Blue Cheese Angus Burger and Blue Moon® Belgian White

Great food needs great beverages to accompany it. Let Price Chopper’s #HouseofBBQ Solutions Center and Miller Coors brand beers and ales kick your next BBQ up a few notches!

Summer is the time for outdoor entertaining.

My outlook on a great BBQ is keeping the fare fairly simple, but using pairings of food and drink that work well together.

Top of the list are great burgers and a full-bodied ale to accompany it.

Angus beef makes the best burgers

Great burgers begin with great beef. That’s why I always use Certified Angus with an 80/20 blend. That ratio of lean to fat produces the juiciest burgers. You need fat for it to be juicy.

Pure heaven–Certified Angus blue cheese burger and Blue Moon!

 

Any time I have a BBQ and serve my blue cheese burgers, I always have some Blue Moon® Belgian White Ale to go with it. It’s a perfect pairing! This crisp ale is just the thing you need with a big juicy burger!

Perfect accompaniment to a great burger

On my last shopping trip to Price Chopper, I was happy to see that Certified Angus 80/20 ground beef was on sale, so I picked up some for the burgers.

Where you can find Miller Coors beers and ales in Price Chopper

I also picked up a 6-pack of Blue Moon and a 12-pack of Miller Lite for my friends who are watching their calories and carb intake.

For the calorie conscious and non-beer drinkers

For the non-beer drinkers at my party, I chose some Pure Leaf tea. Unlike other bottled “iced teas,” this tastes like you started from scratch and actually brewed it.

Delicious kabobs with onion & Hillshire American Craft

The Pure Leaf and Miller Lite paired very well with some simple kabobs I made as nibbles. I used Hillshire Farms’ American Craft® Jalapeno & Cheese variety and was glad to see they were also on sale at Price Chopper.

Assembling the burger

The burgers are pretty simple to assemble. What I do is make one very thin patty, place about 2 tablespoons of blue cheese on top of that, then place another thin patty on top of it all and seal it.

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Bleu Cheese Angus Burgers

Great burgers begin with great beef. That’s why I always use Certified Angus with an 80/20 blend. That ratio of lean to fat produces the juiciest burgers. You need fat for it to be juicy

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: beef, GRILLING, Pork

Cuisine: American

Keyword: BBQ recipe, blue cheese burgers

Servings: 4

Calories: 508kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

• 1 lb Certified Angus ground beef 80/20
• 4 oz sliced or crumbled blue cheese
• 4 mini-kaiser rolls -OR- crusty hamburger buns

Instructions

• Make 8 very thin patties. Place about 2 tbs of blue cheese on top of 4 of the patties. Place the remaining thin patties on top of the ones containing the cheese; seal well.
• Broil or grill about 5 minutes each side for medium doneness or until patty is 160 degrees F internal temperature. FYI 160 degrees is recommended by the USDA to kill bacteria that may be in ground meat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 508kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 686mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 216IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 244mg | Iron: 4mg

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Kielbasa Kabobs

Delicious kabobs with onion & Hillshire American Craft

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: beef, GRILLING, Pork

Cuisine: American

Keyword: kielbasa

Servings: 5

Calories: 18kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

• 1 pkg Hillshire Farms American Craft sausage I used Jalapeno Cheese
• 2 medium onions quartered
• olive oil for basting onions
• bamboo skewers

Instructions

• Soak bamboo skewers about 30 minutes in warm water.
• Cut sausage into 2-inch pieces.
• Assemble kabobs by alternating sausage and onion.
• Brush onion with olive oil.
• Place on grill and cook until sausage and onion are browned.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

I bought all my beers at Price Chopper in Catskill, but you can also find these great Miller Coors products to enjoy in the Catskill NY area at The Ambrosia Diner, The Red Rooster Roadhouse, and The Barnwood Restaurant.

For more terrific ideas for BBQs and summer entertaining, make sure to follow Price Chopper’s House of BBQ Pinterest board.

Copyright © Judith Hannemann aka The Midnight Baker 2015. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without The Midnight Baker’s express consent.

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The post Perfect Pairings: BBQs and Miller Coors Beers and Ales appeared first on The Midnight Baker.

Blue Moon Crispy Wings with Lindsay Olive Dipping Sauce

Kick your Christmas party entertaining up a few notches. These crisp wings and tangy dipping sauce is a good start!

It’s that time again, folks! Time to start planning the annual holiday parties and the menu.

This year, I want to go with tried and true party favorites.  I also want to keep it simple because I want to spend as much time with my guests as I possibly can. You can’t get much simpler and popular than wings.  I think they are everyone’s favorite! 

