Chicken & Waffles

Southern Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

1 frying chicken, pieces
6 cups vegetable oil
2 tablespoons black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons garlic powder
3 eggs

Directions:
1) Heat the oil over medium heat in a deep fryer or in a wide, deep pan on stove.

2) In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, peppers, garlic powder, and paprika.

3) Break the eggs into a separate bowl and beat until blended.

4) Check the oil by dropping in a pinch of the flour mixture, If the oil bubbles rapidly around the flour, it’s ready.

5) Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then coat generously with the flour mixture.

6) Once the chicken is coated, it should be placed on a rack to allow the pieces to dry, which may take 20 to 30 minutes. Allowing the pieces to dry will provide for more even browning of the chicken.

7) If you are frying in a skillet, heat oil in a heavy skillet over a medium-high burner until the oil is very hot. Place the chicken pieces in the hot oil, skin side down, one piece at a time. Leave enough space between pieces so that they are not crowded. This allows the pieces to cook and brown more evenly.

8) Continue to cook over a medium heat, turning until all sides are golden brown and the meat is cooked thoroughly.

9) As the pieces finish cooking, they should be removed from the pan and placed on a paper towel to allow grease to drain.

Fluffy Waffles

Ingredients:

2 cups of Original Bisquick mix

1 1/3 cups milk

1 egg

2 tables of butter melted

1 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring

½ teaspoon of cinnamon

Directions:

1)      Heat waffle iron; grease with spray vegetable oil

2)      Stir ingredients until blended. Pour onto center of hot waffle iron. Close lid of waffle iron.

3)      Bake about 5 minutes or until steaming stops. Carefully remove waffle and serve with maple syrup.

 

One of our favorite meals is Chicken and Waffles. Believe me, it is as delicious as it looks. A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks for dining with the Danforth’s.

 

No Kids Allowed

I just had an amazing dining experience at Dragonfly Sushi. The ambiance was enjoyable, the service was impeccable, and the food was incredible. This restaurant is definitely on my top five list for Gainesville, FL. If you live in Gainesville, or if you are in the area and you want a go to a restaurant that will give you a dining experience then this is the place for you. And please do not take your kids. Now let me explain, I have been to restaurants that appear to be kid friendly, but they have small restaurants, no changing tables, and a kids menu with nothing but friend junk food. That is somewhere that I would say, NEVER TAKE YOUR KIDS. No, Dragonfly is a beautiful restaurant that you would not want to take your kids. This is the type of relaxing atmosphere that you want to have only intelligent, adult conversation. They serve food that makes you want to savor each bite. Trust me, don’t take your kids. One of my theories of a great dining experience is that you first dine with your eyes. I have included some of the options that we chose. I hope that you take this recommendation, and be sure to come back and let us know what you think. And as always, thank you for dining with the Danforth’s. Cheers!

 

Red Lobster

One of my mother’s favorite restaurants is Red Lobster, and growing up as a kid it was a treat to dine at this restaurant. Shrimp, crab and lobster are what we call great eating. I remember how excited I would be to see this bright red lobster coming to our table and hot golden butter. The market had lobster tails on sale yesterday so I decided to prepare some dinner. Now I have to tell you that cooking lobster at home seemed to be a little intimidating, but it is easier than you think. Having a restaurant quality meal at home, is always a challenge that I am willing to take on. Check this out recipe; I think my mom would be proud.

Clarified Lemon Butter

Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 lemons, zested

Directions:
In a small, heavy bottomed saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat. Pour the mixture into a 2-cup glass measuring jug. Let the melted butter stand for 5 minutes. Using a spoon, remove the foam from the top of the butter. Place the lemon zest in small bowl. Pour the clarified butter over the lemon zest and discard the milk solids left in the bottom of the jug.

 

Tender Lobster Tails

Ingredients:
4 large lobster tails (8 ounces each)
Clarified Lemon Butter
Salt, Garlic Powder
Seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay Seasoning

Directions:
Preheat broiler. With kitchen shears or large, sharp knife; cut lobster tails down back on curved side of shell. Pry sides of shells apart to expose meat. Top meat with the seasonings and brush with the clarified butter. Set lobster tails in a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and broil 4 to 6 inches from heat for 12 minutes, until meat is opaque in center.

