Bacon and Chive Hushpuppies

Who doesn't like hush puppies? Buford T. Justice doesn't that's who or he just doesn't have time for them. Anyone under 35 probable has no idea what I'm talking about, just one of the best movies ever. Smokey and the Bandit, you need to see it.

Ingredients-
4 Slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
1 Cup Yellow Cornmeal not stone ground
1/2 Cup Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 Egg
3/4 Cup Whole Milk
3/4 Cup Chives thin slice
4-6 Cups Vegetable Oil

Directions-
1. In a medium sauce pot over high heat add oil until it's about 1/2 to 2/3 full. Heat until 315-320 degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and pepper.
3. In a small mixing bowl whisk egg and milk together. Add to flour, add bacon and chives and mix until just incorporated.
4. Using a tablespoon sccop mixture and add 5-7 hush puppies to oil cook for 2-3 per side, cook until golden brown add any sauce you like we used ranch...enjoy!

Bella and White Mushroom and Spinach Quinoa

My wife wanted to try something new, oh and she said no MEAT! What the hell, no meat are you kidding me I eat meat you know cow, pig, chicken, duck and lamb. Also it had to have quinoa, so a mushroom and spinach quinoa was made.

Ingredients-
8oz Baby Bella Mushrooms sliced
8oz White Mushrooms sliced
2 Cups Fresh Spinach chopped
1 Green Pepper 1/2 inch dice
2 Tbl Garlic minced
2 Cups Chicken Stock
1 1/2 Cup Quinoa(it was successfully domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago for human consumption)
1 Tbl Thyme
1 Cup Water
2 Tbl Oil

Directions-
1. In a small pot on medium heat put in water and bella mushrooms, bring to a simmer for 7-9 minutes.
2. In a large pot over medium high heat add oil, white mushrooms and peppers saute for 6-8 minutes.
3. Add garlic and thyme to the large pot and saute for 2-3 minutes. Next add the bella mushrooms and the water from the small pot, add the chicken stock and the quinoa. Bring back up to a boil, turn heat to low and cover pot let it cook for 15 minutes.
4. After the 15 minutes add the spinach and cover the pot and cook for anouther 5 minutes. Serve as a side dish(my wife ate it as her main meal and loved it) hopefully with a bog porshin of meat..enjoy!

Sweet Korean Potatoes with Sesame Seeds

This side dish plays well with the Korean BBQ. If I ever own a food truck these two are so on the menu.

Ingredients-
1 1/4lb Small red or white new potatoes
1/3 Cup Korean BBQ marinade(see Korean BBQ post)
2 Tbl Oil(I used grape seed oil use what you have)
2 Tbl Water
2 Tbl Corn syrup
1 Tbl Sesame seeds(Sesame seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, domesticated well over 3000 years ago.)

Directions-
1. Rinse potatoes, in a med. sauce pot fill half way with water and bring to a boil.
2. Add potatoes to boiling water for 4-5 min., insert knife into potato to test firmness. Potato should be firm yet easily pierced with knife.
3. Strain potatoes and set out to dry.
4. In a wok or large saute pan heat oil over medium high heat, once hot add potatoes and saute for 2-3 min.
5. Add water and marinade, cook until sauce starts to thicken.
6. Add Corn syrup, increase heat to high. Mix until all potatoes are coated with sauce and have a nice caramel color.
7. Sprinkle on sesame seeds… enjoy

Brussel Sprouts Sauteed with Bacon

So I'm not a big  brussel sprouts fan but I love it with frickin' bacon. The layers of the brussel sprouts absorb the fat from the bacon and make this traditionally boring veg succulent and melt in your mouth. 

Ingredients-
1/4lb Thick cut Bacon
2lb Brussel Sprouts
1/3 Cup Balsamic Vinegar(Traditional balsamic vinegar is produced from the juice of just-harvested white grapes)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions-
1. Slice bacon into 1/2 inch strips
2. Cook bacon on med. heat in a large saute pan until 3/4 done
3. While bacon is cooking, cut ends off of brussels and cut in half.
4. Take out bacon pieces and save, add brussels to bacon fat.
5. Cook until brussels are soft, a charred outside is ok (I like it more charred my wife A LOT less...yes boys she tends to win this argument).
6. Add bacon and balsamic cook 3-5 min.
7. Salt and Pepper to taste and... Enjoy!