Everything I need from Price Chopper

I found everything I needed at my local Price Chopper Supermarket. I particularly took advantage of many of their specially priced #HolidayAdvantEdge items. Not only were there quite a few pantry-stocking items on sale, but two things I needed to test my wing recipe–Lindsay Olives® and many beers.  I decided to try Blue Moon® because, well, I’ve never tried that one before!  Great sale price, so why not?

Beer aisle at Price Chopper #42 Catskill, NY

Condiment and dressings aisle Price Choppler #42 Catskill, NY

Instead of the most-often served buffalo wings, I decided to do mine with a crispy beer batter along with a simple, but tasty, dipping sauce.

Yummy and crunchy

I had a trial run with both the wings and the dipping sauce before I will put them on my holiday party menu. The night you have your party shouldn’t be the first time you make or serve anything–remembering Murphy’s Law here!  Anyway, you probably won’t have to look very hard for taste testers–not if there’s wings to be had (if you don’t eat them all yourself, that is.)

Beer batters for fish or chicken are pretty common. However, I did find that using ale, which Blue Moon is, produces a much crispier batter and there’s a hint of fine ale flavor that comes through.  It doesn’t seem to dissipate like some beers will.  I have to admit, I loved the flavor it imparted.

Feel the crunch, taste the ale

As for the dipping sauce, I loaded it up with onion, coarsely chopped olives, celery and plenty of garlic.  You can go easier on the garlic if you don’t love it as much as I do–or leave it out if you hate it.  This dip can stand many alterations and still taste great.  

Versatile dipping sauce

Beside being a tasty dipping sauce for the wings, it can double as a sandwich spread or a complete salad dressing for your tuna or chicken salads.

Blue Moon Crispy Wings

• 2 lbs chicken wings*
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tbs seasoned salt
• 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 12 oz Blue Moon® Belgian White Ale
• oil for frying

*An equal amount of frozen, ready-cut wings (thawed) may be substituted.

Prepare wings by cutting off wing tip and cutting through joint to make 2 pieces. Pat dry with paper towels.


In a small bowl, mix flour, seasoned salt and cayenne pepper. If flour has too many clumps, sift it–you need a relatively smooth batter.


Slowly add the Blue Moon ale.  Use only enough to get a thick batter–I used 10 oz to achieve the proper consistency.This should be the consistency of a thick pancake batter.  Let this sit for 30 minutes.


Meanwhile, heat 2-inches of oil in a deep heavy skillet or dutch oven (I use a dutch oven–less mess) over medium high heat.  Heat oil to 375 degrees F–a cube of white bread will brown in 60 seconds at this temperature.  My advice is to use a deep fry/candy thermometer for best accuracy.


Dip wing pieces into batter, letting excess batter drain off back into the bowl; add to hot oil.  Don’t overcrowd the pan as it will bring down the temperature of the oil resulting in greasy and non-crispy wings.  Fry in small batches.


Fry wings approximately 20 minutes, turning half way through the cooking process.


Remove from pan and drain on a plate lined with paper towels.  You can keep the wings hot and crispy by holding them in a 200 degree F oven while frying remaining batches.


Serve hot–serves about 4-6 as an appetizer.  Serve with Lindsay Olive Dipping Sauce (recipe follows)




Lindsay Olive Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup finely diced celery
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1/4 cup coarsely chopped ripe Lindsay® Olives 
1 tbs garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2-3 drops hot sauce (optional)


Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.  Chill for about 30 minutes before serving.


Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Copyright © Judith Hannemann aka The Midnight Baker 2014. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without The Midnight Baker’s express consent.

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Yoplait Greek Yogurt Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Great recipes for back-to-school start at Price Chopper Supermarket. Win an iPad mini too–read the rest of the post to see how!

It’s been a long LONG time since I fed children! However, I never forgot how big a little one’s appetite can be.

I feel it’s very important to give kids a high percentage of whole foods in their diets. Snacks present an excellent opportunity to pack in some of those most-needed fruits and veggies.  If you have a veggie hater or a picky eater, the best way to disguise a serving of veggies or fruit is to put it in a smoothie. A serving size of spinach added to my recipe below for the strawberry banana smoothie will go unnoticed.  Trust me. Kids think the green color is funky anyway, and I’d suggest calling it a Ninja Turtle Shake!

I figured I’d take this snack challenge, even though there’s no younguns in the house. So when I went shopping this past week at my local Price Chopper, I paid close attention to what was on sale in the #PriceChopperBTS specials.  Many were in special displays around the store so finding them was pretty easy.

Sale items in Price Chopper are conveniently placed throughout the store

Keeping in mind that I have to like the items because it’s only me eating them, I chose Honey Nut Cheerios, Yoplait Greek yogurt and some Lunchables. I’d never tried Lunchables, but decided to give them a try because it’s the perfect size snack for when you feel peckish mid-afternoon and want something savory instead of sweet. Grownups need an “after-school snack” sometimes too!

You can’t get more convenient than Lunchables.  Open the package, and it’s a mini complete meal. The way they are packaged, they stack nicely in the fridge and the kiddos can help themselves. Same goes for the yogurt, but I’d like to do something special for a child, especially when they’re easing into the first couple of weeks back to school.

Turkey and American Lunchable

That’s where the smoothie comes in.  It’s easy to make, as I said before. Throw it in, zap and go.  An older child can even do that themselves.  Although I wouldn’t trust a child younger than around 7 handling razor-sharp blades like my Ninja has.

Satisfying yet healthy snacks

While that smoothie might satisfy a little girl, if you have a dude, you better have something else besides that smoothie! And what I made to serve along with it is some no-bake cookies packed with the Cheerios!  Having had experience feeding boys, he’ll probably eat the cookies and the Lunchables and drink the smoothie (and have room for dinner too–don’t worry!!)

Honey Nut Chocolate Beehives

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

• 1 ripe banana, sliced
• 1 tub (5.3 oz) Yoplait strawberry Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup sliced strawberries (optional)
• 1/2 cup milk

Add all ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. You may use an immersion blender or standard blender. I use a Ninja.


Honey Nut Chocolate Beehives

• 1 cup chocolate chips (dark or milk)
• 1 tbs cream
• 1 1/2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios

Line baking sheet with waxed paper.


Place chocolate chips and cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HI for 30 seconds.  Stir.  Microwave an additional 10-20 second if lumps still remain after the last stirring.  


When mixture is smooth, add the Cheerios and stir until well coated.


Drop by heaping tablespoonfulls onto prepared pan.  Chill for about 15 minutes or until firm.


Makes about 12 beehives.

Copyright © Judith Hannemann aka The Midnight Baker 2014. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without The Midnight Baker’s express consent.

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Lindsay Olive Mexican French Bread Pizza

Nothing says entertaining in style with great holiday recipes more than this Lindsay® Olive Mexican French Bread Pizza appetizer!

There’s nothing I enjoy more than entertaining friends and neighbors, especially around the winter holidays!

I try to plan the food I serve around treasured holiday recipes and Christmas recipes.  This Mexican French Bread Pizza is one of my go-to appetizer recipes. It’s rich and cheesy, packed with black and green olives and flavored with Mexican-style spices.  If you like a little heat, there’s some jalapenos in it too.  Feel free to use more if you like it a little more “zesty.”

This is just a wonderful snack for a tree trimming party or as an appetizer for a Christmas Eve cocktail party get-together.

So when I found out that my local Price Chopper Supermarket had a good deal on Lindsay® Olives this week with the AdvantEdge card, I decided to stock up when I was shopping for the week.  I opted for convenience here by purchasing the pre-sliced variety, and I also liked that they come in a resealable container.

 

Lindsay Olives Displayed At Price Chopper Supermarkets

These are just some of the ingredients used in this French Bread Pizza.  I used Italian bread, but that’s OK too!

Some Ingredients For Lindsay Olive Mexican French Bread Pizza

If there’s any topping left over, it can be refrigerated and used on any leftover bread or even used as a dip for crackers! Here they are ready to go in the oven–

French Bread Pizza Ready For Baking

This smells so good when baking!  It’s ready in 30 minutes or less.  This can be served as a main course if you cut each half in half crosswise as shown in the photo above.  Adding a salad would make it a complete meal.

Easy To Make

You can slice this up in serving sizes to serve on a buffet–

Sliced And Ready To Serve

You may find Price Chopper Supermarkets on Facebook or follow them on Twitter for more great holiday recipes and special holiday offers. 

Totally Yummy Lindsay Olive Mexican French Bread Pizza

 

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Mexican French Bread Pizza

This French bread pizza is packed with Mexican flavors. Easy to make and delicious too!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Keyword: French bread, French bread pizza, Mexican pizza, olives

Servings: 4

Calories: 882kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French or Italian bread
• 6 tbsp butter very soft
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Sliced Black Olives
• 1/2 cup Manzanilla Olives
• 1/2-1 tsp taco seasoning
• 2 green onions sliced
• 1 tbsp canned diced jalapenos
• 2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
• Slice bread in half lengthwise. Slice green Manzanilla olives crosswise into approximately 1/8-inch slices.
• In a large bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Spread desired amount of topping mixture over top of each half of bread.
• Bake at 325 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and just beginning to brown.
• This may either be served as a main or appetizer. If serving as a main, cut each half of finished bread in half crosswise. If serving as an appetizer, cut each baked half loaf into 2-inch slices.
• Garnish with additional sliced green onion if desired.
• Serves 4 as a main course, and about 8 as an appetizer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 882kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 1799mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1147IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 440mg | Iron: 4mg

Copyright © Judith Hannemann aka The Midnight Baker 2014. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without The Midnight Baker’s express consent.

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