Chili Cheese Fries Recipe • So Tasty & Comforting! | Club Foody

 

Since I can remember 🤔, if I had to choose between going out to a restaurant or to a discothèque/bar with friends, my choice was definitely the first one! Since my early 20s’, I always enjoyed the whole experience of having a nice meal that I didn’t have to cook and simply relax while dining.
 
When I became better in the kitchen, another pleasure I had, and still do to this day, was to duplicate 👩‍🍳 the meals I ordered. It wasn’t always obvious. If a dish wasn’t to my liking, I put it on the back burner, analysing it further and returned to it later – some took several tries before I was satisfied! That is when I realized that I was a true foody!
 
From fine dining foods like Coq au Vin, Chateaubriand, Lobster Newburg 🦞, Beef Wellington, Steak Diane, Oysters Rockefeller, etc. to casual dishes like Chicken Pot Pie, Swiss Steak, Mac and Cheese, Southwest Beef Casserole, Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl, and more, these are some of the hundreds of recipes I’ve recreated in the comfort of my kitchen.
 
There’s also what I like to call “super casual” dining which is bar/pub foods. I think of Chicken Wings 🐓, French Dip with Au Jus, Nachos, Chicken Fingers, Poutine, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Burgers, Onion Rings, Quesadillas, and so on including this one… Chili Cheese Fries!
 
Also known as Coney Island Fries, this dish is pure comfort food 🥰! With a nice hearty thick chili sauce spooned over crispy French fries followed by a drizzle of Cheddar Cheese Sauce then topped with a generous dollop of sour cream and garnished with green onions, this is a satisfying recipe to make anytime!
 
It’s an easy recipe but not a quick one. The chili takes the most time as we want the consistency to be nice and thick. After all the ingredients are in, it has to simmer slowly on medium-low heat for 1:15 to 1:30 minutes 🕜, stirring often – no one wants “soupy” chili.
 
As I mentioned above, I really enjoy duplicating recipes that I’ve had in restaurants BUT I enjoy it even more when I can bring the same “beloved” dish to another level of yumminess 😋. This Chili Cheese Fries is no exception.
 
As the traditional dish is served with shredded cheese 🧀 on top of fries and chili, I switched for a delicious Cheddar Cheese Sauce. Instead of putting the serving plate in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, the sauce is simply drizzled over – less messy and no hot plates to handle.
 
Depending on how I feel, I either make my own or use frozen fries 🍟 from the store – yes, I do sometimes take a break and reach for premade foods like anyone else! The same with the tomato sauce. If I have some of my Marinara Sauce jars around, I’ll reach for it otherwise I’ll use a 15 oz. can.
 
For serving, I like to top the dish with sour cream and garnish with chopped green onions. Not all restaurants serve it that way but I think it makes it more complete. Sour cream can be substituted with Mexican crema and green onions for red onions. Add chopped cilantro if you like…
 
This fusion dish is so mouthwatering and 💯% satisfying! These Chili Cheese Fries are a great appetizer but can also turn into a whole meal! If you’re hosting a Super Bowl Party, this is the perfect recipe to make for your guests. On the other hand, why wait for the event when you can enjoy them anytime you want without stepping into a restaurant?
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are several more great comfort food recipes for you to enjoy… 😀
– Cajun Poutine
– Pizza Dip
– Hamburger Helper Copycat
– Shrimp Sliders
– Pierogi Casserole
– Pittsburg Steak Salad
– Texas Cowboy Stew
and for even more comfort food recipes 🥰, click on this link… Recipe Category • Comfort Food

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit https://clubfoody.com/cf-recipes/chili-cheese-fries/

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Lamington Cake Recipe • A Tasty Australian Treat! | Club Foody

 

On both sides of the border here in North America, we have our national holidays; one is Canada Day (July 1st) and the other is Independence Day in the States (July 4th) as well as in Mexico (September 16th). The same applies across the globe 🌍 with other countries.
 
Tomorrow on January 26th, it’s Australia Day and for the occasion, I couldn’t resist showcasing one of their most popular desserts… Lamington Cake! Dipped in chocolate frosting and then coated with coconut flakes 🥥, these little sponge cake squares are so moist and delicious!
 
Just like Pavlova, another famous Aussie sweet, these tasty classic little guys have some history behind them. Somewhere around 1900, the recipe was published in a newspaper 📰 – originally, it was called Lady Lamington’s Chocolate Coconut Cake. It gained popularity and got shortened down to Lamington Cake.
 
Who created it?
It doesn’t matter which recipe it is, everyone wants ownership and that includes countries – how many times has someone approached me stating that a certain dish was not from that area but theirs… countless 🙄! One thing is certain, it was named after Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1896 – 1901.
 
I’m sure there are many variations of this treat and I’m no exception! Many like to halve the squares and then put jam in between. My version is simpler… I add orange juice and zest 🍊 to the batter. Trust me, these added ingredients make a delicious impact on the end results.
 
After the cake is baked and cooled off, it is cut into 1 ½ to 2-inch squares – you might want to use a ruler 📏. Many will also cut the outside edges to make it more even… I don’t because by the time the pieces are dipped in chocolate then tossed in coconut flakes, they will look perfect to me… and my tummy 😊!
 
