cheese – Page 3 – Loving Food, Fashion, & Life

McBreakfast Sandwich

Posted on December 28, 2013 by LFFL

Egg McMuffin with egg, ham, and cheese on an English muffin.

Well, it’s been ages and eons since I’ve really had anything from McDonald’s. But years ago I used to be a regular daily patron. Oh, yeah. That Double Cheeseburger Meal was a daily requirement for the likes of me—and supersize me please with those pimped out fries.

And if I ever made it for breakfast by 10:30am, it was an Egg McMuffin every single time. Mmm, mmm, mmm. And didn’t you just love those $1 muffin day sales? HONK, HONK—HERE I AM (at the window again)!!! I just love a good sale.

But, like I said, it’s been years since I’ve frequented the establishment. Once you start either a.) eating at better establishments or b.) home-cooking your own meals on a regular basis, you start to discover a very different kind of freshness and taste to your food.

And, well then, I mean……………….there’s just no turning back. Your taste buds just can’t handle going back in reverse.

As I was passing by McD’s, I made the dreaded mistake of making a quick stop at the drive-thru to order an old favorite. Ah, the memories I thought it’d bring back. But no such luck. There were no good memories after that first bite.

McDonald’s just doesn’t have the same baller status it used to have with me back in the day. That egg mcmuffin tasted NOTHING like I remembered it!

There was nothing fresh about it. It tasted blah and rubbery like it had been sitting around forever. And look at the pathetic processed cheese hanging out of it. Come on now.

So is it just ME? Has McDonald’s, in fact, always tasted this way and my taste buds just didn’t know anything different back then and I mistakenly thought that this was ‘the bomb’ cooking at one time? But once exposed to fine dining and freshly home-cooked meals for years afterwards, my taste buds knew there was no turning back? Or has McD’s gone downhill over the years?

Who knew what you once loved so much SO long ago could be so YUCK now if you haven’t had it in years? I’m telling you people—don’t make your taste buds cry like that. Just save yourself now.

I knew I should have just made my own egg muffin at home. I mean, how hard is it to slap a freshly cooked egg, piece of ham, and piece of gourmet cheddar cheese onto an English muffin and eat it fresh off the grill without letting it sit there for 8 hours first???!!!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, get an egg ring mold and make your very own freshly made egg muffin breakfast sandwich with a variety of fresh gourmet cheeses and eat it straight away after cooking.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Avoid fast-food establishments if your taste buds have been exposed to freshly home-cooked meals for several consecutive years (not to be confused with concurrent years). Otherwise don’t expect it to taste the same as it did back when all your taste buds ever knew existed was fast-food.

More Fun Times At That Newfound Diner

Posted on December 1, 2013 by LFFL

French Toast made with thick sourdough bread dipped in a secret batter, topped with butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup.

How can you not love three thick pieces of buttery goodness French toast?

Ranch Wrap

Wrapped Up

Ranch Wrap made with fried chicken, avocado, bacon, tomato, ranch dressing, Jack & cheddar cheese, and a spring mix wrapped in a garlic-herb tortilla.

Wrapped Up made with egg whites, turkey, avocado, mushrooms, and Jack cheese wrapped in a spinach tortilla; served with salsa and fresh fruit.

Fried Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Fried Chicken Salad made with fried chicken, chopped romaine, tomatoes, Jack & cheddar cheese, onions, cucumbers, bacon, egg, croutons, and ranch dressing; served with a muffin.

Chicken Salad Sandwich made with chicken salad, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese on a croissant; served with fries.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, keep going to your favorite diner till you’ve tried everything on their menu at least once.

Take-Away Life Lesson: There’s nothing wrong with having found a new little diner as your second home.

Simple Tacos

Posted on October 31, 2013 by LFFL

Made with ground turkey, salsa, onions, green bell peppers, lettuce, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning served in corn taco shells.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, make it a taco night.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Sometimes all you want to make are simply some tacos and call it a day.

Philly Rice Bowl

Posted on October 28, 2013 by LFFL

Philly Rice Bowl made with steamed white rice, grilled chicken breast, black beans, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, cheese, and grilled vegetables with a side of Tuxedo Fries.

This is that same little local spot where I get my favorite Super Chief Philly Steak Sandwiches all the time. I finally broke down and tried something new on the menu.

After years of getting the same steak sandwich over and over……hmmm, let’s be bold and try a rice bowl. ‘Twas a lovely change of pace. Not a bad bowl at all.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try a rice bowl at your local steak sandwich restaurant—or just put your own rice bowl together at home.

Take-Away Life Lesson: You might be pleasantly surprised if you finally break down and try something new on a menu.

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Houston's Veggie Burger

Posted on October 27, 2013 by LFFL

Veggie Burger made with black beans, oat bran, beets, jalapeños, onions, sweet soy glaze, jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mayonnaise, and mustard; served with French fries.

I’m not usually a veggie burger person because they all do nothing for me in the taste department. But THIS HERE burger was SO good!

I decided to try it out since every other food item on the Houston’s menu is fantabulous—so why shouldn’t their veggie burger be?

I was reluctant to try this, to say the least. But those Houston’s folks know what they’re doing with their food. I had a good ol’ time with this burger.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try a veggie burger specifically from Houston’s. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Not all veggie burgers are blech.

Gouda Fries

Posted on October 21, 2013 by LFFL

Well, I went back to the same burger joint where I got a ‘basket’ of fries before—and by ‘basket’ I mean shopping cart.

I plopped myself right up to the bar and perused the menu—and low and behold therein lied a new menu item. I just love when new items are put onto menus. It gives me the opportunity to try something new.

These lovelies were called Gouda Fries made with hand-cut fries, smoked gouda, apple-wood smoked bacon, and green onions; served with chipotle aioli sauce & sweet ketchup. Oh, my word!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, locate some place that can make you a big fat plate of gouda fries—and if not, make them yourself.

Take-Away Life Lesson: You’ll never be able to eat just one of these fries.

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Macaroni & Cheese Pools

Posted on October 16, 2013 by LFFL

Made with wide egg noodles, butter, heavy cream, milk, flour, Fontina cheese, Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese, diced cooked ham, fresh Italian parsley, and salt & pepper.

This is my favorite macaroni & cheese ever—or at least so far. This is my go-to macaroni & cheese dish. The cheeses are perfection together and my taste buds know nothing better.

Recipe for—Macaroni & Cheese

Made with ziti pasta, milk, heavy cream, minced garlic cloves, Gruyère cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, butter, and salt & pepper.

Unfortunately, I could no longer find this recipe available on Colin Cowie’s website.

Macaroni & Cheese (The Neelys)

Macaroni & Cheese (Paula Deen)

Made with cavatappi pasta, butter, flour, milk, dry mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, crushed potato chips, crumbled cooked bacon, and salt & pepper (on the left).

Recipe for—Macaroni & Cheese

Made with whole wheat elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese, evaporated milk, eggs, sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt, cayenne pepper, and Parmesan cheese (on the right).

Recipe for—Macaroni & Cheese