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Food Life Uncategorized

Slow-Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings.

Views: 102

Slow-Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings. I know, it’s been a while since we’ve had a recipe. And of all places it comes from one of my fav grocery stores. Kroger. This is not a quick one. So go out in the garden, do some painting, or pull some weeds.

The heat of Sriracha is paired with the sweetness of honey… making these chicken wings a guaranteed WOW!

Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 3 hours 30 minutes Total: 3 hours 45 minutes Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds fresh chicken wings
  • 1 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1⁄3 cup Sriracha hot sauce
  • 1⁄4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. honey
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons lime zest

Directions

  • Set oven to Broil. Line a large rimmed sheet pan with foil; place a large rectangular wire rack on top; spray both with cooking spray.
  • Place chicken pieces in a single layer on rack; sprinkle 1 tsp. salt and pepper over chicken. Broil 3” from heat 10-12 minutes or until browned, turning halfway through broiling time.
  • Spray 3 ½-4 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place chicken in slow cooker. In small bowl mix hot sauce, ¼ cup honey, and garlic until well blended. Pour over chicken, stir to coat.
  • Cover; cook on Low heat setting 3 hours. Remove with tongs or slotted spoon; discard cooking liquid. In small bowl, mix sour cream, lime juice, zest and remaining honey and salt until well blended.
  • Serve chicken wings with lime sour cream and additional hot sauce, if desired.

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Food

Double Chocolate Banana Bread

Views: 87

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Food Gifs Music

Let’s hear it for the food and drink.

Views: 81

Let’s hear it for the food and drink.

This has always been an interesting topic of mine, listening to songs about food or drinks or having food or drinks mentioned in the title of a song. I always wanted to make this list, but never got around to it until now. I hope others enjoy this kind of list as much as I do. It made my hungry just making this list, so I had some cherry pie and pumpkin pie right after I finished it. Have fun listening to these songs.

 

https://youtu.be/EsYnBI2nvHI

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Food

Greek Slow Cooker Chicken.

Views: 76

Greek Slow Cooker Chicken.

Modified  to use the 6-quart slow cooker in the summer instead of the oven.

prep:
20 mins
cook:
4 hrs
total:
4 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 6 servings
Ingredient Checklist

Directions

Instructions Checklist
  • Rinse the chicken, inside and out. Place one half of the lemon and 3 garlic cloves in cavity of chicken. Reserve other half of lemon.

  • Layer the sliced potatoes and the onions in the crock of a slow cooker. Sprinkle remaining 3 garlic cloves around the inside of the cooker; place chicken onto the vegetables. Pour in the wine and olive oil. Dissolve bouillon in the boiling water, and add to the cooker.

  • Squeeze the juice of remaining lemon half over chicken (strain out seeds); sprinkle with oregano. Season chicken with salt and black pepper.

  • Cover, and cook on Low setting for 8-10 hours, or on High setting 4-6 hours. A meat thermometer, inserted into the thickest part of a thigh, not touching a bone, should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

471 calories; protein 36.7g; carbohydrates 39.8g; fat 17.9g; cholesterol 95.7mg; sodium 173.5mg. Full Nutrition

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Food

Chicken Tikka Masala

Views: 50

 

 

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is creamy and easy to make right at home in one pan with simple ingredients! Full of incredible flavours, it rivals any Indian restaurant! Aromatic golden chicken pieces in an incredible creamy curry sauce, this Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is one of the best you will try!
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Serves: 2

Ingredients

For the chicken marinade:

  • 11.2 oz (800g) boneless and skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 0.4 cup plain yogurt
  • 0.6 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 0.4 tablespoon ginger
  • 0.8 teaspoons garam masala
  • 0.4 teaspoon turmeric
  • 0.4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 0.4 teaspoon Kashmiri chili (or 1/2 teaspoon ground red chili powder)
  • 0.4 teaspoon of salt

For the sauce:

