I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

Recipes

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Recently I’ve been craving sweets. So unlike me. Typically I’d rather have chips but I can’t get chocolate chip cookies or brownies OR a brownie sandwiched by 2 chocolate chip cookies with a glass of chocolate milk. Instead I eat fruit- let’s not talk about the # of peaches I’ve eaten this week. ha

But bringing me back into my salty carb loving self were these  Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches. Fresh shaved steak, sautéed pepper and onions, and melty cheese on a soft sub roll… perfect! Plus then I couldn’t resist serving them up with some curly fries. Umm you just can’t have salad with a cheesesteak. nope.

This Cheesesteak is quick to whip up and would be great to serve this weekend while you watch the Pocono Race! A race in the great state of Pennsylvania, so I figured a cheesesteak was just what was needed for this week’s edition of Sprint Cup Snacks. Nestled in the Poconos, Long Pond is only 2 hours away from Philly so I couldn’t resist making a cheesesteak. At least I’m not dragging Gino’s and Pat’s fans into this since you get to make your own at home and don’t have to pick which dueling cheesesteak institution is the best.

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Enjoy a cheesesteak and the race this weekend!!

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Makes 4 subs

Ingredients

  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 pound shaved steak
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 sub rolls
  • 8 slices of provolone cheese

Process

  1. Slice the peppers and oil into long thin strips. Set aside.
  2. Heat 2-3 tablespoons in a  large skillet over medium-high heat. When it starts to shimmer, add the pepper and onion strips and the garlic. Sautee the vegetables until  soft and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Return the skillet to the cook-top over medium-high heat and add the meat and Worcestershire sauce. Stir the meat to mix and evenly cook throughout. Once the meat is done, add the cooked vegetables back to the skillet to combine.
  4. Place 2 slices of cheese on every roll, then evenly top with the meat.

Thirsty Thursday: Bloody Maria

Bloody Maria

This week’s Thirsty Thursday theme is TEQUILA!!!! Clearly, Amanda picked it 🙂 Well, I don’t mind at all, well Price doesn’t mind since he gets to enjoy whatever I mix up. And after thinking of several drinks I ‘settled’ on a Bloody Maria since one of our favorite drinks is a Bloody Mary.

About 5 years ago, Price spent a semester living in a trailer on a Salvation Army camp in Biloxi, MS a year after Hurricane Katrina helping design and rebuild homes. Since I was still up in Boston in school and he was in Biloxi we decided to meet up in New Orleans the one chance we had to see each other for his birthday in September. Well, it was such a great weekend together drinking Hurricanes on Bourbon Street, eating beignets, and enjoying the best Bloody Mary’s ever. EVER.

Price took the bus to NOLA a few more times for some weekends away from that lovely trailer next to the railroad tracks… seriously. Well, during his visits to New Orleans he would basically set up shop at The Old Absinthe House and drinks Bloody Mary’s from Dawn the bartender. Hands down the best Bloody Mary’s we have ever had so we constantly try to recreate them from the recipe that he got out of her.

In this case I made some adaptations from our favorite recipe to best go with a kick that comes from tequila. A spicy tomato juice base, some bite from the Dijon, and a spicy rim all do wonders for this Bloody Maria!

Amanda recently really hurt her finger so she soothed the pain with a few of these Guanabana Margaritas. I think it was a smart move… hold an icy glass filled up with a fruity margarita. Good strategy. Plus Guanabana sounds so interesting and yummy. Gotta try it!

Bloody Maria_01

Bloody Maria

Makes 2

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces of tequila
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
  • 3 dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
  • juice of half a lemon
  • 16 ounces of spicy tomato juice
  • 1 cup of crushed ice, divided

Rim Seasoning

  • Equal parts of black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, chili powder.

Garnishes

  • 2 celery spears
  • 2 dill pickle spears
  • 2 lemon wedges

Process

  1. Mix together all of the ingredients for the rim seasoning in a bowl, set aside.
  2. Combine the tequila, mustard, pickle juice, Worcestershire Sauce, and lemon juice, mix well.
  3. Take the lemon wedge and run it around the rim of the glass. Flip the glass over dipping it into rim seasoning.
  4. Pour in half of the ice, tomato juice, and tequila mixture into the rimmed glass. Stir to mix. Garnish with the celery, pickle, and lemon wedge.

