I am very excited about this post because it’s my first ever link-up party post! The fabulous group of bloggers are all doing tailgating recipes, so definitely make sure you check them all out for inspiration for all your football watching. I decided to make pinwheels inspired by pizza I had last week — pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapeno. It sounds weird, I know, but it tastes amazing. They are an easy way to get a filling fix during the big game.

Recipe: Spicy Pepperoni and Pineapple Pinwheels

Makes 20 pinwheels

What You Need:

• 2 seamless rolled dough sheets
• 1/4 cup pepperoni slices
• 1/4 cup diced pineapple
• 2 tablespoons diced jalapenos
• 1/2 cup mozzerella cheese
• 1/2 cup pizza sauceWhat To Do:1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.2. Carefully unroll the dough. Using a pastry brush, lightly spread half the sauce onto the top. Sprinkle half the cheese evenly over the sauce.

  3. Top with half of the pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapeno. Starting at one of the long ends, roll the dough back up.

  4. Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate both logs for at least an hour.

  4. Cut each log into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place onto a baking sheet.

  5. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the dough begins to brown.

  Click the aodrable blue frog below to see the other tailgating recipes!:

  

  
  ]]> http://diningwithdani.com/2014/01/13/spicy-pepperoni-and-pineapple-pinwheels/feed/ 10 yankeedoodledani IMG_6378 IMG_6383 http://diningwithdani.com/2013/12/31/hojaldre/ http://diningwithdani.com/2013/12/31/hojaldre/#comments Tue, 31 Dec 2013 10:21:06 +0000 http://diningwithdani.com/?p=1108 Continue reading →]]> 2013 is coming to a close tonight. Can you believe it? Although my year started out rough, this has probably been one of the best years of my life. I have gotten to do so many things: interview film stars, go to some great concerts, make some incredible new friends and eat some incredible food. If you follow me on Instagram, you know about most of these great moments. Here’s a quick look at some in case you missed them.

  In April of this year, I did press coverage of the Dallas International Film Festival. It was probably the best two weeks of my life. I watched dozens of movies (for free!) and got to interview some outstanding talent. Above is my favorite picture from the festival that another writer took. The woman I am talking to is actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She’s laughing because I am telling her my 9 year old godson will only watch one of her movies with the commentary on.
  

   I was actually lucky enough to meet a ton of people over the course of this year. Two of my favorite encounters were with The Hangover star Ken Jeong when I went to New York this summer, and Jerry Springer in early November.

  This year has also been all about foodie adventures. The best meal I have had this year was at a place called Whiskey Cake. The first picture is of the amazing soup and sandwich I had there, before splitting their namesake whiskey cake and almost crying because of how delicious it was. The second picture is from a few weeks ago when my roommate and I almost got into a car accident because I screamed when we passed the Ben & Jerry’s store. She immediately whipped the car around so that I could try the Anchorman flavor that I could not find at the grocery store.

  A big part of my year food-wise was joining The Leftovers Club. The club is a monthly nationwide food exchange. Each month I am paired up with yet another incredible cook and we exchange baked goods and other random creations through the mail. Although some of my inventions haven’t been that great, the best part about it is getting to meet (if only virtually) some amazing people that inspire me to be a better chef and a better person. Most of the other members are older. They have husbands and beautiful children and spend their days making some of the most delicious things I have ever tasted. Yet somehow, they all take time out to talk to me. They ask me about Chase, they send me tips when I can’t figure out a recipe, and they make me laugh on days when nothing in or out of the kitchen is going right. If you want to check out the blogs of some of the fantastic people I have gotten to know this year, here are some of their blogs.

  Bakeaholic Mama

  Frugal Foodie Mama

  A Zesty Bite

  Healthy Delicious

  Notes From A Messy Kitchen

  Savory Simple

  Sugar Dish Me

  Pineapple & Coconut
  One of the most significant things that happened this year is when my Chocolate Covered Espresso Cookies I made for The Leftovers Club got published in the November issue of All You Magazine. If I have to be completely honest, I only entered because the prize was free Ben & Jerry’s stuff. So when a swag bag full of ice cream coupons came in the mail, I was in heaven. Then 7 months later, my mom was reading All You on her tablet when my face popped up. One of the things on my bucket list was to get something I wrote or photographed published, so it was a super huge deal.

  

  There were so many things that happened this year that it would bore you to death to look at pictures of them all. At 23 years old, I learned to ride a bike. I bought my first car. I signed the lease to my first apartment. I went to some incredible concerts, spent tons of hours in a movie theatre, and laughed so hard that at times my ribs were sore for weeks. That last part is thanks in part to the new friends I met this year, one of which is the reason the recipe below exists.

  

  Last month, one of my closest friends (and the person who gave me this on Christmas, if you’re keeping track) walked into work and asked me a simple question “Jalapenos or no jalapenos?” I had no idea what I was in for so I replied with, “Either.” “Jalapenos it is, then.” When I returned to my station something was wrapped in a napkin and taped shut. When I opened it, I saw this weird pastry looking thing, but it definitely smelled like meat. Having no idea what was to come, I bit it. It was one of the most delicious (and one of the spiciest) things I have ever put in my mouth. I instantly texted my friend, asking what this magic snack was called and where he had gotten it. The pastry is called hojaldre, and the response to the second part is that he made it with his dad. Yes. All the yes.

