Bacon Pancakes with Maple-Peanut Butter Syrup

I love breakfast food. The sweet, the savory, the salty, the meaty, the breads, all of it. And pancakes are no exception. I didn't really start eating them until I was older and could make them on my own. I've made them with Bisquick mix, as well as homemade. This recipe comes from Betty Crocker and is a jazzed-up version using Bisquick mix.

I did think these pancakes were a bit too sweet. I know, I'm shocked too! PJ doesn't care about bacon as much as I do. Sometimes I think I'm crazy for being with someone who doesn't share my love of bacon :)  Just kidding, just kidding. But strangely, the bacon inside of the pancakes didn't do much for me, and neither did the sauce. Maybe it was the combination of the peanut butter syrup, which was a bit overpowering and sweet. If I made this again, I would definitely not pour as much peanut butter syrup on top of the pancakes. I'm usually a sauce kinda gurl, but sometimes I'll admit too much can be a turn off.


We cooked the whole peanut butter syrup recipe, since I thought I would love it. And we halved the pancakes recipe. I didn't have an electric mixer - it's on my want list - so I just beat it with my hands really well. Instead of real bacon pieces from a package, I cooked 4 slices of bacon, measured out 1/4 cup, and ate the rest.


What?


You guys knew that would happen :)

Bacon Pancakes with Maple-Peanut Butter Syrup

slightly adapted from Betty Crocker

* Yields: 6 pancakes total ( 2 servings of 3 pancakes each)

Maple-Peanut Butter Syrup

• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

Pancakes

• 1 cup Original Bisquick mix
• 3/8 cup milk
• 1/8 cup maple syrup
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
  

For syrup, in a small microwave-safe bowl, beat peanut butter and butter with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Beat in 1/2 cup syrup until well mixed. Heat in the microwave to warm the syrup.

Heat a nonstick 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat.

In a medium bowl, stir all the pancake ingredients except the bacon with a wire whisk or fork until blended. Stir in crumbled bacon.

For each pancake, pour 1/4 cup batter onto hot skillet. Cook 2 or 3 minutes or until edges are dry and batter starts to bubble. Turn, cook other side until golden brown. Serve pancakes with syrup.

Printable Recipe

Oh, and do you see that pic on the Betty Crocker site? Those beautiful, perfectly browned pancakes? And I've seen many blogs that just have gorgeous pancakes that are nice and thick but also golden brown. Mine always turn out thin, they've got the sag and flimsy effect, and when I try to get them golden brown they sometimes burn a bit. Practice makes perfect, I guess. At least I've got some great inspiration from which to improve!

Peace, and bacon grease!

Chicken and Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo

I'll take any excuse to use some delicious but fatty alfredo sauce.

And this recipe was a great reason.

We just kinda came up with this recipe because we had chicken, leftover alfredo sauce, and we love mushrooms. No other explanation needed, eh?

I like to buy the Miller Brand Amish Chicken from our local grocery store. They have way less fatty extra skin on them and I don't have to cut off much fat. Plus they  just make me feel better about myself that I'm getting healthier chicken.

Chicken and Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo

from the kitchen of SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl

• 1 lb fettuccine
• 4 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tbsp butter, divided
• 2 or 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, rinsed and diced
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• garlic powder
• 1 garlic clove, minced 
• leftover Alfredo Sauce
• 3 tbsp green onions, chopped

In a large pot, cook pasta according to directions on package.

Saute mushrooms in 1 tbsp butter. Season with salt while mushrooms are cooking, stir.

Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In a skillet, melt the other 1 tbsp butter and minced garlic and saute the chicken until done.

Reheat the alfredo sauce in a small pot.

Serve by topping the pasta with alfredo sauce, chicken, mushroom, and green onions. Or you can mix the alfredo sauce in with the pasta, or mix it all together.

Printable Recipe

I could eat this very often. But I probably shouldn't... that danged high-calorie alfredo sauce! But please indulge once in awhile and make this delicious meal. The extra calories are well worth it.

Peace, and bacon grease!

Restaurant Review : Zola Pub and Grill in Covington, KY

 

I'm back in action with the blog design. It's pretty much how I want it now, except for maybe a bolder, fancier navbar. But I hope you all like it, and it's pleasing to the eye :)

PJ and I headed to Zola Pub and Grill in Mainstrasse in Covington, KY for a lunch date a couple of months ago. I had purchased a half off deal from Livingsocial so we were excited for a cheap lunch and to spend time together. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, so we decided to sit right out front at a small table right by the front door. I was happy to find a parking spot on the street close by.

I had heard reviews about their burger, some good and some bad. So I needed to find out for myself.  All of their burgers are 1/2 lb burgers made of choice Black angus beef. I ordered The Spicy Jack Burger, a blackened seasoned burger with bacon, banana peppers, and pepper jack cheese, all for $7.25. The burger sounded amazing, but I was a bit disappointed. I did not enjoy the taste of the burger... in fact, I took maybe two bites and didn't eat anymore. It tasted to me more like a sausage burger, but one that I didn't like, which is strange because usually I love sausage. It just didn't taste like a beef burger to me. I wanted to like it, I did. I was excited about the thickness of the burger and that it looked handmade and not like a frozen patty, and the toppings looked beautiful atop that plump piece of meat. But the taste just wasn't up to par for me. PJ ordered the Mushroom Burger with pepper jack cheese. He enjoyed his and didn't think it tasted strange like I did. I just wasn't impressed, since I had expectations for it to possibly be one of the better burgers in Cincy. This burger wouldn't meet my top 5 burgers. It sure did look pretty though. 