  • 0.8 tablespoons of vegetable/canola oil
  • 0.8 tablespoons butter
  • 0.8 small onions (or 1 large onion) finely diced
  • 0.6 tablespoons garlic finely grated
  • 0.4 tablespoon ginger finely grated
  • 0.6 teaspoons garam masala
  • 0.6 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 0.4 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 0.4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 5.6 oz (400g) tomato puree (tomato sauce/Passata)
  • 0.4 teaspoon Kashmiri chili (optional for colour and flavour)
  • 0.4 teaspoon ground red chili powder (adjust to your taste preference)
  • 0.4 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 cups of heavy or thickened cream (use evaporated milk for lower calories)
  • 0.4 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 0.1 cup water if needed
  • 1.6 tablespoons Fresh cilantro or coriander to garnish

Instructions

    • In a bowl, combine chicken with all of the ingredients for the chicken marinade; let marinate for 10 minutes to an hour (or overnight if time allows).
    • Heat oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. When sizzling, add chicken pieces in batches of two or three, making sure not to crowd the pan. Fry until browned for only 3 minutes on each side. Set aside and keep warm. (You will finish cooking the chicken in the sauce.)
    • Melt the butter in the same pan. Fry the onions until soft (about 3 minutes) while scraping up any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan.
    • Add garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, then add garam masala, cumin, turmeric and coriander. Fry for about 20 seconds until fragrant, while stirring occasionally.
    • Pour in the tomato puree, chili powders and salt. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and becomes a deep brown red colour.
    • Stir the cream and sugar through the sauce. Add the chicken and its juices back into the pan and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and bubbling. Pour in the water to thin out the sauce, if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 250mg | Sodium: 1601mg | Potassium: 973mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1895IU | Vitamin C: 19.5mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 4.1mg
Go here and you will see a chart to where you can change for number of people. If you change the number to serve, it changes the recipe above.
The recipe for the garlic butter rice.

GARLIC BUTTER RICE

Garlic Butter Rice has so much flavor, it makes the perfect side to go with anything! All cooked in one pot, forget about plain rice!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: rice recipe
Servings: 4 serves
Calories: 369kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons (2oz. | 60g) butter, divided
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice, long gran, Basmati or Jasmine
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, or vegetable stock
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, plus extra to garnish

Instructions

  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in rice to coat with the garlic butter.
  • Add broth, dried parsley, salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil.
  • Cover with lid and reduce heat to low so the liquid is simmering very gently. Cook until all liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
  • Uncover and stir through fresh parsley.
  • Remove from heat, cover with lid and let stand 5-10 minutes, until soft.
  • Fluff rice with a fork. Stir through remaining butter and season with a little extra salt, pepper and dried parsley.
  • Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley.

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Fiber: 1g

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Food Pictures

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars (3 Ingredients!)

Views: 55

Looking for healthy and easy snack ideas for kids? These quick and easy no-bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars are always a hit. Made with just 3 simple ingredients: Cheerios, peanut butter and honey. They’re perfect for breakfast, after school, or a quick grab-n-go snack. Toddlers, teens and adults love them!
Servings9

 

Ingredients
  • 3 cups Cheerios
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
Instructions
  1. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper or foil; set aside.

  2. In a medium sauce pan, heat the peanut butter and honey over medium heat until melted and well combined.

  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the Cheerios.

  4. Place the mixture in your prepared pan and press into place.

  5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting.

  6. Keep any leftovers stored in the fridge.

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Food Uncategorized

Oh it’s so good. Chocolate Kiss Peanut Butter Pie

Views: 42

Oh it’s so good. Chocolate Kiss Peanut Butter Pie. This recipe has a wonderful combination of a chocolate and peanut butter. It’s simple and inexpensive. You can also use chocolate pudding; the pie tastes like peanut butter cup candy. For a really spectacular presentation, garnish with whipped cream, peanuts, and chopped peanut butter cups.

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 8 servings
Ingredient Checklist

Directions

Instructions Checklist
  • Melt the chocolate with the whipping cream. Stir until smooth, and spread evenly over the bottom of the pie shell. Refrigerate until ready to fill; chocolate should be firm before filling.

  • Put the dry pudding mix and peanut butter in a heavy saucepan. Over low heat, gradually stir in the milk using a wire whisk. Stir constantly until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Cool for 15 minutes, stirring often. Pour peanut butter filling into crust. Chill several hours.

