Macaroni Salad Recipe • A Summer Favorite! | Club Foody

 

Normally, summertime food is casual, nothing too fancy. There aren’t many Coq au Vin 🐓 or Beef Wellington that are served during the warmer months of the year. The food is much more relaxed, and so are the side dishes that go along with them…
 
Although there’s nothing fancy about the sides, they’re certainly always welcome. It could be Elotes • Grilled Mexican Street Corn, Israeli Salad, Lemon Couscous, Cottage Fries, Pisto Manchego, Moroccan Potato Salad, Texas Caviar, Cucumber Salad 🥒 or Greek Salad, Tabbouleh, Tex-Mex Potatoes, and so on…
 
When it comes to pasta, there’s also a favorite list of delicious side dishes, like Pasta Primavera, Pesto Pasta Salad, Greek Tuna Pasta Salad 🐟, Muffuletta Pasta Salad, Classic Pasta Salad, of course Mac and Cheese, Orzo Pasta Salad, etc., as well as this one Macaroni Salad!
 
Whether for gatherings, picnics, or potlucks, this side is always a crowd-pleaser. Rich and tangy, it has a gorgeous flavor profile, and a harmonious texture. It’s easy to make, tasty, and a great comfort food, plus it pairs with almost anything 🍔🌭. It also makes a big batch, perfect for your backyard parties.
 
I prefer making my dressing first. Although I like the taste of Miracle Whip (here we go, you’re lifting your nose! 👃), in the application, I go all mayo. There’s also yellow mustard that goes in. Can you use Dijon? Of course, both are excellent choices. Dijon is less acidic, with a more complex flavor.
 
There’s granulated sugar that is added to the dressing. Adding a little sugar balances the dressing, but adding too much can be overwhelming. Keep in mind that carrots 🥕 and red peppers are both sweet vegetables so don’t overdo it.
 
To give more personality to this ol’ classic, I add hot paprika and hot sauce. These ingredients elevate the Macaroni Salad. With the creamy dressing, they balance out the richness, giving an interesting “je ne sais quoi” to the side. I opt for Cholula, which I think suits it the best. I find Frank’s way too hot 🥵 and tangy, but like I always say – “use what you like or skip it”.
 
For the salad itself, there a beautiful combination of fresh ingredients: celery 🥬, red bell peppers, carrots, and red onions mixed in with the cooked elbow macaroni pasta. Red onion is the chosen one when it comes to salad, but even so, it can be strong. To mellow it out, here’s a great trick to do… How to Remove Bitterness from Onions.
 
I use poblano peppers instead of green peppers for this reason…
Although green peppers are safe to eat, they’re technically not fully ripe therefore, they have a more earthy and bitter taste to them. Due to higher acidity and different enzymes than the fully ripened ones, they can cause heartburn 🥺, especially when eaten raw.
 
Over the years, I developed acid reflux. Although I have medication 💊 I can take 20 minutes before eating, I don’t always remember to take it when needed. Raw green peppers’ pH level is slightly higher than its counterparts, which is enough to cause this uncomfortable physical discomfort.
 
Back to our salad…
After the ingredients are all in, the dressing is poured over and everything is tossed until nicely coated. It’s covered and transferred to the fridge for at least 1 hour ⏰. Before serving, it’s stirred once more and sprinkled with fresh chopped parsley. The leftovers can last in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
 
Here’s a quick note I’d like to mention about food safety…
Because it’s a mayo-based (dairy-based) dressing, it should never, ever be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, especially during hot weather 🌞. After being served, it should return immediately to the fridge. This should apply to any other recipes using the same type of dressing.
 
Without being presumptuous, this delicious Macaroni Salad is always an all-time favorite 💖! It’s the perfect casual side that everyone enjoys along with their protein. Make this colorful and delightful crowd-pleaser for your next summer BBQ, picnic, or potluck…
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are more delicious summer side dish recipes for you to try… 😀
– Twice Baked Potatoes
– Moroccan Couscous Salad
– Smoky Bacon Creamed Corn
– Jicama Mango Pepper Salad
– Vegetable Medley
– Strawberry Salad
– Greek Lemon Rosemary Potatoes
– Chickpea Corn Salad
– Creamed Peas
and for even more side dish recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Sides & Vegetables

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit ➡ https://clubfoody.com/cf-recipes/macaroni-salad/ 😉

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Italian Sloppy Joes Recipe • Messy Guiseppe! | Club Foody

 

There are many fond memories from my childhood when it comes to food. Watching our parents make dinner together or teasing my father on Sunday mornings while he prepared breakfast 🍳 for all of us. There were also times when they had us try new dishes.
 
