KFC Cole Slaw 2

If you've ever seen a clone recipe for KFC Cole Slaw floating around on the Internet, it probably looks like this. That's because this formula has become one of the most copied & pasted recipes from the first book, "Top Secret Recipes." It's also one of the most requested recipes on the TSR Message Board. So, to fulfill all those requests, and to stake claim to a recipe that's rarely sourced as a TSR original, here's the killer recipe to clone the world's best slaw. And, because I love to out-clone the "copycats", I'm going to take it one step further. Tune in next week for an original version of this clone recipe that tastes just like the real thing but includes only five ingredients...and is completely fat free! Don't believe it? Be here next Monday.

Recipe Ingredient

8 cups finely chopped cabbage (about 1 head)

1/4 cup shredded carrot (1 medium carrot)

2 tablespoons minced onion

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Be sure cabbage and carrots are chopped up into very fine pieces (about the size of rice).

2. Combine the sugar, salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, and lemon juice in a large bowl and beat until smooth.

3. Add the cabbage, carrots, and onion, and mix well.

4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Serves 10-12.

BBQ Sauce like Kenny Rogers

Serving Size : 3

Categories : Sauces

Recipe Ingredient

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

-------- ------------ --------------------------------

1 cup Applesauce

1/2 cup Heintz ketchup

1 1/4 cups Light brown sugar -- pack

6 tablespoons Lemon juice

Salt and pepper

1/2 teaspoon Paprika

1/2 teaspoon Garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

In heavy saucepan bring mixture to boil. Stir constantly about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and continue to stir (about 3 to 5 minutes) making sure sugar is completely dissolved. Allow to cook without stirring for 15 minutes on lowest possible heat, uncovered. Transfer to top of double boiler over simmering watr if to be used as a basting sauce for ribs or chicken during baking; or cool sauce and refrigerate covered to use in 30 days. Sauce freezes well.

K.C. Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce

Even though it's now owned and produced by the Clorox Company, the taste of Original K. C. Masterpiece barbecue sauce is the same as when it was first created in good ole' Kansas City, USA. This is the sauce that steals awards from all the other popular slathers on the market. It's now even is sold in a variety of flavors. But this is the clone for the original, and you'll find it very easy to make. Just throw all of the ingredients in a saucepan, crank it up to a boil, then simmer for about an hour. Done deal. And just like the original Masterpiece, this stuff will make a work of art out of any of your grilled meats, or burgers and sandwiches; and as a dipping sauce or marinade.

Recipe Ingredient

2 cups water

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup tomato paste

1/2 cup vinegar

3 tablespoons molasses

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon liquid smoke

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over high heat and whisk until smooth.

2. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes or until mixture is thick.

3. Cool, then store in a covered container in the refrigerator overnight so that flavors can develop.

Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Tidbits

Liquid smoke is a flavoring found near the barbecue sauces and marinades. Use hickory-flavored liquid smoke if you have a choice.

Hard Rock Cafe Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

It's the chunkiest dang chicken soup you'll ever slurp down and it comes from the first worldwide theme eatery and hip hangout. Crank up the rock 'n roll and throw all this good stuff into a pot and enjoy this final secret recipe in our series of mouth-watering soup clones. Bah-bye winter!

Recipe Ingredient
1 pound chicken breast fillets

1 pound chicken thigh fillets

vegetable oil

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup diced celery

4 cups chicken stock

2 cups water

1 cup sliced carrot

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1/2 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

2 cups egg noodles

Garnish

minced fresh parsley

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Rub a little vegetable oil over the surface of each piece of chicken and arrange them on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven when it's done and set it aside to cool.

3. Melt the butter in a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium heat. Saut?the onion and celery in the saucepan for just 4 to 5 minutes. You don't want to brown the veggies.

4. Dice the chicken and add it to the pot along with the remaining ingredients, except the noodles.

5. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until the carrots are soft.

6. Add the noodles and simmer for an additional 15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender. Serve with a pinch of minced fresh parsley sprinkled on top.

Makes 6 servings.

