Dad vs. Mom Secret Ingredient: Chocolate

So this time it was a Dad vs. Mom competition and I was the judge. We had m&m's, hershey's bars and hershey's kisses. Mom seized the chocolate sauce and made it hard. She started over and broke the bowl the second time. Not a good day for Mom. She lost.

Here is Mom's dish. It was an ice cream sundae with Dad's fudge sauce, people shaped banana slices, m&m candy and chocolate shavings.

 

Here is Dad's dish. He made 3 different treats. One was graham cracker sticks with chocolate sauce, coconut and m&m's, the next was graham cracker sticks with chocolate sauce and marshmallow goo. The third was cheez-it crackers with chocolate sauce and m&m's. 

 

When I first saw Mom's I thought "A 2 year old could make this in a minute". 

 

When I first tasted Dad's I spit it in the garbage. 

In the end, Dad won because Mom's dish was very simple and didn't taste very good.

Owen vs Mom. Secret ingredient: Apples

So, now that you know a lot about my recipes, now I'm going to do some competitions against my mom and my dad with the other parent deciding the ingredient and judging. Does that sound fair to you? Our first challenge was today and our secret ingredient was chosen by my dad, which was apples. I won this first challenge so our ingredient today will be the dish that I won. 

 

My mom made this dish, which was apple spice filling inside a tortilla and fried, topped with caramel sauce, ice cream and chocolate shavings.

I made this dish. It's apple fritters with an apple slaw with homemade dressing. It's actually very simple. Here's the recipe. Mix together Marzetti's dressing with a small amount of worchestire sauce.

A Breakfast for Dinner

So I know we do this little introduction every single post and every day I say something about the next recipe, but this week is actually multiple recipes- it's breakfast for dinner!

French Toast
1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 pinch salt
3 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp sugar
12 slices texas toast bread

1. In large bowl mix flour and milk. Add salt, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla and sugar and beat well.
2. Dip each slice of bread into egg mixture, let soak slightly, flip, then place on heated and greased griddle.
3. At this point we cover the french toast with a lid or upside down pan to help the middle cook.
4. Cook over medium heat until browned on one side, flip and cook the other side.

Bacon
1 package bacon

Cook in pan over medium heat, flipping to keep from burning. When cooked, remove from heat and place on paper towels to drain grease.

Scrambled Eggs
3 eggs
3 egg whites
1/3 cup milk
salt and pepper

1. Mix eggs and egg whites with milk.
2. Pour mixture into greased skillet heated over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper and stir to scramble. When done, put in bowl.

Hash Brown
Frozen hash brown rectangles

1. Place frozen hash brown on plate. Microwave for 1 minute to defrost.
2. Place on heated skillet and brown.

 

 BONUS TIP: Although your grandmother, or your mother, taught you to crack eggs on the edge of bowls or pans, I specifically tell you to crack it on a flat surface like a plate or counter. When you crack it on an edge it puts shells in the food you want to eat.

 

Roasted Asparagus

As you remember from our cookie episode, I'm a vegetarian. But, of course, I don't eat disgusting stuff. I don't even eat oranges. And I don't eat asparagus. I know, I know, being a vegetarian it's weird that I don't eat asparagus. Speaking of asparagus, lets talk about today's recipe, which is asparagus.

Roasted Asparagus
1 big bunch of asparagus (we get ours from Sam's Club)
1 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp garlic salt
Parmesan cheese

1. Cut ends off asparagus and place in big pot filled with water. Boil for 5 minutes.

2. Drain asparagus and place on baking sheets. Mix butter and garlic salt and brush mixture on asparagus. Grate Parmesan cheese over top. 

3. Roast in 450 degree oven for about 15 minutes.

White Chip Macademia Cookies

You know, many people use the term "vegetarian", but I also made up my own term I think you would like- "desertetarian". Speaking of deserts, our recipe today is a cookie. Now let's show our recipe.

White Chip Macademia Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped macademia nuts
1 cup white chocolate chips

1. Cream butter and sugars in mixer on medium speed. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Add vanilla and mix.
2. Add flour, baking soda and salt and mix. Add nuts and chips and mix.
3. Drop by teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
4. Bake for 10 minutes in 350 degree oven. Let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before removing to wire rack.

Irish Soda Bread and French Fries

I know these two don't go together- a side dish and a bread- but I just make what I can and I put it in this blog. So don't blame me if you see a meat and desert or a side dish and another side dish. So please, don't come running to me and say "how do these go together?" because I won't say anything.

Irish Soda Bread

4 cups flour
4 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup buttermilk

1. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and butter. Stir in 1 cup buttermilk and egg.

2. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead. Shape into a circle and place on a lightly greased pan.

3. Mix 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup buttermilk. Brush over top of loaf.

4. Bake bread in 375 degree oven for 45-50 minutes, or until golden brown.

French Fries

3 potatoes
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp rosemary

1. Wash and dry potatoes. Slice into potato shapes. Place in large bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for 1 hour.

2. Drain potatoes and dry. Mix with oil and seasonings. Place on baking sheet.

3. Bake in 400 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until golden brown. The time depends greatly on how thick you cut your fries!

 

Bonus Tip: A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen! Please clean your kitchen or you won't be able to cook anymore! 

Handmade Home Fries

If you've been doing all of these, you've probably noticed that I do this little introduction before I do the recipe. I just wanted to say that these home fries are delicious! You can make the seasoning however you want. I make it with garlic salt and rosemary leaves- delicious! 

 

Home Fries

2 medium sized potatoes
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp rosemary leaves

1. Wash and dry potatoes.
2. Cut potatoes into cubes.
3. Heat oil over medium heat in large skillet.
4. When oil is hot, add potatoes and seasonings. 
 5. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until golden brown.