The Keg & Baja Cantina - Wisconsin Dells WI

We ventured to Wisconsin Dells last weekend and had lots of good food and drink. One bar we stopped at for dinner was The Keg & Baja Cantina in Wisconsin Dells WI. It was a sports bar with a friendly staff.  There was a sports bar on one side and patio bar on the other side. The price was kind of high but the food was good. The waitress was nice but she could have been better.


 My brother had the The Keg & Baja Cantina Double Bacon Cheese Burger with a few extra patties added to it and he devoured it with french fries.

I had the prime rib sandwich with dipping sauce. It had a very good flavor but was just meat and bun with no onions or other veggies at all.



All in all I may not frequent The Keg & Baja Cantina in Wisconsin Dells WI if I was looking for dinner but the atmosphere was good for a young person who just wanted to drink.

We stopped later and hung out at the Baja Cantina patio and the dueling pianos were just finishing up and they were very good. Wish we would have showed up there sooner. They did let some people do karaoke which was very entertaining.  All in all fun night.





The Keg & Baja Cantina

Turkey Tacos

This meal is super easy and these Turkey Tacos Recipe only take about 20 minutes to put on the table.

Turkey Tacos

I start making turkey tacos by stir frying some peppers, jalapenos and onions. When those are tender I will add some sliced fresh mushrooms. I then add some ground turkey, shredded turkey, chicken or beef, black and green olives.  Then black beans, pinto beans, rice or corn if you like. I didn’t this time but it is your taco so add anything you like. I will season with a package of taco seasoning, some salsa or hot sauce. I sometimes will use all leftover things to make up turkey tacos when I need to clean out the refrigerator. You can season with anything you like. I like mine very spicy. Heat up you taco shells for turkey tacos either by oven, on the stove or in the microwave. I will sometimes fry them in a little oil so they are crispy.

To load up the turkey tacos I take a shell and put the turkey taco recipe mixture on it with some lettuce, cheese and sour cream. At this point you can add some salsa or hot sauce. I like to crush up some regular or flavored tortilla chips to put in the turkey taco. You can eat them now or return them to oven for a few minutes to melt cheese.

Enjoy these wonderful easy turkey tacos.



Real simple Turkey tacos Recipe




 

Chicken Fried Steak

Chicken Fried Steak is a great Sunday dinner. It is crunchy and has a wonderful flavor. The recipe is easy and I baked it instead of frying it which makes it a little healthier.

Chicken Fried Steak

Pre Heat oven to 350 degrees.

I started by cutting up a sirloin round steak into portions about the size of you palm. I then took a mallet and pounded out the steaks on both sides. I seasoned them and set them aside until I was ready to coat them.

I used one bowl for an egg wash which had in it 2 eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.

The second bowl had flour, corn flakes, Cajun seasoning, chipotle seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, sriracha seasoning, and salt. A few shakes of each will work.

I took the steak and put it into the egg wash then in the flour corn flake mixture until it is coated completely. I sprayed the bottom of a glass bake dish with nonstick spray and put the steaks in the dish along with a few pats of butter around the steaks.

They went into the oven for 35-45 minutes. The inner temperature of the steak should be 140 – 160 degrees.

Gravy

While the chicken fried steaks are cooking I made up some gravy for them. I took some sliced mushrooms, a garlic clove, sliced onions, Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce, and butter. Cooked them on low heat until the onion is translucent.

I then added 2 tsp at a time of Wondra flour and stirred until it absorbed all the butter and juice. I then put in ½ cup of half and half. Stir that until it is smooth. When that comes to a boil I turned down and let cook for a few minutes. After a few minutes it will start to thicken and if not I added another spoonful until it was as thick as I needed. If it is too thick you will need to add some more half and half.

Let the chicken fried steak cool for a few minutes before serving when it comes out of the oven. Top with Gravy and enjoy.

 

Chicken-fried-steak-recipe

Homemade Tortillas

These were very easy to make and cooked up really well. There is such a difference between homemade tortillas verse store bought flour tortillas. I will definitely make them again. They browned up nice when cooked. I made Enchiladas the next day with the homemade tortillas. That recipe will follow in a few days.

Homemade Tortillas

Start the tortilla recipe by mixing dry ingredients together. 3 Cups of Flour, 2 tsp Salt, 1 tsp Baking powder. When everything is thoroughly mixed you can now add 1/3 cup olive oil to the dry ones. As you mix it you can add up to 1 cup warm water.

Mix the homemade tortillas until it holds together and kneed it for about 10 minutes. I then covered with some wrap and put in the refrigerator to let it sit for a few hours.

When the homemade tortillas have sat for a few hours you take the dough out and cut it into golf ball size pieces. Roll out the balls into flat tortillas using lots of flour so they don’t stick to the rolling pin or surface. When the homemade tortillas are rolled out very thin you should heat a skillet to med high heat.

I sprayed the surface with some nonstick spray. When the pan is hot put the rolled out tortilla in the pan and let it cook for about 1 minute then flip to other side for about 30 seconds. It should have some brown spots on each side when they are cooked but it should not be stiff and crunchy. If they are getting too brown turn down the heat and if they are taking longer than 1 minute you will need to turn the heat up.

