Onion ring success!

After thinking about my onion rings a bit, I started questioning myself.  My biggest question was "What seasonings are there in a usual fried onion ring recipe?"  I found a recipe online that used just salt for seasoning.  As I was reading the reviews (there were at least 600, and the recipe still had 5 stars), I saw someone wrote that they had followed the fried onion ring recipe and baked it instead!  I was sold!  With my final vidalia onion, I embarked upon what would later be called a successful gastronomical (Yeah, that is a real word. Look it up) journey.

Onion Rings 3.0

1 vidalia onion
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup egg (or egg substitute)
2 T milk (I used 3T and that was too much)
1/2 cup bread crumbs (Which was my final 1 1/2 high fiber hamburger buns)

Preheat the oven to 400 F.  Grease a cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Cut ends off onion.  Slice into 1/4-3/8" rings.  Put onion rings, flour, baking powder, and salt all in quart to gallon sized zipper bag. Shake to coat.  Pour out flour into small bowl. Add egg and milk and mix well.  Pour back into the zipper bag and fully coat rings.  Set up a wire rack over paper towels (I just put it over my plastic cutting board since it is washable).  Place all rings on the rack and allow to drip.  Once they stop dripping, toss in the bread crumbs.  Lightly coat tops of rings with more cooking spray.  Bake 12 to 13 minutes, flip, and bake another 12 to 13 minutes, until golden brown and delicious.

***  First thing I noticed:  These actually smelled like real onion rings!  Second thing: They taste like them, too.  I think that next time I will add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the bread crumbs.  I made up a batch of zesty sauce for these, but realized that took away from the flavor.  They were awesome on their own.  Very delicate, though.  I will make these in the future!  Maybe tomorrow.  I just need to run to Meijer first and stock up on more hamburger buns (or bread) and onions! ***

The onion ring blogging chapter of my life is over.  I feel a little sad now.  What is next?  Give me ideas!

Bad ideas made better

ONION RINGS

As promised, I had to make a new batch of baked onion rings, using a new recipe (slightly altered). 

Ingredients:
1 Vidalia Onion

2 T flour
Pinch: Salt, Pepper, Chili Powder, Paprika

1/4 cup egg beaters

1 1/2 high fiber hamburger buns (ok, so, that is what I used!  I am guessing it is about 3/4 cup of bread crumbs. Use whatever you have!  To make bread crumbs, toast on 275 for a good 15 minutes, check to see if it is dry. If so, crumble. If not, toast a little longer)
1 t Italian seasoning
1/4 t salt
3/4 t garlic powder
3/4 t onion powder

Preheat oven to 375.  Slice ends off onion, peel, then slice into rings.  Toss onions in flour, salt, pepper, chili powder, and paprika (a zip lock works well for this).  Put egg beaters in one bowl.  Put bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and onion powder into another bowl and mix (I poured the extra flour from the bag that didn't stick to the onions in, too).  Dip eat ring into egg, then bread crumb mixture, and place on a baking spray coated pan.  Bake 12 minutes, flip, then bake another 12 minutes (I flipped mine again and baked another 6 minutes).

*** These were MUCH better than yesterdays recipe.  I wasn't a big fan of the Italian seasoning, though.  I am thinking that tomorrow, I will change it up and make it more spicy.  (I have to get it right tomorrow... I only have one more onion!!!)  I ate some of them with horseradish dip from yesterday.  Others I ate with BBQ sauce.  I really like the BBQ sauce! ***

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB

Since my strawberry rhubarb filling from yesterday was too oozy for making pockets, I had to find something to do with it.  I found the perfect way to consume it (and thus finished off every drop).  Imagine this... A bowl with angel food cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, strawberry rhubarb goo, and whipped topping.  Yes, I went there!

Another TV fail

Hungry Girl let me down again.  I was so excited when I saw her pocket pies on TV today.  But, after a trip to the store and hours (ok, minutes) slaved over the stove and oven, I was not quite satisfied with the results. 

I made 3 different fillings, then filled them all and baked 350F for 18 minutes.  The fillings were Creamy Chicken, Apple, and Strawberry Rhubarb.


Creamy Chicken:

1 cup milk
1/2 cup 2% shredded cheese
1 t chicken boullion
2 t cornstarch
7 oz lean chicken, chunked
1 1/3 cup mixed veggies
*** On stove top, mix first 4 ingredients on medium heat until thickened.  Add in chicken and veggies.  Stir until warmed through. ***


Apple:

1/3 cup water
3 t sugar (or substitute)
1 t corn starch
1/2 t cinnamon
sprinkle salt
1/2 t lemon juice
2 Fuji apples (peeled and chopped into chunks)
*** On stove top, mix first 6 ingredients on medium heat until bubbly.  Add apples. Heat for around 10 minutes until apples are just soft. ***

Strawberry Rhubarb:

1 cup chunked Rhubarb
2 cups chunked Strawberry
1/2 t lemon juice
1 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar (or substitute)
1/4 cup water
2 t cornstarch
*** On stove top, mix all ingredients on medium heat for about 10 minutes. ***


Putting it all together:
Egg roll wrappers
Non-stick spray
Butter spray
Aluminum foil (if desired)
*** Take 1 egg roll wrapper.  Wet all edges of the wrapper.  Scoop filling of choice onto one side of wrapper. Fold other side over and using a fork, seal the pocket.  Place on pan that has been coated with non-stick spray.  Spritz butter spray on top of pocket.  Bake 18 minutes or so on 350F.***


What I learned:  These are a little tough.  The egg roll wrapper just isn't flaky and delicious. The fillings are good, although the strawberry rhubarb is a bit too runny for it.  The entire pie is flat when done. Now, I have a huge pack of egg roll wrappers and I don't know what to do with them!  Ideas???

TV failed me!

Today, I will post about my lunch.  Let me tell you, there is a flop here!  Keep reading and you will find it for sure!


Corndogs:

I made this recipe up, after not being able to find a healthy version.  I really love to make them!
Ingredients:
3T Corn bread mix
1.5T Milk
2t brown sugar (or 1/2 brown sugar and 1/2 sugar substitute)
1t egg substitute
1t applesauce
2 hotdogs (I use fat free)
Oven set to 375F
Mini loaf pan - greased.

Mix up all ingredients except hotdogs! Pour half into the bottom of loaf pan.  Cut top 1/3 of each hotdog off. Place hot dogs on top of corn meal mix. Cover with the rest of the cornmeal mixture and smooth.  Bake 22 to 25 minutes (til golden brown).  I then slide a knife around the edge and flip the corndog over.  I dip in ketchup and mustard! YUM!!!

   

Hungry Girl Onion Rings:

Ingredients:

1 large onion
1/2 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original)
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder, or more to taste
1/8 tsp. onion powder, or more to taste
1/8 tsp. salt, or more to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Slice the ends off the onion and remove its outer layer. Cut onion into 1/2-inch-wide slices, and separate into rings. Set aside.
Using a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Season the crumbs with spices and transfer to a plate.
Fill a small bowl with egg substitute. Prepare a baking sheet (or two, if you have a lot of rings) by spraying with nonstick spray. Set aside.
One at a time, dunk each ring in egg substitute, give it a shake to remove any excess, and then coat it in the seasoned crumbs. Evenly place rings on the baking sheet(s).
Bake in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes, carefully flipping rings over about halfway through. Enjoy!
MAKES 1 SERVING

 

 

*****  I used this recipe, baked them all up, and then took my first bite.  DISAPPOINTMENT!  On the show, she said that they tasted like a diner onion ring.  No such luck.  I am going to have to keep working on this.  You know I will!!!  *****

(clockwise from top) Horrible Onion Rings, Carrots, Amazing dip, Corndog

The dip that I used was AWESOME, though! 
 
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoons cream-style horseradish sauce
1/3 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pinch ground black pepper
1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mix all together and enjoy!  Add a little more horseradish if you would like!

Some real Beezo Bowls

I know I haven't updated recently.  So, I may just ramble on about a few yummy things I have been eating recently.

Honey Goat Cheese!  This stuff is great.  I have found it at Costco and Trader Joes.  How do I like to eat it?  Slathered on a pita or hamburger bun (the only types of bread I have around!).  Then, I toss a bunch of blueberries or raspberries on top.  Oh my goodness.  Sounds crazy, tastes delicious.


Home-made granola.  I take 2T brown sugar, 1/4 t maple syrup extract, 1/4 t vanilla, 1/4 t pumpkin pie spice, a dash of salt and 2T water.... mix together and boil in microwave for a minute or two.  I then coat 1/2 cup oatmeal (old fashioned style, not the fast stuff) in that syrup.  Spread it on parchment or foil and bake for 1 hour or so on 275F.  Mix every 20 minutes or so.  This makes one serving.  Add a couple tablespoons raisins at the end if you want. It is so good. 'Nough said.

Pulled pork.  I made this for July 4th.  I went to Meijer and picked up 3 types of pork.  I grabbed a loin, shoulder, and I believe ribs.... Around 8lbs, I believe.  I sliced up a vidalia onion and put it in the bottom of a crock pot set on low, then added all the meat.  I put in a little bit of red pepper, salt, pepper, crushed garlic, and let it cook over night (around 10 hours), I then put it on warm while I went to a parade. When I came home, I pulled the pork, drained the excess fat, and stirred in a little bit of bbq sauce.  Oh my gosh. That stuff is good!  I still have a bit in the fridge, but it is going fast!

Baked Beans.... For July 4th, I also made some baked beans.  I took 2 large cans of Meijer brand baked beans (with the sauce), added in a can of black eyed peas, butter beans, and kidney beans (all rinsed), some carrots, onion, a little bit of brown sugar, and some maple extract. So good!  I love the various textures of the beans.  Plus, canned baked beans have so much extra sauce, so this stretches the sauce and lowers the calorie count.

I keep making broccoli salad.  This time, I added broccoli slaw in place of some of the diced broccoli.  It adds a fun texture.




Burgers.  I love burgers.  For this recipe, I use 1 T vegetable soup mix (it has all sorts of chunks of veggies, as well as some powdered stuff), 1/4 cup diced onions, and 1/4 lb lean ground beef.  I mix those all up, and for a patty with a little wheel of baby bell cheese inside.  Broil on low for 8 minutes a side, top with a slice of cheese and some bacon bits, and put inside a bun!  A little bbq sauce is great on this burger! :)
This burger has some home-made potato salad next to it.

That is all I have for now :)  Thanks for reading :)