SANDRA’S INCREDIBLE CHEDDAR BURGERS with YUKON HOME FRIES

These delicious burgers take all of 
20 minutes to prepare,
 and they are 'oh so satisfying'!

Servings: (4)
Prep/Cook 20 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Home Fries
8 medium yukon potatoes (of similar size), scrubbed, and cut into quarters
remaining ½ pkg. of dry lipton onion soup mix
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil

***Burgers
1 lb. lean moose burger (or venison, or beef, or buffalo)
½ pkg. of dry lipton onion soup mix (reserve remaining half)
3 tablespoons ketchup
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 slices medium cheddar cheese, sliced 1/8” thick

***Toppings:
4 - hamburger buns, toasted
2 roma tomatoes, slice
4 lettuce leaves
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Ketchup

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Place the yukon potato quarters in a microwavable safe baking dish, completely cover with a couple of damp paper towels, and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Once done, use kitchen mitts to remove as dish as it will be hot. Add the ½ pkg. of dry lipton onion soup mix, garlic powder, and ground pepper, and then enough olive to sufficiently coat, about 3 tablespoons. Fold completely so all ingredients are combined. Bake in regular preheated oven for 10 minutes, turning ½ way through cooking so potatoes do not become too dry.

Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick skillet to medium-high heat. Form four patties out of burger mixture, use your thumb and make a small indent in center of each, and place in skillet; cooking on each side for 5 to 6 minutes, for a total of 10 to 12 minutes. During the last two minutes, top with cheese, and then lightly tent skillet with tin foil. Place the bun halves in toaster.

Remove the home fries from the oven, and serve equally on four plates. Place the burgers atop the bottom burger halves, add toppings, and top halves to each. – Enjoy!

SANDRA'S STUFFED BACON-WRAPPED JALAPENO POPPERS

Oh my, these are so very sinfully delicious...

Yields: (10 Poppers)
Prep: 10 mins. |
Roast: 10 to 15 mins.

Posted: by Sandra @

INGREDIENTS

***20 toothpicks, soaked for 30 minutes***
***Latex gloves for preparing jalapenos***

10 medium jalapeno peppers
--(All of similar size, about 3 inches)
1 (8 oz. pkg.) cream cheese, at room temp.
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 slices of quality bacon
--(I use Jerry's Meats double-smoked peppered bacon)

Dipping options:
--Store-bought ranch dressing;
----(Or, Sandra's Homemade Ranch Dressing); or
--Sour cream

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Prepare a baking sheet lined with foil, with a baking rack on top, and set aside.

Butterfly one side of the jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds, ribs, and stems (without cutting through other side of jalapeno flesh - leave some seeds/stems in if you like them spicier).  Cut each piece of bacon in half crosswise. Mix cheeses together in a small bowl. Fill each jalapeno pepper half with cheese mixture. Wrap each jalapeno half with bacon and secure with soaked toothpicks, and place them cheese-filled side up on rack.

Roast poppers in the oven until the bacon is fully cooked, about 10 to 15 minutes (depending on how crispy you like your bacon, and how thick it is to begin with).  Let poppers cool slightly before serving, about 5 minutes.

Note:  You can serve the poppers with a ranch dressing or sour cream, although they're also great as is.

[Don't forget to wash your hands after handling hot peppers even if you used gloves.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip: Cooking these on the grill is a great way to add even more smokiness to your poppers.

SANDRA’S HEARTY SLOW-COOKER VENISON ROAST DINNER

This roast literally cuts with a fork, 
which I've shown in the photograph 
while lifting it up from the serving platter 
to cut into slices - it turns out 
moist and delicious every time...

Serves: (6)
Prep: 20 Mins. |
Slow Cooker: 8 Hrs.

Posted by Sandra

***Note: I take my venison roast out of the refrigerator 1 hour beforehand to come to room temperature prior to searing***

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon peanut oil
--(high smoke point, needed for searing); plus for brushing on roast
1 (3 lb.) venison roast (moose, or beef, buffalo, or pork)
2 large garlic cloves, cut lengthwise into quarters
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4" cubes
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 (15 oz. cans) diced tomatoes, with juices
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
½ teaspoon dried sage
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

-- Prepared steamed Basmati Rice

METHOD

Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dry the venison roast with paper towels. Using a paring knife, cut eight random slits into various areas of roast, and insert a slivers of garlic into each. Brush the roast with peanut oil (for seasoning to adhere), and sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and sear in the piping hot skillet until golden brown on all sides, about 2 to 3 minutes at a time.

While the venison roast is searing, add the potatoes, and onions to the cold slow cooker. Put the seared venison roast on top of the them, and place the carrots and celery around roast, including adding the remaining ingredients directly on top of roast. Cover, and turn the slow cooker on high for 30 minutes, and then to low for 7.5 hours.

Remove the cooked venison roast to a serving platter, and spoon the vegetable/sauce mixture around it; serving with steamed rice along side. – Enjoy!