PLATES - Homemade Thousand Island and Russian dressings

Back in March I was making Rueben sandwiches with leftover corned beef and sauerkraut. I realized I didn't have any Thousand Island Dressing in my fridge, and after a search for online recipes I did have all the ingredients on hand (fridge + pantry = freshness). Yummmmmm ... !!!

But I had a friend who kept asking for my "Russian Dressing."

It's NOT "Russian Dressing." But when I go online to find a Russian Dressing recipe, a famous cook's Russian Dressing recipe was the same as MY Thousand Island. Seriously.

What's the difference?

It seems that Russian Dressing is spicier and yet sweeter. Here are my variations ... you decide ...


THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING
It's a simple ... 2+1+1+1+1 (and then some)

2 Tablespoons mayonaise
1 Tablespoon chopped red onion
1 Tablespoon pickle relish (sweet or dill - your choice)
1 Tablespoon vinegar (I use cider vinegar)
1 Tablespoon ketchup

stir together, then add ...
1 teaspoon garlic powder or granules
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon paprika (I like the smoked paprika)

Mix and refrigerate ... goes great on hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, as a dip, as a cole slaw dressing, well, you get the idea ...

NOTE - if you use Whataburger Spicy Ketchup, skip the hot sauce (or not). Many recipes call for a hard boiled egg. I'm not a fan of eggs so I skipped it.



RUSSIAN DRESSING
There's some common ingredients and another easy math formula ... 2+2 then 1+1+1 (and som spices)

2 Tablespoons mayonaise
2 Tablespoons ketchup
1 Tablespoon pepper relish (NOT pickle relish ... but you can skip this or use SWEET pickle relish)
1 Tablespoon horseradish
1 Tablespoon vinegar (again, I used apple cider vinegar)

stir together, then add ...
1 teaspoon garlic powder or granules
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Mix and refrigerate ... goes great on sandwiches and as a dip ... yummmm ...


Both recipes are easily doubled, tripled, or more! I usually do about a 4x recipe and put them in a container.

PLATES - No Sugar Added Banana Nut Muffins

Wow ... it's been almost three years since I've put a post here. Blame it on Facebook. Blame it on distractions. Blame it on changes in attitudes and latitudes.

 I've had a number of requests for my No Sugar Added Banana Nut Muffins. Rather than being a COG (Creepy Old Guy) who says "here's my email, drop me a line and I'll email the recipe," I can now say "here's my blog, it's there ... look for Banana Nut Muffin recipe." Hope the wait has been worth it.

How I developed this recipe ...
As a Type II diabetic, I was looking for something with lower sugar that would also satisfy my sweet tooth. I poked around on the internet and found this recipe, then tweaked it to make it my own (deleted the 1/2 cup of maple syrup, added some more bananas). This also works in the waffle maker (see notes below) ... !!!


Here's the basic recipe ... 

¼ cup melted oil (coconut, butter, or extra-virgin olive oil)

2 eggs, preferably at room temperature

1¼ cup packed mashed ripe bananas (about 5 bananas) ... extra is ok

¼ cup milk of choice (I've used cow's milk and almond milk)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1¾ cups whole wheat flour

⅓ cup old-fashioned oats, >> plus more for sprinkling on top

1 teaspoon turbinado >> for sprinkling on top

Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. If not using paper cups, grease 12 cups in a muffin tin.

In a large bowl, mix the oil and eggs and beat well. Mix in the mashed bananas and milk, followed by the baking soda, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon.

Add the flour and oats to the bowl and mix with a large spoon, just until combined. If you’d like to add any additional mix-ins, like nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, or dried fruit, fold them in now.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups. Don't over-fill as the batter will rise. Sprinkle tops with a few oats and some turbinado. Bake 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool. Serve w butter or cream cheese.

NOTES  ... 

I have mashed the bananas by hand. Fresh ones give you big chunks, riper ones get mashed better. What I usually do now is combine the bananas and the milk in a blended and whir. I really don't measure how much this provides, but if the mixture looks too runny I'l add some extra oats.

Bananas ... I've used fresh ones and ripe ones. The fresh ones give a more neutral taste, the ripe ones give a stronger banana flavor. The choice is yours.

I use butter or oil to grease the tins. I don't use paper cups and I've never used a commercial spray. I do have a Misto sprayer which turns any oil into a spray. Search for it on line.

