Serious, Serious Fair Food

This past weekend I went to the Big E in Massachusetts. The Big E is one big state fair for all of the New England states. I think it is because none of the New England states are big enough for their own state fair and so they combine all of them into one big one.

Well, if you read my blog a couple of weeks ago you know that I love a fair, especially the fair food. OMG!! This fair was even better than the last one. SO MUCH FOOD EVERYWHERE!!!!


First off we had a Lobster Roll. Oh my gosh (OMG) it was so delicious. I didn't even eat the roll because it would have just filled me up and I had LOTS more taste testing to do. Ha!

Next, I had some mac-and-cheese. I didn't take a picture because it was so sorry and yucky that it didn't deserve a picture. I love mac-and-cheese so much it is my fifth food group, but this was such an injustice.

Next, there was this little Italian Pastry stand and they had all homemade pastries. I got an Eclair and oh my gosh (total OMG!!!!) it was amazing. Completely fab-u-lous!!! The inside was filled with homemade custard. Mmmmmmm.....so good.

Next, I had a corn dog. Nothing says fair like a corn dog. A lot of people think they are gross or weird, but I am not one of them. Corn dogs are the BEST. The corn bread that covers the hot dog is sweet and fried and so good. What's better than a hot dog on a stick. I mean really, isn't everything better on a stick?????


And finally I had a cream puff. The Big E is known for their cream puffs. They are made right there just for the Big E. They are so big and so yummy! Two pieces of puff pastry with cream inside. What's not to like? I still think they would be better with cream cheese icing than fluffy cream, but then they wouldn't be called cream puffs. I guess they would be called...hmmm...cream cheese icing puffs. Nope, just doesn't sound the same. Oh well, they still rock. And so does and always will...fair food!

What a JERK!

No seriously, what a perfect piece of jerk chicken. Ha! I had marinated chicken breast tonight and I marinated it in jerk sauce.

The World Harbors Marinades are amazing if you've never had them. There are about 7-8 (I think) different kinds and they are all fab-u-lous!!! I am pretty sure that almost every grocery store carries them. Just check in the aisle with the sauces and marinades. I also pounded out my chicken breast beforehand. I don't like my chicken really thick because I think it gets dried out that way. You can easily use a meat clever to do the pounding, just place the chicken breast in a baggie or between two pieces of saran wrap and then start pounding. I don't have a meat clever (I know! Can you believe it...a kitchen utensil I actually don't have!!!) and so I used the bottom of a coffee cup. It worked just dandy.

I also had some peas, which I love. I never liked them as a kid, but love them now. If you look closely you can see the steam rising off of them. I was looking at the photo for the longest time wondering what it was. Was it a smear on the lens? Was there something wrong with the camera? Then I figured it out. Aaahhhh (insert picture of lightbulb here), it is the steam from the peas. Ha!

I also had some buttered rice. Loooooove it! I buy the single serving Minute Rice ones. They come in this cute little one-cup serving cup and you just microwave it for 1-minute and walluh, yummy rice. I could seriously have buttered rice every night and never get sick of it. When I was younger I would put ketchup (I know, right?) on my rice. Weird! Now I eat it with butter. OMG!!! It is so incredibly good. Really though, with butter anything is incredibly good. ;)

Snickerdoodle = Fantabulous!!!

OMG! Can I just tell you how much I love snickerdoodle cookies. They are my absolute favorite cookies. For real, they are fab-u-lous!!! I am a grand lover of cookies, all kinds, shapes, sizes, and flavors, but I have always loved snickerdoodles. Something about that cinnamon and sugar mixture. Yummy!

The one's that I made in the photo are actually from a really easy recipe. They are actually Tastefully Simple. They are the Cinnamon Muffin Melt mix, but there is a recipe on the side of the box for snickerdoodle cookies. That was all I needed to see and I made them that way. I have bought these probably a dozen times from Tastefully Simple and have never made the muffins, only the snickerdoodle cookies. Ha!