Thirsty Thursday: Grilled Peach and Jalapeno Margarita

Grilled Peach and Jalapeno Margarita

We have never gone through so much propane for our grill in such a short time as we have done this year. Just burnin’ through it. But I can’t complain since it just means we have been enjoying the most amazing grilled things. Plus, it’s nice to get out of the kitchen and enjoy the nice weather while we wait.

Since I pretty much always have grilling on my mind during the summer, we decided to go with a grilled recipe for this week’s Thirsty Thursday recipe. It would be so much fun to incorporate something grilled into a drink. Grilled fruit or herbs would be a fun way to add a lot of flavor to a drink. Love to elevate flavors in a unique way.

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I had a big bowl of peaches so I decided to grill them up to bring out their natural sweetness into a drink. But then what? I was thinking of a drink with bourbon but decided on using tequila. Hmmm… a grilled peach margarita sounded great but what else? Well, I realized I had some jalapenos so I decided the margarita could use some heat and decided to that them as well. In the end the Grilled Peach and Jalapeno Margarita was the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Loved it!!

Have you ever had a Smoky Margarita before? Well, I think you need have one. Amanda has made would that has my mouth watering.  So get your grill going and enjoy. Yum!!!

Grilled Peach and Jalapeno Margarita

Makes 2 large margaritas

Ingredients

  • 2 large peaches, quartered
  • 1 jalapeno
  • 3 cups of ice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup tequila

Process

  1. Place the peaches and jalapeno on a medium-high grill. Try not to move the peaches much to get nice grill marks on their surfaces. Rotate the jalapeno to darken and blister all the sides.
  2. Remove the peaches and jalapeno from the grill and let cool 15 minutes. Peel some of the blistered skin from the jalapeno, then slice in half length-wise and remove the seeds inside.
  3. Combine the ice, peaches, half of the jalapeno, ice, lime juice, and tequila to a blender. Blend for a minute, or until all ice is slushy and the ingredients are combined. Try the margarita for it’s level of spiciness and add more jalapeno if you prefer.

Thirsty Thursday: Banana Daiquiri

Banana Daiquiri

I wouldn’t be honest with you or myself if I didn’t say that making all these Thirsty Thursday posts was a tad bit difficult since I’m now not drinking. At least Price is enjoying them. He has become the designated taste tester when it comes to boozy drinks.

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But with this Banana Daiquiri I had a really easy time making it virgin without really effecting the end result… just don’t add the rum in. Duh! So I was really excited for this recipe for this week’s Thirsty Thursday post. Amanda picked this week’s Daiquiri theme since tomorrow is National Daiquiri theme. Perfect.

This Banana Daiquiri is so simple and so good. Pefect for the heat wave that has been beating the crap out of the northeast this week. It is such an easy recipe to halve or multiply easily. You basically make 2 drinks every time since you are limited wha tyou can fit into the blender, that 3 cups of ice will do that! But it’s worth it since this icy bevie is so refreshing. 🙂

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Amanda made a super refreshing Watermelon Daiquiri. I have a watermelon just waiting for me to cut into it. I think it wants to be turned into this daiquiri. If watermelons had feelings and thoughts I’m sure it would tell me to do just that…

Banana Daiquiri

Makes 4 drinks

Ingredients

  • 2 large bananas, divided
  • 1 cup coconut milk, divided
  • 1 lime, juiced, divided
  • 1/2 cup sugar, divided
  • 6 cups ice, divided
  • 4 ounces white rum, optional, divided

Process

  1. Into a blender add half of each ingredient.
  2. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
  3. Pour into 2 tall glasses, and repeat for 2 more drinks.

Sourced from Sandra Lee via Food Network

Open Faced Summertime Tomato Sandwich {& a Nasoya Nayonaise Review}

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I haven’t been into cooking during the week. I try to do all my ‘big’ cooking done over the weekend and then just make something simple like boxed mac and cheese during the week. It’s too hot. I’m too tired. I don’t care.

But since I can’t live on boxed mac and cheese alone (or can I?), I’ve been trying to make some simple salads or sandwiches, besides PBJ. One that I have been turning to is a summer time favorite… a tomato sandwich.

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I just feel that you can’t beat fresh summer produce so you should take every opportunity you can to enjoy it. And don’t mess around with it too much. Some bread, your favorite mayo, fresh greens, and slices of juice ripe tomato. Plus don’t forget the fresh cracked salt and pepper. Really, enjoy the best of every ingredient since there are only 4.