No, I have not made this Vegan by replacing the eggs. In years past eggs were replaced with bananas and oil, so you could add more, or even use some chia seeds for thickening.

Like I said, if it looks too thin, add more oats (I like the taste and texture of Old Fashioned style oats). I like oats and usually add up to half a cup.

Keep an eye (and nose) on your oven. At 20 minutes, check the muffins by inserting a toothpick or skewer. If you've added a lot of mix-ins you'll probably need some more time. Do this in 3 minute increments. Running a thin, flexible knife around them and flipping them on their sides keeps them from sticking to the bottom. Again, I don't use paper muffin cups. 

I thought sprinkling oats and sugar on the top was weird until I had breakfast at the local Hilton hotel, and there on some of their muffins were oats and turbinado sugar.

Mix-ins ... I usually use a half cup of chopped nuts and a half cup of shredded coconut. This will usually offset the varying amount of bananas (that's why I say extra is ok). You can add less of each. 

VARIATIONS ... I made these as CHOCOLATE a couple of times. I omitted the cinnamon, added half a cup of cocoa powder, along with nuts and shredded coconut. Once I added two teaspoons of chocolate raspberry coffee grounds (finely ground). They were delish! I've also used this as a waffle batter ... just grease the sides (I used butter), spoon in the batter and cook. To make this recipe in a SAVORY style ... delete the cinnamon and vanilla. I used EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) as the oil, added Italian style spices spices (garlic, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil). As mix-ins, I used almonds, some olives, and Italian cheese. You could probably do this Mexican style with appropriate seasonings, nuts, jalapeños, and cheese.

PLATES - National Taco Day 2013

Friday, October 4 is National Taco Day which means a ton of taco freebies (okay - not a ton, just a bunch of good stuff). Check out these great deals to celebrate National Taco Day!

Taco Bueno – At participating Taco Bueno locations you can grab a FREE crispy or soft Beef or Chicken taco by saying “Free Taco” today. One free offer per customer.

Tijuana Flats - Tijuana Flats will be celebrating National Taco Day with $2 tacos!

Calle Tacos - At Calle Tacos you can score 99 cent tacos and giveaways from 11-6 p.m. (Fish tacos do not apply to this deal.)

Taco Joint – At The Taco Joint  you can grab 3 tacos for $5 between 3-5 p.m. All tacos are $2 after 10 p.m. Score an extra deal of free chips, salsa and guacamole when you Instagram your tacos using the hashtag #tacoday!

Taco Cabana – The San Antonio based chain celebrated on October 1. But here’s a deal – donate $1 to the Warrior and Family Support Center and get coupons for  5 free Bean and Cheese Tacos.

El Torito – sat the word “secret taco” to your El Torito server and get a free soft or crispy taco.

If you’re in Austin, Texas … here’s your places to celebrate …

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Our-top-10-picks-for-celebrating-thats-right-National-Taco-Day-in-Austin-226463571.html

PLATES - National Coffee Day freebies

It’s been a long month of celebrations.

So far, we’ve collected freebies for Labor Day on Sept. 2, International Literacy Day and Grandparents Day on Sept. 8, Cheeseburger Day on the 18 and Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19.

A few “holidays” we skipped (no freebies): Blame Someone Else Day on Friday the 13 (not my fault, no one told me), Elephant Appreciation Day on the 22 (I forgot), Dog in Politics Day on the 23, (they’re on to something there) and Ask a Stupid Question Day on the 28(who comes up with these?).

Just ahead on October 2 is a freebie from Panda Express.

Today, our cups runneth over. It’s National Coffee Day.

No hoops or gimmicks. Just go to Kwik Trip and get a FREE 12 oz Karuba Coffee. The lack of gimmicks might also be why the company is continually ranked as a top place to work in surveys.

Krispy Kreme is giving away free small coffees. No purchase or coupon is necessary. Stores also are selling small iced, mocha and pumpkin spice lattes for $1.

Shipley Donut stores offer a variety of specials. There's nothing from the corporate office for the Houston-based chain, but the various franchised stores have their own specials posted on Facebook and Google. Search. Ask.

Starbucks is giving tastes of its new Ethiopia roast. Yes, just a ‘taste.” Not a lot but just enough to count as a freebie. Get a free ceramic tasting cup with purchase of a one-pound bag, which sells for $13.95.