Enjoy this delicious lobster tail with a loaded baked potato, haricot verte, and a dinner roll. This restaurant style dinner was definitely a palette pleaser at the Danforth dinner table.

I hope your family will enjoy this meal as well, and as always we thank you for dining with the Danforths.

 

 

 

Fall Frenzy

It is officially fall, the 1^st day of October. The kids are back in school and you are finally starting to get back in the routine of school, work, after school activities, etc. You are probably thinking what can I make for dinner tonight that won’t take up too much time. Well do I have a treat for you; a delicious spaghetti dinner with a twist, literally.

What’s for Dinner?

Spaghetti Bread and Sautéed Asparagus

Ingredients

• 1 can of pizza dough
• 6 ounces spaghetti cooked
• 1 cup spaghetti sauce
• 1 lb of cooked ground beef or turkey
• 8 ounces mozzarella shredded
• Olive oil
• 1 cup of mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon parsley
• Fresh Asparagus
• Kosher Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder (Seasonings)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Roll out your loaf into a rectangle
3. Combine the spaghetti, sauce, and ground beef all together.
4. Place cooked spaghetti mixture lengthwise in a 4-inch strip down the center of dough and top with the mozzarella.
5. Make cuts 1 1/2-inches apart on long sides of dough to within 1/2 -inch of filling and braid by folding top and bottom strips toward filling. Then braid strips left over right, right over left. Finish by pulling last strip over and tucking under braid.
6. Place braid on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Brush braid with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley. Bake for 35 minutes.
7. While the bread is baking, heat olive oil in a skillet. Then add the asparagus and the seasonings. Cook until tender, remove from heat immediately to serve.

This is a very easy and delicious meal that your family will really enjoy. We love to hear from our readers, so be sure to come back and let us know how you enjoyed this meal. And as always thanks for dining with the Danforths.

“Making Room for a little Double D”

Do you have a little sweet tooth? We have a great recipe for a little Double D, “delicious dessert”. Brian and I were raiding the pantry in search for something that we could make into a dessert. We pulled out a few ingredients we had in the pantry and created a delicious dessert, Banana Foster Shortcake. It was pretty quick to make and let me tell you it was “close your eyes and let me savor the flavors” good. Try it out and come back to let us know what you think. We look forward to hearing back from you all, and always, thanks for dining with the Danforth’s.

 

Banana Foster Shortcake

Ingredients:

2 1/3  cups Original Bisquick mix

1/2  cup milk

3 tbsp. sugar

3 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

2 whole bananas (slice)

¼ cup of brown sugar

5 tsp. butter

Vanilla bean ice cream

Directions:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, milk, 3 tablespoons sugar and the butter until soft dough forms. On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by 6 spoonfuls.
• 3 Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
• When shortcakes are done, set aside to cool. Then melt butter in a skillet, add brown sugar and sliced bananas.
• Mixed together to cover bananas with brown sugar and melted butter.
• Split warm shortcakes; scoop ice cream onto the shortcake and spoon the banana foster on top.

20nine Restuarant & Wine Bar

Thinking of your plans for this weekend? Solution: 20nine Restaurant & Wine Bar. Leave the men at home with the kids and ladies head over to the Quarry Market for a terrific dining experience. Some of my girlfriends and I had the pleasure of enjoying an evening of laughter and delicious food at this restaurant. The service was great, the presentation was remarkable, and the taste was impeccable. Now of course we all tried a different entrée so we can taste test multiple dishes, and let me tell you, everything was great. Even the warm sourdough bread! And putting all dress sizes aside, you know I am a bread connoisseur. Now those of you who pleasures in the fruit of the vine, they have created an experience called Road Trip to tickle your taste buds, you will have to visit the restaurant to get more details. 😉

We started our meal off with:

Crispy Calamari with Creole Dipping Sauce and Parmesan

Then Our Entrees:

Beef Medalions

 

 

 

 

 

Fish Tacos with a Mango Salsa

 

 

 

 