I had bad and good memories from eating some of their “new stuff” they made. I remember sitting for hours at the dining room table, crying and refusing to eat my French Onion Soup Gratinée – now it’s a different story… I love it 💖!
 
One dish that I clearly remember trying for the first time was Sloppy Joes! It was so tasty, but each bite, everything was falling off the bun. While my brother 🧑 was wolfing his down, I had a hard time enjoying it because it was messy where the word “sloppy” described it perfectly.
 
Here’s a thing about me…
Until my mid-thirties, I had a problem eating finger foods. Since I was a toddler, I never liked having my fingers dirty and was constantly asking my mother to wash 🧼 them. It went on like this, disliking the feeling of having dirty hands and fingers.
 
It was only until my girlfriends teased me while I was eating bruschetta with a fork and knife. At a snail’s 🐌 pace, I slowly started eating chicken wings with a pile of napkins next to me, and eventually, I was okay. To this day though, if my fingers are slightly sticky or dirty, I can get up numerous times to wash them…
 
Where were we? Yes, Sloppy Joes!
With Club Foody, not only do I get my hands dirty often when chopping 🔪 and cooking, but it also sparks my imagination and creativity. This is when, one morning, I decided to elevate this nostalgic recipe to another fabulous level of deliciousness… Italian Sloppy Joes!
 
Also known as Messy Giuseppes, this amazing comfort food 🥰 delivers bold Mediterranean flavors. With a gorgeous combination of ingredients and herbs, this popular North American dish received an incredible upgrade in the taste department!
 
From start to finish, it might take 35 minutes at the most. It’s one of those meals that can be served on weeknights as well as on weekends, or when casually entertaining your best friends! They’re also perfect for enjoying during any sporting event ⚾.
 
What takes the most time is the Bolognese sauce. To begin, the Italian sausage is started in a cold skillet before turning the heat to medium-high 🔥. As you know, there’s a lot of fat in these sausages and starting in a cold pan helps to render as much of it as possible. The rest is easy-peasy!
 
In this Italian Sloppy Joes recipe, I use mild sausage. The reason is that it gives me better control over the spices. It allows the marinara sauce 🍅 to come through without competing with the meat. Besides using my Italian seasoning, I still add some heat by using red pepper flakes.
 
Hot Italian sausage can still be used, but you risk overpowering the lovely flavor of the Bolognese sauce. If you serve this messy dish to kids 👧 or to those who are sensitive to spicy foods, the hot sausage will definitely cause a problem. You can also choose sweet Italian sausage, bridging the gap between the two.
 
I use brioche buns. Other sturdy buns can be substituted, such as ciabatta rolls, Italian hoagies, or sub rolls. The most important thing is that after the bottoms and tops are buttered 🧈, the buns need to be toasted under the broiler so they get crispy and prevent the sauce from soaking through the bread.
 
When filming 🎥, I completely forgot to show that after the buns are buttered, I sprinkle on some garlic salt on top. For toasting, I recommend setting the broiler on “Low” for 2 to 3 minutes. You can go on “High”, but in the blink of an eye, the buns can turn from golden to burnt, so be careful.
 
In my book, any sloppy joes have to be gooey so after the Bolognese sauce is spooned over the bottom buns, they need that cheesy goodness 🧀! Placing a slice of Provolone cheese wraps up these yummy sandwiches. Other types of cheese that can be great choices are Mozzarella or Fontina.
 
The bottom buns are transferred back under the broiler (still on “Low”), and baked until the cheese is melted and slightly starts to bubble. Some fresh chopped parsley is sprinkled on top, followed by the top buns, and… it’s time to enjoy them 😋!
 