PJ's Mushroom Burger

My Spicy Jack Burger

Up-close shot of my Spicy Jack Burger.

I spent most of my lunch munching on our appetizer. We started with the Cajun Cheese Fries. These were thick steak fries sprinkled with cajun seasoning and topped with cheese, bacon, jalapenos, and sour cream. These were delicious, as you guys know I'm a sucker for bacon and potatoes. Not too soggy, and had a nice flavor and the toppings were a nice addition. If I went back, I would definitely order them again.

If you are wanting to try a burger - they've got Burger Mania every Wednesday where you can get a burger with up to 5 toppings and a side for only $6.00. Or stop by on Monday for their $.50 wing deal. I'm not screaming to go back, but if someone else wanted to, I would join along, order those fries again, and try some of their wings. They are known for their burgers and wings, and since I didn't have much luck with their burger, maybe the wings would be better. I'll let ya know :)


Peace, and bacon grease!

Don't Mind Me....

My site is probably going to look funny for the next day or two or five until I learn how to make it look how I want. I'm trying to add a photo header, as well as fix my background. I was hating the look of my blog. Everything is still accessible, it just looks funky lol. I hope this makes my blog easier to navigate and more appealing to the eye. 

I'd appreciate any feedback once it's done! Let me know if you likey or no likey :)

Oh, and if any of you know about formatting the layout of my blog using blogger's template designer, I'd be happy to take any advice. I used to have my blog under the setting 'picture window' but the sidebar tabs were hanging over and overlapping my background and it just isn't pretty. But now I'm having a difficult time changing the template to a different one, like 'simple', because it is changing the look of my background, fonts, sidebar, font inside my posts, etc. Do they have "Blogger-for-Dumbies" books?

Peace, and bacon grease!

Menu Planning - Week of 8/29/11

Did everyone have a fantastic weekend? I did - I spent mine shopping at the mall and Borders (oh, I can't believe you are closing!!!) and having dinner at O' Charley's with a friend for her birthday. And Sunday I caught up on some blogging, so you know that's always fun!!

If you've noticed, I recently just posted two more cookbook review recipes, and I am trying to continue to cook meals from that cookbook. So some of the meals on this week's menu plan are from that cookbook. Tonight's dinner is a quick simple dinner that's a go-to meal - baked chicken with sauteed mushrooms and onions, and Velveeta rotini. Gotta love some good old boxed pasta and processed cheese sauce for a quick side!

Monday 8/29/11:  Chicken, mushrooms, and onion with rotini

Tuesday 8/30/11:  Spicy Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers

Wednesday 8/31/11:  Bacon, Ranch, and Chicken Mac and Cheese

Thursday 9/1/11:  Groupon date night

Friday 9/2/11:  Mexican Shrimp Bisque - from cookbook

Saturday 9/3/11:  Meatball Sub Sandwiches - from cookbook, with Ranch Macaroni and Cheese

Sunday 9/4/11:  Alfredo Chicken Lasagna - from cookbook



Let's make it a good week.

Peace, and bacon grease!

Help?!

Does anyone know how to make one's header photo smaller? I finally made a collage photo in Picnik, but when I added it to my header, it looks so large and way bigger than I want or intended! I've seen collages on other blogs, and they are all normal sized photos in the header. As you can see, if you look above, my header photo is ginormous! And sooo not cool. That's not how it's supposed to look! Please help me (in my sad, puppy dog face and baby voice).

Do any of you guys have any suggestions how to make the collage photo smaller? Also, I know Blogger offers the option to add the header text behind the photo, on top of, or instead of (I think)... is this the option I should use when trying to add the text "SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl: My Culinary Adventure: Recipes and Reviews from a Newbie Foodie". Or should I create the text while I am editing the photo, and save the text into the actual photo?

I'd appreciate any help I can get from you computer whizzes! I know Blogger is supposed to be user friendly, so why am I having so much difficulty? I feel like an old, computer-illiterate lady! :) Help!!!!!

Peace, and bacon grease!

Cookbook Review: Macaroni 'n' Cheese for Two

I'm back with another recipe from Taste of Home's Down Home Cooking for One or Two cookbook: Macaroni 'n' Cheese for Two. I'm a huge mac and cheese fan, so when I was searching through the cookbook and saw this homemade mac and cheese recipe, I knew I had to make it. 

The only change we made was to add more cheese - 1 and 1/4 cup instead of 1 cup. I used a loaf pan, but the original recipe says to use a 2 and 1/2 cup baking dish. I figured my small loaf pan was the closest pan I had to that.

Macaroni 'n' Cheese for Two

slightly adapted from Taste of Home's Down Home Cooking for One or Two

* Yields: 2 servings

• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• dash of paprika

In a bowl, combine sour cream and milk. Stir in the cheese, macaroni, and onion. Transfer to a greased baking dish; sprinkle with paprika. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

Printable Recipe
 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 forks 

I'm adding this to Miranda's Mac and Cheese Quest!

I'm glad that we did make it! The recipe was simple enough, and though not the best mac and cheese I've ever had, it stood its ground! We liked the extra crunch from the onions, and the creaminess from the sour cream. This will definitely stay in our rotation, until we find the next best macaroni and cheese recipe, that is :)

Peace, and bacon grease!