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I recently received some Vegan Nayonsise from Nasoya to try. I’ve really been enjoying it on sandwiches, in dips for fries, and on burgers. Yes, I know. Dumb Dumb puts vegan mayo on a meaty burger. I’m pregnant. That’s my free card to do whatever. But really, because it is so good I’ve been putting it on and in all different things. I think that’s really impressive since I ONLY use Hellmann’s. Don’t try to give me Cain’s or Miracle Whip.

So naturally, I was hesitant to try the Original Nayonaise. But I was really pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. No, this is not your typical mayo since it is Dairy and Egg Free, which means it is not going to taste the same or look the same as a ‘normal’ mayo but it really is very good. I think it is a great solution for someone to enjoy if they are vegetarian, vegan, or have a food allergy.

I had done some side by side comparisons while playing around with the Nayonaise by making some foods with it and some with regular mayo and mixing them up. If you were not really looking out for the difference I think you would not really notice it. The taste is subtually tangier than Hellmann’s, but I don’t think that is a bad thing. I never experienced a funny after taste with the Nayonaise either. I think the biggest difference I noticed was that it has a different texture compared to mayo. When mayo is pretty smooth, it is rather gummy, but I didn’t notice any problems mixing it up or spreading it on my sandwich.

Besides it being a great product for vegetarians, vegans, or people with food allergies, I think it would be great for people who are watching their figure. Compared to the average mayo that has 90 calories, 10 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat per serving, the Nayonaise has only 40 calries, 3 grams of fat, and .5 grams of saturdated fat per serving. The Nayonaise has slightly more sodium with 115 grams compared to 90 grams but overall a very healthy mayo alternative.

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For real… look at this amazing perfect summertime sandwich.

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Nom, Nom, Nom!!!

Open Faced Summertime Tomato Sandwich

Makes 4 ‘sandwiches’

Ingredients

  • 1 boule of sourdough bread
  • your favorite mayo, such as Nasoya’s Vegan Nayonaise
  • 2-4 super fresh tomatoes, depends on size
  • 4 leaves of romaine lettuce
  • salt and pepper

Process

  1. Slice the sourdough into 1/4″ thick slices. Lightly toast, if desired.
  2. Slather on a generous amount of mayo.
  3. Lay on torn pieces of romaine lettuce. Top with 1/4″ thick slices of tomatoes.
  4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

*While I did receive this complimentary jar of Nayoniase from Nasoya, these opinions are entirely my own.

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Lobster Mac And Cheese

Lobster Mac and Cheese

I have been determined to make lobster for this week’s Sprint Cup Snacks recipe for this weekend’s NASCAR race at Loudon International Raceway. in New Hampshire. Must have lobster when in New England. It’s a given! But my challenge was to make something that both Price and I would enjoy since he is pretty indifferent to lobster when I L-O-V-E it.

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Often it works out well that Price is ‘meh’ about lobster and I love it (although I do feel super guilty about eating them now that I read the most amazing book called The Secret Life of Lobsters where I learned that our tasty ocean bug friends are at least 7 yrs old before gracing our dining tables…) since he will put them in the pot for me. I just can’t!

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We typically do grilled steak and lobster… so I get the surf and he gets the turf… but I wanted to change things up so I had to go a searchin’ for something so mouth-watering that Price could not resist regardless of our royal red friend. Ultimately I found the best recipe… drum roll please… Lobster Mac and Cheese.

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This was a very rich, luscious mac and cheese. Plus it was studded with lobster! If you don’t like lobster then skip it since the mac and cheese base is great anyway, but really, it is so worth it to add the lobster.

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PS- I learned my local grocery store steams lobsters for you for Free!!! I highly suggest you check with your grocery store because it’s a total GAME CHANGER!

Lobster Mac And Cheese

Makes 4 generous  servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound cavatappi or campanelle pasta
  • 1/2 pound lobster meat
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
  • 1  1/4 cups half & half
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup  shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Process

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
  3. In a very large skillet, combine the butter and flour on medium low heat. Stirring constantly until the rue is golden brown. Add about half of the half & half to the mixture and stir to remove the lumps from the rue. Stir in half of the cheese. Once the cheese has melted into the sauce, add in the rest of the half & half, cheese, and the seasonings. Continue to work together until the sauce is evenly incorporated together.
  4. Add the cooked pasta and chopped lobster into the cheese sauce and toss to combine.
  5. Pour into a oven-safe casserole dish or 4 individual oven-safe baking dishes and then top with bread crumbs. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Slightly adapted from Baked By Rachel

Thirsty Thursday: Strawberry Daiquiri

Strawberry Daiquiri

I really love the heat of summer but this summer is kinda getting to me. Really, I hate to say that since summer is my favorite season. But this summer has been intense from chilly weeks of rain in June to the hot soupy humid weather now. But I’m gonna plan on blaming my distaste for this summer on The Bean. For example, I just feel extra gross and I can’t stay hydrated no mater how much water I drink (easily averaging 100+ ounces a day). Plus I can’t enjoy the fun drinks that are fantastic to sip on in the summer.

