All American...

Good morning everyone!  Hope you guys had a GREATTTTT Holiday weekend!  We had a completely low key and relaxed one that involved nearly 3 unplugged days of NO INTERNET! (a nice breakJ),  family (Hi Patti, Tricia & Tizzy Roe!!!), a leisurely tropical french toast breakfast at Westmont diner...

(complete with coconut & homemade caramel sauceJ)

...a trip to the farmer's market for some sweet, veggie treats....

...someone by the name of Derek Jeter in our neighborhood.  Heard of him??J ....

....and a perfectly patriotic dinnerJ  Or at least an "All American" one complete with hamburgers & homemade onion ringsJ

When I had spied this burger on the cover of Rachael Ray's magazine last month, I knew it was going to be our Fourth of July standoutJ We mixed some ground turkey with Worcestershire and salt & pepper and then grilled them until cooked.  Once they were done, we topped them on our Great Harvest fresh hamburger buns and a little "Red Ranch" sauce....

Red Ranch Sauce

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup diced chives & parsley
• salt & pepper

Next, we added some lettuce and the grand "special ingredient":  a Sour Cream onion ring!!

Oh yes...these babies were the piece de resistance of a great meal!

Sour Cream & Buttermilk Onion Rings

• 1 large sweet onion
• 3 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup chives
• 3 cups flour
• Salt & Pepper

1.- Combine the buttermilk & sour cream.  Dice onion into large circles and allow them to soak in the buttermilk for a few minutes.

2.-In another bowl mix the flour, chives, salt & pepper.

3.- Double dip the onion rings in the buttermilk & flour mixture and place on a foil lined cookie sheet.

4.- Allow to refrigerate for a few hours to set the batter.

OK, OK...you don't need to do that last step if your in a rush, but I really believe it helps the batter stick to the onions much better.  After all...it's all about the batter!

BUT!!!!!!!!  Here was the BEST part!!!  After the flour/chive mix had run out/got too gooey, I came up with an idea as an "onion ring batter" experiment....and OH MY GOD...it was the BEST. IDEA. EVER!!!!

THAT'S RIGHT!  Corn bread baking mix!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't even tell you how good these are...you just need to go home and make them for yourself to experience the magic!  These made the most DELICIOUS, light, salty/sweet, crispy, crunchy, textured, sorta creamy onion rings EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!  All I did was double dip em in the milk & this already prepared cornbread mix.  IT. WAS. HEAVEN!  The only words uttered after we tried the first five one were "oh my God.  No really, Oh my God!"  SOOOO. GOOD!

Anyway, I digress....back to the cooking, shall we?? J  First, you need to heat about 3-4 inches of frying oil (I used canola) in a deep bottom pot at medium/high heat to around 375.  (If you don't have a thermometer, just toss some rings in and see how quickly they turn brown and adjust your heat accordingly.)

Toss in the rings in batches and allow to fry until crisp and golden, flipping once.

Next, I laid them out on a paper lined plate to soak up all the oil.  And, as anyone who watches the Food Network will tell you, I salted them as soon as they came out of the pot.  It helps it stick to the rings while they're blazing HOT!

While I was working in batches I tossed the rest in my toaster over, set at 350, to keep warm.

I'm tellin ya, these were awesome!  They're a little tedious to make, but well worth the effort.  The chive & sour cream ones were outstanding, but they were NO MATCH for my cornbread rings.  TOO. DIE. FOR.  Get off the computer right now and go make them. 

Go. 

Right now. 

I'm waiting....

And to round out our All American Dinner....we made the ultimate American Dessert:  Apple PieJ

OK, OK...we actually made "Sea Salt Apple Crisp"...WHICH reminded me of FALL as soon as it was cooked.  But we DID make it in the cast iron pan on the grill (45 minutes at around 375)....so that's "Fourth of July-y", right?? :)

And I just HADDD to get some creamy & dreamy Ben & Jerry's to go with it! 

Quick Fact:  We had decided to go to Vermont as our 'mini-moon' after our wedding after seeing the B&J's factory on 'Ice Cream Paradise' on the Travel Channel 3 years ago this weekendJ  When I saw it replayed yesterday, it brought back a zillion good memoriesJ  Just thought I'd shareJ

Anyway.....it doesn't get more All American than this mealJ  Try it out at your next picnic....

And with that said:  I'm SOOOOOOOOOO glad we didn't have to go to ANY picnics yesterday!  I had ran to the store to pick up the ice cream and that was as much "outdoor time" as I wanted to spend yesterday.  It was TOO. DAMN. HOT!  I think I'd like "Fourth of July " more if it was in the Spring/FallJ "Fourth of April" has a nice ring to it, no??  hahahahahhahahahaha  COME ON, SEPTEMBER!  I am waiting for you!!!

Alright, enough of my lamenting!  Hope you guys are well rested and ready for the week ahead.  Happy TUESDAY!!!!  (sooo excited, as I was about to write "Monday"J)