40th Birthday Bash for Mr. Devilish Dish

A while back my husband hit the BIG 4-OH.  Much to his chagrin I wanted to throw a party.  I finally convinced him that it would be more of a "football watch party" than an actual birthday party.  (Damn I really wanted a pinata and pin the tail on the donkey.  Maybe when he's 50.)  He was born on an Oklahoma Sooners football game day, forty years ago.  My in-laws were on the way to hospital, my mother-in-law in labor when my father-in-law turned the car around and went back home.  Because he had forgotten his transistor radio to listen to the game.  And football great Greg Pruitt had an outstanding rushing game that day, while my mother-in-law was giving birth and my father-in-law was cheering on the Sooners.  And the baby was named Greg.  And he grew up and I married him.  And he turned 40 years old.  So it seemed only natural, in a family that bleeds Crimson and Cream that we should have an OU-Themed watch party in his honor.

Sloppy Sliders

I was never fond of sloppy joes as a kid.  I don't know what it was.  Something about my mom dumping that stuff out of the can and mixing it with the hamburger meat really turned me off.  Can you tell from my blog posts that I was a picky eater as a child?  You would never know it now.  I'll pretty much cook or try anything.  In an effort to do so, I've been revisiting some childhood favorites and not-so-favorites.  And guess what?  I figured out that I actually like sloppy joes now.  Well this version that is.  You could certainly serve them on a full-sized bun but serving them on the sweet Hawaiian-style rolls makes them party perfect.  I made these awhile back for my husband's birthday party and to say they were a hit would be an understatement.  One of my guests actually said, "Now I know what the food in Heaven is going to taste like."  Talk about a compliment!  The best part is the mixture can be made ahead and kept warm in a crock pot.  Re-visit this updated childhood favorite at your next tailgate or get together.  Then you can know what the food in Heaven tastes like too.

The Sloppy Slider Soiree...
(Don't panic, it all goes in one pot. 
It just LOOKS like there is a lot going on.)

Heat oil in a Dutch oven. 
Add onion...

And peppers.  Cook for about 5 minutes.

Add ground beef.

When meat starts to brown, add garlic.
(I know this looks like A LOT.  I tripled
this batch when I made it for Mr. DD's
birthday party.)

Drain grease from pot.
De-glaze with red wine.

Stir in brown sugar
and seasonings.

Add Worcestershire sauce.

And vinegar.

Add tomato paste.

And tomato sauce.

Simmer for 30 minutes and serve.
(I was so busy with the party that I
didn't get pictures of the mixture
on the slider rolls.  People were eating
6 and 7 of them at a time.  Mayhem!)

Bourbon Slush A.K.A. Touchdown Tea

My husband was lucky enough to be born during an OU Sooners football game.  Well he might think it was lucky.  His parents would disagree.  The story goes my in-laws were on the way to the hospital, my mother-in-law was in labor.  Halfway there, my father-in-law turned the car around and went back home. Why? Because he forgot his radio and wanted to listen to the OU game at the hospital.  People around here bleed Crimson and Cream.  So when his 40th birthday rolled around, I knew a big football-themed party was just the thing.  I carefully selected the menu, giving each recipe a football-related name.  My Crack Corn became Sooner Sweet & Salty Popcorn.  My Simple From Scratch Brownies became Boomer Brownies.  And my refreshing Bourbon Slushes became Touchdown Tea.  Similar to my Vodka Slush recipe, this version uses bourbon, orange juice and sweet tea.  Refreshing, with a bourbon kick.  Perfect for tailgating, the lake or parties, it's a real Touchdown!

The Bourbon Slush Line-Up

Combine juice concentrates with
sweet tea and water.

Add sugar.

Add bourbon and mix well.

Place in freezer-safe container
and freeze until solid.

Scoop into cups and top
with chilled 7-UP.

The Liebster Award--Thanks a Million!!!

I don't deserve this award, but I have
arthritis and I don't deserve that either.
--Jack Benny

What do you do when you hop on your blog and find out someone has given you a blog award?  The happy dance!  That's what.  I logged onto my blog this weekend to find out that Michaela from An Affair From The Heart had picked lil ol me for The Liebster Award.