There’s always free sample of coffee (dark roast, special roast, decaf) at HEB Market stores, Central Market and Sweet Bay. Also, free cream. Be nice and leave some for others.

Dunkin’ Donuts is giving away free small cups of hot or iced coffee with a mobile coupon on the chain’s free smartphone app for iPhone or Android. After you download the app, click the “My Offers” tab to get meal and drink deals. Save two bucks on Dunkin’ coffee, on sale for $5.99 a bag or $7.99 for K-cups.

Want Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee but you’re not near the store? Get a FREE Small Hot or Iced Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee mobile coupon today with the free Hess Express mobile app.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is giving away free iced or hot coffees and lattes of any size when you buy one with a coupon. Get it at SunSentinel.com/Einstein.

APlus at Sunoco is going bigger on the free coffee. You’ll be able to get a free 16-ounce coffee from any of the gas station’s retail locations, and the offer will be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Just get the deal through its Facebook page.

Say “Happy National Coffee Day” when you place your coffee order at Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop, and you’ll get a free coffee with the purchase of another coffee

Enjoy a complimentary small coffee of the day at participating Caribou Coffee stores. You’ll need to download and print a special National Coffee Day coupon from Facebook, and bring it with you, or show it on your mobile device when placing your order.

You can get a free, piping-hot cup of coffee from Wawa Inc. thtodayis Sunday, but you’ll have to work for it first. The primarily East Coast-based stores (with a couple now in Orlando) are offering customers a free 16-oz. cup of their original brew this Sunday for customers who register online to receive a coupon. According to a spokesperson for Wawa on the chain’s official Facebook page, coupons will be accepted in stores only in printed form.

Plates - Sweet Jalapeño Recipe

I came up with this a number of years ago because I like the flavor of jalapeño peppers, I just don't care for the spice. I'm more suited for the mild Hatch peppers which are just now coming into season. The hatch peppers are an anaheim pepper grown in the Santa Rosa Valley of New Mexico. More on that later.

Take a jar (your choice of size and brand) of sliced jalapeño peppers. Drain the liquid save if for other uses/recipes).. 

Add 1/4 cup agave nectar to coat jalapeños and let is sit in the refrigerator for a day. Thennnnn ... add brown sugar (and more brown sugar) to fill up the jar. Agitate it lightly once or twice a day. This will make the peppers sweet and the sugar will liquify and you can use it in recipes.

I use the liquified brown sugar when making margaritas with freshly squeezed lime juice. Makes it sweet and tangy.

Use the chopped jalapeños on top of cream cheese (or blend it into softened cream cheese as a spread/dip).

If you get a larger container, make the sweetened jalapeños, but also mix in some chopped dried cranberries, raisins,  a jar of maraschino cherries, and some chopped, toasted pecans (or buy some trail mix and blend in).

Enjoy!

PixPlatesPlaces Margarita Recipe #1 ...

1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1 ounce orange liqueur (like triple sec, Curacao, Cointreau, orangecello, or Grand Marnier)

2 ounces 100% agave tequila (in Texas, chose Houston-based Agavales as a value brand, or Stafford's Izkali Blanco as a premium)

1 tablespoon jalapeño sugar

Mix above ingredients. Pour over crushed ice (salted rim optional). Salúd!

PixPlatesPlaces Margarita Recipe #2 ...

1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1 ounce 100% premium agave tequila (in Texas, chose Houston-based Izkali Reposado or Añjeo)

1 tablespoon amber agave nectar

Mix, then pour over crushed ice. Shake. Strain into glass (don't sale the rim!). Enjoy!

Plates - St Arnold releases Divine Reserve 12

The day is almost here! Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 12 will be released tomorrow, July 31. 

You will be able to find it in the Houston area at the larger Spec's, Kroger, H-E-B stores and at Whole Foods and Central Market. Not every store will get it tomorrow. It may take the entire week before everybody gets their allotment. 

Also, while the kegs will be delivered this week, not all bar accounts will put it on draft right away. Some may even age it. You can search Twitter under #DR12 to see where people are finding bottles and draft.

