Recent Eats - Volume 2

A round-up of my favorite bites and other food drama from the past few weeks

Guys, are you enjoying your summer? Are you going to the beach, eating a bit too much ice cream and cheeseburgers, getting a tan, getting bug bites, and overall loving life? I hope you are! That's what summer is about. I've spent a lot of time with family and friends on little but wonderful long weekend trips and, of course, eating!

Golden Harvest in East Lansing, MI

My best friend recently moved out to Michigan where her boyfriend is pursuing his PhD. Not too long after she moved, we planned a weekend for me to come visit and the trip didn't disappoint! We went to a beach along Lake Michigan, drank wine slushies and lots of beer, and ate some great food. The best of it all was Sunday breakfast at Golden Harvest.

This small and eclectic diner-style joint is, as I understand it, pretty famous in the Lansing area. They have outrageous breakfast and brunch-style dishes and their specials are to die for! We started the meal with an order of the biscuits and gravy (OMG) and then I had a Monte Cristo sandwich with a side of homefries. I mean...they say a picture is worth a thousand words so I'll just leave you with this:

*hearts eyes emoji*

Pulled BBQ Chicken

Cory takes trips up to Rochester for work from time to time, and during his last visit a coworker sent him home with three local barbecue sauces to try. BBQ is my favorite kind of food so I couldn't wait to put these sauces to good use. I used this Country Sweet Mild Cooking Sauce to make some of the best pulled chicken ever!

I started by searing a couple of pounds of seasoned boneless, skinless chicken thighs and a quartered onion in a big dutch oven. When the chicken was golden brown, I dumped in a whole bottle of this amazing cooking sauce and let it simmer away for over an hour. The chicken then shredded like a dream and was perfect for sandwiches, salads, even tacos!

Peach Cobbler Popsicles

We recently threw a party for some friends who were moving away from Boston out west. The theme was Wild Wild West, because who doesn't love a themed party?! For dessert, I whipped up these delicious Peach Cobbler Popsicles.

I adapted the recipe from Billy over at Wit and Vinegar, replacing the berries with chopped peaches. This was my first go around making homemade popsicles and it worked like a dream! Have some patience when you are trying to unmold the pops...run the bottom of the mold under warm water for a quick 15-25 seconds then use a little elbow grease to pull them right out. These popsicles were sweet, decadent, and truly delicious!

Slide By Food Truck in Boston, MA

My friend and I started a little tradition last summer where we visited a new food truck near our office every week and posted our lunches on Instagram with the hashtag #JessAndIvyFoodTruckAdventure. While we haven't been as consistent this year, we recently tried the Slide By food truck. They offer 3 to 4 different sliders each week, each meal coming with 2 sliders and french fries - a perfect lunch portion! I had panko-crusted chicken sliders with bacon. I have never had a more perfectly fried piece of chicken, and from a truck no less! Absolutely recommend :-)

A beer, for good measure

Cory and I took a trip to Cooperstown, NY, for the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction ceremony this year to see my all-time favorite player, Mike Piazza, get inducted. It was an awesome weekend filled with baseball and beer. On our way out, we stopped at the Saranac Brewery in Utica, NY. They are currently offering the most amazing Cold Brew Coffee Lager that any and all coffee lovers MUST get their hands on! It is smooth and rich, yet somehow a bit refreshing.

P.S. I'll be back with new recipes next week! But in the meantime...how about Nutella Ice Cream?

Fourth of July Recipe Round-up!

Can you believe it is almost the Fourth of July?! For me, July 4th is really the official kick-off to summer. We are hot, we are sweaty, and we want to spend long days on the beach or by the pool with a cocktail in hand! Whether you are hosting or heading to a cook-out, spending the day on a boat or a beach, or just want something delicious to eat this weekend, I have rounded up some winning recipes below. Add one, two or a few to your menu! 

Mains

Chicken Caesar Sandwiches with Dill Potato Salad

These delicious sammies are a perfect picnic treat! Grill up some chicken breasts, assemble, and pack your cooler for a (delicious) day in the sun!

Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Cole Slaw

When it's too hot to put on the stove, oven, or grill, don't forget about your trusty slow-cooker! Pulled pork is a true crowd pleaser and serves a ton! Let everyone make up their own plates by putting out a spread of seeded buns, coleslaw, pickles, banana peppers, and extra BBQ sauce.

Grilled Salmon with Coconut Lime Rice and Mango Pico

This is a tropical paradise on a plate, and a lighter alternative for your grill. Mangoes are sweet and juicy this time of year - the perfect side dish! Make extra and serve with tortilla chips. 

Salads and Sides

Fresh Corn and Pesto Salad

This is a perennial favorite here on Gas Stove Girl. Sweet summer corn, salty tangy pesto, crunchy peppers and juicy tomatoes - my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Perfect for any outdoor buffet table.

Watermelon, Spinach and Feta Salad

If you've never had watermelon and feta in the same dish, you are missing out! This classy and pretty little salad is as refreshing as it is tasty. Hosting a dinner party al fresco? I have your first course right here!

Creamy White Bean Dip

This is hummus' lesser known but more deliciously creamy older brother. Pack this dip with all the fresh herbs you can get your hands on, serve with homemade foccaccia bread or pita chips, and watch it disappear! 

