Alabama Firecrackers

This is something that I've been making for the past year and just realized I've not shared it here when I was looking for the recipe just now.  These crackers are like magic, because the oil doesn't leave the crackers soggy.  Don't know the science behind it, but these are so addictive.  Perfect little snack for any tailgate or a dressed up cracker for soups.

Alabama Firecrackers

6 sleeves saltine crackers (not off-brand)
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 3/4 c. canola oil
2 tsp. dill
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Remove crackers from sleeves and line up like dominos in an air-tight container with a lid.  In a small bowl, combine oil and seasonings, stirring well.  Pour mixture evenly over crackers.  Put lid on and immediately invert container upside down.  Every half hour continue flipping right side up and upside down.  Shake ever so slightly, if necessary.  Once all the oil is absorbed, the crackers are ready to eat.  Approximately two hours.  

**I renamed these Alabama firecrackers because I saw the same recipe referred to by Southern Living as Alabama instead of Texas.  What can I say...I'm an Alabama home-r.

Light Corn Salad

Truly, you can't beat this Corn Salad that I make.  It is a hit everywhere we go.  But, honestly, it isn't something we eat everyday because it isn't that healthy.  I choose to make it for large crowds to share.  I found this recipe for a corn salad that is delicious and light!  It will be perfect for using up that fresh corn and those cherry tomatoes this summer.  You won't be disappointed.  It would also be the perfect picnic salad because there isn't any mayo.

Light Corn Salad

4 ears fresh corn, shucked and cut off (or freezer corn equivalent)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 gloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 lb. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 c. coarsely chopped green onion
salt and pepper, to taste

In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium-high heat.  Add corn to the oil and cook until tender.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Stir in garlic and cook another minute.  Deglaze pan with balsamic vinegar until most of the liquid has cooked out.  Add tomatoes and stir another minute.  Remove from heat and stir in green onions.  Serve warm or make 1 day ahead of time and serve chilled.

Boston, Mass

We just returned from spending the 4th of July in Boston.  It was a great trip, obviously rich in history.  We watched the All American game of baseball at Fenway Park, watched the fireworks from the great view of our hotel room and definitely ate our way around town.  The scale can prove it.  Yikes.  I made a pact with myself that this was going to be a no french fry trip.  I usually order now what I know The Bun will eat with me, so I wanted to take advantage of this adult only trip and eat everything but french fries!!  Any other mamas know what I'm talking about?

If you find yourself in Boston, I can highly recommend all of these places:

Charley's
This was a great neighborhood restaurant close to our hotel.  It was our first lunch in town.  Our waiter was the epitome of "Bahstan" so it was a fun welcome.  We didn't go far enough around the corner to see all of the outdoor seating and were seated inside, but be sure to dine alfresco.  It was definitely a pretty happening place to be.

Antico Forno
There are two main streets in Boston's "Little Italy" where literally every door is an Italian restaurant.  The smell is incredible.  We chose Antico Forno, which is known for their wood fire brick oven.  Everyone's dish looked great and mine was very delicious.  I had the potato gnocchi in a plum tomato sauce.  It was piping hot from the oven, but my first try of gnocchi didn't disappoint.

The Friendly Toast
The Friendly Toast is in Cambridge close to the campus of MIT.  It has retro 50s decor, college prices and HUGE portions.  I ordered a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on their housemade anadama bread.  It was made with cornmeal and I believe some maple syrup?  I couldn't taste those things after it was slathered in butter and toasted, but it sure was good.  I should have just ordered ONE pancake.

Del Frisco's
This is a chain steakhouse, but it is one of The Dish Washer's favorite.  They always go to the Ft. Worth location when he is there for business.  This restaurant is new to Boston and has incredible views overlooking the Harbor.  The horseshoe shaped booth in the picture on their site was actually where we sat.  I'd say it was the best seat in the house.  We got lucky.

Bleacher Bar
What a place to be!!!  Bleacher Bar is on field level underneath the bleachers of Fenway Park.  On game days, a garage door opens to watch the activity on the field.  At a certain time before games, the door is lowered where people in the bar can see out but players can't see in.  It was pretty awesome.  It is mostly a menu of sandwiches and chips.  Other bar food regulars are there, as well.  I ordered the chicken salad sandwich which was really good.  The Dish Washer ordered a club sandwich and I believe it was the biggest club sandwich I've ever seen.  Definitely could be shared!  If you plan to go on a gameday, get there EARLY.  We were there by 11:00am and the place was already full with a wait.  About 10 minutes after we arrived, it went from full to literally packed. 

