Summer Fresh Peach-Pineapple Slaw

Easy and Fresh, this make-ahead Summer Salad is Perfect for any seafood taco, or BBQ side dish.

Peach-Pineapple Slaw

1 pkg chopped cole slaw mix

1 cup diced fresh, grilled or canned, pineapple

1/2 cup diced peach frozen, thawed

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup #SaucyMama Honey Dijon Dressing 

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 tsp celery seed

1 Tablespoon finely slivered jalapeño

Salt & pepper

Mix and refrigerate for 1 hour to overnight. 

Saucy Mama - Simply Delicious!

Getting Saucy with Saucy Mama!
Sauced-Up Pretzel Burger & Candied Bacon Spinach Salad

Last Month I was honored to be selected by Barhyte Specialty Foods to compete in their 2014 Saucy Mama Blogger Contest. The object of the contest is to use their products in a recipe, and share it with your blogging audience. They sent me a case of their sauces, and an offer to do a product give away! I'm super excited about the give-away! It means that one of YOU will receive a prize pack with 3 bottles of Saucy Mama Sauces! More on that later, but for now, lets get on with being saucy!

What a fun time I've had in the kitchen for the past few days! These sauces are awesome! They're so awesome, that I couldn't stop with one recipe. I made candied bacon with the Honey Barbecue, I made Saucy Vidalia Onions, I made Grilled Chicken Marinated with Four Leaf Balsamic Dressing, I made some fantastic Sauced-Up Pretzel Burgers, and I made Candied Bacon Spinach Salad. This is the best spinach salad I've ever had, so I have to share it with you. Its simple, and delicious! 

First, start with this~~~

Saucy Candied bacon

Saucy Candied Bacon

Sauce for candied bacon-

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon honey

1/3 cup Saucy Mama Honey Barbecue Wing Sauce

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp salt

Mix into thick sauce to baste the bacon

Directions:

Slice block of bacon in Half down the middle

Spread slices on foil covered pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Flip, then baste with Barbecue sauce mixture then return to oven for another 15 minutes basting every 5 minutes until sauce is used up. Transfer to wire rack to drain.

Be careful with this stuff! Guard it well! I made a pound but when I turned my back it disappeared, so I had to make another pound. I was literally fighting off the grabby fingers with a set of tongs! My suggestion is make 4 pounds when nobody else is home. That way you can eat 6 or 20 slices without a witness, but still have enough for spinach salad and.... BURGERS. yes. I must do it. 

Next, make this~~

Candied Bacon Spinach Salad

5 to 6 oz  fresh baby spinach, washed and patted dry
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
1 medium red onion, sliced thinly
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 package (12 to 16 oz) bacon, candied and crumbled
1/2 cup Saucy Mama Honey Dijon Dressing
2 hard boiled eggs, sliced
1/2 tsp celery seed

In a large bowl, toss spinach, tomatoes, onion, blue cheese and candied bacon with Saucy Mama Honey Dijon Dressing.
Top with Sliced eggs, and sprinkle with celery seed.

So simple. So delicious. So beautiful. Get YOUR sauce on, and give this recipe a try!

This was a great way to get my Pickies to eat fresh baby spinach without camouflaging it in a dish. They all ate the salad and they all loved it.

My Saucy Mama Blogger Contest Recipe Entry-

The Sauced-Up Pretzel Burger

So, what else can I do with Candied Bacon, besides eat it over the sink, or add it to a salad? well, you know... Burgers. So, we sauced up some ground beef and we sauced up some grilled onions and we made these fantastic Sauced Up Pretzel Burgers!

Sauced-Up Pretzel Burger

Sauced Up Pretzel Burgers

Start with this-

Getting MORE Saucy!

Dijon Grilled Onions

1 tablespoon light olive oil
2 yellow onions or 1 Vidalia onion, sliced
1 tsp celery seeds
1/3 cup Saucy Mama Honey Dijon Sauce
Add onions, celery seeds,  and oil into hot pan, toss to coat. Grill on high without stirring for 2-3 minutes to achieve sear. Stir once and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat, toss in Saucy Mama Honey Dijon Sauce and cover and rest for 5 to 7 minutes.

Serious Sauce!

