Category: fun food
No fair? No fair! … so cook yourself some turkey legs at home!
| October 8, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under Carolina Country, fun food, gluten free, grill thrills, honey, low carb, Mindless Mutterings from the Teacher's Lounge, published, Thanksgiving |
Smokey Spiced Grilled Turkey Legs
Published in Carolina Country Magazine November 2017
Well 2020 just keeps giving us disappointment on top of disappointment. Some of us look real forward to our NC State Fair each year, each for our own reasons. I will miss going there several mornings to judge the daily cooking contests… one of my favorite fall culinary adventures. Some go for their favorite foods scattered about the fairgrounds.
Grease! Salt! Sugar! Finger lick’n…
What’s not to love?
You can’t miss folks walking around gnawing on big ole turkey legs! This recipe was part of a few I created several years ago for Carolina Country Magazine for a little twist on Thanksgiving… and when I was thinking about fair foods to share, realized I never put this here on my blog.
We never know what sort of weather we will have here around fair time… or Thanksgiving… it might be brrrrr! cold… or we may be out in shorts and flip flops firing up our grill. Either way, these turkey legs are tasty… and something fun to cook this year during fair week to pretend you’re there! Or to give your Thanksgiving a twist too.
So grab yourself some legs and crank up the grill! Enjoy some of my tasty turkey legs… and come on over to my facebook playground and share your pics and what you think about ’em!
No fair this year... no problem! Grill your own turkey legs at home... or fix some for Thanksgiving this year.
- 5-6 medium size turkey legs
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 4 teaspoons dried oregano
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup butter
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Combine all marinade ingredients. Place turkey legs into large container with lid. Pour marinade over legs, cover and shake to coat. Refrigerate (up to 2 days), shaking periodically to coat.
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To grill: Preheat grill to high heat. Oil grates and place legs onto grill. Sear on all sides several minutes, turning to get good grill marks. Reduce heat to low or move coals to sides (for indirect heat) and continue cooking, covered, for about 50–60 minutes. Turn every few minutes to prevent burning.
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Melt butter in honey. Baste legs, turning often, the last few minutes of cooking. Remove legs when temperature reaches 165 degrees by thermometer.
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Place legs onto serving tray and pour remaining baste over legs.
Don’t throw away those watermelon rinds!
| August 28, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under bogue sound watermelons, carolina gold oil, cook & eat nekkid, fun food, garden goodness, gluten free, nekkid-throw cooking ~ what is THAT?, no cook, party foods, watermelon, wendy's signature recipes |
Stop… Don’t throw that watermelon rind away! Throw this together… Bogue Sound Watermelon Rind drizzled with Carolina Gold Oil! Great for nibblin, appetize’n… or on top of your tacos, hot dogs, salads and more.
Deviled Crab Hushpuppy Waffle & Pickled Seafood Medley ~ The New Southern Seafood Platter in Our State Magazine
| June 29, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, cornbread & hushpuppies, crab, fish, fish & seafood, fun food, lobster, Mindless Mutterings from the Teacher's Lounge, Our State Mag, scallops, shrimp |
We love a seafood platter in the summertime — especially one that features fresh, local fish. Here, we imagined what a modern twist on this classic dish might look like with these Deviled Crab Hushpuppy Waffles and Pickled Seafood Medley!
Spicy Citrus Seafood Cocktail With NC wild-caught shrimp
| June 23, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, avocado, Bruce Julian Foods, Carolina Country, cook'n with NC goodies, crab, fish & seafood, fun food, garden goodness, gluten free, lobster, low carb, published, scallops, shrimp, wendy's signature recipes |
Spicy Citrus NC Seafood Cocktail
Published in Carolina Country Magazine July 2020
Who has time or desire to do much cooking during the lazy hazy hot days of North Carolina summer? Not me! Y’all, this seafood cocktail is light… so full of flavor with just a hint of fresh citrus, and only a little bit of fuss when it comes to cook’n. Loaded with a bounty of fresh seafood from our coast, you can enjoy this for a late morning brunch… for lunch… or right out of a jar in your porch swing watching the sun set!
This is one of those recipes where specifics and exactness isn’t important — you know, throw cook’n! Use all of one seafood or whatever combo you like. Go with your favorite vegetables and what’s in season. Add veggies you like to my recipe… as The Frugal Gourmet Chef Jeff Smith would say…
“Omit and substitute! That’s how recipes should be written. Please don’t ever get so hung up on published recipes that you forget that you can omit and substitute.”