To prevent them from falling apart when dipped in chocolate and coated in coconut, they’re transferred to the fridge to firm up. Some freeze them… I prefer chilling them for at least 3 hours 🕒. This little extra step will make the dipping/coating task easier without crumbling the squares.
 
Just before they come out from the fridge, we start the chocolate frosting in a bain-marie (double-boiler). I use a good quality cocoa powder and the brand is Hershey’s Cocoa Special Dark. To achieve a nice smooth consistency, it’s important to sift the cocoa powder as well as the confectioners’ sugar.
 
I totally forgot to add one step in the video… 🎥
As I was rushing to finish the editing, I skipped the part of the clip where I add pure vanilla extract to the chocolate frosting so here it goes… After stirring until the mixture is nice and smooth, add 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract and mix well. Remove the bain-marie from the heat and proceed with the dipping.
 
Lamington cake is not just a mouthwatering dessert, it’s also a culinary icon! It’s such a popular treat across the country, it has its own national day which falls on July 21st! With the addition of orange juice and zest, this is a delicious 😋 twist on an Australian favorite!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are more scrumptious cake recipes for you to try… 🍰
– Blueberry Cake
– Creamy Cheesecake
– Chocolate Beet Cake
– Biscoff Icebox Cake
– Black Forest Cake
– Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake
– Tropical Pineapple Upside Down Cake
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/lamington-cake/

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Pierogi Casserole Recipe • Cheesy & Delicious! | Club Foody

 

For those of you who have been following me for years, you know I can’t stand winter. It’s cold, snowy along with unpredictable conditions… yuck! Just like David, I like being warm, wearing light clothes with open-toed sandals 👡 or flip-flops. Just by looking at what’s in my walk-in closet, it’s easy to know which season I prefer!
 
On the other hand, when push comes to shove and there’s no other options than dealing with that horrible season 😟, I cheer myself up by making casseroles. I have so many to choose from like Baked Ziti, Chicken Divan, Lancashire Hotpot, Cod au Gratin, Tetrazzini, and more.
 
Another one, David and I enjoy a lot is my Pierogi Casserole! These filled dumplings are very good on their own but wait till you try this version. With a couple layers of deliciousness, this recipe is totally an OMG 🤩! It’s so satisfying!
 
This is a pretty easy dish to make 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳. With frozen pierogies topped with caramelized onion slices and crispy bacon before a gorgeous Cheddar Cheese Sauce is poured over then baked for 30 minutes, this is a simple and yet such a mouthwatering recipe!
 
The bacon 🥓 is cooked until slightly crispy and then the onion slices are caramelized in the bacon fat and butter. While they’re cooking slowly, the Béchamel Sauce is made before turning it into a Cheddar Cheese Sauce. When all this is done, the Pierogi Casserole is assembled… tada!
 
In the video 🎥, I don’t show how to make the Béchamel Sauce aka white sauce and I’m pretty quick with my explanations when it comes to the Cheddar Cheese Sauce. I showed you how to do both but if you missed the episodes, click on the links.
 
For the frozen pierogies, you can buy 🛒 them at your supermarket or make them from scratch which is not that complicated. If you decide to roll up your sleeves, I have a lovely homemade recipe, so click here to get it… Pierogi Ruskie
 
When the mercury drops, there’s nothing more comforting than serving this delicious Pierogi Casserole! So tasty and easy to make, it’s a great satisfying recipe to enjoy this winter 😉! With wholesome ingredients, it’s another delicious way to enjoy pierogies!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Check out these other incredible casserole recipes… 😀
– Eggplant Beef & Mushroom Pasta Bake
– Chicken Vesuvio
– Breakfast Casserole
– Ricotta Spinach & Sausage Pasta
– Tuna Casserole
– Shepherd’s Pie
– Southwest Beef Casserole
and for even more comfort food recipes 🥰, click on this link… Recipe Category • Comfort Food

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit https://clubfoody.com/cf-recipes/pierogi-casserole/

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

Albóndigas • Mexican Meatball Soup Recipe

 

Have you ever read a book 📙 or watched a movie and came across a dish you never had before then really wanted to try it? It happened to me many times and I’m sure the same applies to you too…
 
While reading Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, tomato sandwich was mentioned. Another one was Poularde de Bresse 🐓 stated in There’s a Moveable Feast, which is Ernest Hemingway’s memoir, Lane Cake in To Kill a Mockingbird, Duck à l’ Orange in another novel I don’t remember, and many more…
 
When it comes to movies, Timpano from the “Big Night”, Vanilla Custard with Bananas in “Waitress”, or in “Babette’s Feast” where Potage à la Tortue 🐢 (turtle soup) or Blinis Demidoff (buckwheat with caviar & sour cream) are highlighted.
 
Another iconic “food” moment is when Estelle Reiner said – “I’ll have what she’s having” in Katz’s Delicatessen where Meg Ryan faked an orgasm in the movie “When Harry met Sally”. She was having just a turkey sandwich 🥪 on white bread but boy, I really wanted it too, lol!
 
