat the process.
Cooking:
Every oven is different I usually do not follow preheat recommendations. It's kind of like cooking with a microwave there all different same with ovens. I will recommend 350F check once in a while if needed turn it up to 400 etc, the key is not in getting the perfect preheat temp but checking on it enough!
Now THAT'S Scrumptious!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Grilled Cheese: Texas style!
(Can be cooked on a medium heated grill or 350F in the oven)
What you'll need:
Garlic Texas Toast (Pepperidge Farms brand or other)
Shredded cheese (my favorite is sharp cheddar but any will work)
Tomato
Mayo if desired
Preheat oven to 350F
Set out two slices of texas toast per sandwich garlic side up.
Place shredded cheese on the top of one piece, put both slices together (garlic side facing cheese).
Cook until golden brown.
Take one side off and place tomato slices. Mayo is also good if desired.
Now THAT's Scrumptious!
What you'll need:
Garlic Texas Toast (Pepperidge Farms brand or other)
Shredded cheese (my favorite is sharp cheddar but any will work)
Tomato
Mayo if desired
Preheat oven to 350F
Set out two slices of texas toast per sandwich garlic side up.
Place shredded cheese on the top of one piece, put both slices together (garlic side facing cheese).
Cook until golden brown.
Take one side off and place tomato slices. Mayo is also good if desired.
Now THAT's Scrumptious!
Authentic Mexicana Style Guacamole
Authentic Mexicana Style Guacamole
What you need:
2 Avocado's (cubed)
1 Jalapeno pepper for mild 1 and a half to 2 for hot (remove seeds, mince)
2 Roma tomatoes (minced)
1 Garlic clove (minced)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro (minced)
Half of a white onion (minced)
(Rinse all ingredients)
To prepare: Run knife around the avocado, pull apart, remove center ball, now take a thin knife with the skin still on and run it from the top of the innards to the bottom of the avacado multiple times turn and do the same to the side to create a crosshatch type pattern, looks something like this /###\ now run the knife around the edge of the avocodo, take a spoon and scrape out the innards you will be left with little cubes of avocado do this with both sides and both avocado's
Prepare other ingredients as noted, combine, stir (enough to break down the avocado's more unless you want the guacamole chunky, and salt to taste.
Now THAT'S Scrumptious!
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