Local Dish WS

I am now a contributor of Local Dish Winston-Salem!  This blog that talks about all of the awesome food here in Winston-Salem.  Check it out & see my first post about Mr. Barbecue!

--Sadie

Happy & Sad

HAPPY:  Snack size cookie mix!  Best invention ever for people who don't know when to stop when it comes to chocolate chip cookies.





SAD: This mix was supposed to make 18 two inch cookies.  Instead, I got 12 cookies, and the biggest on of all was barely 1.5 inches.  I only ate one spoonful of cookie dough so I guess I could have gotten 13, maybe 14 cookies out of the mix.  Between two people, these didn't last but about 4 minutes.










CONCLUSION: Just buy the big cookie mix and eat the whole damn pan in one night.  and love it.

Barbecue Capital of the WORLD!

Lexington, North Carolina aka the 'Barbecue Capital of the World' is located a mere 20 minutes from my apartment and it took me almost a year of living here before I ventured out to this town (which I will now refer to as heaven).  Pulled Pork Barbecue is a serious thing in North Carolina--especially in Lexington where many claim to be the best.  There are probably 10 or 15 family-owned barbecue joints in this town alone, all of which have their dedicated fan base of clientele who have been eating at the restaurants for generations. 

To give you an idea...
Lexington-style barbecue is made with pork shoulder cooked slowly over a hardwood fire, usually hickory wood. It is basted in a sauce (called "dip" locally) made with vinegar, ketchup, water, salt, pepper and other spices. The actual ingredients will vary from restaurant to restaurant, with each restaurant's recipe being a closely guarded secret. While each is vinegar based, the taste varies widely from tangy to slightly sweet or spicy.

The most distinguishing feature of the "Lexington Barbecue Sandwich" is the inclusion of red slaw (sometimes called barbecue slaw). Red slaw is a combination of cabbage, vinegar, ketchup and crushed/ground black pepper. Red slaw is distinguishable from coleslaw because red slaw contains no mayonnaise. Many Lexingtonians (and visitors) consider red slaw a staple for a quality barbecue experience. Red slaw is commonly served as a side dish with barbecue, grilled poultry and other meats, and on hotdogs as a relish.

--Wikipedia

I am now on a mission to decide for myself which Lexington Barbecue Joint reigns supreme.  I am happy to report that my first Lexington Barbecue Restaurant, Barbecue Center, was a delight...no it was actually euphoric.  The pork had such a deliciously smoky taste that no extra sauce was needed.  The onion rings. OHHH the onion rings.  A lot of times, hand-battered onions tend to flake, but the batter on these onion rings was nice and thick and did not flake off of the onion.  The sweet tea had so much sugar in it, I am still feeling a sugar buzz (and I'm not complaining!).  The desserts. OMG.  They had banana pudding, chocolate pie, and ice cream.  Although the ice cream was not homemade, the things they do with the stuff is no joke.  I didn't order one but many patrons ordered a banana split and I kid you not, each scoop of ice cream was at least the size of a softball, if not bigger.  I just got a single scoop on a cone and Barbecue Center's single scoop was about the size of a large at Baskin Robbins.  ahhhhhhh I am still dreaming about the meal I consumed last night.  I only wish I would have ordered some hush puppies.

Here is a picture of part of my meal.  Unfortunately the picture does not even do the taste justice.
--Sadie

Salsa-holic

The Hungry Sisters have been known to be able to put down a lot of Mexican food. We are BIG fans of anything spicy, cheesy and drenched in salsa. We have searched high and low for the best mass-produced salsa and have finally found a winner:
On The Border Medium Salsa

Unfortunately, this fabulous find can only be purchased at Sam's Club (and you can't even find it at every location)...so when you do come across it, take our advice and STOCK UP. You will eat this stuff fast. I recently opened a 47 oz jar and within two weeks, I had single-handedly eaten its entire contents by myself. On top of nachos, mixed in tomato soup, or just sitting around eating chips and salsa, I can't get enough of it. The best thing I have made with it is a copy-cat version of the gone but not forgotten Wendy's treat: Chili, Chips, and Cheese (nacho chips topped with chili and lots of cheese; and in this case topped with On The Border Salsa too!)

I would be lying if I said I had never just eaten it by itself with a spoon. It really is that good. It is by far the most fresh, delicious tasting salsa you can buy (outside of going to a Mexican restaurant and buying the stuff they make there).

GottaWannaNeedaGettaHava...BOJANGLES

Ya'll know how much we love Bojangles from previous posts but I don't know if our love can even compare to this guy. He is spending the summer traveling all over the southeast visiting every single Bojangles in the U.S.

Go check out his journey and if you are anything like us, reading his blog will make want a cajun fillet biscuit and a large sweet tea.

Bojangles Traveler Blog

Our Favorite Foods #6: Krispy Kreme

As implied in our Bojangles post, we have been blessed to grow up in North Carolina. Call me partial, but no other state in the country has a more delicious food history as the Old North State. In a recent article, students at a North Carolina school learn the history of classic North Carolina foods such as Mt. Olive Pickles, Cheerwine, Bojangles, and the ever-so-heavenly Krispy Kreme Doughnut.

