Midwest Favorites Part 1

Ready for Midwest food favorites? This week we head over to the Midwest states and check out what sort of dishes, food and feasting they are famous for! To start our tour let's visit Nebraska and all those corn fields. It's no wonder they call themselves the Cornhusker state, since they grow and husk A LOT of corn. Try our Corn Relish Recipe to celebrate Nebraska in style.

Corn Relish

The Midwest wouldn't be on the map without Kansas, also known for its bodacious barbecue and of course home to Dorothy and that Wizard dude. Our Barbecue Beef Casserole is a delicious way to explore Kansas, even if you can't get over there anytime soon!

Barbecue Beef Casserole

Oklahoma is one of those states I couldn't come up with an actual recipe picture for because not many people indulge in Okra delights. But...that's what Oklahoma is famous for and I am not one to down play all that "O" food. Try our no bake Oatmeal cookies to satisfy your "O" craving.

No Bake Oatmeal Cookies

I've been to Texas myself and I can tell you that many things are bigger in Texas, simply by virtue of size alone. The state is huge! I hope you have a huge appetite because in honor of Texas being the "Steak State" I featured our Boston Market Meatloaf as a possible recipe to help celebrate Texas's hugeness.

Boston Market Meatloaf

I hope you are enjoying our state by state tour of famous food and recipes. I am having fun putting these posts together. Don't forget to connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite State food, or visit Alicia's Recipes for more yummy and free recipe ideas.

Irish-Inspired Recipes!

Whether you have Irish ancestry in your family tree, or not a lick of leprechaun love at all in you...you cannot deny that the Irish have a very distinct style of cooking!  In an attempt to honor their unique menu, here is a few recipes that come close to resembling an Irish meal adventure.  Visit Alicia's Recipes for more ideas!

Cabbage Soup

Nothing says Irish like cabbage soup, besides corned beef but we'll get to that.  Having an Irish grandmother means you get really familiar with all things cabbage quick.  (My grandmother knows every cabbage recipe known to man or woman or little green men.)  Try our cabbage soup recipe to see what the big deal is...it's yummy!

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Although I refused to eat it when I was younger, (the name was a stumbling block for my taste-buds) I have lately embraced the unique flavor of corned beef.  There are a few different methods and cooking styles out there, but our recipe keeps it simple to get you started.

Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

And don't forget to bake up a few dozen oatmeal cookies to go with your evening of Irish dining!  These spicy oatmeal raisin cookies will delight your mouth and your company!  Enjoy!  We love feedback and photos, so if you try one of our recipes be sure to send us a picture and we'll feature it!

New recipes added

Hi everyone! Just wanted to pop in and share with you some of the latest recipes that have been added to the Alicia's. There's also a giveaway this month for a microwave quesadilla maker, so be sure to enter (see end of post)!

New recipes:

Banana and Peanut Butter Pancakes
Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes
Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes
Blueberry-Bran Pancakes
Sweet Potato Pecan Waffles
Bartlett Harlequin Jam
Caramel Apple Pear Cobbler
Grilled Pears with Currants
Oatmeal Muffins
Spiced Pear Bread
Blackberry Muffins (pictured)
Crock Pot Sausage And Sweet Potatoes
Crock Pot Sausage Chowder
Crockpot Chili With Beans
Crockpot Taco Soup
Applesauce Pancakes
Impossibly Easy Italian Chicken Pie
Red Lobster Biscuits
Duck Cassoulet
Blackberry Breakfast Bars
Blackberry Crepes
Jeanie's Tomato Salsa
Chocolate Sauce

Enter our giveaway!

This month, enter to win this MiracleWare Microwave Quesadilla Maker & Tortilla Warmer.

Great for kids and dorms! Make quesadillas the easy and tidy way -- in the microwave! Our microwave quesadilla maker lets you pile on the fillings without worrying about flipping and making a mess on the stove.

Rules: Must be a legal U.S. resident, 18 years or older. You may enter once per day. Entries will be accepted through midnight, CST on August 15, 2010. Winner will be drawn at random and notified via email.  They will have 7 days to respond or an alternate winner will be drawn.

To enter, click here and fill out the form

January is National Oatmeal Month: Recipes and Facts

January is National Oatmeal Month. Did you know that Americans buy more oatmeal during the month of January than any other month during the year? It's no wonder, oatmeal is a hot breakfast, perfect for cold, wintery days, and it's good for you. Many create New Year's resolutions to eat better and improve their health, so it's just natural for so much oatmeal to be consumed during the blustery days of January.

Below are a bunch of recipes from our site that use oatmeal as an ingredient. You can see our complete search for "oats" here, or visit our Oatmeal Cookie section here. Be sure to check out our oatmeal tips below as well!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Almond Granola Bars
Low Fat Fruit & Oatmeal Bars
Apple Crisp
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Honey Banana Bread
Mennonite Oatmeal Cake
Cranberry Caramel Bars
Granola
Cowboy Cookie Mix

Oatmeal Tips
by Amanda Formaro

Oatmeal is a very versatile grain. You can cook it and eat it as is, use it in baked goods, and even make it into soap! There are several different types of oatmeal, knowing the difference can save you from a bowl of cardboard for breakfast.

Types of Oatmeal
There are several types of oatmeal, the most common being old fashioned oats, quick cooking oats, steel cut oats, and instant oatmeal. All oatmeal is made from oat groats. Oat groats are minimally processed whole oats that take a long time to cook in their whole state.

Old Fashioned Oats
Probably the most common type of oats, widely available on grocer shelves, old fashioned oats are used in baking as well as cooked and eaten for breakfast. This type of oat has been steam heated and then flattened, forming an oat flake. A bowl of old fashioned oatmeal usually takes about 5 minutes in boiling water or 2-3 minutes in the microwave.

Quick Cooking Oats
These are basically old fashioned oats that have been flattened further still and cut into smaller pieces to allow them to cook faster. This process allows for a much faster cooking time.

Want to read the rest of this article?
Visit Bean Tips on Alicia's Recipes to read the rest!