Epic Portions

Tag: recipe

  • Philly Cheese Steaks

    Today, I had a shitty day.  Sorry to be so blunt but that’s the only way I can really put it.  I worked from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and then drove through rush hour traffic to my other job where I proceeded in working 5:15 until 10:00 PM.  The only thing that got me through this day from hell was the pound of paper thin sliced rib eye waiting for me in my refrigerator.  The plan for this?  Philly cheese steaks.

    I had never made these heavenly sandwiches myself before, but tonight was the night.  I got together the steak, some cheeze-wiz, and hoagie rolls.  Nothing special here.

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    Oh, Samuel Adams came to the party too.  Don’t worry, he was invited.  The butcher at Hiller’s by me was nice enough to cut up the pound of rib eye in perfect slices.  This makes me want to buy a meat slicer for home.  This was the perfect opportunity to use my new gas stove on my new cast iron skillet.  I’ve had this baby for a few months now, and for some reason hadn’t busted it out for any delicious meals.  What better meal than Philly cheese steaks?  A little bit of salt and pepper and you’re good to go.  These things were incredible.

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    By the way, hot sauce is an excellent addition to Philly cheese steaks.  Oooooooooooooooooooh man.

  • Donut Bread Pudding

    I know John’s not the biggest Food Network fan, but Paula Dean and I are soul mates. She fries things, I fry things.   She loves bacon, I buy it in bulk.   She has a southern accent, I can fake a southern accent really well.   However, when she introduced the world to Krispie Kreme bread pudding, she lost me a little. Why? One wrinkly little word:  raisins.  I hate them, can’t stand them, pick them out of muffins and carrot cake, truly can’t stand the little buggers. Her recipe also calls for canned fruit. Omg, what the fart monkey. Whatever, back to me.   Safeway had doughnuts on sale, so what better time to make doughnut bread pudding? I followed my original bread pudding recipe, using cream, milk, eggs, coconut, vanilla, and white and dark chocolate. New to the mix were the doughnuts, replacing the usual challah bread, banana/chocolate cream, and sliced bananas. The beauty of bread pudding is that you can be so creative with it and it’s a great way to use up little things left over, for example the two half eaten bananas I had in my fridge. Such an an breezy dessert or snack.   Just make sure to let the mixture soak up the liquid, otherwise you’ll end up with a crunchy dry crouton bread pudding.

    From John:

    Just wanted to let everyone know that this will be Varta’s last post on Epic Portions.  She is starting her own blog at http://vartamelon.blogspot.com/.  Make sure you add her to your daily blog readings.  Thanks very much to Varta for all the great posts!

    Ingredients minus the heavy cream
    Ingredients minus the heavy cream
    Not all made it to the finale
    Not all made it to the finale
    Cream, milk, coconut, egg, plops of banana/chocolate cream, and banana
    Cream, milk, coconut, egg, plops of banana/chocolate cream, and banana
    11 and half cut up doughnuts. I totally typo'd that as doughbuts the first time and I'm still laughing.
    11 and half cut up doughnuts. I totally typo'd that as doughbuts the first time and I'm still laughing.
    donut6
    Pour the wet mixture on top of the doughnuts
    Love sprinkles
    Love sprinkles
    Golden yummy
    Golden yummy. After baking
    DELICIOUS! Especially with ice cream on top.
    DELICIOUS! Especially with ice cream on top.

  • Lettuce Wraps

    I’m a carb counter (gasp!!!). I love the lettuce wraps at PF Changs and it didn’t seem too much work goes into them, so I figured I’d give them a try. I started off by cooking some onions and garlic, adding meat, then veggies, and my secret ingredient that I was almost too embarrassed to share. Don’t let the cheap trick fool you, these were yummy!

    One-two (depending on the size) shredded carrots, a few diced mushrooms, and two small-ish zucchinis.
    One-two (depending on the size) shredded carrots, a few diced mushrooms, and two small-ish zucchinis.
    Well, that doesn't look too great. One small onion, chopped, two cloves of garlic, minced, and mix of sausage and beef.
    Well, that doesn't look too great. One small onion, chopped, two cloves of garlic, minced, and mix of sausage and beef.
    Oh, now it looks better.
    Oh, now it looks better.
    I couldn't figure out what Chinese "brown sauce" is, especially since it's an American Chinese food thing. I have come to the conclusion that it is this.
    I couldn't figure out what Chinese "brown sauce" is, especially since it's an American Chinese food thing. I have come to the conclusion that it is this.
    More of a boat than a wrap, but you get to hold it like a taco!
    More of a boat than a wrap, but you get to hold it like a taco!