Turning Up the Heat

Greetings.   Vincent Reinhart here, the Cherry household’s food critic.  I’ve seen Dennis make many meals over the years.  Making two dishes at once is quite common, a main and a side.  Three new dishes, however, at the same time, well I don’t think I’ve seen him to that before.

Adding to the complexity of working in a small kitchen, what Dennis calls his Little Tykes kitchen, was the fact that he had to make them out of order due to prep time and having them time out correctly.

The first dish he started on was Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese 2 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0TBXv6geGGehxtAmY5HBpRJ37Ba4vCvtcuTS8cVW8XTpg8RLn4a8e3MjNR56aAbNBl&id=61557737104652

Having to fry the bacon first slowed the process, but at least the noodles could boil while the meat and onions cooked.  While those were going, he stated on the next dish, Pizza Monkey Bread  https://cookiespedia.com/pizza-monkey-bread/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEkjqdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfDSJlsFFTEVoJDoeIFkxtcf58R8-Rmyh3jBgKrtNfFQm4MG_9A2-JK7nQ_aem_aifT1HGDKGKV6TtKwi4XVQ

This was quicker to assemble in that it used Pillsbury biscuits.   The prep was mostly cutting up the biscuits and pepperoni and adding the other ingredients.   Mixing the mostly dry ingredients and putting them evenly into a bunt pan was a bit of a challenge.  One third cup butter didn’t seem enough, so Dennis doubled it.  Dennis has made regular monkey bread quite often.  Second dish worked on, but first in the oven for 40 minutes.   Fifteen minutes later, the Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese 2 went into the oven.  One of the reasons Dennis chose this combination was that they could both cook at 350*.

While finishing up the Mac and Cheese, Dennis started on the first dish to be served, Spicy Cheese Dip, https://arabe-datsh.com/spicy-cheese-dip/?fbclid=IwY2xjawElEyxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbcuOVPmADCKfQDLW5DbZM09ycLj_PuEW5i5l7pPyTatNbaEQtA9-Xk6ZA_aem_OuPH24koXbFpBaVRCmQiXg

There were times when skillets had to be washed and reused for another dish.  And all available space on the counters and kitchen table was used.

Fearing that the original recipe would make too much, Dennis halved it.  But after seeing the cheese melt and reduce down, the full recipe probably would have been fine.  This was the first dish served – with nacho chips – while the other two timed out together.

THE RESULTS:  The Spicy Cheese Dip was a great success, just like in the restaurants.  The Pizza Monkey Bread was even better.  AMAZING, I would venture to say.  We couldn’t stop eating it.  And the Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese 2 was also good, but maybe too many noodles.  The recipe calls for a pound of elbow macaroni, three quarters of a pound might be better.

All in all, well, I’m stuffed! – Vincent Reinhart

230th blog completed.

First Steampunk novel:  76,865 words.  ß Past 76,000.  Goal:  80,000.

Second Steampunk novel: 783 words. 

Second Steampunk screenplay:  157 pages.

First Steampunk screenplay:  Need to update with notes from the novelization.

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages.

Ever play dish Tetris after making a meal?