And in keeping with my North Carolina company ingredients, I chose North Carolina’s Bruce Julian’s Blood Mary Mix to finish out my recipe! Just round up what you need and throw together some of my seafood cocktail… soon! You’ll be so glad you did… and so will your company.
And while you’re at it, be sure to make some of my Savory Bay Crackers with browned butter too. Followed up with a little dish of my No-Churn Cantaloupe & Coconut Ice Cream.
Come on over, and hang out with us in my fun facebook community too, where you will find this and lots of other goodies.
Light and spicy... with just the right hint of fresh citrus, the seafood cocktail features all sorts of North Carolina goodness!
- 2 quarts favorite Bloody Mary mix* or V8
- 1 bunch radishes, roughly chopped
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1-2 tablespoons horseradish
- 4 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- zest of 1 lemon, lime, orange and juice of ½ each, Cut the remaining halves into wedges for guests to squeeze into their cocktails
- cracked black pepper
- 2 pounds wild-caught North Carolina shrimp, peeled, cooked and cooled
- 1 pound bay scallops
- 6 small lobster tails
- 2 firm avocados, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 pound lump crab meat
- cilantro
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Combine and chill the spicy sauce ingredients.
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A few minutes before serving, add about four pounds of cooked shellfish of your choice (or use our suggestions above) and gently stir in the avocados and cilantro.
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Sprinkle with crabmeat and more cilantro.
*I used NC’s Bruce Julian Bloody Mary Mix.
Savory Bay Crackers with browned butter
| June 23, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, Carolina Country, crackers, fun food, party foods, published, wendy's signature recipes |
How do you make crackers more better? Why browned butter, of course! Make these Savory Bay Crackers with browned butter to enjoy alongside all sorts of dishes!
Peanut Butter & Hot Pepper Jelly Doughnut Holes… with Peggy Roses jellies and all natural peanut butter
| June 8, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under fun food, Peggy Rose's Jellies, product recipe development, sweet treats |
You will want to make some of these scrumptious Peanut Butter and Jelly Doughnuts! Made with canned biscuits filled with Peggy Roses Hot Pepper Jelly and All Natural Peanut Butter! Y’all. Just do it.
Anytime is Deviled Egg time!
| April 8, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, bacon & belly, buttahhhh, cheesy, cook'n with NC goodies, corn, crab, duke's mayo!, Easter, fun food, gluten free, low carb, Mt. Olive Pickles, Our State Mag, party foods, product recipe development, published, sensational sides, wendy's signature recipes |
While recipe developer and food stylist at Our State Magazine, I was asked to give a classic deviled egg a North Carolina twist. These recipes inspired by our culture are fun to make and good to eat.
Pizza Bread Bowl Fondue
| January 27, 2020 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, Carolina Country, cheesy, fun food, Italian, Mindless Mutterings from the Teacher's Lounge, party foods, published |
Fondue… bread bowl pizza fondue! Try these fun ways to enjoy a simple supper or for a crowd at your next gathering. Get creative with fondue and dippers… here are a couple of favorites. Which do you like? Bread Bowl Pepperoni or Hawaiian Pizza Fondue?
Sticky Pig Twigs… can bacon get any better?
| December 29, 2019 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, bacon & belly, Carolina Country, condiments & accompaniments, fun food, here piggy piggy!, honey, party foods, Peggy Rose's Jellies, published, wendy's signature recipes |
Make a pile of these Sticky Pig Twigs, because they will disappear right before your eyes. Enjoy as is, or chopped on salads. Especially good on a juicy summer BLT … add more hot pepper if your crowd can take it!
Gingerbread Banana Pudding With Molasses Whipped Cream
| December 15, 2019 | Posted by Wendy Perry under Christmas, fun food, Mindless Mutterings from the Teacher's Lounge, molasses, party foods, published, sweet treats, wendy's signature recipes |
This southern favorite with a seasonal twist feeds quite a few folks, can be made ahead, and guests can self-serve. Find a fun, hinged, wide-mouth jar to make it in and wow your company!
Cinnamon-Pear Energy “Cookie” Bites
| October 22, 2019 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, fun food, honey, no cook, published |
Fall is here, and so are fresh pears. Use these no-bake treats as “cookies,” perfect to tuck into lunch bags for everyone’s enjoyment.
Big Mama’s Sticky Biscuits… thumbprint pepper jelly treats!
| October 20, 2019 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, baking (she said in terror), breads, fun food, Mindless Mutterings from the Teacher's Lounge, party foods, Peggy Rose's Jellies |
You will want to keep some tea biscuits on hand in your freezer to make some of these little treats with Peggy Rose’s Jelly… anytime!
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