Shrimp & Grits with Jumbo Scallops and Prosciutto

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken Cordon Bleu & Rice Waffle with Asparagus

Angel Hair Pasta and Meatballs

For ladies night, I only recommend the finest restaurants. After wearing your super woman hat all week, you deserve only the best. So slip on a pair of heels and grab your girlfriends for a night on the town. You all can enjoy this spring Texas weather by dining outdoors on their patio, or delight in the relaxing ambiance and beautiful décor inside. I promise you will definitely have a great time at this restaurant. Kudos to the servers, cooks, and management team at 20nine Restaurant & Wine Bar! And as always we love to hear back from our readers, so be sure to come back and let us know how you enjoyed this restaurant. Thanks for Dining with the Danforth’s or shall I say Lady Danforth. 😉

 

 

Meal Makeover

Too Often we buy groceries, come home to make a meal and the next day you are either back to the drawing board trying to figure out what to make for dinner; or if you have leftovers then you no longer have a taste for that particular dish. Well, I have a few tricks that will help you make two meals out of one.

Grocery List:

• Spaghetti Noodles
• Favorite Spaghetti Sauce
• Ground Beef
  
• Fresh mozzarella balls
• Hoagie Rolls
• Sliced Swiss Cheese
• Romain Lettuce
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• Croutons
• Caesar Salad
• Kraft Parmesan Cheese
• Russet Potatoes

Day 1: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Caesar Salad, and Dinner Rolls

Ingredients:

Ground Beef

Fresh mozzarella Balls

Salt, Pepper, Garlic Power

1 Egg

Spaghetti Noodles

Spaghetti Sauce

Directions:

• In a large bowl combine your ground beef, seasonings, and egg. Mix together well with your hand. Begin to make medium-sized meatballs with your meat mixture. Once you have all of your meatballs rolled. Make a little hole in the center, place two mozzarella balls in the center and close the whole with the meat.
• Place each meatball on a sprayed cookie sheet about an inch apart and bake on 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until the meatballs are brown.
• In a large pot begin to boil your noodles.
• In a sauce pan pour your spaghetti sauce in and add the seasonings to the sauce, let is simmer on low while your noodles and meatballs finish cooking.
• When meatballs are down let them rest for 3 minutes, then add them to your sauce.
• Meanwhile add your dinner rolls to the oven to warm and mix your salad together.
• Once everything is prepared plate your meal and serve.

Voila! You now have a terrific Spaghetti and Meatballs meal. Now your family should be raving about how wonderful the meal was and you should have leftover sauce and meatballs, so you are wondering what to do with them. Well I have the solution!

Day 2: Meatball Subs and Parmesan Potato Chips

Ingredients:

Hoagie Rolls

Leftover Sauce & Meatballs

Sliced Swiss Cheese

Russet Potatoes (Sliced)

Kraft Parmesan Cheese

Canola Oil

Directions:

• In a large skillet, heat some canola oil for frying. Add your sliced potatoes and cook them until they are light brown on both sides and they begin to float on top.
• Once the potatoes are done, immediately pat some of the oil off with a paper towel and then add a sprinkle of salt and Kraft Parmesan Cheese
• While your potato chips are cooking, reheat your sauce and meatballs on the stove on a low heat to simmer.
• Once your potato chips are done, take your hoagie rolls add some of the meatballs and sauce, and then add the slices of swiss cheese.

Plate your items, serve and enjoy this incredible meal with your family. I hope that you all find this little meal makeover to be easy and delicious. Be sure to come back and let us know how you enjoyed it. And remember you are always welcome to dine with the Danforth’s.

Spring Fling

Spring Salads

Spring is definitely here. The flowers are blooming, the weather is warm, and we all have a little extra pep in our steps. Which means you are probably not in the mood for a heavy meal; well do I have the perfect solution for you. Spring salads are great because not only does it take only a short time to prepare, but they are easy, and delicious.

Now most of you all know Brian is a southern man to the heart, and he wants MEAT. He wants every meal to be hearty and filling. But, last night I made a Grilled Chicken Spring Fling Salad and he lavished me with compliments on how good it was and he was stuffed. So ladies, if you want to make a salad and not sure if your family will be satisfied, give this little recipe a try.