  • Top with whipped topping and chopped peanuts if desired.

 

 

Nutrition Facts

378 calories; protein 8.1g; carbohydrates 39.7g; fat 22.1g; cholesterol 12mg; sodium 481.1mg. Full Nutrition

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Food Uncategorized

Grilled Peaches with Whipped Mascarpone

Views: 82

Grilled Peaches with Whipped Mascarpone. Have you ever tried a grilled dessert? This easy dessert combines grilled peaches with mascarpone, browned butter and crispy sage for a unique tasty treat for those warm summer nights ahead.

  • Author: Kathryn | Urban Foodie Kitchen
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  

  • 2 large, ripe peaches
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup mascarpone
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ cup salted caramel sauce

Instructions

  1. Prepare the grill.  Lightly brush your grill grates with olive oil and preheat your grill to about 400°F.
  2. Whip the mascarpone.  Add the heavy cream to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.  Add the mascarpone and vanilla and beat for another minute or so. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. Prepare the peaches.  Cut the peaches in half and remove the pits.  Brush the cut slides generously with olive oil.
  4. Grill the peaches.  Place the peaches cut side down on the preheated grill.  Grill for 5 minutes and remove.
  5. Assemble.  Place a peach half or two on a plate.  Top with the whipped mascarpone and drizzle with caramel sauce.  Serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can use either homemade or store-bought salted caramel sauce.  If making homemade be sure to make it prior to grilling the peaches. 
  • To grill the peaches simply brush the grates lightly with oil and preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Cut your peaches in half and remove the pits, brush the cut side of the peach with oil and grill for 5 minutes. It’s really that easy! This simple tips below will help you ensure perfectly grilled peaches every time.

 

 

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Food

Baked Chicken Taquitos. Oh so good.

Views: 85

Baked Chicken Taquitos. Oh so good.

Baked Chicken Taquitos are one of the meals that are easy to make and taste just like you are in a Mexican Restaurant. Taquitos are like mini tacos all rolled up ready to eat. Okay, the ingredients are bit different than regular tacos, but you get the idea.

These baked chicken taquitos have a creamy, cheesy filling with just the right amount of spice. The filling can be made ahead of time and then the taquitos can be assembled just before baking.

The baking allows a crisp tortilla but none of the added fat you find with the traditional fried taquito.

 

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 people
Calories 440 kcal

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¾ cup chili verde sauce
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1215 corn tortillas

Instructions

 

  • Stir cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Stir chili verde sauce, and cumin powder.
  • Stir in shredded cheeses, chicken and cilantro.
  • Wrap 3 tortillas at a time in a paper towel and microwave for 10-15 seconds, until tortillas are pliable.
  • Place filling on each tortilla and roll up. Place on a baking sheet seem side down.
  • Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes until mixture is warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 21gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 591mgPotassium: 305mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 965IUVitamin C: 1.9mgCalcium: 302mgIron: 1.4mg

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Food Gifs

Chicken and Mushroom Pie.

Views: 48

Can be found here.

 

Chicken and Mushroom Pie. This looks good. Somebody needs to try this and get back to us. Stay cozy during these chilly months with this ultra creamy chicken and mushroom pie with puff pastry crust! Filled with a savory and decadent cream sauce, smoky bacon and fresh herbs, every bite of this meat pie is comfort food at its finest.

Similar to a chicken pot pie, this divine dish is loaded with a decadent, silky herbed cream sauce and hearty, flavorful add-ins. The puff pastry gives this savory pie a perfectly flaky, crisp crust for an unforgettable finishing touch. Sounds like a crowd pleaser, huh?