They are fluffy and sweet and delicious. Mmmmmmm...I think I'll go have another one right now. Maybe you should order some too! :)

Ruby Tuesday (on Friday)

Every once in awhile I am craving a big, thick, juicy burger. Ruby Tuesday's has an awesome burger. It is my all-time favorite at Ruby Tuesday's...the Alpine Swiss Burger. It has swiss cheese and sautéed baby portabella mushrooms. OMG! It so good and fab-u-lous!!. There are a ton of mushrooms and you know me and the schrooms. Love them! I always get my burgers done medium rare or medium. I know it can be unsafe to get your burgers done any less than well done, but WHATEVER, that's so not true. I've been eating my meat rare to medium rare for years and I'm still breathing. Ha!

This burger is HUGE!!! (Okay the picture is not of my fave burger, but I couldn't find a picture of that one, but you get the gist of the hugeness.) Seriously, if you know me you know I have a big mouth (Ha!), but I must cut this burger in half because is it THAT BIG! I always ask for mayonnaise on the side for my burger because I roll like that.

This burger also comes with french fries. I mean it would be un-American to have a burger without french fries. And I also always ask for ranch dressing on the side to dip my french fries in. I am all about the sauce. I'm just a saucy kind of gal. :)

Popeye Quesadillas

I have these quesadillas at least once a week. OMG! They are so good and so incredibly simple to make. I use the whole wheat tortillas to make it a bit more healthy and then I add in some shredded cheese. You can use any kind of cheese. I usually have shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese always in my refrigerator. I then just add in some fresh spinach. You don't have to cut up the spinach or anything. It just wilts down from the heat. Trust me on this. I know it will look like a ton and you'll think it is too much spinach, but once it wilts down, it's really not that much at all.

I used my quesadilla maker. Again, I do believe this is the most fantastic kitchen appliance there is. It is awesome! But, if you don't have one, no worries, you can simply cook the quesadillas in a skillet and put a can of soup on top for weight. That's some Rachel Ray trickery. Ha! :)

I also used sour cream, which is the Mexican essential right? Ha! And I had some of my friend Rachel's homemade salsa. So yummy!

Okay, I know I've made you really hungry now. So go ahead, step away from the computer, walk into the kitchen and make some quesadillas.

Breaking Bread with the Amish

Growing up in PA. I've had this bread many times over the years. It is called Amish Friendship Bread. It is so good and moist. Seriously, no joke, you can let it sit on your counter and take two weeks to eat it and it will still be moist and fresh. It's completely CRAZY!!! (but friendly. Ha!)

This is a bread to be shared with another person (technically your friend). :) You give your friend one of the starters in a zip lock bag. The starter is essentially a homemade yeast mix. You also always have a starter going. You mush the bag each day and on day 5 add sugar, flour and milk and then for five more days you mush the bag each day. At the end of 10 days you add again sugar, flour and milk, separate into 4 1-cup servings and put into zip lock bags and share with friends. With what is left over in the bowl you add ingredients, place in the oven and bake for 1 hour and walluh...OMG! delicious, yummy bread. The Amish ROCK!

I think what makes this bread really good is that before you bake it you sprinkle a cinnamon/sugar mixture all over it. I have never had someone try it who didn't like it. It is THAT GOOD. And it is really, really simple. Please leave me a note if you want the recipe.

Each recipe makes 2 breads or 5 mini loaves. How fab-u-lous would it be to make these for little Christmas gifts for friends, co-workers, church friends, etc.???? Okay, so turn off the computer and get baking. Christmas is only right around the corner afterall. But first leave me a note. ;)

Let Them Eat Cake

I found this recipe through kraft.com and it is fab-u-lous!! So yummy! It is called Gram's Brown Sugar Cake. It is so moist and sweet, and that's without even any icing! Ha! You add 2/3 cup of sour cream, which is where the moistness comes from. The pecans after baking taste like sweet (from the brown sugar) roasted nuts. OMG!

It is so incredibly easy to make:
1 yellow box cake mix
1 vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
--Mix the first six ingredients and then add in the brown sugar and pecans and mix again. Pour into a greased tube pan and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Cool completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar.That's it. That's all there is to it. No joke, it is that simple. You can whip this cake up in no time. It would perfect for a house warming, hostess gift, to take to a sick friend, etc. It really is the perfect cake. There is nothing to not like about it.

Okay, I think you get the idea. Now, cut it and let them eat cake.