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Hoosier Hot Dish

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Country Casual Cravings: Hoosier Hot Dish! When I moved to Indiana over 30 years ago, it didn’t take me long to hear the term “Hoosier”. I knew it was a nickname for the State’s residents. But, honestly, I wondered how it originated. I had no idea it came into popularity over 200 years ago. The story that was told to me went something like this. Along the Ohio River, in the hills of southern Indiana, settlers lived and worked around the riverfront. As boatmen passed by on barges taking corn to New Orleans, the countrymen would call out, “Who’s Yere?” to assure they were friend, not foe. It happened so often, in time those workers became known as people of the “Hooshier” State. My experience in hearing about this one-pot meal for the first time was just as funny. A coworker said she was making Hoosier Hot Dish for supper. When I asked her for the recipe, she laughed and told me there wasn’t one. She said you just throw everything in a pot on the stove and eat it when it’s done. I narrowed it down a little bit more for you. Go figure.

HOOSIER HOT DISH

Ingredients:

1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic and herb seasoning

15-ounce can cut green beans, with liquid

1 pound potatoes, quartered, skin on

1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/2” chunks

Instructions:

Warm olive oil on medium-low setting in the bottom of a stock pot. Add sliced onions, seasoned salt, garlic and herbed seasoning. Sauté 20 minutes until onions are a light brown. Add green beans with liquid, quartered potatoes, and smoked sausage chunks. Cover and Cook 30-40 minutes over medium heat or until potatoes are fork tender. Hot Dish will thicken. Add 1/2 cup water, if necessary, to keep things from boiling dry or scorching. Serve with cornbread.

One-Bite Cookie Morsels

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Elevated Edibles: One-Bite Cookie Morsels! Years ago while traveling with my husband on a business trip, we had dinner at a popular local restaurant that extended a warm welcome to all who crossed its threshold. Before approaching the hostess stand, we were immediately greeted by the bakery-fresh aromas of homemade cookies. How delightful! On the dessert showcase, to our right, sat a plate of one-bite chocolate chip cookies with a table tent that said, “Please Take One”. I assure you, we didn’t hesitate as we munched away following the hostess to a nice, secluded corner booth. Talk about a memorable experience.

ONE-BITE COOKIE MORSELS

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and sea salt. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. Using a mixer, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and sugar on medium speed until well combined. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. Reduce speed to Low and slowly add dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Fold in mini chocolate chips. Scoop 1/2 tablespoon-sized mounds of cookie dough, form into a ball, press 2-3 mini chocolate chips into top, and place onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 5-6 minutes; remove from oven. Allow to cool for 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack.

One-Bite Cookie Morsels

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Delicious Holiday Foods: One-Bite Cookie Morsels! Years ago while traveling with my husband on a business trip, we had dinner at a popular local restaurant that extended a warm welcome to all who crossed its threshold. Before approaching the hostess stand, we were immediately greeted by the bakery-fresh aromas of homemade cookies. How delightful! On the dessert showcase, to our right, sat a plate of one-bite chocolate chip cookies with a table tent that said, “Please Take One”. I assure you, we didn’t hesitate as we munched away following the hostess to a nice, secluded corner booth. Talk about a memorable experience.

ONE-BITE COOKIE MORSELS

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and sea salt. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. Using a mixer, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and sugar on medium speed until well combined. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. Reduce speed to Low and slowly add dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Fold in mini chocolate chips. Scoop 1/2 tablespoon-sized mounds of cookie dough, form into a ball, press 2-3 mini chocolate chips into top, and place onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 5-6 minutes; remove from oven. Allow to cool for 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack.

One-Bite Cookie Morsels

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Elevated Edibles: One-Bite Cookie Morsels! Years ago while traveling with my husband on a business trip, we had dinner at a popular local restaurant that extended a warm welcome to all who crossed its threshold. Before approaching the hostess stand, we were immediately greeted by the bakery-fresh aromas of homemade cookies. How delightful! On the dessert showcase, to our right, sat a plate of one-bite chocolate chip cookies with a table tent that said, “Please Take One”. I assure you, we didn’t hesitate as we munched away following the hostess to a nice, secluded corner booth. Talk about a memorable experience.

ONE-BITE COOKIE MORSELS

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and sea salt. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. Using a mixer, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and sugar on medium speed until well combined. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. Reduce speed to Low and slowly add dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Fold in mini chocolate chips. Scoop 1/2 tablespoon-sized mounds of cookie dough, form into a ball, press 2-3 mini chocolate chips into top, and place onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 5-6 minutes; remove from oven. Allow to cool for 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack.

Chapter One Food and Drink in Mystic, Connecticut

Dining Outside the Home: Chapter One Food and Drink in Mystic, Connecticut! Small town restaurants along the eastern seaboard captivate visitors with delicacies from the Atlantic Ocean. Combine that with the charm of a landmark drawbridge on main street Mystic plus an executive chef on staff at Chapter One Food and Drink for a delightful combination. Take, for instance, their wildly popular Lobster Grilled Cheese sammie. Chunks of succulent lobster are bathed in a thick blanket of slightly salty buttery cheese. Add crispy crunchy onion rings for a party in your mouth. Better get some before they’re gone.