A side note

<img src="http://img.bzzagent.com/image/privateSelectionSummer.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=3204199940&Campaign=6490548621&Uid=144623&token=91f8d6ece6ef64e5b7a8aa0cab3acdf9" alt=""/>

One of the things that I love to do is try new projects.  I found a great site where I can try things and then get to give my opinion.  I am a bzz agent.  I try new products and then tell people about them as a part of this website.  I am currently enrolled in a bzz campaign for Private Selections which is a brand that is in Krogers stores.  I tried their Private Selections Sea Salt and Black Pepper Kettle Chips and they were delicious.  I made a cilantro and lime dip with it and the combination was really good.

Over the weekend, I also got to try their angus beef in the form of burgers. Yummy and very juicy. 

The most delicious product I tried was Private Selections Salted Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream.  It was heaven.  I can't wait to try the other flavors, especially if they are half as good as that.  Thanks for reading.  I hope you will go out and try some delicious, well priced foods from Private Selection at your local Kroger BRand stores.

Fried Chicken

I am currently on a kick to use all the food in my fridge and freezer.  The only thing I am buying currently is fresh fruit and veggies.  I have to admit that I have inherited my Mother's food hoarding habit.  She grew in Germany right after the war and will talk about the struggle she used to see her parents go through to ensure that there was food to eat.  When I moved into my house, I bought a chest freezer and I have filled it to the brim.  I am a bargain shopper and tend to buy in bulk.  My favorite tool for this is my vacuum sealer which admittedly gives me an excuse to overbuy because I can make it last longer in the freezer my vacuum packing it.  So this is my first adventure in fried chicken.  I had a pack of chicken thighs that I didn't vacuum seal so I needed to use them.  I figured this would be a good time to fry because I am out of propane and need to go get some this weekend so I can grill.  Here is the recipe I used.  It was very good.

Triple Dipped Fried Chicken

 3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons garlic salt

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 egg yolks, beaten

1 1/2 cups beer or water

1 quart vegetable oil for frying

1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces

One quick tip to season your chicken, is to put it in a brine of salt water.  I usually put salt enough in the water to season each piece of chicken.  Cover it and put it in the fridge for 3-4 hours.

In one medium bowl or I used a Ziploc bag, mix together 3 cups of flour, garlic salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, paprika and poultry seasoning. 

In a separate bowl, stir together 1 1/3 cups flour, salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, egg yolks and beer. I  had to thin with additional beer because the batter was too thick.

Heat the oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Moisten each piece of chicken with a little water, then dip in the dry mix. Shake off excess and dip in the wet mix, then dip in the dry mix once more.

Carefully place the chicken pieces in the hot oil. Fry for 15 to 18 minutes, or until well browned. Smaller pieces will not take as long. Large pieces may take longer. Remove and drain on paper towels before serving.

I also took the excess batter and poured it into the flour and made crunchies. 

My family loved it and they ate up all the crunchies.  It was also good the next day heated up in the oven at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes.  Enjoy and see you next post.

Here we go again!

After computer issues, graduation and being sick, I am back to the blog.  I have made many fabulous recipes,cards and projects during the past weeks and I will be sharing them with you during the next couple of days as well as attempting some new projects.  One of my biggest projects for today was getting my lawn mowed.  I started at 7:45 this morning on the front lawn and finished the back yard at 9:30am.  It was my first time bagging the grass and so it definitely took a little bit of time.  I usually break up the project and do the front and back yards on different days, but it was perfect weather this morning.  73 degrees with a slight cloud cover.  I probably woke my neighbors but oh well.  Then I came inside to start the next thing.....laundry.  Egads, the chores never end.  At 10:00, I started my pot roast for dinner this evening.  I am trying a new recipe of course so I thought I would share.  I got the recipe off of pinterest but tweaked it to what I have in the house because I refused to go to the store. 


Bacon Mushroom Cola Pot Roast

It is made in the crock pot, so it get it out and get ready.

3-4 lb  pot roast
1/2 lb of bacon
3-5 Tablespoons of bacon drippings
1 package baby portabello mushrooms, sliced
1 package dry onion soup mix
2 tablespoons dried garlic
1 can of cola
2 Tablespoons butter

First, pour the cola into the crock pot which is set on low.  I used cherry coke zero.  Place the pot roast in the crock pot and sprinkle the onion soup and garlic over the roast and cola.  Put the lid on and move on to the next step.

Next, take the bacon and cook it until crisp.  I used turkey bacon.  I added a little bit of Crisco to infuse the bacon flavor and crisp it up since there aren't really drippings with turkey bacon.



After it is crisp, pour the bacon along with the drippings over the pot roast and cover.

Next take the mushrooms and the butter and lightly saute.

Then, pour them over the pot roast and cover.

Set your timer for 6-8 hours on low and let it do its thing.  You can use the juice and make a gravy, but my family does not enjoy gravy so I didn't make it.  Use a slurry of water corn starch and flour to thicken it up about I hour before serving and then let the roast cook in it for the remaining hour.  Here is the final product without the gravy. 

I got rave reviews.  It was moist and tore apart without a knife.  The bacon and mushrooms were terrific with it and added a lot of flavor.  I served it with potatoes and green beans.  I will definitely be using this recipe again.  Enjoy everyone.