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish
  • Rolling Pin
  • Pastry brush

Ingredients

    • 8 slices bacon chopped into 1-inch pieces
    • 2 ½ cups boneless, skinless chicken thighs chopped into 1-inch pieces
    • ¼ teaspoon salt plus additional for seasoning chicken
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper plus additional for seasoning chicken
    • 1 pound baby bella mushrooms sliced
    • ¼ cup salted butter
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • 4 garlic cloves minced or grated
    • 1 ½ cups chicken stock
    • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
    • ½ cup freshly grated cheddar
    • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
    • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
    • 2 teaspoons fresh chopped sage leaves
    • 1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary leaves
    • 1-2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
    • Pinch of ground nutmeg preferably freshly grated
    • 1 thawed puff pastry sheet
    • 1 egg whisked

    Instructions

    • Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large, cold skillet, add bacon. Turn heat to medium and cook until crisp. Stir occasionally.
    • Using a slotted spoon, move bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Add chicken to bacon grease. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until browned on the outside. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken to another plate.
    • Add the mushrooms and cook until browned, stirring only occasionally. If the skillet gets too dry, add a tablespoon or two of butter. Also remove from skillet.
    • Add ¼ cup butter to the skillet and melt. Whisk in the flour. Continuously whisk for about three minutes. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
    • Slowly pour in chicken stock and heavy cream. Whisk until the mixture smooths out. Add bacon, chicken and mushrooms back to the skillet. Bring to a simmer.
    • Stir in ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, cheddar, Parmesan, thyme, sage, rosemary, Worcestershire sauce and ground nutmeg. Keep stirring until the cheese melts. Turn off heat.
    • Using a rolling pin, roll the puff pastry so that it’s large enough to cover a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour the cream mixture into the baking dish. Place the puff pastry on top. Pinch the puff pastry so that it folds against the interior sides of the baking dish. Brush the whisked egg on the puff pastry using a pastry brush. You probably won’t need the entire egg.
    • Place in oven in the puff pastry is nice and brown to your liking and the cream mixture is bubbling on the side, about 20-25 minutes. Let set for about five minutes before serving. Enjoy!
    • Notes

      • About three chicken thighs typically gives me enough meat for 2 ½ cups.
      • For full tips, please see blog post.
      • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1serving | Calories: 609kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 516mg | Fiber: 1g

 

 

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Food Gifs Music Pictures

Let’s hear it for New Zealand and Australian Artists.

Views: 72

Let’s hear it for New Zealand and Australian Artists. The Islands have produced some awesome bands and artists. let’s play a few.

 

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Food Gifs Life Music Pictures

Let’s hear it for the food. Any and all songs about food.

Views: 99

Let’s hear it for the food. Any and all songs about food. The artist or band can have a food name also. Gifs, and pictures welcome.

 

 

 

 

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Food

Pasta to die for? Top Chef’s Simple Pasta Recipe.

Views: 220

Pasta to die for? Top Chef’s Simple Pasta Recipe. I’m a simple guy. Spaghetti, Bow tie, red sauce, etc. But this recipe go t me thinking. Try something different. Expand your horizon. Let’s get started.

“If you meet people who have great gastronomy and eat well, they are always happy,” he says. “In so many different levels, having balance in gastronomy helps make your mind better and you are happier. People from northern Europe, we are almost always a bit frustrated when we meet people from the south, who always seem to have a smile on their face.” In the new book, Niklas and co-author H. Ennart, a medical science journalist, dive deeper into topics originally covered in their original book, “Happy Food.” They explore the world of gut health and how closely linked it is to our physical and mental wellbeing. If that sounds a little heavy, the book is actually approachable, with plenty of simple, healthy recipes.

Ingredients:
400 grams (14.1 ounces)
dried pappardelle pasta
2 cloves of garlic
3 tablespoons butter
8–10 sage leaves, plus extra to garnish
50g Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

black pepper for serving

Preparation:

Cook the pasta al dente, according to the instructions on the packaging. Drain and leave to steam thoroughly. Thinly slice the garlic. Brown the butter slightly and add the sage and garlic. Add the pasta and mix thoroughly. Serve with Parmesan shavings, toasted pine nuts, extra finely sliced sage and freshly ground black pepper.

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Food

What’s on your fruit menu?

Views: 41

What’s on your fruit menu? For me I’ve always had bananas. Now I’ve added Oranges, Clementines, Raspberries, Apples, and Blueberries. Bananas I believe are Honduras. Oranges and Clementines are from California. And the raspberries and blueberries are from Mexico. So how about you? A big fruit eater? Let us know.

In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) formed from the ovary after flowering.

Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate seeds. Edible fruits, in particular, have propagated with the movements of humans and animals in a symbiotic relationship as a means for seed dispersal and nutrition; in fact, humans and many animals have become dependent on fruits as a source of food.[1] Accordingly, fruits account for a substantial fraction of the world’s agricultural output, and some (such as the apple and the pomegranate) have acquired extensive cultural and symbolic meanings.

In common language usage, “fruit” normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of a plant that are sweet or sour, and edible in the raw state, such as apples, bananas, grapes, lemons, oranges, and strawberries. On the other hand, in botanical usage, “fruit” includes many structures that are not commonly called “fruits”, such as bean pods, corn kernels, tomatoes, and wheat grains.[2][3] The section of a fungus that produces spores is also called a fruiting body.[4]

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Food

Reprint. The Buffet. The economics of all-you-can-eat buffets

Views: 26

Reprinted from article in the Hustle.

 

The Buffet, is it possible to out-eat the price you pay for a buffet? How do these places make money? We looked at the dollars and cents behind the meat and potatoes.

Few things epitomize America more than the all-you-can-eat buffet.

For a small fee, you’re granted unencumbered access to a wonderland of gluttony. It is a place where saucy meatballs and egg rolls share the same plate without prejudice, where a tub of chocolate pudding finds a home on the salad bar, where variety and quantity reign supreme.

“The buffet is a celebration of excess,” says Chef Matthew Britt, an assistant professor at the Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts. “It exists for those who want it all.”

But one has to wonder: How does an industry that encourages its customers to maximize consumption stay in business?

To find out, we spoke with industry experts, chefs, and buffet owners. As it turns out, it’s harder to “beat” the buffet than you might think.

How a $20 buffet breaks down

 

When you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, you pay a single fixed price regardless of how much you consume. It doesn’t matter if you eat 1 plate or 10 plates: Each bite incurs an extra marginal cost to the restaurant, but no extra cost to you.

We analyzed the prices of 30 all-you-can-eat buffets across the country, taking into account a variety of factors: Geographic region, size of the buffet (independent vs. chain), time of day (lunch vs. dinner), day of the week (weekday vs. weekend), and age (children and seniors often get discounted rates).

All considered, our analysis yielded an average buffet price of ~$20.

Like most restaurants, buffets operate on extremely thin margins: For every $20 in revenue, $19 might go toward overhead, leaving $1 (5%) in net profit.

Zachary Crockett / The Hustle

Buffets often break even on food and eke out a profit by minimizing the cost of labor.

Self-service allows a buffet to bypass a wait staff, and all-you-can-eat dishes (which are generally less complex and prepped in enormous batches) can be made by a “skeleton crew” of line cooks.

“At a typical restaurant, a cook can service 25 customers per hour — and that’s at best,” says Joe Ericsson, a managing partner at the food consultancy Restaurant Owner. “In the same amount of time, a single buffet cook might be able to prep enough food for 200 people.”

Because margins are so slim, buffets rely on high foot traffic: At Golden Corral, a buffet chain with 498 locations in 42 states, dining floors are 5k-square-feet and seat 475 people. On a typical Saturday, it’s not uncommon for 900 diners to come through the door.

The volume of food required to satiate 900 all-you-can-eaters on a daily basis can be staggering.

Each year, Ovation Brands, the owner of multiple major buffet chains, serves up 85m dinner rolls, 47m pounds of chicken, and 6m pounds of steak — 49.3B calories in total.

It is estimated that between 5% and 25% of any given dish will be wasted, either through the buffet’s miscalculation of demand or the diner’s overzealousness. Waste reduction is a key focus of any successful buffet and a frequent tactic is reusing food.

“Buffets have always been a landing spot for food scraps,” says Chef Britt. “They call them the ‘trickle-down specials’ — day-old vegetables or beef trimmings can be repurposed into a soup or a hash.”

Buffets are also able to save money by utilizing economies of scale and buying food in bulk. Using data from a wholesale food supplier, we worked out the approximate cost per serving of a few popular buffet items.

Zachary Crockett / The Hustle

Fully prepped, starches like potatoes might only cost the restaurant $0.30 per serving, compared to $2.25 per serving for steak.

