Baked Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:
1 lb shrimp
1 cup bread crumbs
2 lemons
1/4 cup parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt

Directions:
Peel and devain the shrimp and rinse.  I like to leave the tails on as a handle. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a baking dish put 1 tablespoon olive oil in the bottom. Put the shrimp on top of the olive oil and season with salt.  Zest both lemons and sprinkle the zest over the top of the shrimp.  Then cut the lemon in half and juice it over the shrimp.  Chop the parsley and mix it with the breadcrumbs.  Then sprinkle the parsley, bread crumb mixture over the shrimp.  Finish with a drizzle of olive oil over the top.

Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until shrimp turn pink.  Enjoy!

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Stuffed Chicken Breast

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 package frozen spinach
8 oz goat cheese
1 egg
1 cup flour
2 cups bread crumbs
salt
pepper

Directions:
Butterfly each chicken breast.  Butterflying just means to "unfold" the meant you are using.  Basically just slice the chicken breast in half creating a hinge by not cutting all the way through.  Now you can pound the chicken breast by using any heavy object to pound untilt the chicken is about 1/4 inch thick.

Microwave the spinach based on the package directions and squeeze all of the water out.  Now place 1/4 of the spinach over each chicken breast in a thin layer going 1 inch from the edge.

Now spread 2 ounces of goat cheese over the top of the spinach on each chicken breast.

Now starting from the short end, tightly roll the chicken breast up to create a pinwheel effect.  You can also fold the oddly shaped ends in like you are making a burrito.  Once it is rolled up place toothpicks at the seam to hold the chicken together.

Now salt and pepper the chicken on all sides before doing a standard breading procedure.  First each chicken breast goes into the flour, then into the beaten egg, then into the bread crumbs.

Heat a large skillet on high with 1 tablespoon of oil.  Brown the chicken on all 4 sides in the pan.  About 3 minutes each side or until chicken is browned. 

Now bake chicken in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.  Serve and enjoy! (Don't forget to remove the toothpicks)

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Bacon and Bleu Cheese Burger

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (I used 80% lean to 20% fat)
1 cup bleu cheese
8 slices of bacon
4 hamburger rolls or buns
1 large onion
salt
pepper

Directions:
Slice the onion into very thin strips.  Put in a large skillet with the temperature on low.  In order to carmelize the onions the temperature needs to be low.  Putting it too high won't allow the sugars in the onions to fully carmelize.  Saute the onions in the pan for 20-25 minutes or until they become a golden color. 

Now form your ground beef into four patties.  Heat a grill pan or skillet on high.  Place the burgers in the pan and cook 7 minutes before flipping to the other side.

While the burgers are cooking cook the bacon.  I like to cook my bacon in the oven for about 10 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Once burgers are flipped on the second side, top each burger with 2 slices of bacon each.  Then top with about 1/4 cup of bleu cheese on each one.  Allow to continue cooking for another 7 minutes with the bacon and cheese on top with a lid over the pan. 

Place each burger on top of the bun and top with the carmelized onions.  Enjoy!

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Potato Salad

Since I am not a huge fan of mayonaise on potato salad, I decided to make a version without mayo.  Not only is it healthier, but it can be served warm and doesn't need to be refrigerated so it's great for picnics and barbecues.  It has so much flavor and is very easy to make.

Ingredients:
2 pounds thin skinned potatoes (yukon gold, purple peruvian, or new potatoes)
1/2 red onion
1 garlic clove
3 tablespoons fresh dill
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 tablespoon dijion mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
salt
pepper

Directions:
Chop the potatoes into about  1 1/2- 2 inch cubes.  Add potatoes to a pot with the garlic clove and fill with water 1 inch above the potatoes.  Put pot on stove and turn the gas on high.  Once the water comes up to a boil salt the water and continue cooking.  Total cooking time should be 20-25 minutes or until fork comes out without any resistance. 

In a large bowl, whisk the mustard and red wine vinegar together until they combine.  Then slowly whisk in the olive oil. 

Slice the red onion very thinnly and add to the mustard, vinegar, and oil vinegarette.  Chop the dill and parsley and reserve to the side. 

Once potatoes are fork tender, drain them and remove the garlic clove and add them to the mixture.  Stir gently and add in the parsley and dill.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve warm or chill and enjoy!

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The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Soup

Potato and Leek Soup
Rose and Crown Pub
Disney World's Epcot United Kingdom Pavilion
Orlando, FL

Now you are probably wondering why I would order hot soup in the heat of Florida, but honestly this soup is good enough to be eaten on the hottest days of the year.  Now I am not sure how authentically English this soup is, but every person in the restaurant is from the United Kingdom and works in Disney for one year.  I have a feeling they wouldn't want to serve me a phony English soup.  But authentic or not, it is delicious.  I ordered a cup because I was getting an entree also, but if you are really hungry order a bowl.  Or just order a bowl anyway cause this soup is just that good.  Leeks are almost like a mildier onion and they really are all over this soup.  The soup itself has a very strong leeky flavor which perfectly goes with the creamy texture of the pureed potatoes.  The texture is just completely silky.  There are absolutely no lumps in this soup.  Not only do you get the leek flavor in the soup, but then on top they put a leek oil which adds flavor and a beautiful color.  Then they top it with fried leeks for texture.  When you dig down into that soup and break apart those crispy leeks in the creamy soup you are just in heaven.  Then on the side they give you two rolls and butter.  For me, I ditch the butter and just start digging in.  I think the rolls were made to dig in cause they absorb the soup so well yet still maintain a crispy texture on the outside.  This soup really is the best soup I ever ate.

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Tomato and Arugula Salad

This is a great refreshing summer salad.  It goes on the side of anything, or add some chicken to make it a main course!  I served this with my Caprese Burger!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
8 fresh plum tomatoes
2 cups arugula
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
4 basil leaves
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
salt
pepper

Directions:
In a bowl whisk together the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar vigorously until it comes together. 

Then cut the tomatoes into chunks.  I got about 8-10 chunks out of each tomato.  Add these to the dressing and stir.  Then cut the basil leaves into strips and toss in with the parsley.  Sprinle with salt and pepper.  If eating the same day, now is the time to add the arugula and stir.  If serving tomorrow let the tomatoes sit in the refrigerator with the sauce, but 1 hour before serving stir in the arugula. 

Let the entire salad sit for 1 hour in the refrigerator.  Then toss right before serving.  Enjoy!

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The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Appetizer

Sticky Wings
Kona Cafe
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Orlando, FL

These wings are some of the best wings I ever ate.  They come out 12 wings to an order and look absolutely gorgeous.  The barbecue sauce is glistening with a few sesame seeds on top for additional crunch.  You bite into the wing and the chicken meat is juicy, moist, plump and delicious.  It's just crazy good.  Of course its sticky, but who cares cause they are just so good.  On top of the juicy meat, the outside is perfectly crispy and topped with a delicious sauce.  The sauce on top is a combination of sweet and spicy because this is in a Hawaiian themed restaurant.  The heat isn't too strong, it just sort surprises you after you think these are just sweet honey barbecue wings.  These really are the best wings I ever ate!

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