SUMMER BEER: Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy

Make sure to add a slice of Lemon to the Summer Shandy.

Well, it’s been a hot one this summer.  At least where I live it has.  At the end of the day, I’m sure your craving a nice cold glass of water…..or a COLD BEER!!!  Well if the latter is your choice of beverage, I’ve got one you need to try.  It’s called Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy.

This is such a refreshing beer on a hot summer night.  This is a wheat beer with a very strong lemon flavor.   Kind of a cross between a cold beer and a glass of lemonade.  It’s not a 50/50 blend, probably more like 75% beer, 25% lemonade.  It’s a definite must have on a hot summer night.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Beer
• 1 Slice of Lemon

DIRECTIONS:

• Squeeze Lemon into beer.
• Drink.

1 Serving

Food Festivals

Nice post here by Photolistic Life. Click the link to see the details of the Italian Food Festival. I’ve never been to it, but it looks like a lot of fun if you like Italian food.

PhotolisticLife

Have you ever been to your towns Fall Festival?  Pretty neat right?  Well what if you were to go to your towns this year… and the town next to yours, the town an hour away, and the town halfway across the state?  Really feeling adventurous?  How about a bunch of towns along the way, across the country, on a road trip?  Grab your camera, your family, and some cash and hit the road.  Get some cool pictures along the way and submit one for the Photo Journal and it will be featured on this site.

Photo by Colonelchi from theFood and Heritage Festival (links to festivals in PA website) at the DelGrosso Amusement Park in Pennsylvania.

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BRUSCHETTA

Garden Fresh Bruschetta

In the words of my Italian professor, “It’s not BRUSHETTA;  it’s BRUSKETTA!!!!!”  This was after some server at the Olive Garden proceeded to correct his pronunciation of the famous Italian appetizer.  I understand, the old Italian guy speaking broken English probably has no idea on how to speak Italian!!!  This story made me laugh everytime he told it.

Anyway, it’s summer time and the tomatoes are in season.  Here’s a fantastic way to use some of those garden tomatoes or the one’s you are picking up from the farmer’s market.  Oh my god, this stuff is to die for!!!!  Oh yeah, it only takes @15 minutes to prepare as well.

Prep Time:  10 min

Bake Time:  6 min

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Loaves Mini Ciabatta Bread
• 3 Med to Large Tomatoes
• 4 Cloves Garlic
• Kosher Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• 1 Bunch Basil (Approx 20 leaves)
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Dice tomatoes, press garlic (using a Garlic Press).
• Combine these ingredients in a bowl along with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Roughly chop basil and add to bowl.
• Add salt and pepper to taste (you don’t need much, just a dash of each).
• Put bowl into fridge to allow to marinate.
• Slice Ciabatta loaves in half and spray with olive oil using your Misto Oil Sprayer.
• Bake on a cookie sheet at 400 for 6 minutes.
• Remove from oven, use a slotted spoon to scoop tomato mixture on top.  Leaving the fluid behind.
• Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Garnish with a basil leaf or two.

Italian Crusted Filet Mignon

Italian Crusted Filet – It’s so good, you’ll try to pay yourself for cooking dinner.

OH BABY, OH BABY.  Who doesn’t love a great steak???  But have you ever cooked one at home?  I said a great steak.  I’m talking about the kind that you get at one of those famous steakhouses.  You know the ones that cost like $60-70 per steak and melt in your mouth.   Oh yeah, and the sides there are ala carte too!!!!  Well, here’s a recipe that will put a smile on your face. If you like this recipe, I would really appreciate you giving me a “shout out” by hitting the like button.  This recipe was inspired after a trip to the Capital Grille; but, of course, I’ve put an Italian twist on it.  Total time to eating is less than 1 hour.  Oh my god, the steakhouses may go out of business.   Buon Appetito!

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Wait Time: 30 Minutes

Cook Time:  10 Minutes

Total Time:  55 Minutes

INGREDIENTS: Italian Crusted Dry Rub

• 1 Tsp Fresh Ground Pepper
• 1 Tbsp Ground Italian Roast Coffee
• 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 Tsp Garlic Powder (Dry)
• 2 Tsp Italian Seasoning

OTHER INGREDIENTS

• 2 Filet Mignon
• Olive Oil Cooking Spray
• 2 Baking Potatoes
• Butter or Butter Substitute
• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Florets Broccoli
• 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar

DIRECTIONS:

• Combine Dry Rub Ingredients.
• Pat dry steaks and spray with olive oil cooking spray (Are you using a Misto Olive Oil Sprayer?)
• Marinate steaks in fridge for 30 mins
• Grill steaks to desired temperature, I don’t recommend cooking filet beyond medium.  If you like them well done, please buy a cheaper cut of meat, lol.  Get your grill very hot.  A hot grill is key to creating a good crust of spices.  The actual cook time will depend on many factors, thickness of steak, temperature of grill, etc.  So I can’t give you an exact cook time.
• Rest steaks for 7 minutes after cooking to let juices settle.
• Reduce balsamic vinegar over low heat until approximately half of the liquid is gone.
• Microwave potatoes (C’mon this is easy do you really need help with this?)
• Steam broccoli for approximately 7 minutes.  Add italian seasoning to water to help flavor the broccoli.
• Plate steak, potato, and broccoli.
• Drizzle balsamic on steak.  Slice potato and add butter and a little grated parmesan cheese.
• Enjoy the best steak you have ever made at home.  Smile when you think how much $$$$ you saved by not going to Morton’s or Ruth’s Chris.  That’s the smile I promised you earlier.

Serves 2 People, Double for 4 People

RECOVERY DRINK

The recovery drink is a must have after a workout.

Part of the Italian lifestyle is being healthy.  That means you really should be getting some exercise.  Therefore, after every workout it is very important to refuel the body for optimal performance.

When you workout, you tear down your muscles.  This drink will aid in the rebuilding process of the muscles and help you recover much quicker from the workout.  When I skip one of these, I can definitely feel the soreness from the workout the next day.

So make sure to have one of these following the workout, and you will notice a much faster recovery so you can work out sooner without soreness.  This drink is optimally formulated to correctly balance carbohydrates and protein, and replace what you just lost in your workout.  In addition, this drink can also be used for a meal replacement by upping the protein powder to a full scoop.  (It’s much better to eat a real meal, this should only be done once in a while.)

Prep Time: 1 Minute

Blend Time:  1 Minute

Total Time : 2 Minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 oz Fat Free Milk
• 1/2 Banana
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Berries
• 1/4 Scoop Protein Powder (1 full scoop for meal replacement)

DIRECTIONS:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender.
• Blend away.
• Drink within 30 minutes of completing your workout.
• Recommend to take your multi-vitamin at the same time

1 Serving