Honey Mustard Drizzle (Serious Sauce!)
1/2 cup Saucy Mama Honey Dijon sauce
3 Tablespoons Saucy Mama Smoky Garlic Mustard
2 Tablespoons Honey

Seasoned beef patties

Burgers & Sliders

2 lbs ground beef
4 tablespoons Saucy Mama honey BBQ Wing Sauce

1 Tablespoon Saucy Mama Smoky Garlic Mustard
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
Mix and form into 6 oz patties for burgers or 4 oz for sliders
Season with burger blend (Bam Burger or Montreal Steak Seasoning) and refridgerate until ready to grill. 

Saucy Mama Hat!

To Grill, pre-season grill with non-stick spray. Heat grill to 450 degrees. Set patties on grill and baste with Saucy Mama Honey Barbecue Wing Sauce. Close lid and grill for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and baste again. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes, flip and baste again, and grill for another 3 to 4 minutes. Now, baste again, flip, top with Cheddar Cheese. Close lid and turn off grill. Leave for 3 to 4 minutes, to allow cheese to melt.

To assemble Saucy Burgers:

Split 6 pretzel rolls ( recipe to follow, or substitute any bun of your liking)

lay a few pieced of baby spinach on bottom bun slice.

top with Saucy Cheese Burger patty

top with Saucy Candied Bacon

sprinkle with crumbled blue cheese

top with Dijon Grilled Onions

Drizzle with Honey Mustard Drizzle

Top with top bun

Ok, let me just tell you in advance to have some napkins handy. OK, some handi-wipes.Maybe the garden hose. These burgers are Fantastic, but they're a little Sloppy- Fantastic! My suggestion is you just accept you're going to get a Saucy face and Saucy hands and just eat the whole thing and then clean yourself up because.. #1 you aren't going to want to put it down. and #2 you are NOT going to want to put it down!

Just go with it and get yourself Saucy!

Free Product Giveaway

ARE YOU SAUCY?
Enter to #WIN a Saucy Mama 
Prize Pack including Saucy Mama Wing Sauces - Honey Barbecue, Jamaican Jerk and Orange Habanero

Saucy Sauce!

HOW TO WIN:

1. LIKE A Jersey Girl in Texas on Facebook.
2. LIKE & SHARE this Facebook post.
3. LIKE Saucy Mama on Facebook.
4. TELL us how you're SAUCY in the comments of this post
(Keep it CLEAN or be Deleted!)
One random winner will be selected by May 14, 2014. If you are the winner I will announce your name in a new posting, and also send you a private message on Facebook. You will need to provide your name, shipping address, and phone number. You will have 24 hours to respond or your prize will be forfeited.
Contest open to U.S. Residents Only
Disclosure: This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated with Facebook. This contest is sponsored by Saucy Mama and A Jersey Girl in Texas. By entering this Giveaway you understand that it is in no way affiliated with Facebook and release them from any liability.

So, how about those pretzel rolls? 

I like pretzels. I like them so much, they're my favorite snack! I even make them at home. Big, soft, hot pretzels with honey butter. Or pizza flavored pretzels with a marinara dipping sauce. Or cinnamon sugared with a cream cheese dip. I even make homemade pretzel rolls, and pretzel Kolaches!
 my passion is baking savory breads, bagels and pretzels. I'm at my happiest when I have flour in my hair, and mixer parts are spinning. I live to bake! 

But.. Maybe you don't. 

Frozen

Maybe YOU want a hot pretzel too, but you're scared to try your hand at baking from scratch. It's ok!!
I'm here to help you get around that pesky business of activating yeast, or kneading bread. I'm going to teach you how to make my favorite burger,
 The Sauced-Up Pretzel Burger, with semi-homemade pretzel rolls that will make you a star at your next backyard barbecue. Here's a secret that I theorized for months as I was agonizing over how to bring my fresh made rolls to the WFC. There isnt enough time to mix and raise and shape and boil and bake! What can I do? Well (secret coming) I adapted my recipe to use frozen raw bread dough that is easily found at any grocery store in the freezer section. I found some at Kroger's.

The pre-mixed dough is frozen before it rises, so all you have to do is take one out of the bag and place it in a greased dish. Cover with a sheet of greased plastic wrap and allow it to rise in its own. 