Put the homemade tortillas on a plate to keep them warm so you can use them right away. Leftovers should be refrigerated for up to 1 week or you can freeze them for up to 6 months. My homemade tortilla Enchiladas will be posted in a few days.

Enjoy

The definition of the Tortilla is – A name given by the Spaniards to the unleavened flat bread they found in Mexico among the Aztec in the sixteenth century. The word “tortilla comes from the Spanish word “torta” which means round cake.

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

This is a very easy recipe and the Portobello mushrooms were very juicy.  Portobello Mushrooms can be a very low fat alternative for  beef in this Hamburger.

 

 

 

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

 

 

I started by removing the stems and marinating the Portobello mushroom tops.  I put some red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and seasoning in a gallon zip lock bag.  Any amount is fine but use more vinegar that oil and the juice of one lemon for two portobello mushroom tops.    You can use any seasonings you like.  I used garlic, onion powder, Salt, Pepper, pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, paprika, and some salt free seasoning.  You can add or subtract any you like or dislike.  These will marinate for about 20 minutes or more if you have the time.

 

 

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

 

 

I Sautéed diced red pepper and onions until they were cooked and then adding some red sauce and seasoning to a pan cooking until it was warm.  I used garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chopped cilantro and parsley. 

 

I put the Portobello mushroom tops in a pan under side up.  Poured the red sauce concoction into the top and baked in the oven for 30 minutes.

I shut the oven off and put a piece of Swiss cheese over the Portobello Mushroom Burgers and let it melt.  When it was melted I put the bagel flat over the Portobello mushroom to heat it up. 

 

Serve the Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Mayo, Lettuce, tomato and the condiments you love.  This burger is very diet friendly and taste amazing.

 

Enjoy

 

 

More Portobello Mushroom Recipes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBQ Shredded Chicken

 This is a very easy recipe that I put in the crockpot before work and it was done when I walked through the door after work.  It is tangy and delicious. 

 

 

BBQ Shredded Chicken

 

 

Put whatever amount of chicken breast in a crockpot you desire. Put on top of it some peppers, onions and a jalapeno. Add to the chicken and vegetables some juice. I used some Tomato and Green Chili juice but you can add chicken bouillon or just water.  You can add whatever seasoning you like.  Some ideas are Italian Seasoning, paprika, sage, tyme, chili powder, chipolte powder, or onion powder.  If you like it hot add some red pepper flakes but not too many or it will be too hot to enjoy.

 

Cook on low in the crockpot for at least 4-8 hours.  The chicken is so tender by cooking it this way.

 Shred it up and add some BBQ sauce of your choice, hot sauce, steak sauce in whatever amounts and combinations you like.




BBQ Sauce Recipe

I made slaw to top them by combining shredded Cabbage and Miracle Whip.  A couple of spoonful’s will work.  Add 1 TBS olive oil, 2 tsp of cerlery salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp chili powder and 1 tsp salt. 

I used some bagel thins for a bun topped it with BBQ Shredded Chicken, BBQ Sauce, and Cole Slaw on top.  You can omit any of the above ingredients and just have a BBQ Shredded Chicken Sandwich by itself.

Enjoy

 

 

 

 

Milwaukee Burger Company

My brother and I ventured out to the Milwaukee Burger Company which we will do when we are in Eau Claire Wisconsin.

The service at the Milwaukee Burger Company is always great and the food is always wonderful with huge helpings.  I ordered The Defibrillator which was a double cheese burger, Chicken Fried Bacon and Fried Cheese Curds with lots of extras.

I never thought Bacon could get any better but they deep fry it and it is out of this world.  It is usually too much food so my brother always will help me finish mine off that is of course after he has finished his own.


Milwaukee Burger Company is a must try restaurant but be sure to baggy pants because you will get a lot of food whatever you order.

Chocolate Granola Hamburger

This recipe was designed for a Granola challenge I am in for Golden Girl Granola. I thought this would be unique way to use the granola and this granola hamburger smells like cookies while they cook in the oven.

Chocolate Granola Hamburger

Recipe Makes 4 Patties

Chocolate Granola Hamburger

1 lbs. lean Hamburger

½ cup Chocolate Decadence Golden Girl Granola

¼ cup chopped Red Pepper & Onion

3 TBS Brown Sugar

1 TBS orange zest

2 tsp of Fresh Orange juice

2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Salt & Pepper

8 slices of Cranberry Cheese

10 small spinach leaves

4 Brioche Buns

Summer Orange Mayo

1 cup Mayo

2 tsp Orange zest

1 tsp Sugar

½ tsp salt

Mix first 9 ingredients together and form into burger patties. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook. These can be grilled, baked, or fried. I baked them for about 30 minutes on 325 degrees until they are about 160 degrees internally.

Mayo Recipe:

1 cup mayo with orange zest, salt and sugar. Put covered in refrigerator until hamburgers are ready.