This Italian Sloppy Joes recipe, also known as “Messy Giuseppes,” is the gourmet version of the classic North American Sloppy Joes. With a gorgeous, well-seasoned Bolognese sauce, this Italian-inspired twist on this comfort food elevates these sandwiches 🥪 to a delectable level of deliciousness!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are more delicious sandwich recipes for you to try… 😀
– Easy Chicken Fajitas
– Egg Hot Dog Rolls • Guédilles aux Oeufs
– Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
– Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders
– Italian Pesto Panini Sandwich
– Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
– Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich
– Shrimp Sliders
– New England Lobster Rolls
and for even more sandwich recipes 🥪, click on this link… Recipe Category • Sandwiches

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit ➡ https://clubfoody.com/cf-recipes/italian-sloppy-joes/ 😉

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube
 

How to Freeze Hamburger Patties - Tips & tricks | Club Foody

 

With our Canadian Victoria Day holiday weekend as well as American Memorial Day, many of us will fire up the BBQ. One of our all-time favorite grilled food items is definitely burgers 🍔! This finger food is so tasty, plus easy to make and eat!
 
Either long weekend, or anytime during the warmer months, people like to entertain their family and friends 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦. Depending on how many guests attend, it’s always smart to be well-prepared and not wait until the last minute to make everything.
 
How to Freeze Hamburger Patties is a convenient step that every home cook should do prior to any gathering. Having pre-formed patties allows you to take individual portions out of the freezer at a moment’s notice. Another great reason to freeze them ahead is when going camping ⛺ or on picnics.
 
After adding salt 🧂 and pepper to the ground beef, nothing is stopping you from seasoning with other spices. While Bobby Flay thinks that we shouldn’t go beyond salt and pepper otherwise it will turn into a meatloaf, I strongly disagree and enjoy elevating my burgers with seasonings, so it’s your call…
 
Everyone likes to customize their handheld sandwich with their favorite toppings 🍅. Therefore, to prevent it from bulging, making a dent in the center is the way to go. Furthermore, it ensures even cooking, so the center is not undercooked while the edges are over.
 
You can use your thumb, or if you have nails 💅 like most ladies do, the knuckle is another option, as well as the back of a spoon. When making the dent, be sure to go down to roughly ½-inch deep and about 1 to 1.5-inches wide into the center of the patty after shaping it.
 
After this step is done, the patties are placed in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. They’re transferred to the freezer for 1:30 to 2 hours ⏰, enough to firm them up. This method is called “flash freeze”.
 
Each patty is individually wrapped. Some place a small piece of wax paper between each of them. This won’t protect the patties from freezer burn, so it’s very important to tightly wrap them separately in wax paper. Parchment paper is another option, but it costs more 💰 than wax paper.
 
From here, patties are placed in a large resealable plastic bag. Close it, making sure there’s no air trapped inside the bag, and then transfer them back to the freezer for up to 4 months 📆. For optimal texture and flavor, the frozen meat shouldn’t go beyond that otherwise, they’ll get grayish and ice crystals will form.
 
How to Freeze Hamburger Patties is a smart way to have them pre-formed, allowing you to be ready at a moment’s notice. For a fast method, if you just need them to hold their shape and get a better sear when grilling them, quickly freeze the patties for 30 minutes ⏳.
 
What about thawing them?
They can be thawed in the fridge overnight, or use a cold-water bath (NOT hot water 💦, as it promotes bacteria growth), which takes only 30 minutes. The microwave is another option. Use the defrost setting, but check and flip them often to prevent the edges from cooking.
 
Another way of doing it is to take them straight from the freezer to the grill 🔥. Not only does it prevent the patties from falling apart, but also makes them juicier. When having a large group of people, it’s easier to handle and uniformly grill frozen patties for everyone.
 
To successfully grill frozen patties, the barbecue heat should be around 350ºF. If using high heat, the outside will burn before the inside is cooked. Always oil the grates before placing them and flip the patties often. A word of advice: frozen patties take longer to cook ⌚ than thawed ones.
 
This How to Freeze Hamburger Patties tutorial is very useful. Whether for your backyard party or simply to be ready at the drop of a hat, freezing and pre-forming them is clever and effective. Enjoy your burgers 🍔 this summer without the last-minute stress of making your patties…
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Check out these other great kitchen tips and tricks… 😀
– How to Poach & Shred Chicken the Easy Way
– Berries • How to Keep Them Longer
– Keep Moisture Out of Powdered & Granulated Foods
– How to Roast and Peel Peppers
– Herb Garden • How to Start One
– How to Store Celery for Weeks
– Montréal Steak Spice
– How to Keep Salad Greens Longer
– Best & Easy Way to Steam Hot Dogs
and for more handy kitchen tips and tricks 💡, click on this link… Recipe Category • Tips & Tricks
 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube

Skor Banoffee Pie Recipe • Simply Irresistible! | Club Foody

 

In general, people have a sweet tooth 🦷. It’s always nice to end a lovely meal with a dessert. During the warmer months, none of us want to turn the oven on and bake something unless it doesn’t take too much time and isn’t too involved.
 