Krispy Kreme
Original glazed
Hot and now: right off the line
Give me a dozen

The flavor explosion that occurs after eating a still-warm Krispy Kreme Doughnut is something that cannot be replicated. The thing literally melts in your mouth. Sadly, though, I can rarely enjoy this treat because there isn't a Krispy Kreme in my current town--we only have a crappy Dunkin' Donuts. However, in two months I am moving to Winston-Salem which just happens to be home/national headquarters of Krispy Kreme. My despair will soon turn into joy, accompanied by weight gain.

Krispy Kreme is a big deal here in North Carolina. I've taken part in MANY Krispy Kreme FUND Raisers throughout my day as a youth group member and marching band participant. Although I consider Krispy Kreme a "N.C. thang", some of my most fond Krispy Kreme memories come straight from South Carolina, where many hot doughnuts were consumed after midnight, following an evening of Myrtle Beach mayhem:

--Sadie

P.S. we have finally joined the twitter craze: http://twitter.com/hungrysisters

Our Favorite Foods #5... Cream of Chicken Soup

Hello, Hungry Sisters Fans. I'm Carrie, S and J's older sister, and I would like to share with you our family's love of Cream of Chicken Soup. This has been a staple in our diet for all of our lives. When we were younger we only ate Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup, but fortunately there is now the Healthy Choice version with lower calories, less fat, and less sodium. You also can purchase grocery store brand versions; I would recommend Laura-Lynn which can be bought at Ingle's Grocery Store. It is by far the best tasting...I even like it more than Campbell's!

We were initially introduced to Cream of Chicken soup as "gravy." That's how our crafty Memaw made gravy. Just heat up a can of cream of chicken with a half a can of water, and badda bing...GRAVY. When Sadie was little she practically lived off of rice and "gravy". Our parents would chop up green beans and hide them in her rice and gravy so she would get her green veggies. For holidays, Memaw would jazz up her "gravy" by adding turkey giblets, broth, diced hard boiled eggs, and some salt and pepper. Yummmmm.

Our mom, like every other mother of the south, used cream of chicken soup in her chicken casseroles. My mouth is watering just thinking about that delicious dish. You can also use it in many other southern casseroles and comfort food. MMMMmmm.My current quick and easy dinner is a can of cream of chicken, thinned with chicken stock, with rice mixed in. It's soupy-er than using it as gravy and it sure is delicious.

Our Favorite Foods #4: BOJANGLES

Based right down the road in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bojangles is a force to be reckoned with in the fast food world. I think I speak for both Jamie and myself when I say that Bojangles is the best fast food restaurant. EVER. I find myself visiting this establishment nearly once a week.

Bojangles is known for its homemade biscuits, cajun spiced chicken items, sweet tea, and the array of fixins' (cajun pintos, mac & cheese, dirty rice, seasoned fries, etc). One of the best things about Bojangles is that it serves breakfast all day long!

I usually get the Chicken Supreme Kids Meal which contains 2 chicken supremes, 1 biscuit, small order of fries and a sweet tea. I like this because it is just the right amount of food and it satisfies my Bojangles craving for under $4. The unique honey mustard sauce here is also the most perfect condiment ever created. The sweet biscuits (cinnamon biscuit and bo-berry biscuit) are also worth mentioning. I mean just imagine a homemade buttery biscuit filled with cinnamon and topped with a sweet glaze...it is pure heaven.

If you have never eaten food from Bojangles you truly haven't lived. Although food from Bojangles can be enjoyed at any time, it is most delicious when craving real southern comfort food and/or the morning after a long night of partying.

God Bless Bojangles and God Bless living in the South! I don't think I could ever move out of North Carolina for the sole fact that I couldn't imagine a life without Bojangles right around the corner.
--Sadie


Also, we'd like to wish Takeru Kobayashi a Happy (belated) Birthday!!!

Our Favorite Foods #2

Tacos.



--Couldn't have said it better myself.

Few things excite me more than tacos. Crunchy tacos to be exact. I just can't get enough of them. Growing up, at least once a week we would have a make your own taco night in the Carpenter household consisting of crunchy taco shells (Old El Paso brand), ground beef, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and of course salsa (we went through the largest bottle of Pace Picante Mild sauce about once every two weeks on average.) Upon my arrival at college last year, I was thrilled to discover that once a week the cafeteria had the exact same buffet of taco amenities. Needless to say, it was my favorite meal.

There is just nothing like biting into a crunchy shell filled with your favorite fixings and experiencing the pure ecstasy that makes up this simple, Americanized-Mexican entre. Sadie and I have both expressed that if we would be the best eaters of anything, it would be crunchy tacos despite their subsequent danger in cutting your mouth and throat with the sharp edges of the shell.