Good Reasons Italian Dressing

Serving Size : 1
Categories : Dressings

Recipe
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 Tbls Garlic Salt
1 Tbls Onion Powder
1 Tbls Sugar
2 Tbls Oregano
1 Tsp Pepper
1/4 Tsp Thyme
1 Tsp Basil
1 Tbls Parsley
1/4 tsp Celery Salt
2 Tbls Salt
1 Env. Cup Of Soup Cream Of Chicken Mix
1/4 C Cider Vinegar
2 Tbls Water
2/3 c Oil

Combine all dry ingr. Store covered at room temp. For dressing: Mix vinegar, water, oil and 2 oz of the dry mix. Shake well. From: GLORIA PITZER "EATING OUT AT HOME" (CB018) *Also good as a italian spice blend

Denny's Cheese Soup

Categories: Soups, Cheese
Yield: 4 servings

Recipe's ingredients:
4 tb Butter or margarine
10 oz Cream of chicken soup
10 oz Cream of celery soup
1/2 Soup can Kraft's mayonnaise
8 oz Jar cheese Whiz
14 oz Can chicken broth
Salt and pepper

Put butter, soups, mayo and Cheez Whiz in 1-1/2 quart saucepan, stirring constantly over medium heat, until smooth. Stir in broth and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir occasionally until piping hot -BUT DO NOT LET IT BOIL! . Do not freeze because of the mayo. Use within a week.

Chili's Southwestern Eggrolls

Many people have hopped on the cloning bandwagon for this recipe. Unfortunately the "clone" recipes that are floating around out there for this dish are pretty lame. So into the TSR test kitchen we go, and out comes the closest thing you'll ever savor next to actually eating the real thing.

These "eggrolls" are made with flour tortillas, stuffed with a spicy blend of corn, green onions, black beans, spinach, jalapeno peppers, monterey jack cheese and spices. When you add the creamy avocado ranch dipping sauce, you're tastebuds will beginto party.

Make these several hours before you plan to serve them so that they can freeze solid before frying. This will help to make the outside a dark golden brown, and the eggrolls will stay folded without letting any oil seep into the filling. This is how they cook 'em at the restaurant chain. And now you can check out the video for a hands-ondemonstration.

Recipe
1 chicken breast fillet

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper

2 tablespoons minced green onion

1/3 cup frozen corn

1/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

2 tablespoons frozen spinach, thawed and drained

2 tablespoons diced, canned jalapeno peppers

1/2 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

dash cayenne pepper

3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheesefive

7-inch flour tortillas

Avocado-ranch dipping sauce

1/4 cup smashed, fresh avocado (about half of an avocado)

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon buttermilk

1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon dried parsley

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

dash dried dill weed

dash garlic powder

dash pepper

Garnish

2 tablespoons chopped tomato

1 tablespoon chopped onion

1. Preheat barbecue grill to high heat.

2. Rub the chicken breast with some vegetable oil then grill it on the barbecue for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until done. Lightly salt and pepper each side of the chicken while it cooks. Set chicken aside until it cools down enough to handle.

3. Preheat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat.

4. Add the red pepper and onion to the pan and saut?for a couple minutes until tender.

5. Dice the cooked chicken into small cubes and add it to the pan. Add the corn, black beans, spinach, jalapeno peppers, parsley, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to the pan. Cook for another 4 minutes. Stir well so that the spinach separates and is incorporated into the mixture.

6. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted.

7. Wrap the tortillas in a moist cloth and microwave on high temperature for 1 1/2 minutes or until hot.

8. Spoon approximately one-fifth of the mixture into the center of a tortilla. Fold in the ends and then roll the tortilla over the mixture. Roll the tortilla very tight, then pierce with a toothpick to hold together. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until you have five eggrolls. Arrange the eggrolls on a plate, cover the plate with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours. Overnight is best.

9. While the eggrolls freeze prepare the avocado-ranch dipping sauce by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl.

10. Preheat 4-6 cups of oil to 375 degrees.

11. Deep fry the eggrolls in the hot oil for 12-15 minutes and remove to paper towels or a rack to drain for about 2 minutes.