 

Grilled Chicken Spring Fling Salad

Ingredients:

Mixed Green Salad Mix

Fresh Spinach

Chopped Tomatoes

1 Cucumber Chopped

2 Strips of bacon crumbled (optional)

1 Nectarine sliced

4 Strawberries sliced

Feta Cheese Crumbles

Salad Dressing: Raspberry Vinaigrette

2 Chicken Breast

Olive Oil

Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder

 

Directions:

 

• In a skillet, heat some olive oil. Season your chicken breast with the recommended seaonsings. Cook on both sides for about 5 minutes or until brown. **Notes: Feel free to slice the chicken a little to make sure it is not pink on the inside.**
• While your chicken is cooking, begin mix in all of your salad ingredients.
• Once your chicken is cooked, set aside to rest for a few minutes. Then slice your chicken and layer on top of chicken and serve.

Well, I hope you all find this to be a great meal. When you try it out, come back and let us know how you enjoyed it. And as always, you are always welcome to dine with the Danforth’s.

 

Big Lou’s Pizza

Close your eyes and imagine a hot, thin crust pie filled with delicious cheese, savory toppings, and a marinara sauce that makes you wonder if someone’s grandma is in the kitchen. Wait before you open your eyes imagine your waiter bringing this delicious pizza to your table and it is the size of your table. Yes 42” of hot, cheesy, incredible, yes somebody pass me a napkin, pizza.

 

We had the pleasure of dining again at the fairly new location of Big Lou’s Pizza recently, and let me tell you the lines were out the door. Now don’t get turned away because the lines are long, let me assure you this is a well oiled machine. The lines moved quickly, and the servers are friendly and helpful. Hat’s off to the owner Brian.

 

           

 

Our Friday night order consisted of a pepperoni pizza and wings. And let me tell you we sat there for about 2 hours enjoying the atmosphere, watching the basketball game, and stuffing our faces with pizza and wings. It is a great family friendly pizza joint, however the menu is filled with items that made us want to go back to try more. 

This restaurant gets the stamp of approval, this is definitely a

“Danforth’s Favorite”

If you need a place to hang out for lunch or for a late night weekend meal, we highly recommend Big Lou’s Pizza. Try it out and come back to tell us about your experience. Check out their website for hours of operation and/or to place an order to go. http://biglouspizzaonline.com

And as always, you are always welcome to dine with the Danforth’s.

 

Brio Tuscan Grill – Restaurant Review

Brio Tuscan Grill – Restaurant Review

Out on the town with a few of our friends, Brian and I enjoyed a great meal at Brio Tuscan Grill in La Canterra Mall. We had a blast! It was definitely a great night and a fabulous dining experience. The service was incredible and the atmosphere was quite inviting. This location also has a beautiful patio for you to enjoy a lovely meal outdoors. It has a covered awning with rotating fans for those warm Texas days.  A perfect indoor and outdoor dining set-up

We started our meal with some great appetizers:

*Roasted Garlic, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, bubbling hot with parmesan flatbread

*Crab & Shrimp Fonduta, served hot and creamy, with diced tomatoes and Parmesan crisps for dipping

*Calamari Fritto Misto, fried to a crisp golden brown with peperoncini

*Lobster Bisque Soup, with shrimp and a touch of sherry

 

The appetizers were just the right portions, and fantastic for sharing; or not if you have a big appetite. In perfect timing the servers brought out our meal. We all order something different, but Brian and I had the following two entrees.

 

*  Shrimp Verduta – Angel hair tossed with shrimp, garlic, sundried tomatoes, roasted artichokes, caramelized onions, Feta and spinach, topped with pesto bread crumbs

*Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno – Oven baked and layered with authentic Bolognese meat sauce, Alfredo, Ricotta and Mozzarella

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a restaurant to enjoy a romantic evening, or to hang out with your friends for lunch; we recommend Brio Tuscan Grill. Go out a try this restaurant and be sure to comment to let us know how you enjoyed it.

And as always, thanks for dining with the Danforth’s.