Stay tuned for future discussions of favorite food which will most likely include many, many more Mexican dishes: Salsa, burritos, quesadillas... okay maybe we'll just make another entire blog about Mexican food; the possibilities are endless.

--Jamie

Our Favorite Foods #1: Pimento Cheese, a true southern delicacy

Pronounced 'minna cheese here in the south, pimento cheese is a cheese spread which is best enjoyed (in my opinion) between two slices of white bread, cut diagonally down the center. You won't find many households around here that don't have a container of pimento cheese sitting in their refrigerator. It is a very versatile, easy, cheap, and oh-so-delicious meal. Visit any southern church covered-dish potluck lunch and you will find plates full of quartered pimento cheese sandwiches.

Our granny makes her own pimento cheese. Once on a camping trip through New England, she wanted to make some pimento cheese sandwiches in the RV but couldn't find it in any grocery store. She decided she'd take matters into her own hands and make her own pimento cheese. From that point on, she decided she would stick to making it herself, using the basic ingredients: grated cheddar cheese, diced pimentos, mayonnaise, and salt/pepper to taste.

Besides eating it on your basic white-bread sandwiches, there are many other ways to enjoy pimento cheese:
-using it as a dip for bell peppers, celery, or crackers
-replacing it for sliced cheese and making a grilled pimento cheese sandwich
-topping a hamburger with a big glob of it
-even making Pimento Mac and Cheese (I haven't tried this yet but think it would be awesome!)
....pretty much anywhere you can use your basic cheese you can use pimento cheese.


Actually, for my lunch today I packed a pimento cheese sandwich. I slathered a little bit on some whole-wheat bread and topped it of with a hand full of baby spinach...so actually pimento cheese can even be a part of a healthy, well balanced meal!

Someday, I'd like to come up with my own pimento cheese recipe and share it with the world, but for now, I'll stick to my grocery store staple: Ruth's Hot Pimento Cheese.

--Sadie

I must argue...

After reading Sadie's Super Bowl blog about her favorite frozen pizza, I feel that I must defend my number one choice. The ever so classy: Totino's Pizza. There are a lot of different flavors and combination's; all of which are delicious but my particular favorite is the Mexican Party Pizza. Yes, yes. I know you're probably thinking.. TOTINO'S?!?! They have had a recent bout of E. coli in November of 2007, who's to say it won't happen again. Maybe I feel invincible. I have never had a bad experience with food, and the poor preperation or diseases that are often involved with it. As a matter of fact, I have probably developed an immunity to food poisioning because all of the dirty food and perservatives I have consumed in my lifetime.

Anyway, back to the issue at hand. Totino's Mexican Style. At $1.25, its affordable, tasty, quick and filling. I love this pizza. (also try: Supreme, Combination, and the many different styles of Pizza Rolls)

In other news, I'm not sure if its the excitement of the Wing Bowl that has enhanced it, but I have been especially obsessed with buffalo wings (with or without bones) as of late. I must say that Pizza Hut is superior to Papa Johns, but the best I've had in Asheville are at the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company AKA "The Brew and View". If you are ever visiting the area, I recommend this establishment. Located on Merrimon Avenue, the Brew and View is not only a restaurant but an experience as they show second run movies ($3) and serve pizza, sandwiches, nachos, chicken wings and everything else including microbrews by the pitcher (which I will definately take advantage of in approximately one year and one month). The "FIRE" wings are to die for.


-Jamie

Super Bowl 09

In honor of the Super Bowl (which is basically serving as a background noise for my boredom-caused facebook addiction) I thought I'd give a quick review of the best frozen pizza ever.

A few weeks ago, Trey and I went to the grocery store to get a frozen pizza to eat for dinner. We stumbled across this gem of a find...the Tombstone Garlic Bread Pizza. I have always thought frozen pizza was okay; I'd prefer pizza from a real pizza place any day but when in a hurry and on a budget, pizzas of the frozen variety have to suffice. Anyway, we picked up the Tombstone Garlic Bread Pizza and were pleasantly surprised at the taste of this pizza. It is really garlic-y which makes it REALLY good! The crust isn't too thin like a lot of frozen pizzas are, it has a nice, thicker consistency. For the past month, we've had one of these pizzas every weekend and I can't seem to get enough of it. It comes in cheese, pepperoni, and supreme, but we've only had the cheese due to the fact that Trey won't eat supreme and I'd just rather have cheese for fewer calories. Dumb isn't it?... I'm worried about just a few extra calories when I sit and eat half of a pizza in one sitting. Ah well, such is life.

We're going to Sims Country BBQ this weekend which is quite possibly the most awesome place in the world, so I'll be sure to post some pictures.

--Sadie

warm chocolate melting cake.

words can not descrie the love we have for this decadent desert.

thank you carnival cruise line.

Can't get enough of that mexican cuisine!

Hungry sisters can't get enough of chips and salsa from Mazatlan! (THE best mexican resturant in the history of mexican resturants. located in Lincolnton, NC)