Atlantic Fish Company
Incredible.  And you know I am just now starting to branch out with my seafood eating.  This was delicious.  The service was fantastic.  I ordered the Lobster Ravioli in a basil cream sauce.  Mmmmm.  The Dish Washer had Blackened Grouper with bacon, shrimp and corn chowder.  Our cousins traveled with us and, if mixed drinks are your thing, the Sangria came highly recommended.  She said she could have dunked her head in it because it was so good!  :)

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The only thing I am disappointed in is that I didn't have a slice of Boston Cream Pie.  I don't believe I have ever had it.  It was first made in Boston at the Parker House Hotel...also home to the Parker House rolls.  Sister Schubert has a lot to be thankful for.  The story (from the tour guides, so who knows how much of it is true) goes like this:  FDR stayed at the hotel and loved the rolls so much he asked for the recipe.  The hotel said no, the recipe is top secret.  He sent secret service to try to find out the recipe, but they were caught sneaking around the kitchen and again told that the recipe was top secret.  Then FDR decided to make it the official "Presidential Bread" which required the recipe be public knowledge.  Oh, and Ho Chi Minh was a baker at the hotel and Malcolm X a busboy...that's for sure true. 

Saw's BBQ and dreamcakes

From top (clockwise):  Strawberry, Peanut Butter Cup, Over the Moon, Bananas Foster)

For Father's day we celebrated The Dish Washer with a trip to Homewood for some bbq at Saw's.  Then we walked a few doors down for dessert at dreamcakes.  Can I please say that this was my first trip to both and I've been dying to try Saw's after hearing they had a smoked chicken sandwich with white bbq sauce.  It did not disappoint.  In fact, it was absolutely delicious!  The Dish Washer had been before and stuck with the traditional bbq sauce that he says is the best in town.

I also wanted to try dreamcakes and when I saw it was just a few doors down, I knew we had to go.  We got four flavors to bring home for later because we were stuffed.  They were all very delicious and moist, but we both agreed that strawberry was our favorite!  (Which says a lot because I normally stick with chocolate as my favorite everything.)

If you are ever in Birmingham, definitely try these two places!

Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix

I had so much leftover chex mix from when I made the White Trash, so I decided to try another easy snack that I could turn into a gift. This one is right off of the back of the box. Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix really can be made however you want. I did half rice chex and half corn chex. The recipe also calls for pretzel twists but I prefer pretzel sticks. As you can see from the picture below, I packaged it up in airtight containers. I don't know how airtight they really are, but these cute things came from the Dollar Tree so this is another economical gift!

I still have a good bit left, so I plan to bag it up for two of the cutest three year olds that I know who will be coming to visit me this weekend. I know My Buddy and May-May like to have these kinds of snacks. Instead of the store bought, they'll have to settle for the homemade variety at Diney's house!

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Isn't that Gingerbread house the cutest?! I won it last night at our office's dirty Santa. When you "ring" the doorbell, the gumdrops light up and "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" plays. I love it!

Ft. Worth, Texas

The Dish Washer and I are having a great time in Cowtown! We are here for the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering. It is taking place at the Historic Stockyards. We really wanted to stay at the hotel that The Dish Washer comes to every time he comes here on business, but Red rents the whole thing out to his folks, so we are staying a short drive away in Downtown Ft. Worth. I was pretty disappointed to not get to stay there, and the potty breaks we have taken there have made it that much worse. This place is a step back in time. The Dish Washer even says that they use the old turn keys to get into the door...none of this electronic key junk.

When we first got to town, our driver took us straight to eat at Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant. The food was very good, but nothing over the top special about it. The main thing, though, is that you CANNOT beat the atmosphere at this restaurant. We sat outside and it was a perfect night. We even got to hear a little Sweet Home Alabama playing at a private party.

Yesterday, we got started just in time to see the cattle drive down main street immediately followed up by the parade of chuck wagons that are competing in this year's competition.