By nature, buffets attract the very customers they wish to avoid: Big eaters with insatiable appetites. Buffets seek to “fill the customer’s belly as cheaply and as quickly as possible.” To do so, they employ a number of research-backed tricks to get people to eat less food:

  • They put the cheap, filling stuff at the front of the buffet line: (Study: 75% of buffet customers select whatever food is in the first tray — and 66% of all the food they consume comes from the first 3 trays.)
  • They use smaller plates. (Study: Smaller plate sizes reduce the amount of food consumed.)
  • They use larger than average serving spoons for things like potatoes, and smaller than average tongs for meats.
  • They frequently refill water and use extra-large glasses.

Even higher-end buffets, like the $98 brunch at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, employ these tactics: “They hide the truffles, the foie gras, and the oysters,” says Britt. “You literally can’t find them.”

But what happens when a customer ignores these tricks and devours a Godzilla-sized portion of food? Is it possible to — dare we ask — out-eat the all-you-can-eat buffet?

Buffets and the law of averages

 

Let’s imagine that Larry, a 280-pound offensive lineman, decides to stop by his local all-you-can-eat buffet after a big game.

Larry’s got a reputation around town for being a gourmand. He’s got an appetite that puts Homer Simpson to shame — and on this particular day, he’s ready to do some serious damage.

Zachary Crockett / The Hustle

Larry pays his $20 and proceeds to eat 5 servings of steak and chicken, far more than the average customer.

The cost of this food to the buffet amounts to $16.90. This means that after factoring in other expenses, Larry has handed the restaurant a loss of -$8.50.

Luckily, eaters like Larry (“vacuum cleaners,” as one buffet owner calls them) are baked into any all-you-can-eat buffet’s pricing model. While the buffet might lose money on a small number of meat gluttons, it handily makes it back on those who under-consume or only eat the cheaper foods.

“Most people don’t go in and beat the buffet,” says Britt. “They eat an appropriate amount, or even less than they should, averaging out the outliers.”

Picture 3 diners: One who eats exactly the average cost of food to the restaurant ($7.40), one who loads up on cheaper carbs ($4.70), and a guy like Larry:

Zachary Crockett / The Hustle

While the restaurant loses $8.50 on Larry, it makes $3.70 from the under-eater and still takes in its steady $1 margin on the average eater.

And there are a lot more of the latter two patrons: The buffet owners we spoke with estimated that over-eaters like Larry only account for 1 in every ~20 diners.

Of the 300 diners that might come through on a given day, this hypothetical buffet would see 255 average eaters ($225 profit), 60 undereaters ($222), and 15 gluttons (-$127.50). That works out to $320, or right around that $1 profit per customer average. Annualized, the eatery is looking at a respectable $117k in pre-tax profit.

Buffets don’t stop there: Many beef up their margins by selling soft drinks separately. At a cost of $0.12 per fill, a $2 soda comes with a 1,500% markup.

Still, buffets aren’t impervious to extreme circumstances. Larry won’t put a significant dent in a buffet’s bottom line — but imagine if he brought the rest of his team with him.

Zachary Crockett / The Hustle

Every buffet owner we talked to had a few war stories about dealing with policy abusers. “All-you-can-eat,” it seems, comes with certain limitations.

“There are people who go to a buffet and eat for 3 or 4 hours straight,” says Anna Hebal, owner of the Red Apple Buffet in Chicago. “They’ll go to the bathroom, then come back and eat again. They don’t stop.” She has since imposed a 2-hour time limit.

Other proprietors have taken more extreme measures. Over the years, buffets have made headlines for kicking out guests who eat too much:

  • A 6’6″, 350-pound Wisconsin man was removed from a buffet after downing 12 fried fish fillets (and subsequently arrested for protesting outside).
  • A German triathlete was asked to prematurely leave an $18.95 buffet after consuming 100 plates of sushi.
  • A woman was booted from a Golden Corral for eating all the brownies, then attempting to smuggle home extras in her purse.

To avoid these situations, some owners have updated their language to “All-you-can-eat within reason,” or resorted to charging customers extra for food left on plates.