For some, getting a six pack (or two) of Divine Reserve is a great adventure; an adult Easter egg hunt. Some will be late to work, standing in line and waiting for Spec's to open at 9:00am. Others will scour the customer service counters at grocery stores for "returns" (people leave it when they find out it cost about $15 a six pack). DR12 hunters will call and text one another with finds and misses. Still others are on "the list" at special places and all they have to do is walk up and ask.

DR12 is an old ale and was inspired by David Rogers' winning entry in the Saint Arnold 2011 Big Batch Brew Bash. There are two definitions of Old Ales. The first is an ale in the old style, which refers to an ale bigger than regular ales. This was the more common definition up to 15 years ago. Saint Arnold Christmas Ale is an example of this style. The newer definition is a very high alcohol ale that has been aged. This is what DR12 is, except that YOU have to supply the aging. Saint Arnold did condition DR12 in the fermenters for over 2 months.

DR12 is a very big ale with the high alcohol (10%) creating a spicy malt and hop flavor. Aging will allow the alcohol to oxidize and create sherry flavors that will round out the beer. It will age best if stored cold. This beer will come into its own in a year and should be drinking great 5 years from now.

I had a tour and some samples a few days ago at the brewery. When pouring this beer, Saint Arnold's brewers highly recommend decanting it, pouring it slowly and smoothly and leaving the last ounce or so in the bottle. You can pour this into a separate glass if you wish, but you will find that the decanted portion tastes brighter and cleaner. The nose has rich malt notes and a little alcohol that combines with a spicy hop note to create a complex bouquet. The taste has a spicy, malty beginning that smoothes out into a creamy middle and a warming finish. Also, make sure to let this beer warm up before your drink it. It is best enjoyed at around 50° F.

While most of DR12 was packaged in 6 packs, for the first time there will also be a small amount available in 22 ounce bottles.


Happy hunting ... and drinking!

Plates & Places ... Beer Tours in Houston

Where else in the Houston area can you get 4 pints of beer for $5, $6, $7 or $12 ... ??? Outside of the Flying Saucer (Downtown and in Sugar Land) on Sundays ($3 Texas pints) or Whole Foods-Sugar Land on Tuesday evenings ($2 pints), touring an area craft brewery is the best quality beer deal in town. There are six craft breweries (and one mega brewery) in the Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend county area at this time. Here's some ins and outs on taking a brewery tour at the four currently offering regular tours and learning more about "better beer."

First, some basics for ALL these Houston area brewery tours (and these might/will be different than brewery visits in California, Colorado, Oregon, Florida, or any other states) ...

Please bring some form of photo ID (drivers license, passport, CCW permit, military ID). They all ID all their guests and it really doesn't matter "how old do I look?" While age verification is NOT required by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), state law does prohibit the selling of beer to minors and provides for penalties for both buyer and seller. Each place sets their own rules. Be nice and have your ID handy. Besides, if you're over 50 you'll remember the last time you were "carded."

Kids are welcome at all the places. If you're under 21 you may enter only with a parent, adult guardian, or spouse. If you're "just friends" you will be denied entry. Texas law says you may give your child/guardian/spouse a beer but they must stay within "direct sight." Follow the rules.

You get FOUR (4) samples of beer (in the form of chips). You CAN'T "buy" more chips. The "four sample" rule is a suggested brewery control item to make sure you're sober when you leave.

If you buy a pint glass you'll get a "better sample." Don't expect a full pint, or a full glass if you're at a brewery that sells one of the larger steins. Again, Texas laws. However, if you're nice to your server (saying please and thank-you goes a long way), and if they see you tipping, chances are you'll get a "really good" pour. Please don't ask your server for more beer if you're out of chips. They could get in trouble as could the brewery.

If you bring your brewery glass back, you get in for the basic tour rate. Make sure it's the pint glass for THAT brewery, though! Some folks keep their pints in their vehicle in case they just happen to be "in the area."

Times posted are the hours the taps are open and pouring beer. All breweries close entry a half-hour before the listed end time. You can arrive anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before the taps open. You should plan on leaving all places a half-hour after the posted time. The volunteers are cleaning up and they usually hang around and enjoy a post-event beer (or two). It's their form of "payment."

You're welcome (often encouraged) to bring chairs.

There may be long lines/waits at food trucks. You can bring all kinds of food with you as breweries in Texas are NOT allowed to sell food.