We skipped breakfast since we were so full from Thursday night. We had lunch at Riscky's at the Stockyards. In Texas, the thing to eat is BBQ brisket, so The DishWasher and I both had a chopped BBQ brisket sandwich. I am such a PORK barbecue girl! It wasn't bad, but there is just something about that pork! Oink, oink! Right? Then we walked around all the chuck wagons, walked through the trade show, and went to listen to some old Texas swing music. It was great, and I am completely fascinated with chuck wagons. The Dish Washer's boss told us that a completely renovated and functioning chuck wagon costs $25,000. I'll just keep walking around them instead of buying one! I even met one of the teams that was featured on the Food Network when they had the chuck wagon cook off. They said I could come back and help them clean the dishes after all the cooking was over. I ran into them again today and offered, but they said they were done. Too bad, because as much as I hate to clean dishes by hand, I would have loved to clean chuck wagon dishes!

Friday evening we had dinner reservations at Lonesome Dove. I was very disappointed to be so full from lunch, so I wasn't ready to eat. I've heard great things from The Dish Washer about this place. They eat there just about every time he comes out here and it was even featured in my BFF Paula's magazine. Even though, I wasn't that hungry, I did order from the second course the Pork and Hatch Green Chili. Remember when I said The Dish Washer said my chili was the best? We have a new winner!! This was the best chili I have ever had and such a different version. It was made with ground pork and had chunks of green chilies throughout. The Dish Washer also got the hand cut beef tenderloin and I tried a bite of that. So tender...like butter, or "buttah". I'm never too full for dessert, so you know I had to have chocolate bread pudding. Mmm, Mmm!

We had such an early dinner reservation because we wanted to go the ranch rodeo. I've never been to a ranch rodeo before and these are very different than the rodeos that are so popular on TV. The events are very different and are things like calf branding, team doctoring, wild cow milking and my favorite, mutton bustin'. This is the cutest thing: tiny little cowboys and cowgirls get on helmets and protective chest gear and get on sheep and hold on tight for a wild ride. There was one particular fella that didn't want to go at all and it was the funniest thing! His daddy, I guess wanting his son to be "tough," picked him up and put him on that sheep anyway. You could hear that poor boy SCREAMING! Needless to say, he didn't go, but his disappointed daddy sure didn't comfort him! The Dish Washer and I agree that My Buddy would be good at mutton bustin'. He has such determination that he wouldn't let go if we told him not to. It was a full day, but really so much fun. This is a picture of the mutton bustin'.

We got started earlier today, because we wanted to see all the chuck wagons cooking. But before they got too far into their cooking, we had brunch at H3 Ranch. We had another early dinner reservation tonight because we couldn't miss a certain ballgame, so we planned to eat brunch to hold us over. It was very good and The Dish Washer's huevos rancheros were a favorite. After that, we headed back to the chuck wagons. I'll let the pictures do the talking for me.

Then, we watched the Cutting Horse finals and listened to the youth fiddle competition. We also took a stroll down the streets to find Cowtown Fudge & Creamery. We both enjoyed some ice cream cones. We ran into some more folks that The Dish Washer works with, which was so much fun.

This evening we had dinner with some other work folks at Del Frisco's Steakhouse. They have a place for you to hang your cowboy hats. His boss is such a regular that he has his own hook. The group started with calamari. I tried it, and I could actually eat it! I was proud, but it was fried and had yummy marinara sauce, so that probably helped. I had the filet and The Dish Washer had a ribeye. They have very good bread and sides. Their special tonight that we got to try was Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese. I had an average cheesecake for dessert and The Dish Washer had bread pudding. (Diets go out the window when you are on vacation!! YIPEE!)

We'll wrap up our trip tomorrow. We plan to see as much of the ranch rodeo finals we can before having to go to the airport. There is also a junior chuck wagon cooking competition tomorrow, so you know I want to see that. I'll let you know if we eat at anymore fun places. I think we are planning to return to H3 Ranch. If you ever come to Fort Worth, you really should check out the places that we have eaten.

I've worn my Tony Lama's everyday and I even got to ride a Texas Longhorn! We have had a great time living the Old West lifestyle the past few days.

Happy trails to you...