Besides ice cream 🍦, there are many other desserts that can be made during these months…
I think of No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake, Mango Purée with Mixed Berries and Cointreau, Butterscotch Pie, Fruit Salad, No-Bake S’mores Cake, Granita, Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake, Biscoff Icebox Cake, Berry Jelly Mold, Atlantic Beach Pie, and so on…
 
Another one that is definitely a summer sweet treat is my Skor Banoffee Pie! Insanely easy to make 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳, this pie is pure decadence! With a graham cracker crust filled with dulce de leche, banana slices, chopped toffee, and topped with whipped cream, and then more chopped toffee, this is irresistibly delicious!
 
Where in the world does this name come from? Simple. Banana + toffee = Banoffee! Don’t get me wrong, I love English toffee, but one that I can’t get enough of is Skor® toffee bits! This North American confection saw its debut back in the States in 1981, soon followed by Canada 🍁 in 1983.
 
For those of you who don’t know about this candy, it’s a thin bar of butter toffee covered with milk chocolate. Not only is there that rich melt-in-your-mouth buttery heaven, but it’s also coated with chocolate! It’s OMG x 100… 😵
 
Now let’s redo the equation 🧮… Banana + Skor® toffee bits = Skor Banoffee Pie!
 
There’s that sweet and buttery crust filled with dulce de leche, a gorgeous rich caramel goodness! Then comes the banana slices followed by Skor, a mix of toffee and chocolate 🍫. To wrap everything up deliciously, whipped cream and more Skor® bits on top. C’mon, who can resist that?
 
The graham cracker crust is made first. Like cheesecakes or any other desserts 🍰 using this type of crust, it has to resemble damp sand before dropping it into a pie dish. I use a 9-inch non-stick springform pan for a very specific reason… it’s easier to handle when it’s time to portion and serve.
 
Like I explained in both my regular graham cracker and chocolate honey graham cracker pie crust tutorials 💻, the crumb mixture has to be compacted until it’s no longer loose and crumbly. Don’t overdo it and pack it too tightly otherwise the crust will get dense and become hard.
 
After the crust is quickly baked, it has to completely come to room temperature… simply forget about it. It can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes ⏰ depending on the kitchen temperature and the environment. I normally bake it earlier in the day, and return to it a few hours later.
 
When it’s time to assemble, the dulce de leche is poured into the cooled crust and spread out evenly. I personally never use cajeta, which is made from goat’s milk rather than cow’s milk 🐄. I would assume that both can be interchangeable. If you use cajeta, please let me know how it turns out…
 
Dulce de leche is pure decadence. Every time I make it from scratch, I have to resist the temptation to take a big scoop 🥄 of it and shovel it into my mouth. It’s one of those mental challenges that I need to constantly remind myself of that this ingredient is necessary for the recipe.
 
Banana slices 🍌 come after. If this fruit is not your gem, or like my mother, you can’t digest it, you can substitute grilled peaches. In that case, the pie should be called “Peachnoffee”… does that really make sense, lol!
 
Then come Skor® toffee bits, whipped cream, and more toffee bits on top. Making whipped cream from scratch is super easy, and here’s the link… Perfect Whipped Cream Every Time – How to To save time, you can always use Cool Whip, but not the whipped cream from the aerosol cans – reserve those for fruits 🍓 or Spanish coffees.
 
There are a couple of differences between homemade whipped cream and Cool Whip. While one is light, fluffy 💭, and airy, the other one’s texture resembles marshmallow. It’s also firmer and sweeter than whipped cream.
 
With a rich combination of ingredients, this scrumptious Skor Banoffee Pie is always a crowd-pleaser 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦! It’s a dessert that nobody can resist! This classic British dessert is perfect for your summer gatherings or potlucks!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are more scrumptious pie recipes for you to try… 😀
– Flapper Pie
– Bing Cherry Pie
– Coconut Cream Pie
– Bumbleberry Pie
– Lemon Meringue Pie
– Apple Cheese Pie
– Country-Style Blueberry Pie
– Silk & Satin Chocolate Pie
– Key Lime Pie
and for even more dessert recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Dessert

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit ➡ https://clubfoody.com/cf-recipes/skor-banoffee-pie/ 😉

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube