Home Made "Double Down"

Okay, so this is still fried... But my roommate had such a wonderful idea:

Cook my own "Double Down"

For those of you who may be unfamiliar, this is a KFC bacon sandwich with fried chicken as the buns. Protein, protein, protein, cheese, and grease.

I couldn't resist.

{for Two}

4 chicken tenders flattened (I used the back of my noodle spoon)

4 slices of bacon

3 TBLs olive oil (and as needed)

1 1/2 cup ground oats

2 TBLs spelt

2 tsp salt

1 tsp red crushed peppers

1 tsp garlic powder

2 eggs beaten

Slice of cheese

Sauce of choice (picante for me)

Heat oil in frying pan. Mix all the dry ingredients together. beat the eggs and keep separate. Dip chicken into oat mixture, eggs, and then back into oat mixture making sure the chicken is completely covered in oats. Place chicken into frying pan and fry both sides until brown and crispy.

Meanwhile, fry bacon and slice cheese

When the chicken is done, put one piece on bottom, two strips of bacon on top of that, cheese, and sauce. Top with final piece chicken.

Oh so good!!

Food

I think I've mentioned before how I love to cook. One reason is that I have somewhat unique diet requirements, and another reason is I know what I want to taste when I eat my food.

But there are two problem with cooking. One is that I may spend hours preparing a meal to my liking and then eat it in 1o minutes. The other is I always make a big mess.

So, to cut back on time and dishes, I never measure unless it is a brand new recipe. In fact, when I invent a new recipe for myself I only write down what I put into it, not how much.

You can imagine the inconsistency that keeps my meals interesting. Fortunately, some foods I make so often or are so simple, that I have a hard time messing them up.

I thought I might share with you a few of the simpler recipes.

Spelt Pancakes for One

I cooked a batch just to see how much I used of each ingredient for you

1/2 cup of spelt

1/4 tsp baking poder

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1 TBL sugar

1/2 cup of milk (try almond milk)

2 TBLs olive oil (or as needed)

Heat olive oil in frying pan. While heating combine all dry ingredients. Add milk and stir until smooth (for the sweet tooth, add a palm full of chocolate chips!). Pour two pancakes into frying pan (half batter each). cook 2-3 minutes on each side.

Rice Tortilla Chips

Super simple!!

2-3 rice flour tortillas per person

3 TBLs olive oil with extra on hand as needed

Salt and chili powder to taste

Heat up the oil in the frying pan on medium heat. While heating, cut tortillas with a sharp knife into thin triangles. Cook the cut tortillas about 2 to 3 minutes on each side (or until brown and crispy). Use tongs or spatula to remove chips from oil and place on paper towels to drain. Add salt and chili powder while hot.

Gluten/Corn Free Hush Puppies

Not quite so easy, but super good! I actually had the measurements for this already written down!

1/4 cup oats (oat flour or quick oats will work)

1 TBL spelt flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 TBL finely chopped onion

1/4 cup milk

small sauce pan 1/4 full of olive oil

Heat oil in sauce pan. Combine all dry ingredients including onion. Add milk slowly while stirring (you want the mixture to be sticky, NOT runny). Hand roll into balls a little smaller than a golf ball. Put rolled batter into heated oil (important to make sure the oil is hot or they may fall apart). Cook until outside is brown and crispy, about 5 minutes or less (keep an eye on them and make sure your oil isn't smoking). If the oil isn't high enough to cover the hush puppies, use tongs to turn them over when one side is crispy.

I just realized these are all fried foods! I will have to get some of my baking and grilling recipes down for next time.

Other Places

I cannot think of anyone who doesn't dream of other places. Even my ranch'en Daddy, who hates to travel, occasionally dreams of wide open ranges that are...A little up north, in the hill country, or in a whole other state.

But I don't dream of other places, I crave them. I take a little more after flight attendant Mommy, who loves airports, new cities, and different hotel rooms ever night.

Have you ever sat back with your coffee at an airport to watch all the people with places to go? They are different from the usual people you see at the mall or walking down the street.

They are going to other places.

Expectation is all over there face.

I don't actually travel a lot, but I wish I could.

A couple of weeks ago, me and the family went to the River Walk at San Antonio. Though not all that far from where I live, it was magic!

We strolled, we ate, we boated, but most of all I had such a blast taking photos!!! Everything seemed extra beautiful, and the lighting was perfect...

This is me and the family at my favorite restaurant during our trip. Super delicious, and we watched them squeeze the oranges before they served us the orange juice. Sooo good!

Also loved the fact that we ate out doors most every meal. Though we occasionally worried about the over head birds, we all managed to avoid any catastrophes.

The city was beautiful, but now I am home again...Wishing for another adventure. Maybe soon.