Defrosted

This takes about 5 or 6 hours, so I get mine out before bed so it's ready to bake in the morning. Once it's defrosted and soft to the touch you should punch it down, then cut it into 8 pieces for burgers and 12 for sliders. 

You can take each piece and turn the corners in until you form a ball. Pinch the seams tight and lay them seam side down on a greased cookie sheet. 

Next, set the oven to 425, and fill a medium sized pot with about 2 quarts if water and 1/2 cup baking soda. Bring the water to a soft boil. 

Drop the rolls seam side down, about 5 at a time, into the water and cook for 30 seconds, then flip and cook another 30 seconds. Remove and put back on greased cookie sheet and repeat until they're done. 

Score Tops, brush with egg wash, and grind salt on top

Next, score the tops of each roll, brush with egg wash and grind fresh sea salt over each. Bake for 17 minutes.

I was so shocked to learn that this shortcut to baking tasted as good as my homemade dough, and exactly like a pretzel! That cuts so much time from the traditional method of making pretzel rolls, not to mention less dirty dishes, less mess, and less stress! 
After the rolls cool you can slice them and give them a little brushing on the inside with some honey butter, then get them ready to bring outside.

Honey Butter

4 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons honey

So now I've given you some ideas of what can be done when you start with some Saucy Mama Sauce as the base of your dish. You can win some Saucy Mama Sauce too, check out my Facebook Page and enter my contest, and Get Saucy!

Saucy Mama Product Giveaway

 ARE YOU SAUCY A SAUCY MAMA?

Want to win some fantastic sauces by Saucy Mama?

 Visit my Facebook page:

A Jersey Girl in Texas and find the post:

 ARE YOU SAUCY?

Enter to #WIN  a Saucy Mama 

Prize Pack including Saucy Mama Wing Sauces - Honey Barbecue, Jamaican Jerk and Orange Habanero

Contest open to U.S. Residents Only

Disclosure: This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated with Facebook. This contest is sponsored by Saucy Mama and A Jersey Girl in Texas. By entering this Giveaway you understand that it is in no way affiliated with Facebook and release them from any liability.

Concours d'Elegance

What is the secret to a Long, Happy and Successful Marriage?

 When it's important to Him I let him win. 

When it's important to Me, he lets me win. 

This was a question someone asked me this weekend, when they learned that we were celebrating our anniversary. I hadn't given thought to this question before, but I think this answer is what helps keep us together. 

. 

This weekend was our 23rd Wedding Anniversary. As a wonderfully generous gift, our friends, Greg and Ronnie Riley, invited us to attend the festivities of the Concours d'Elegance at the La Toretta Resort Hotel and Spa overlooking Lake Conroe.  La Toretta Lake Resort

Several years ago Greg, an avid car enthusiast, an accomplished automobile historian and author, had the brainstorm idea to, "Bring the Concours to Texas."  

Once the thought formed in his mind he could not shake the idea that Texas was deserving of the enormity of such an event, and Texans themselves could pull it off. Nearly 18 months in the making, the first annual Concours d'Elegance of Texas took place in 2012, making this years event the 3rd annual. In this short time the event has earned a reputation of excellence for itself, with people traveling across the state and beyond to attend. 

Concours d'Elegance is a French term meaning, "a competition of elegance" the term originated in the 17th century when French aristocracy paraded their best horses and carriages in the parks of Paris. Of course, eventually the carriages became horseless, so the gatherings evolved and became a celebration of fine motorcars and the elegant lifestyle.

When we were invited to attend We didn't  know what to expect, so I set about to do some advanced research and I found this mission statement on their website:

"At the Concours d'Elegance of Texas, our mission is to showcase the finest examples of automotive art and engineering in an elegant setting, and the entire weekend supports three wonderful charitable organizations. It's a weekend experience dedicated to striking and unusual vehicles, fine dining, and renewing old friendships - all served up with old-fashioned Texas hospitality."

Now I have to tell you, I am not much of a car person. I mean, I like to look at them, as much as I admire art,  but I know absolutely nothing about them. To put this fact into perspective I will let you know my favorite car at the show was a soft mint green. I know the name of this particular car, but only because it was lettered in chrome on the side. I like it best because it was the prettiest. 