Spicy Taco Layer Dip

I have a saying that pretty much goes: anything that starts with cream cheese and ends with melted, oozing cheddar cheese is the way to a man's heart. Bring this along to a backyard BBQ, pop it under the broiler for a few minutes, whip up a batch of margaritas and be the real MVP.

Spinach and Artichoke Hummus Dip

Dunk anything and everything you can get your hands on in this dip! Two universally loved dips come together in amazing harmony. Best for those who can't decide between two of their favorite things!

Dessert

Firework Cookies

It does not get any more patriotic than this! Just look at these amazing, beautiful cookies that you can make from scratch! Sure, they make require a bit of prep work, but they are guaranteed to be the biggest hit no matter where you serve 'em.

Lemon Bars

I could eat Lemon Bars all day, every day. They allow us to highlight one of summers best fruits - lemons! Plop a few blueberries or raspberries into the custard for a delightfully patriotic twist on an old classic. Salty shortbread, gooey lemon custard, a lovely dusting of powdered sugar - there's a reason this dessert has stood the test of time!

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Pink Lemonade is a quintessential summer beverage, so why not delight children and adults alike by putting this tangy sweet treat into a cupcake?! Precious decorations absolutely required!

A Cocktail, for good measure

Raspberry Gin Fizz

Serve a crowd with this fruit packed, boozy creation! Gin, raspberry liqueur, and champagne get the party started. Fill this pitcher with any delicious fruit you can get your hands on, and drink responsibly!

Dr. Pepper Crock-Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This is my love language, this drippy beautiful baby of a sandwich right here.

Some ladies want to be taken out for ice cream, some maybe want a nice steak or lobster dinner. For me, however, the way right into my heart is through good old American BBQ.

Pulled pork sandwiches speak to me more than a romantic poem. When I know I'm on my way to a BBQ restaurant, my heart is light and my tummy is hungry. What is better than sweet and tangy barbeque sauce smothering tender, juicy pork all piled high on a soft bun? Don't think too hard, because there is nothing.

When you have a hankering for genuine BBQ at home, try these Dr. Pepper Crockpot Pulled Pork Sandwiches. These are tasty, messy, and completely satisfying. A big ol' pork butt is rubbed with your favorite spice blend then slow-cooked in the Crock-pot with a whole can of Dr. Pepper. How fun is that? The Dr. Pepper flavor is not too overpowering, but it perfectly compliments the sweet notes of the pork. Once the roast has finished cooking, I drained out most of the cooking liquid, shredded the meat with two forks, then doused it all in my favorite BBQ sauce.

Once the pork is done, it is my favorite time--that is, SANDWICH TIME! I used fresh sesame seed buns as the sandwich vessel, then whipped up a quick coleslaw made with fresh cabbage and a homemade mayonnaise. The coleslaw adds a perfect crunch and freshness to these rich BBQ sandwiches. Don't forget to add an extra squirt of BBQ sauce before absolutely inhaling these!

Spicy Taco Layer Dip

I love this time of year. When summertime rolls around that means it's just the right time for backyard barbeques and cookouts.

I also happen to love the food that comes along with cook-outs. Grilled chicken, juicy burgers, crispy hot dogs, creamy pasta and potato salads. All American good food.

This Spicy Taco Layer Dip is the perfect dip for a backyard barbeque. The warm, creamy layers blend together with just the right amount of heat for an extra kick. Spicy taco seasoning and medium heat salsa give this dip some extra oomph. Melted shredded chedder on top along with rich cream cheese on the bottom tempers that heat for a well balanced dip. Serve alongside your favorite tortilla chips and celery sticks.

Oh, by the way. If you're looking for something that is quick and simple to bring to your Memorial Day barbeques this weekend, I'd say this dip has you covered. Prep time is less than 15 minutes, and after just a few minutes under the broiler it's ready to be served.

And I guarantee your fellow party-goers will be coming back for seconds and thirds and fourths.

The layers are quite simple. It all starts with softened cream cheese in a deep, round or oval baking dish or casserole dish. I actually used the 1/3 less fat variety of the cream cheese, because why not save a few calories here and there?

On top of the cream cheese goes refried beans. The beans don't really add much in the way of taste, but this layer is a good filler and stretches the dip even further. They are creamy and tender, and the perfect partner to the cream cheese.

A pound of ground meat (I used ground turkey, because that's what I had on hand) gets browned and crumbled with 1 medium onion. A package of taco seasoning and a touch of water go in to create that amazing juicy taco meat we all know and love. Don't deny it, there's no reason to.

Taco meat on top of beans.

A jar of salsa on top of taco meat. I used medium, but if you're a crazy hot and spicy lover, you can bump it up to hot salsa.

Shredded cheddar cheese on top.

The dip goes into a hot oven for just about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and just starting to brown and the layers are heated through. The salsa will loosen up a little bit, but after it sits for a few minutes, it gets absorbed by the meat and beans for carefree dipping.

That's all it takes for a delicious, gooey taco dip. Garnish the top with chopped fresh chives, chopped tomatoes, or black olives if your heart so desires. I hope you and your friends can enjoy this dip all summer long!