The first time I’ve heard about Albóndigas which is a Mexican Meatball Soup was when I watched a romantic comedy called “Fools Rush In” with the late Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek. Of course, I couldn’t resist making it therefore when I went back to Mexico 🛫 in 1998, I did some investigating…
 
This soup is loaded with yumminess 😋! With a gorgeous mixture of ingredients, these meatballs are incredibly flavorful. I use some cilantro but if I can find some fresh mint (I make this recipe during winter so it’s not always available), I like adding a little to bright things up! For the rice, I opt for basmati.
 
There’s a nice selection of fresh produce that goes into my Albóndigas • Mexican Meatball Soup; onions, poblano peppers, potatoes, carrots, zucchini, corn, tomatoes, etc. This soup is so wholesome, perfect when the mercury drops 🥶!
 
Does it take time to make it?
It’s all about being prepared. To allow the flavors from the meat to develop, it’s important to let the mixture chill for 1 hour. From there, the meatballs are formed and cooked for 20 minutes in the oven or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF, rotating the baking sheet halfway through.
 
While they’re baking, I start making the soup. If your mise en place (have all the ingredients chopped and ready to go) is done before forming the meatballs then overall, the cooking time shouldn’t be longer than 35 minutes 🕧.
 
Food Trivia…
Did you know that Katz’s Delicatessen is the oldest deli in New York City 🗽? Established back in 1888, this Manhattan diner is a great spot to enjoy pastrami on rye although I’m sure there are other delicious options to try.
 
This tasty and hearty recipe is easy to make 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳! There’s no right or wrong when making this dish. Some like to use green beans in it while others add celery. Instead of beef broth, chicken is used and the same when flavoring the soup with different seasonings.
 
I’ve been making my version of Albóndigas • Mexican Meatball Soup for over 25 years and each winter ⛄, I make sure to gather all my ingredients so we can enjoy a nice hot bowl of deliciousness!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are several more Mexican inspired recipes for you to enjoy… 😀
– Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
– Pico de Gallo
– Mixed Berry Margarita
– Chiles Rellenos
– Spicy Beef Nacho Supreme
– Fire Roasted Salsa
– Mexican Tostadas
and for even more soup recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Soups & Chowders

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit https://clubfoody.com/cf-recipes/albondigas-mexican-meatball-soup/

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

Chicken Kiev Recipe • Incredibly Moist & Flavorful! | Club Foody

 

Every time I went to a restaurant, if there was something I haven’t had before that was on the menu, the chances of me ordering it was pretty high. Alas, as I’m getting older, there are less and less “unknown” dishes for me to try… 😕
 
I remembered my first Chicken Kiev. My date took me to restaurant Chez Queux, located in Old-Montréal at the corner of St. Paul and Place Jacques Cartier. This elegant fine dining spot became one of my all-time favorite 💖 restaurants. Sadly, it has been closed for a few years now… what a shame!
 
Back to Chicken Kiev…
Without knowing much about it, I was very pleased with the dish. It’s a flattened chicken breast that is stuffed with garlic butter 🧄🧈, rolled tightly then breaded and finally, fried before being finished in the oven. It’s incredible! The result is nice and crispy outside and juicy inside. Although both are stuffed, this recipe differs from Chicken Cordon Bleu.
 
What makes the flesh so tender is obviously the butter. I use my Garlic Herb Butter that is packed with serious flavor! I use 2 tablespoons per breast which to me is enough. I’ve seen others where they add a ton of it. They should mention that a defibrillator should be sitting next to your plate in case of an emergency… lol 😄!
 
Joking aside though, the technique of making this Eastern European recipe is bullet proof! To prevent the butter from oozing out while frying and baking is to roll the pounded breasts tightly and then transferring to the freezer until firm to the touch… not frozen. I leave them there for 30 to 40 minutes 🕦.
 
Then comes the breading… The fact that the breasts are now firm, helps with this step. Like any other “breaded” recipes, make sure the meat is very well coated and press gently on the breadcrumbs to adhere. After this, they return back to the freezer for 15 minutes.
 
While, they’re firming up again, the oil is heating up, the oven is turned on and the baking sheet is set up. As per usual, it’s all about being organized and prepared. This is where the French term “mise en place” comes from.
 
Originating in Russia, this Chicken Kiev is so delectable! After they come out from the oven and rest for a few minutes, this is when everything happens! Cut through the crispy golden-brown coating and there’s the butter oozing out before taking a bite of this tender and juicy chicken… OMG 😍!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Check out these other incredible chicken recipes… 😀
– Indian Butter Chicken
– Chicken Divan
– Dakgangjeong – Sweet & Spicy Crispy Korean Chicken
– Chicken Stuffed Crêpes with Poblano Sauce
– Orzo with Chicken & Asiago
– Chicken Sorrentino
– Shish Tawook
and for even more poultry recipes 🦃🐓🦆, click on this link… Recipe Category • Poultry

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit https://clubfoody.com/cf-recipes/chicken-kiev/

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