My husband, on the other hand, is a great fan of anything with motors. Cars, motorcycles, boats.. Trucks. 

Lawn mowers.

Man things.

As far as weekends go, this was setting up to be a major win for him.

He was as excited as manly possible! I was excited for him, happy to be out of the house "adventuring" for our anniversary, and thrilled (as always) to hang out with our friends.

Actually, I thought it was a great way to celebrate 23 years together! 

On Saturday night we attended the Cowboys & Cars Strolling Charity Dinner/Dance.

The tables around the pool were decorated with beautiful centerpieces; tall metal towers decorated with teal colored fabrics, and softly sparkling string lights. Teal and deep purple peacock feathers topped the structure, reaching several feet overhead.

 The landscape too, was decorated with sparkling string lights artfully woven into the bushes and sparkling blue balls lined the pathways. Adding to this magical display, the pool had floating balls filled with light that changed colors during the course of the evening. 

After cocktails and drinks, we were served dinner. It was delicious, and added to the elegance of the evening. Of course I have to show you the food! The potatoes were mixed with scrumptious chunks of lobster meat! It was devine! 

How I even thought about dessert is beyond me 

but WHAT could I do????I had to eat that! 

Don't worry folks! Jersey Girl is always prepared, I had an elastic waist. I'm not ashamed to tell you!

As the dinner ended and the desserts and coffee were served the charity auction began. Some of the items up for bid were a Babe Ruth signed baseball and several pieces of art inspired by Rolls Royce and Bently, by famed automotive artist, Art Firzpatrick. 

Leading Lady

The highlight of the night was the auctioning of a piece called "Leading Lady". This fabulous piece of art is a tribute to Rolls-Royce, and stood as the marque of the event, gracing both event posters and the cover of the event program for the car show.

The three charities that benefitted from the event were Montgomery County Emergency Management, Holy Angels, and Next Gen Education Programs. For information about these worthy causes, visit the Charities page at Concours d'Elegance Charities

The Concours d'Elegance of Texas

The following day was perfect for the car show, The Concours d'Elegance of Texas, sponsored by the Gullo Family. The weather was warm and the breeze was light. With a forcast of sunny and 87, we were delighted! 

We arrived to find about 100 classic and antique cars displayed across the golf course, grouped by class and style. 

My husband Glenn naturally gravitates toward the muscle cars. He admires performance! His favorite of the day was this 69 Challanger

He just couldn't get enough of this car, and we found ourselves visiting it several more times through the day.

My favorite was this adorable Nash Healy

Seeeee how pretty that is?? 

I could really see myself zipping around town in this car. In fact, I can even visualize the bags of groceries stacked in the passenger seat. Love the idea that there is no room for more than 2 in this car! so cute! 

Now I have no idea of the stats of these cars. I barely know the names of them. If you're interested in the man-facts you can visit Greg's blog directly, at Garage Deluxe Or of course, the show page at Concours d'Elegance of Texas

Midway through Sundays activities we sat down with Greg and Ronnie for a BBQ lunch served on the Golf course overlooking the displayed cars. Greg was busy with details of the awards ceremony, and Ronnie was volunteering in the hospitality tent, but they took a break to recoup with us.

 The luncheon was casual, with open seating that allowed us to interact with other attendees. What a strange, coincidence-filled life I'm living! I say this because no sooner did we sit ourselves down at an open table then we were joined by 3 friendly car enthusiasts, One of them a woman originally from Philly and another from Islin, New Jersey! We had a great time talking Jersey and Texas with them! We also discovered during the course of our conversation that the Jersey Girl was employeed as a personal chef on a private yacht! What a blessed job to have! She and I commiserated over the state of bread in the world and agreed that if you're a jersey girl anywhere in the world and you want jersey bread then you either have to go home to get it or learn to make it yourself!

After the lunch we separated from our friends, both of them had to return to their hosting duties, and Glenn was anxious to continue exploring the cars

He was so very happy!

In all, the weekend was a wonderful success for the show, the charities, and my anniversary celebration.

It was a win for him, and I'll be sure to add it to my secret tally, but in all honesty, it wasn't a loss for me! I hope we make attendance an annual anniversary activity, and I hope to inspire some of you to check it out next year too!