When they are cooked I will turn off heat source and put slices of chees on them and let it melt. Then I warm up the bun at the same time.

Serve on warm bun with Cocolate Granola Hamburger, spinach leaves and some orange mayo.

It is truly wonderful and taste so sweet and light. The chocolate granola in the burger was just icing on the cake.

Enjoy


Golden Girl Granola Webpage

Beef & Veggie French Bread Sandwich

This is a wonderful meal that can be in made in less than 30 minutes. We ate this vitamin packed sautéed veggie and beef mix on toasted French bread.

Beef & Veggie French Bread Sandwich

Sauté the veggies of your choice in a little olive oil. I used thin sliced carrots, peppers, jalapenos, and zucchini. I cooked them for about 10 minutes to get them tender. Then added some broccoli slaw and seasoned with salt, pepper, Asian seasoning, garlic and onion pepper, and cooked another 10 minutes.

I added my leftover smoked beef roast thinly sliced.

Last I added some sweet and sour sauce to the beef and veggies. Give them a few minutes to get happy together. Then top with the cheese of your choice and let it melt.

I served on toasted French bread. This Beef & Veggie French Bread sandwich was amazing and we had plenty of leftovers for lunches the next few days.

Enjoy

The History of French Bread

The beginnings of French bread can be found in Vienna in the middle of the 19th century. Prior to this period, bread was baked in a dry oven, producing a loaf that was less consistent in texture. The invention and use of the steam oven allowed for the control of temperature and baking time that produced a loaf of bread with a soft, creamy interior and thick, brown crust.
In the 1920s, a law was passed to prohibit bakers from working before four in the morning. Since most bakers got up well before this to start their loaves, a change was made. Instead of forming the bread into the wide, flat loaves that had been previously been popular, bakers began to form their dough into long, thin loaves no more than 2-1/2 inches in diameter. This new shape allowed the bread to cook more quickly; bakers could now serve the breakfast crowd while obeying the labor law.

Margarita Burger

This is a wonderful recipe that is light and full of flavor.  The lime mayo is tangy yet sweet.  Bring on the summer. 

Margarita Burger

 

 

Makes 4 Patties

 

1 pound lean ground beef, chicken or turkey.

½ cup combined Onion, Jalapeno, and green pepper.

Juice from 2 Limes

Lime zest of 2 Limes

4 TBS Tequila

1 tsp salt

½ Cup Parmesan cheese

¼ Shredded Italian cheese

10 small spinach leaves

4 Brioche Buns

 

 

Lime Mayo

1 Cup Mayo

Zest of ½ Lime

Juice of ½ Lime

½ tsp salt

1 tsp of sugar

 

Combine first 7 ingredients and form into 4 patties.  Let sit for a few minutes while grill warms up. 

 

 

 

Grill, bake or fry the margarita burgers until done and 160 degrees internally.  

 

Make mayo by combining 1 cup mayo with lime zest, lime juice, salt and sugar.  If these are for adults only you can add 1 tps of Tequila to the mayo.  Put covered in refrigerator until margarita hamburgers are ready.

 

Shut off grill and sprinkle the margarita burgers with ½ cup Italian cheese blend and let melt.  Warm the bun halves on grill while waiting for cheese to melt. 

 

Serve one bun with the margarita burger, top with spinach leaves and lime mayo. 

 

 

Enjoy

 

 

 

Mexicali Beer Margaritas

 

 

Peach Granola Bake

This recipe was created because of an abundance of products and a great price on fresh peaches.

 

Peach Granola Bake

 

 

I started by cutting up the peach.  I didn’t peel the peach but washed them with care.

 

 

I added some sugar and the amount can vary from ½ Cup to 1 Cup.  It depends on how sweet you want it to be.  I added 3 TBS of cornstarch so it would thicken while cooking.

 

 

 

I poured on top of the peaches some chocolate granola I had left over from a granola contest.    I added a few pats of butter on top of the granola and put the peach granola bake in the oven on 350 for about 40 minutes or until the peaches are tender.

 

 

Let cool and serve with ice cream.

 

 Enjoy

 

Summer Desserts

Chili

Chili is a wonderful recipe for summer days. It is easy and can be made in the crockpot so that the house doesn't have to get all heated up and there will be plenty of leftovers for the entire week.

Chili

I start the Chili with sauté onions, mushrooms, peppers and beans, with some ground beef. The meat part of this chili is up to you. You can add anything from ground turkey or chicken, beef shredded or ground omit it all together.

Add a can or two of diced tomatoes with the juice to the chili. You can add a package of chili seasoning if you have one or just some chili powder, onion powder and garlic.

I then add tomato sauce, small amount of tomato juice, beans and they can be whatever you like and have on hand.I used black beans and kidney beans.I then added corn or another other ingredient that I might have missed. Leave the chili on low for a few hours. During this time if it seems to dry you can add some more tomato juice or another can of tomatoes until it is at the Chili is the consistency you like.

Serve the Chili hot with cornbread. The recipe is below.



Cornbread Recipe

Enjoy