DAVID
HEFLIN
Loose Meat Sandwiches (add a few spicy chicken wings as a starter)!
We celebrate the first Saturday of College football season in the nation's heartland. The loose meat sandwich originated in Iowa and has a rich history. Television junkies might recall the sitcom Roseanne, where Roseanne Barr opened a loosemeat sandwich restaurant. The Maid-Rite franchise championed this Iowa original and spread the sandwich across the midwest. Also known as Maid-Rites, the loose meat sandwich is also referred to as a tavern in northwest Iowa where the sandwich was originally created.
Loose Meat Sandwiches
Makes 8 servings
Total Time 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 pounds lean hamburger meat 93/7
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. pepper
8 soft hamburger buns - steamed (wrap in paper towel and heat for 15 seconds in a microwave)
Directions
In a large pan over medium-high hear, saute onions in vegetable oil for 5 minutes or until onions become translucent. Add hamburger meat to onions in the pan. Add salt and pepper. Brown the meat, crumbling into small pieces as the meat browns.
Scoop a heaping portion of loose meat onto a steamed bun and serve with sliced dill pickle and mustard.
Enjoy!
Tips and tricks...if salt, pepper, and onions seem a little too simple to taste good (but oh they do taste so good!!), then go wild by adding a cup (per pound of meat) of chicken or beef broth during the browning process. Or you can really push the culinary boundaries by adding a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce per pound of meat during the cooking process. Adding ketchup or cheese may be pushing the envelope! It's your call!
Chicken Wings
Makes 8 servings of 4 wings
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. salt
32 chicken wings
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. garlic powder
11/2 cup hot sauce such as cayenne pepper sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil for frying (should be enough oil to completely cover wings)
Directions
Combine flour, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl. In a separate, large bowl, place wings and mix with the spices thoroughly. Place a plastic wrap over the bowl and refrigerate for 60 minutes (or longer!).
Preheat oil to 350 degrees F. You should have enough oil to cover the wings you are cooking completely.
Combine the butter, garlic powder, and hot sauce in a medium pot. Stir over a low heat until the butter is melted and the ingredients are mixed well. Set the sauce aside.
Fry wings in the 350 degree oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown. Remove the wings to a plate with paper towel and pat dry to remove excess oil. Combine wings and hot sauce mixture in a bowl.
Enjoy!