Month: August 2015

Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs

kebab 1Have you ever noticed that food tends to taste better on sticks.  I don’t know why, but there is something more appealing and tasty about it.  I was just at the Iowa State Fair last week and I enjoyed a pork chop on a stick and a bacon wrapped rib on a stick…delicious! So, to keep the fair fun going in my back yard, I designed this tasty kebab with some of my ordinary grilling staples.  It includes potatoes flavored with olive oil, garlic, and dill. And when you thread that with onions and green peppers, the flavors meld beautifully.    

kebabs 4

kebab 5So get out your skewers and let’s start cooking.  If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning on the grill.  This is a picture of my skewers soaking in water on a cookie sheet.

skewersStart by cutting the baby potatoes in half.  Then place the baby potatoes in enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes so that the potatoes are fork tender. Then drain them and rinse them with cold water so they are easier to handle.

cooking potatoesThen cut up 1 green pepper into 1-inch pieces.

green pepperThen cut up the onion into 1-inch pieces.

onionsThen cut up the pre-cooked bratwurst on a slant in 1-inch size pieces.

bratsNow in a bowl mix the potatoes with 2 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

potatoes and spicesAlternately thread bratwurst, onion, potato, and green pepper onto 8 12-inch skewers.

putting it on skewersGrill kebabs, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until bratwurst is browned, turning frequently.

Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs 1Now you have a great twist on bratwurst to serve at your next backyard barbecue.

kebab 6

 

Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs

Ingredients

  • 10 -12 baby potatoes
  • 1 Vadalia onion
  • 1 green pepper
  • 2 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 package of (cooked) Johnsonville Stadium Bratwurst or other pre-cooked bratwurst

Instructions

  1. So get out your skewers and let's start cooking. If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning on the grill. This is a picture of my skewers soaking in water on a cookie sheet.
  2. Start by cutting the baby potatoes in half. Then place the baby potatoes in enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes so that the potatoes are fork tender. Then drain them and rinse them with cold water so they are easier to handle.
  3. Then cut up 1 green pepper into 1-inch pieces.
  4. Then cut up the onion into 1-inch pieces.
  5. Then cut up the pre-cooked bratwurst on a slant in 1-inch size pieces.
  6. Now in a bowl mix the potatoes with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
  7. Alternately thread bratwurst, onion, potato, and green pepper onto 8 12-inch skewers.
  8. Grill kebabs, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until bratwurst is browned, turning frequently.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/08/20/bratwurst-and-potato-kebabs/

Corn on the Cob with Chive and Garlic Butter

chive and garlic butter 1It’s sweet corn season here in Iowa, and boy have I been eating my share of corn.  My sister and her husband grew a small patch of sweet corn on their farm leaving us with an incredible amount to eat and freeze.  Last week we had sweet corn for supper two times and we froze bags of sweet corn all day on Friday.  After having sweet corn so many times last week, I decided to find a way to spice it up. 

chive and garlic butter 5Knowing that I have a wonderful chive plant by my back door I thought I would combine its light flavor with the buttery corn for a perfect combination.  I decided to include garlic salt to add just a splash of garlic buttery flavor needed to excite my taste buds.  This butter is amazing on corn as well as bread, shrimp, and fish.

So let’s get started!  The first thing you need to do is let the 1 stick of butter (1/2 of a cup) set out until it’s softened.

softened butterNow finely chop 2 tablespoons of fresh chives.

chives

 

minced chivesMix the chives into the softened butter.

chives mixed in butter

Then add 1/4 tablespoon of garlic powder and 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt.

garlic salt

Now set the butter to the side and cook your sweet corn.  In a pot of boiling salted water cook the corn until tender for 6 to 8 minutes. Then drain and serve with butter.

boiling waterNow you are ready to enjoy this butter on all of your favorite dishes.

chive and garlic butter 2

 

Corn on the Cob with Chive and Garlic Butter

Ingredients

  • 6 ears of corn, husks and silk removed
  • 1/2 cup of softened butter
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh chives finely minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Instructions

  1. The first thing you need to do is let the 1 stick of butter (1/2 of a cup) set out until it's softened.
  2. Now finely chop 2 tablespoons of fresh chives.
  3. Mix the chives into the softened butter.
  4. Then add 1/4 tablespoon of garlic powder and 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt.
  5. Now set the butter to the side and cook your sweet corn. In a pot of boiling salted water cook the corn until tender for 6 to 8 minutes. Then drain and serve with butter.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/08/04/corn-on-the-cob-with-chive-and-garlic-butter/

corn on the cob with chive and garlic butter long pin