food for thought

I feel like an old person, but what will they think of next…ummm no thanks.

This eating all the emoji article cracked me up. I had no idea what some of the food was, or why they were important enough to have an emoji but this was so fascinating. She didn’t count the animals and stuck to actual food pics. It wasn’t a stunt to lose weight, just out of interest. Apparently it lacks bfast and there’s tons of alcoholic options and desserts.
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I’m ready for all the fall things and for some reason, all the fall/harvest-y/seasonal decor has glitter. Why all the glitter? Pumpkins are so dang cute. Candy corn, delicious with no sparkle necessary. I open greeting cards carefully when I can tell there will be glitter. There’s no way I’m putting a wreath celebrating pumpkins and lovely colored leaves on my door if it’s covered in glitter. That means everytime I open the door I’ll encounter THE GLITTER. Of all holidays I think glitter is not necessary for halloween and I think Thanksgiving is about so much more. I just want it all to smell like apples, cinnamon, and pie.
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I want to make this pumpkin coffee cake
and I might try my hand at a better caramel apple cider than this one I tried
it is time to go apple picking
easy pumpkin muffins are in order, or maybe pumpkin bread french toast
this year might be right for apple week since last year I did pumpkin week
there might be a pear picking party at Mrs. M’s house. What should I make featuring pears?

S’mores Fudge

I just whipped up some fudge upon request from my dad and I wanted to go crazy with it, or just make some I hadn’t done before. Since it was his bday  I figured I’d stick to chocolate and find out what other flavors would pass muster for the future. I added a few colored sprinkles on top and poof, it was birthday fudge.

I still wanted to jack up some fudge. I thought about cookies & cream, but I seem to always have mini marshmallows around so this proved timely.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge

Everyone loved the half chocolate half peanut butter one I did. Dad liked the mocha fudge I gave him for Christmas last year. I messed around making this s’more fuge and figured Mr. J would eat it since I had made some but given it all away.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/2 container Fluff
1 small can evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter (I used a butter substitute and the texture was off, don’t do this)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 mini marshmallows
4 graham crackers, crumbled

Directions:

Over medium heat, melt sugar, fluff, milk, butter, and salt together. Some bubbles will come up when the air is coming out.
Bring to a boil and boil, stirring consistently for 5 minutes.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted and mixed through.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Pour into a 9×9 baking dish that you’ve buttered, sprayed, or lined with parchment paper.
Top with marshmallows.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Top with graham crackers.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Let cool for at least 2 hours.

It gets firmer in the fridge, but then the marshmallows get a bit weird. They don’t seem to like life in the fridge. I made this a while ago…it was hot and also because I made the mistake of using a butter substitute it didn’t quite harden enough. It tasted great though. It is definitely “never fail fudge” if you follow the instructions. I had gotten as far as melting the marshmallow so it was too late to turn back, or I’d be figuring how to dispose of sticky melted marshmallow which seemed more challenging than taking the risk with not-real butter.

Garlicky Mussels

I love ordering mussels at restaurants. The freshness of the mussels and the flavorful broth with some kind of bread to sop it all up. I never made them because it seemed like one of those foods that you just get at restaurants, not something I’d make myself.

Spoiler alert: they were so easy and cheap.

Garlic Mussels - The Three Bite Rule

Ingredients:

1 pound Mussels
2 tbs garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
1 tbs butter
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs cream
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbs fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

Rinse and debeard the mussels.
In a large pan over medium heat, add the garlic, broth, wine, butter, lemon juice, cream, and garlic powder.
Garlic Mussels - The Three Bite Rule
Then add in the mussels and cover for 8 minutes.
Stir the mussels and check for any that didn’t open, discard those.
Serve them in a bowl and top with parsley and some crusty bread.
Garlic Mussels - The Three Bite Rule
They were so good. I’d say they rival any restaurant I’ve had them in. It takes a lot to feel full so while they were my meal, that’s precisely why they’re always on the appetizer section of a menu.

What do you think of as a “restaurant food” that you have been hesitant to make yourself?

Tomato and Corn Tart

Before I get all apple & pumpkin obsessed I needed a few more farmer’s market treasures to get their highlights. That’s the beauty of this exact point in the season. The weather is blissful and rejuvenating. Produce is still at the peak with even more delights to come. I saw some really beautiful heirloom tomatoes that I knew wouldn’t be around even one week longer.

Tomato & Corn Tart - The Three Bite Rule

I used the tomatoes and some sweet corn with just a touch of seriously sharp cheddar. The soft puff pastry for the tart made this really easy but decadent.

Ingredients:

1 sheet puff pastry
2 heirloom tomatoes
1 ear of corn
3 slices of cheddar cheese

Directions:

Shuck and boil the corn cob until cooked through.
Slice the tomatoes and lay on paper towel for about 10 minutes.
Tomato & Corn Tart - The Three Bite Rule
Lay the puff pastry onto a baking sheet either sprayed with non-stick spray or ontop of a silicone mat or parchment paper.
Layer most of the cheddar on top of the pastry.
Then top with slices of tomato.
Tomato & Corn Tart - The Three Bite Rule
Top with corn.
Then layer with the rest of the tomato and rest of the corn.
Tomato & Corn Tart - The Three Bite Rule
Sprinkle on salt and pepper and remaining cheese.
Fold the edges around just over onto the filling. Pinch the crust together.
Tomato & Corn Tart - The Three Bite Rule
Bake 20-30 minutes at 350-degrees until the crust bakes through and browns.
Tomato & Corn Tart - The Three Bite Rule
I loved this. The puff pastry is so buttery that I thought it was perfect, though pie crust would work too. I didn’t want to overdo it on the cheese. It was such a fresh and comforting meal.
Tomato & Corn Tart - The Three Bite Rule
This would be fun as little cups in a muffin pan. Other veggies would be good: asparagus & corn; zucchini & tomato; tomato & basil.

What I Ate: Hawaiian Hot Dogs

What I Ate’ is a series of posts for so-easy-this-doesn’t-need-a-recipe but I’m sharing with you for the idea or inspiration.

I jazzed up some dogs just as summer was “ending” though there’s plenty of grilling season left. I should totally have done this combo sooner. Grilled dogs with pineapple & teriyaki sauce. I just want crazy toppings on everything right now.
The Three Bite Rule - Hawaiian Hot Dog
I mixed up chopped red onion, pineapple, and just a touch of salsa.
The Three Bite Rule - Hawaiian Hot Dog
Then I mixed honey, teriyaki marinade, and soy sauce. I eyeballed it, and went heavier on the honey than anything else.
The Three Bite Rule - Hawaiian Hot Dog
The tang of the teriyaki, the sweet pineapple, and crunch of the red onion went perfectly with the dog and soft roll. There are so many topping options besides the regular mustard/relish.
The Three Bite Rule - Hawaiian Hot Dog
These were fun. I love a good theme. Flying on Jess Fuel made some Banh Mi Hot Dogs that looked incredible. A nacho-y one would be fun or I did one with avocado, leftover corn cut off the cob, and ranch for a Californian Dog. Food themes are the only time old stereotypes are permissible, right?