But the real enemy of the buffet isn’t the occasional over-eater: It’s the steady march of technological progress, and the changing consumer preferences that have come with it.

The end of the (buffet) line

According to the market research firm NPD Group, the number of buffets in America has fallen by 26% since 1998 — even as the total number of all restaurants in America has risen by 22%.

In the past 20 years, more than 1.3k buffets have shut their doors. The big buffet chains that once dotted the Midwest have been hit the hardest: Old Country Buffet is down to 17 of its 350 original locations; HomeTown Buffet has closed 217 of its 250 eateries; Ryan’s Buffet has downsized from 400 to 16.

Ovation Brands, the conglomerate that owns these chains, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 3 times since 2008.

Zachary Crockett / The Hustle

Industry experts attribute this decline, in part, to the spread of food delivery apps. By 2030, the National Restaurant Association projects that 80% of all restaurant items will be eaten at home — a trend that buffets can’t effectively capitalize on.

Today’s health-conscious consumers have also shifted away from quantity in favor of experience-driven dining options.

Golden Corral, one of the last-standing American buffet chains, has found success by redesigning its dining spaces to be more “bright, shiny, [and] friendly,” and investing in higher-quality food that makes for better Instagram photos.

Anna Hebal, who runs a small buffet in Chicago, has a different strategy.

For 30 years, she has served guests a Polish-themed spread that includes kielbasa, schnitzel, and pierogi. Her secret? Sticking to the roots of what first made buffets popular in the 1970s: excess and variety.

“A buffet is just like life itself; you have so many choices,” she says. “It’s up to you to choose wisely.”

 

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Food

Mary Yoder’s Hearty Hamburger Soup.

Views: 141

Mary Yoder’s Hearty Hamburger Soup. A favorite restaurant my wife and I visit when in Amish country is Mary Yoder’s. Located in beautiful Middlefield, Ohio. When you go there, you don’t leave hungry. Also forget about diets or counting calories. The website has awesome recipes.

Experience the timeless goodness of Amish cooking with simple to follow directions and basic ingredients. Treat yourself or family to delicious Amish cooking in your own home with luscious recipes.

 

1 tbsp. butter

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup sliced carrot

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 lb. ground beef

2 cups tomato juice

1 cup diced potatoes

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/3 cup flour

4 cups milk

Melt butter into saucepan, brown meat; add onion and cook until transparent. Stir in remaining ingredients except flour and milk.  Cover and cook over low heat until vegetables are tender.  Combine flour with one cup of milk.  Stir into soup mixture.  Boil.  Add remaining milk and heat, stirring frequently.  Do not boil after adding remaining milk.

This recipe can be adapted to your family’s taste.  Celery can be substituted for the green pepper if you wish.

Mary Yoder’s website

https://www.maryyodersamishkitchen.com

The Amish Way cookbook, compiled by Adrienne Lund, published by Jupiter
Press, copyright revised edition 1994. Adrienne Lund is the
author-publisher of nine Amish cookbooks and a children’s book about the
Amish way of life. Her books are available in Mary Yoder’s gift shop and in their
online store

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Food

Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken with Tangy Green Sauce.

Views: 19

Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken with Tangy Green Sauce.

Reprint from Epicurious.

This cumin- and paprika-spiced number gets added punch from an addictively tangy green sauce and a crisp, bright avocado and cucumber salad. Spatchcocking—an easy and fun technique that involves removing the backbone to “flatten” the bird before cooking—makes for quick roasting and produces juicy results.

Yield
Serves 4
Active Time
45 minutes
Total Time
1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients

  1. For the chicken:
    • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
    • 2 lemons
    • 1 (4-4 1/2-pound) whole chicken
  2. For the green sauce:
    • 1 cup (packed) cilantro leaves with tender stems
    • 1–2 medium jalapeños, coarsely chopped
    • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 2 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
    • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  3. For the salad:
    • 1 English hothouse or 2 Persian cucumbers, cubed
    • 1 firm-ripe avocado, cubed
    • 3 scallions, thinly sliced
    • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems, coarsely chopped, plus more for serving