In German, LIEBSTER means (n.) beloved, dear, dearest, love
WOW!  Someone feels that way about my blog?  I am so thrilled.  I love sharing recipes and stories with each and every one of you, but to know someone actually feels this way about me.    GUSH!
If you would like to see what Michaela said about my blog, and the other nominees you can visit here page at:

An Affair From The Heart Liebster Award 

Michaela and I have been friends for a long time.  Not only do I value her friendship dearly, but she is an excellent cook.  If I need a recipe on the fly, I know I can call her.  No matter the occasion.  And I know it's tried and true and I don't have to make a test batch.  While you are on her page, be sure and check out her awesome recipes and events.  Michaela throws wonderful parties and makes the best centerpieces.  I am truly honored to call her friend. 
The rules that come along for the recipient of this blog award are simple:

1)  Show your thanks to the blogger that gave you the award by linking back to them.

2)  Reveal your Top 5 Picks by leaving a comment on their blog.

3)  Post the award on your blog.

4)  Enjoy the love of some of the most supportive people on the internet.

And now my choices for the Liebster Award in random order are:

StuffYourselfSilly  --This great cook and her family enjoy spending their free time camping.  Which I greatly admire the fact that she can prepare wonderful meals and desserts in a camper.  I'm not much of a camper.  In fact, I've said many times, "My idea of camping out is driving to the Holiday Inn in a convertible."  However, with StuffYourselfSilly for inspiration, I might just give it a try!

The Domestic Mama --The headline on Michelle's blog says it all, "Life is about having good food, good fun and a good laugh."  Don't visit her blog if you are hungry.  Recipes like Pumpkin Macadamia Fudge and Salted Caramel Flan will have you licking your computer screen.  She has lots of fun, kid friendly recipes too!

Blog of a Peri-Menopausal Woman...When I Remember -- I think all of us need to remember to laugh at ourselves once in a while.  Marcy does it every day.  If you need a lift, check her out on Facebook.  Her photos and anecdotes will have you laughing so hard, you'll cry.

Brasilian Recipes & other delectable delights from around the world -- These gals monitor a great page for swapping recipes.  You can also get advice on creating a recipe scrapbook, as well as share recipes from your heritage.  Do not miss the delicious Latin American recipes either!

Cooking With Mel -- Join Melissa on her "pilgrimage toward cooking perfection."  She not only shares yummy recipes, but many of them are great for those watching weight.  She even has a section on gluten-free recipes!

There are my nominees for The Liebster Award.  I hope everyone pays them a visit and enjoys their pages as much as I do.  It will be fun to see who the nominees choose as their 5 winners. 

What a fun, but difficult choice to make.  Thanks again Michaela and to all of my friends and readers!

Two Lookin' At Ya Meatloaf

Several years ago we had a good family friend who played football for the Oklahoma Sooners.  Every year the Sooners meet up with the University of Texas Longhorns and play a game in the Cotton Bowl at the Texas State Fair in Dallas.  It's known as the Red River Rivalry.  We would always have our friend over for dinner the week of the big OU/Texas game.  You know, to fuel him up so he'd be ready to beat the heck out of Texas.  Big, burly boys like meatloaf right?  I thought so.  So I made this version, sliced it up and put it on the serving platter only to hear, "What the heck is this?" from my husband.  Our friend replied, "I don't know but it's got Two Lookin' At Ya."  And the name stuck.  And the tradition stuck.  Every year we have this meal the week of the OU/Texas game.  You know for luck.  Because we're superstitious like that.  Try this version, it's meaty and doesn't have any bread crumb/cracker filler.  Just simple, hearty, meaty flavor, with the unusual but tasty addition of hard boiled eggs.  Go OU!

What the heck is that?

The Line-Up

Season beef with seasoned salt, pepper
and garlic salt.

Place half of the beef mixture
in bottom of casserole dish,
creating an oval shape.
Top with pairs of boiled eggs.

