Fourth of July ideas!

Going to a BBQ? Having a BBQ?
Need a dish to take? Need ideas?
Here are some of my favorite side dishes!

BBQ Beans

"Brown" Rice

Mom's Super Spaghetti Salad

Nana's Potato Salad

They all go great with ribs and chicken!

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Let the stress begin...

Well...Summertime is finally here and that means my busy season is upon us...I apologize for my lack of posting this past week!
I need to try and figure out how to keep up with blogging on top of everything else like cooking, cleaning, laundry and other various things around the house...but I WILL figure it out. It just may take me a little bit...I hope you will bear with me :) Please?

Now onto the fun stuff...What is everybody doing for the 4th???

My family has been having 4th of July parties for year..last year the party torch was passed onto Matt and I and so we are having ours on Sunday with a guest list of about 50. I sometimes bite off more than I can chew...being that I have to go into the office Saturday, Sunday and Monday...What was I thinking??!!Pin It

Dear Blogger,

Please fix your website so I can comment on peoples posts!!! Oh, a blogger app would be pretty sweet too.

That is all...
StephPin It

And the winner is...

KT @ KT's Refinishing School!!!

Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of La Pinata Cookbook!

Please email me your shipping address at eccentrickitchen@gmail.com and it will be on it's way!

*Thank you to ALL that entered!!! Seriously, you guys are awesome. I'm looking forward to doing more giveaways in the future!!!

~The winner of this giveaway was chosen using random.org~

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Last day for the GIVEAWAY!!!

Hey guys!
I just wanted to remind you about my giveaway!

Up for grabs is my favorite go-to cookbook, La Pinata. Since I just went to Texas, I though this was fitting :) It is a collection of recipes from The Junior League of McAllen. It's first printing was in 1976 and I gotta tell ya, It has a little bit of EVERYTHING!!! You're going to love it, I promise!

Here's all you gotta do...

Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite "go to" cookbook is.

~If you are a fan on facebook and/or a follower on twitter, let me know in your comment and you will get an extra entry for each~

I will choose a winner using random.org and announce the winner next Friday, June 23.

Good Luck!!!



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Mushrooms, Steaks & Garlic Scapes!

My friend and her husband grow their own garlic and hooked me up with a bunch of garlic scapes. Have you guys ever cooked with them before??? I hadn't even heard of them until she asked me if I wanted some and they are AWESOME! I read that you can freeze them, I will definitely be doing that!


This should last me a while!

Ever since she dropped them off, I have been trying to think of ways to use them...I bought some nice filet's from Sam's Club on Friday that needed to be cooked...
I remember one time my Mom asked my brother what he wanted for dinner and he said "How bout steaks?" and my Mom's response was "Well, that's not really a Monday night kinda thing." It must have stuck with me because, rarely, do we have steak on Monday's...Weird, I know...
ANYWAYS...I decided to make a nice butter to go on top of the steak and some yummy mushrooms for the side...here it goes...

Garlic Scape & Rosemary Butter

4 garlic scapes, finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped

1/2 stick butter, room temperature

Using a fork, mash the butter with the garlic scapes and rosemary until blended.

Printable Recipe!!!

I didn't take any pictures while preparing the butter...oopsie
But this is right after I put it on the meat. How GOOD does that look???
Mmmm

Mmmm Mushrooms

Inspired by : Michael Chiarello 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced 4 garlic scapes, finely chopped (or regular garlic) 1 1/2 pounds whole button mushrooms, washed 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon steak seasoning such as Montreal or Adams Reserve House Seasoning Heat oil in a skillet over med/high heat. Add the onion and garlic scapes, cook until the onions are lightly browned. Remove onions from the pan, set aside on a paper towel lined plate. Next, add the mushrooms and let caramelize for approx 8 minutes. DO NOT STIR THEM AROUND. Finally, add the onions back to the pan, season with seasoning and stir together. Printable Recipe!!! Clearly, I had too much oil... Not too bad for a Monday night!  I hope ya'll enjoy! PS- Don't forget to enter my giveaway, if you haven't already. You have until Thursday to enter! Just click here.

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Texas Eats & a GIVEAWAY!!!

Howdy Y'all!!!

I'm FINALLY back...well, to tell you the truth, I got back Sunday but my laptop just got here Wednesday and I've been kinda busy...
We had a fabulouso time in South Texas...let me tell ya...it was H O T - H O T - H O T!!! I'm talking 98-102 everyday...but I'm not complaining, I got a great tan!

Our first stop was McAllen for the first night and then we were Padre Island bound...we were only going to stay a few nights but since things at the office changed a bit, we ended up staying for 5 nights. We had a blast. We went fishing, ate great seafood, spent time with family, saw some old friends and most of all....Matt got to relax (even though he was on the phone for a few hours everyday) and take a break from his crazy schedule...



Prime Steaks and Twice Baked Casserole
The Seel Residence
McAllen, TX



Our fresh catch...blackened redfish and fried trout.
Blackbeards
South Padre Island



It was damn good....



Fried mozzarella and fried portabellas at Gabriella's.
South Padre Island

Braised Beef Parpadelle
Gabriella's
South Padre Island



Cool pic, huh???



Ceviche
Laguna Bob's
South Padre Island

Whole Red Snapper
Sea Ranch
South Padre Island

Garza Special
Garza's Mexican Restaurant
1 Taco 2 Enchilada's Rice Beans
San Juan, TX



Ribs and Jalapeno & Cheese Sausage
The Seel Residence
McAllen, TX





Ok...Now on to the FUN part. My first giveaway!!!

When I started this blog back in January, I really had no idea what sort of response I would get...in all honesty, I didn't care, I just wanted a place to be able to share my love of cooking with others out there and get some new ideas.  Now, five months later, 44 followers and 206 fans on facebook later...I thought it was time to show you how much ALL of your support means to me!!! Seriously, I have met so many great people in these last few months its incredible and hope to meet many many more in the future.

Up for grabs is my favorite go-to cookbook, La Pinata. Since I just went to Texas, I though this was fitting :) It is a collection of recipes from The Junior League of McAllen. It's first printing was in 1976 and I gotta tell ya, It has a little bit of EVERYTHING!!! You're going to love it, I promise!

Here's all you gotta do...

Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite "go to" cookbook is.

~If you are a fan on facebook and/or a follower on twitter, let me know in your comment and you will get an extra entry for each~

I will choose a winner using random.org and announce the winner next Friday, June 23.

Good Luck!!!

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I'm still here!

Hey all!!!
I apologize for my lack of posting...We ended up staying longer than we expected at the beach and have been eating out since Friday! I must say it's been nice but I am starting to miss the kitchen and my blogging buddies :) I just wanted to say Hi!! I will be back soon and will be doing my first giveaway!!!

I caught the biggest redfish! 32 inches!

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