Case in point, the Strawberry Daiquiri!!! When we decided on our Frozen Drinks theme for our weekly Thirsty Thursday posts I thought of this since we enjoyed so many of them on our cruise last year.

I think I need to mix up a virgin (womp whomp) batch since Price had to do the dirty job of drinking up the half batch I made one morning. Such is the life. ha! But I really need to make these again since the sweet smell of strawberries filling our kitchen was intense and lovely. I used fresh strawberries that I cut up and froze since when I first read the recipe I quickly mixed up frozen with fresh so I just needed to give my berries a bit of a deep freeze before getting to making this frozen drink.

Amanda has made a Skinny Frozen Pina Colada that I wish I could dive into. It looks awesome plus it is a skinny version. The best for the summer… a refreshing pool side drink that doesn’t make you regret sipping on it in your bathing suit.

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Strawberry Daiquiri

Makes 4 glasses

Ingredients

  • 1 cup light rum
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup sprite or 7-up
  • 1 (16 ounce) package frozen whole strawberries

Process

  1. Pour rum, lime juice, sugar, and Sprite into blender container. Briefly blend to combine and dissolve the sugar.
  2. Add the frozen strawberries into blender, a few at a time, blending until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses.

Slightly adapted from Empty Nest, Two Full Plates

Thirsty Thursdays: Fourth of July Drink Round Up

So, I had planned for a milkshake today to wrap up the month of milkshakes but… last week’s Alt NYC adventures/vacation (more on that later) and a work deadline due TODAY has sidelined me from getting much of anything done.

Well, that means instead of a milkshake from me you get a round up of Fourth of July drinks I’ve seen that have peaked my interest. They all look so good!!!

Layered Drink Tutorial from @katrinaskitchen

4th of July Layered Drinks

Fourth of July Cocktail

Star Spangled Martini

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Red, White, and Blue Sangria

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Red, White, and Blue Striped Freezies

No matter what you sip on during the Fourth of July next week I’m sure you’ll have a great time celebrating the day.

Banana Nutella Bread Pudding- SRC

Banana Nutella Bread Pudding

So probably picking a bread pudding for this month’s Secret Recipe Club post was not the best idea since it’s been so hot out now. Wasn’t I just complaining that it was cold and rainy? Well, that is the way things go in New England. But not or not I swear it’s worth it to make this bread pudding anytime of the year!

For this month’s Secret Recipe Club post I had Shirley’s blog Enriching You Kid!. It had such a fun time going through Shirley’s blog because she had such interesting recipes. I went through years and years of recipes looking around for something to make and share. I had several recipes in mind but decided on the Banana Nutella Bread Pudding. I couldn’t pass up on having some Nutella!!

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I kept all of the ingredients the same but played around with the proportions of the ingredients. Shirley’s recipe called for 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of bread. Since I prefer a bit drier of a bread pudding I changed up the amounts to 1 1/2 cups milk and 3 1/5 cups of bread. If you prefer a wetter bread pudding then increase the amount of milk and reduce the amount of bread a bit. Just as simple as that.

Hope that you enjoy this delightful bread pudding as much as we did 🙂

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Banana Nutella Bread Pudding

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups bread pieces
  • 1 banana, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Nutella
  •  1/4 cup chopped walnuts or hazelnuts, optional

Process

  1. Beat together the milk, egg, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the bread, sliced banana, and the Nutella. Fold together completely to combine, let soak for 30 minutes.
  2. While the bread is soaking up the milk mixture, preheat your oven to 325 degrees and prepare a baking dish by greasing all the sides.
  3. Pour the bread pudding mixture into the greased baking dish. Sprinkle nuts on top.
  4. Bake for 30-35 minutes, then let stand for at least 10 minutes prior to serving.

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Secret Recipe Club



Check out my previous Secret Recipe Club Posts

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