Cover with remaining beef and
press edges together to seal.



Pour tomato sauce over meatloaf.
Top with chopped parsley and bake.



Let rest before slicing and serving.

Two Lookin' At Ya Meatloaf

3 pounds ground beef (80% lean)
seasoned salt to taste
pepper to taste
garlic salt to taste
4-6 large eggs, hard boiled and peeled
1 (16 ounce) can tomato sauce
chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl mix together beef, seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic salt.  In the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch casserole dish, form 1/2 of the meat mixture into an oval shape.  Place eggs in pairs down the length of the meat.  Arrange remaining meat mixture over the eggs, pressing edges together to seal.  Pour tomato sauce over top and around meat.  Sprinkle with chopped parsley.  Bake for 1 1/2 hours.  Remove from oven.  Let stand 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Ghoulishly Great Giveaway

I love Halloween.  It's my absolute fiendishly favorite holiday.  If my husband wouldn't be horrified and turn into a pumpkin, I would leave my creepy cool Halloween decorations up year round.  He's kind of evil when it comes to that, in fact he's downright gruesome.  He also refuses to dress up like Dracula and I'll never understand why because he has black hair.  He's already halfway there.  He just needs fangs and a cape.  Party Pooper.  No treats for him!  I'm usually the first one with a pumpkin on my porch and goblins in my graveyard.  It's the bone-chilling best time of year for terrifyingly-tempting treats too.  Cauldrons of candy to be eaten.  Plus every devilishly delicious thing you can imagine made with pumpkin or apples.  Baking and Halloween just go together like ghosts in a Haunted House.  So I thought I would have a Frightenly Fun Giveaway to celebrate my hallowed time of year!
GHOULISHLY GREAT GIVEAWAY:

Here's the Scary-Simple Rules To Enter...

1)  LIKE The Devilish Dish on Facebook

2)  Suggest The Devilish Dish to at least one friend on Facebook.

3)  Come back here and leave a comment telling why you Love this time of year too!

It's that easy...Come on, you want my October to be full of TREATS and not TRICKS don't you???

I will select a winner via random.org on Saturday, October 15th at the witching hour of midnight.  You must live in the continental 48 United States to enter. 

The Fiendishly-Fortunate Winner will receive:
A Jack-O-Lantern Oven mitt, 2 Jack-O-Lantern
Pot holders, 24 regular sized Jack-O-Lantern cupcake liners with
matching Jack-O-Lantern flag picks and 100 mini Jack-O-Lantern
cupcake liners. 
(Sorry friends my Life is Witch sign is not included.)

Close Up of the mini cupcake liners...

Close Up of the regular sized cupcake
liners with matching picks.

Hope to see lots of you enter.  Best of luck.  And don't forget to enjoy every creepishly cool minute of this spooktacular season!  Bob for lots of apples, eats lots of candy, scare lots of people and cackle like a witch!

Church Supper Taco Salad

As the child of a Baptist Deacon I can vouch that I was at church EVERY TIME the door was open.  The first Wednesday night of each month was my favorite.  That was church supper night.  Everyone brought a dish and enjoyed the fellowship of eating together.  Like a big potluck for Jesus.  There were three things that HAD to be on my plate.  And apparently everyone else's because if you didn't get them the first time (especially the dessert) there was no going back later.  I learned early on to load up on Taco Salad, Apple Fritters and Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.  It's funny how something as simple as a recipe brings on the memories.  One bite of this taco salad and I was a little girl, right back in line beside my parents, holding my paper plate.  Straining to see if there would be any apple fritters or chocolate peanut butter bars left by the time we got through the line.  I've always loved this recipe.  It's great during the hot summer, and something just a little different.

Colorful and tasty!

The Taco Salad Line-Up

Brown the ground beef.
(I added a little chopped onion too)

Combine cooked and drained beef,
drained beans, lettuce,
tomatoes and cheese in a large bowl.

Toss with Catalina dressing. 
Add tortilla chips just prior to serving.

Ole!