  

  One of the favorite memories of the entire year didn’t include celebrities. It didn’t include concert-going (unless you include me dancing to the BeeGees in a kitchen as a show), and it didn’t include getting dressed up for yet another adventure. It was me in my sweatpants learning how to make hojaldre from a father and son that I feel so lucky to know. Therefore, my last post of the year will be teaching you this recipe that means so much to me.

  

  Recipe: Hojaldre

  Makes 12 pastries

  What You Need:

  • 1 & 1/2 packages Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed
  • flour for dusting, rolling dough
  • 9 oz. deli-style ham
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg, whisked
  • 1/4 cup jalapenos, canned, diced, and drained
  • 8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded

     

    What To Do:

    1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 F.

    2. Empty the cheese into a large bowl and mix with two tablespoons flour. Empty the deli meat onto a large cutting board and chop into small pieces. Set aside.

    3. Remove a pastry sheet from the box and generously flour both sides. Carefully unfold the sheet so it is completely flat and flour each side again. Set aside. Repeat this process with the other two sheets.

    4. Take one sheet and roll the dough out until it is thin and roughly the dimensions of the baking sheet you are using. Using a sharp knife, cut off any dough that does not lay completely flat on the tray.

    5. Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Using a pastry brush, or a paintbrush if you are getting classy like we were, line the edges of the dough with egg. This will serve as an adhesive for the nest layer.

    6. Sprinkle 1/2 the cheese in the space between the egg border. Top with half the ham, making sure to evenly distribute it. Top with half the jalapenos.

    7. Sprinkle 1/3 of the sugar onto the ham and cheese layer. Set baking dish aside.

    ** When adding the next layer, it is easiest to gently fold it accordion-style and then lift it onto the bottom layer before unfolding. This makes it more difficult for it to break when you are laying it down**

    8. Repeat steps 4 – 7 , pressing the edges of your new layer to the bottom in order to seal the dough.

    9. Place your final pastry sheet onto the top, once again carefully sealing the edges. Brush the entire surface with egg. Generously sprinkle with the remaining sugar.

    10. Bake for 40 minutes. Let the pastry cool (it has been so cold out in Texas that we took it outside) completely before you attempt to cut it.

    11. Use a pizza cutter to cut the pastry into thirds longways. Turn the pan and slice these into fourths (to make 12).

    12. While I enjoy eating hojaldre right out of the fridge because I am impatient, you can warm yours for 35 seconds in the microwave if you want a warmer snack.

    13. Store leftovers in an airtight container and place in the fridge.

  
  ]]> http://diningwithdani.com/2013/12/31/hojaldre/feed/ 1 yankeedoodledani 945477_4667262729328_1818480560_n 945405_4990298365017_1093030789_n 1000218_10200705848358372_1886857620_n IMG_2961 IMG_2992 leftovers-logo1 1377040_10200572242658313_487514687_n 946902_4723802820226_1674719912_n IMG_3065 IMG_6316 IMG_6335 http://diningwithdani.com/2013/05/06/jalapeno-tuna-melt/ http://diningwithdani.com/2013/05/06/jalapeno-tuna-melt/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 10:00:08 +0000 http://diningwithdani.com/?p=638 Continue reading →]]>

  This weekend I took my first-ever trip to Whole Foods on a quest for some rhubarb to make Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie. Of course I couldn’t just pick up the rhubarb and check out. I had to mill all around the store inspecting everything else. That’s how I came across their boxes of “Cheese Under $3”, which I dug through for several minutes like a child going through a toy box. I then came across this Habanero Cheddar, which I got to sample. It is a sweet cheddar with a tiny kick — until you’re done. Then it really hits you. It was perfect. I also found this Rosemary Sourdough with a mouth-watering aroma. That’s when I decided it was time to share this sandwich with all of you.

  

  You know when you were little and people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? Most of my friends said they wanted to be teachers or veterinarians. I wanted to be a sandwich maker at Subway. That was my life’s one true purpose. My calling. Of course I eventually found bigger (and frankly, better) goals, but I still loved Subway. That’s why when my friend told me about his favorite sandwich creation – Jalapeno Tuna — I had to try it out. It sounded bizarre and semi-awful, but I wanted to see what all of his hub-bub was about. When I ordered it, the sandwich maker even gave me a look of confusion. I bit in with hesitation and it was delicious. I don’t know why I never thought of it before. Now I order it semi-frequently to warm my heart and to clear my sinuses. With my Whole Foods find, I decided to create a warm version of one of my favorite sub sandwiches that you could make at home.

  

  Recipe: Jalapeno Tuna Melt

  Makes 1 sandwich

  What You Need:

  • 2 slices sourdough bread
  • 1 can (5 oz.) light chunk tuna in water
  • 2 tablespoons mayonaise
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup jalapeno slices (I used canned)
  • 1 tomato, sliced
  • 1 slice cheddar or swiss cheese, broken into pieces **

  What To Do:

  1. Drain your can of tuna. Place it in a bowl with the spices, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon mayonaise. Blend well.

  2. Spread tuna on 1 slice of your bread.Evenly distribute jalapenos onto the tuna. Cover with half of your cheese.

  3. On the other slice of bread, spread the remaining mayo. Top with tomato and the remaining cheese.

  4. Place both halves of your sandwich on an ungreased baking sheet and broil until the cheese melts and begins to bubble, about 5 minutes.

  ** I used the Habanero Cheddar I found at Whole Foods. The cheddar taste was delicious, but the extra peppers made the sandwich fiery. It was not messing around. I went through 3 glasses of water. It was still delicious, but if you can’t handle your mouth feeling like it’s engulfed in flames you might be better sticking to a normal cheese.

  
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