Preparation

  1. Roast the chicken:
    1. Arrange rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400°F. Mix garlic, cumin, oil, paprika, pepper, oregano, 1/2 tsp. salt, and finely grated zest from 1 lemon in a medium bowl. Quarter zested lemon; set aside 2 quarters. Squeeze juice from 1 whole lemon and remaining 2 quarters to yield 2 Tbsp. juice; stir into spice mixture.
    2. Place chicken breast side down on work surface. Spatchcock chicken by cutting along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone; reserve for stock. Turn chicken breast side up and splay open. Press down on breastbone with palms until you hear it crack and chicken is as flat as possible. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Rub chicken all over with 2 reserved lemon quarters. Squeeze juice over bird, then rub skin all over with inside of rinds.
    3. From both edges of cavity, loosen skin from breasts and thighs, being careful not to tear skin. Using your fingers, gently spread 2 heaping Tbsp. spice mixture under skin (reserve remaining spice mixture), then season chicken all over with remaining 1 tsp. salt. Transfer chicken, spread flat and skin side up, to a roasting pan or large skillet.
    4. Roast chicken 20 minutes, then brush with spice mixture and pan juices. Continue roasting, basting with spice mixture and pan juices every 20 minutes, until juices run clear when thigh is pierced with a fork or an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165ºF, 50-60 minutes total.
    5. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes, reserving pan juices.
  2. Make the green sauce:
    1. Purée cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, oil, lime juice, and salt in a blender until combined. Add mayonnaise and purée until well blended. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill until ready to use.
  3. Make the salad:
    1. Gently toss cucumbers, avocado, scallions, lime juice, oil, salt, and 1/2 cup cilantro in a large bowl. Sprinkle with more cilantro.
    2. Carve chicken and transfer to a platter; baste with reserved pan juices. Serve with green sauce and salad alongside.
  4. Do Ahead
    1. Green sauce can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

 

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Categories
Food

Have you ever tried Figgy Pudding?

Views: 40

Have you ever tried Figgy Pudding? Maybe I should ask if you have ever had plum pudding. It  isn’t pudding, at least not the kind of pudding many Americans think of when they hear the word. In the UK, pudding is used as catch-all to describe any sweet dish served after a meal. Figgy pudding isn’t creamy or custardy, but it is a sugary cake, which qualifies it as pudding overseas.

  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 1 hr 30 min
  • Prep: 30 min
  • Inactive: 15 min
  • Cook: 45 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Ingredients

    Sauce:

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Add the dates, dried figs and water to a medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the baking soda. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then add to a blender and puree.
  3. Using a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs and beat well. Fold in the flour, the pureed date mixture and the chocolate.
  4. Put the mixture into 4 buttered, 1-cup individual ramekins, filling halfway or slightly under. Put in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
  5. Prepare the sauce by stirring the sugar and cream in a medium saucepan over low heat. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the butter and stir until incorporated.
  6. Remove the ramekins from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. May be served in the ramekin or unmolded onto a small serving plate. With paring knife cut a cross in the top of the puddings for the sauce.
  7. Pour the sauce into the cross in the center of each pudding, then pour more sauce over the puddings and it allow to soak in slightly. Top with fresh figs and vanilla ice cream or heavily whipped cream. Serve warm.

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Categories
Food

Fruits, Vegetables, Neither or Both?

Views: 14

Fruits, Vegetables, Neither or Both? I like most fruits and vegetables. But to favor one over the other? I would have to go with fruits.

A fruit develops from the flower of a plant, while the other parts of the plant are categorized as vegetables. Fruits contain seeds, while vegetables can consist of roots, stems and leaves. From a culinary perspective, fruits and vegetables are classified based on taste.

Some other common examples of fruits that are mistaken for vegetables include:

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Categories
Food

Have you tried the new meatless burgers?

Views: 189

Have you tried the new meatless burgers?

If this is the first that you heard of this. The meatless burger is here. Burger King seems like the leader so far. But I want your opinion. Will you or have you tried them?

When I first did this article, I would not even think about it. But now I look forward to my BK coupons that come in the mail. I use the impossible burger coupon. I think that it’s better than the Whopper.

Top five ingredients: Water, soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil and natural flavors.

What say you?

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