BONUS RECIPES

I am posting a new recipe for an actual dish tomorrow but in the meantime I wanted to give my readers a couple of quick bonus recipes.  Both are for restaurant copycats.
The first is for Popeye's Cajun Sparkle.  I fell in love with spice over the summer and whenever I go to Popeyes I try to get a few extra packets.  It's great on chicken, rice, potatoes... Really anything you want to kick up a bit.

A Knock-Off Of Popeye's Cajun Sparkle
1 tbs salt
1 tbs pepper
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp ground sage
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne
Combine all ingredients.  Sprinkle as desired!

I love the ranch dressing at Outback!  I have never found another ranch like it.  It's rich and creamy and has a bit of zip and kick to it that I just adore.  I didn't find an exact replica, but I did find a recipe that gives your normal ranch a nice spicy kick.  It's delish!

A Spin-Off Of Outback's Ranch
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 cup mayo (I use Hellmann's-ALWAYS!)
3/4 cup buttermilk (if you don't have butter milk try adding 1 tbs white vinegar to regular milk, or now Hidden Valley has buttermilk ranch packets, use that)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Combine spices, add ranch packet mix well.  Stir in mayo, combine well.  Slowly add in buttermilk until fully incorporated.  Refrigerate for at least 30 mins and stir well before serving.  Serve on salads, with chicken, with crudite, whatever you enjoy ranch on/with!

Kobe Style Dinner - Home Cooked Recipe 5

We have a couple of Kobe Steakhouse's in our area, and I know they are around the state of Florida as well.  It's a very popular place to go for birthdays and special events.  But it can get expensive, and I have learned how to make a similar meal at home, albeit without the theatrics.  In this recipe, I left out the rice and just did the noodles, but you could easily add the rice to this by cooking some white rice, then frying it on the griddle like I do the noodles. Adding some frozen mixed veggies, and an egg will produce a similar to Kobe's fried rice! Since I don't have the large hibachi grill like they do at Kobe's, I use a flat-top counter-top griddle, and cook the components in batches, but you can also use a wok and work in batches. (*Hint, you can get a a cheap, really good wok at Ikea for $5!)

Kobe's Signature "White" Sauce ***this recipe really does taste extremely similar to the restaurants, but warning, make it at least the day before you are planning to use it!

1 1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup water

1 tsp tomato paste

1 tbs melted butter

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp paprika

dash of cayenne

Stir all ingredients together.  Refrigerate for 24 hours before using - important, you must wait 24 hours for the best result!

Kobe Style Dinner - with chicken (you can sub beef, shrimp, or your fav protein for the chicken!)

1/2 lb of Lam's Chow Mein Noodles (these are most similar to Kobe's noodles)

1 cup broccoli florets

1 cup julienned carrots

1 cup julienned red bell pepper

1 cup mushrooms

1 large onion, large dice

***you can also use zucchini like Kobe, I just have an allergic member in my household

1 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced

Soy sauce

4 tbs butter

1 large lemon

Scallions and sesame seeds for garnish are optional

Preheat your griddle to 400 degress. Boil your noodles for 10 minutes.  While the noodles are boiling, add a tablespoon of butter to the griddle and begin to cook your chicken.  Cook on one side for 3 minutes then flip pieces over.  Sprinkle with lemon juice from a quarter of the lemon, and a tablespoon of soy sauce.  When chicken is cooked through, move to a plate.  Add another tablespoon of butter, then add the onions to the griddle. Cook until slightly translucent and remove from griddle.  Drain pasta.  Add 1 tablespoon of butter to griddle, then fry noodles lightly while adding lemon juice from a quarter of the lemon, soy sauce, and sesame seeds.  Remove from griddle.  Add remaining veggies, cook until softer, but still crunchy, adding soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of butter, and the remaining lemon.  Serve warm, with Kobe's "White" Sauce.  Enjoy!