You may NOT bring any other alcohol (wine or margaritas) just because a member of your party "doesn't like beer."

Unlike visiting a winery in Texas, you can NOT buy any beer at the brewery. It's another Texas law. If you don't like this law and think craft breweries should be treated the same as wineries in Texas, you can help lobby the state legislature when they start meeting in January 2013.

Beer cannot leave the brewery except in your stomach. They all have "beer police" to make sure your glass is empty.

Tours vary - some are more formal than others. You do NOT have to "take a tour" to drink beer. All breweries will announce when they are offering tours. This is a good time to go to the bar as a large number of visitors will go on the tour and the lines will be short. When you go on a tour, make sure you have a full glass of beer - it makes it more enjoyable.

Remember - all the people "working" at the tours are volunteers. They are giving up their time from other things because they like craft beer. Some people give up more time than others. Some people volunteer at two (or three) of the breweries (yes, the other breweries know they do this). The volunteers are there to educate you and answer any questions. Tipping is allowed at some of the locations but never required.

 Now the tour info ...

Saint Arnold Brewing, 2000 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020

http://www.saintarnold.com

Tastings are 3 - 5pm Monday through Friday and 11am - 3pm every Saturday

Admission is $7 for four samples.

Glasses start at $5 for a basic pint and go upwards of $25 for ceramic pints with lids (and more). They sell all kinds of t-shirts, koozies and brewery items.

They usually sell pretzels on Saturday.

NOTES:

Things get crowded - up to 1,200 people on Saturdays. The line forms starting at 10:00am. St. Arnold has the most tables and seating but people still bring chairs and blankets. If you don't get there early and don't bring folding chairs, you will probably be standing. Sometimes the entry line is halted when capacity is reached. It's air conditioned. Mon - Fri tours have about 30 people through the school year, 50 to 100 in the summer. They are Texas' oldest craft brewery. No, Shiner doesn't count. No, Saint Arnold wasn't first, but they've outlasted a few others. The make and serve GREAT root beer - it's FREE to all! The smoking area is down the stairs (or elevator) and out the front door. Just make sure your hand is stamped. No, you can NOT take your beer with you to the smoking area. You can trade in your sample glass for a $1 credit at the merchandise counter.

No Label Brewing, 5373 1st Street, Katy, TX 77493

http://www.nolabelbrew.com

Tastings are held 1pm - 3pm at the brewery every Saturday.

Admission is $5. You get four samples.

Pint glasses are $5. They sell t-shirts, koozies, hoodies, and other bling.

There's usually a food truck on hand.

NOTES:

It's outdoors so check their web site, Facebook or Twitter to see if rain or wet grounds has closed them. Expect 200 to 300 people there, depending upon the weather and area events. They also close for special events like the Katy or Houston Beer festivals. Bring your own chairs and shade. You can smoke any place but in the brewing area (be considerate). They are dog and kid friendly.

Karbach Brewing, 2032 Karbach Street, Houston, TX 77092

http://www.karbachbrewing.com

Tours are 5 - 7pm every Friday and 12 - 3pm every Saturday.

Tours are $7. If you buy a pint glass it's an extra $5. Add a T-shirt for a $25 entry. Bring a canned good for the Houston Food Bank and get $1 off your admission.

They offer four samples. Often, one sample may be a "blue" chip, which is one sample (8 to 16 ounces, depending upon the brew and/or your glass size) of a special brew. You can get a second sample of a special brew with two red chips.

There's usually a food truck on hand.

NOTES:

It's indoors and outdoors so dress accordingly. It's not air conditioned but there's fans. The smoking area is out the back. They are dog friendly. The have a variety of t-shirts and now sell caps. Be careful where you park - if in doubt, ask at the front. Their tours usually have about 200 people, which is large for a Friday evening get together. It gets a bigger on Saturdays but it's an hour longer.

Southern Star Brewing, 1207 N. FM 3083 E., Conroe, TX 77303

http://www.southernstarbrewing.com

Tastings are held 1pm - 3pm at the brewery every Saturday.

Admission is free. You get four samples.

Buy a pint glass for $5. They have t-shirts and other items, too.

There's always someone selling food and usually a live band.

NOTES:

It's indoors and outdoors so dress accordingly. It's not air conditioned but there's fans. Get there early as tours run 400 to 500 people. The smoking area is out the back.