Outrageous Oven Fries

Yum

Have you got your Memorial Day bash main dish picked yet?  If not, take a look at these Attention-Grabbing Jalapeno Mushroom Sliders or Baja Chicken Sliders they are easy to make and both make outstanding entrees.  

And what better side dish to go with some yummy sliders than fries. 

OUTRAGEOUS OVEN FRIES

These fries are healthier since they are not fried in oil but baked in the oven.  It's the only way we do fries now.  They come out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. 

I jazz up our fries with a spice mixture of paprika and garlic powder.  The combination is a winning formula and it's become our basic recipe.

Who doesn't love fires with their burgers or hot dogs?  And ones with a bit of spice just make them irresistible and additive.  Don't say I didn't warn you....as I can neither confirm or deny sneaking 1 or 5 from the baking sheet, hot from the oven.  Shhh! don't tell anyone! They really are outrageously good!

Enjoy!!





Outrageous Oven Fries

serves 8

4 large russet potatoes, washed and peeled
2 Tbls olive oil
3 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut each potato into planks and then cut the planks into sticks.  Place them in a large bowl and drizzle with oil, tossing to coat.  Sprinkle on paprika and garlic powder.  Toss to coat.

Place potatoes on a baking sheet, making sure they are level.  Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown, turning over once half way through the cooking time.  Serve warm.

Garden Fresh Pasta Salad

Yum

We're ramping up here on Slice of Southern to celebrate Memorial Day!

We've talked about my Refreshing Quinoa, Fennel and Grape Salad as a great side dish, and my Attention Grabbing Jalapeno Mushroom Sliders as a grilled entree.  Today I'm bringing you another side dish to go with any main dish whether you grill, BBQ, or use the slow cooker!

GARDEN FRESH PASTA SALAD

Growing up my mom always loved a good pasta salad.  She made it often because they go with everything.  I don't remember a cookout or potluck growing up that didn't have a big bowl of pasta salad in attendance!

During the summer we have a habit of making a big pasta salad on the weekend so we can and eat it all week long with everything from sandwiches to grilled chicken. 

They are easy to throw together and this one screams summer.  Fresh vegetables from your local farmer's market or grocery store are the star!  Filled with fresh spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, and bell peppers, this pasta salad is just delishhhh!  And don't forget the basil, garbanzo beans, and mozzarella, they create a balance to this salad that makes it irresistible.

Make sure to make this salad at your next gathering.  Memorial Day calls for reflection, good friends, family, and good food!  Everyone will rave about this and the bowl will be the first one empty!

Enjoy!






Garden Fresh Pasta Salad

serves 6-8

2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
15 oz garbanzo beans, drained
3 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
2 plum tomatoes, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1/4 c mozzarella cheese, cubed
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/3 cup basil & sun-dried tomato salad dressing


Cook pasta according to package directions. During the last 5 minutes of cooking add the broccoli florets and blanch until bright green.   Drain pasta and broccoli and transfer to a large bowl.

Add beans, vegetables, cheese, and basil to pasta. Drizzle with dressing toss to coat. Refrigerate to chill or serve at room temperature.  

Attention-Grabbing Jalapeno Mushroom Sliders

Yum

Memorial Day is around the corner and it's time to "Spice Up" your Sliders!

Memorial Day always marks the unofficial start of summer which goes hand in hand with grilling.  Since the weather here has been warm enough to grill for a month or so we've already started making great dishes on the grill, but no matter what we always have a cook-out for Memorial Day.

This year we aren't just making any ole' sliders.  Nope!  We are going to "Spice Up" our palate and our lives with a little add-in to the burgers.  We decided to add sautéed jalapenos and mushrooms to the mix to create one irresistibly juicy, and flavorful slider!

ATTENTION-GRABBING JALAPENO MUSHROOM SLIDERS

This is my riff on my favorite burger, the mushroom Swiss burger with a spicy twist.  The mushrooms and jalapeno are sautéed and added to the meat mixture instead of being used as toppings.  This is a lot easier to control than having them sit on top of a small slider.  This created a wonderfully juicy and tasty burger!

They take a little prep work but the end result is an Attention-Grabbing Jalapeno Mushroom Slider!  They are only mildly spicy but you can adjust that to your liking by adding more or less diced jalapeno.  Additionally, the cheese is optional.  We added cheese to about half of our burgers and left the other plain.  Serve with your favorite fixings, and possibly a spicy burger sauce and you are set for a sizzling main dish!

Enjoy!




Attention-Grabbing Jalapeno Mushroom Sliders

makes 12

1 lb ground sirloin (10%)
8 oz sliced baby bella mushrooms
1 Tbls olive oil
Kosher salt
2 jalapenos, finely diced
salt and pepper
Swiss cheese (optional)
12 slider buns, split and buttered


Preheat a gas or charcoal grill, or they may be grilled indoors on a grill pan.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and mushrooms.  Cook mushrooms 3-4 minutes until they start to get tender.  Sprinkle salt over the mushrooms and they will release their moisture and start to turn a golden brown.  Cook an additional 3-4 minutes until golden and remove from the skillet to a cutting board. 

Add the diced jalapeno to the skillet and cook about 3 minutes until softened.  Watch them while cooking as they can burn easily and may pop up on the pan while cooking.

Cut the mushrooms into small pieces and add to a large bowl.  Add the sautéed jalapeno to the bowl as well.  Sprinkle the ground sirloin over the veggies in the bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to season.  Mix until well combined but don't overwork the meat.  Form 12 equal patties and place them on a platter.

Grill patties 3-4 minutes per side for well done patties.  If you are adding cheese, add it to the patties once your flip the burger to the second side.  Add buttered buns to the grill to toast.  Remove patties and buns to a platter.  Serve with condiments and fixings of your choice.