12. Slice each eggroll diagonally lengthwise and arrange on a plate around a small bowl of the dipping sauce. Garnish the dipping sauce with the chopped tomato and onion.

Serves 3-4

Chevys Mesquite-Grilled BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

With this secret recipe from the latest TSR low-lat book, it isn't necessary to cook the chicken over a mesquite grill as they do in the restaurant chain. Sure, you could get some mesquite wood chips and throw 'em on your barbecueor you can use that charcoal that has mesquite in it.

But an easier way to get the flavor of mesquite--especiallyif all you've got is a gas grill--is to soak the chicken in a marinade made with mesquite-flavored liquid smoke. In the restaurant these puppies are made with red chili tortillas.

Since these type of tortillas can be a drag to track down, especially in fat-free versions, we'll use plain fat-free tortillas for our tasty reduced-fat clone.

Mesquite Marinade recipe

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon mesquite-flavored liquid smoke

1/2 teaspoon salt

dash ground black pepper
Spicy BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup Bull's-Eye Original BBQ Sauce

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

dash chili powder
1 boneless chicken breast

1/3 cup sliced red bell pepper

1/3 cup sliced green bell pepper

1/3 cup sliced Spanish onion

2 large (12-inch) fat-free flour tortillas

1 1/3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1. Prepare the marinade by combining the ingredients in a medium bowl. Add chicken breast fillet to the bowl, cover, and chill for one hour.

2. When the chicken is finished marinating, preheat your grill to high temperature.

3. As grill is heating, prepare the spicy BBQ sauce by mixing the ingredients in a small bowl.

4. Throw the chicken on the grill and cook it for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until it's done. When the chicken is done cooking, chop it into bite-size pieces.

5. Spray a light coating of nonstick cooking spray on a medium skillet over medium heat. Saut?the sliced peppers and onion in the pan for 4 to 5 minutes or until the veggies start to brown.

6. Set a large skillet over medium/low heat.

7. Put one flour tortilla in the skillet and sprinkle 1/3 cup of cheese over half of the tortilla. Spoon half of the vegetables over the cheese, followed by half of the chicken.

8. Spoon a generous portion of the spicy BBQ sauce over the chicken, followed by another 1/3 cup of cheese.

9. Fold the other side of the tortilla over the filling, and press down so that it stays in place.

10. By this time, the cheese on the bottom should be melted. If not, wait another minute or so, then flip the quesadilla over and heat for another couple minutes or until all of the cheese has melted.

11. Slide the quesadilla onto a plate and slice it into 4 pieces. Repeat for the second quesadilla and serve immediately with salsa on the side.Serves 4 as an appetizer.

Total servings 4

Burger King BK Broiler

This grilled chicken sandwich was introduced byAmerica's number-two burger chain in 1990, and soon after the launch the BK Broiler was selling at a rate of over a million a day. Not good news for chickens.

This one's easy to duplicate at home. To clone the shape of the chicken served at the burger giant, you'll simply slice the chicken breasts in half, and pound each piece flat with a mallet. Pounding things is fun. Let the chicken marinate and then fire up the grill. The recipe makes four sandwiches and can be easily doubled if necessary for a king-size munch fest.

Recipe for Marinade

3/4 cup water

2 teaspoons ketchup

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon oregano

dash onion powder

dash parsley

2 chicken breast fillets

4 sesame seed hamburger buns

1 1/3 cups chopped lettuce

1/4 cup mayonnaise

8 tomato slices

1. Make the marinade by combining the ingredients in a medium bowl.

2. Prepare the chicken by cutting each breast in half. Fold a piece of plastic wrap around each piece of chicken and pound the meat with a tenderizing mallet until it is about 1/4 - inch thick and about the same diameter as the hamburger buns. Place the chicken into the marinade, cover it, and chill for at least four hours. Overnight is even better.

3. Preheat your barbecue or indoor grill to high heat. Grill the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until done.

4. Toast the faces of the hamburger buns in a pan or griddle, in a toaster oven, or facedown on the grill. Watch the buns closely to be certain that the faces turn only light brown and do not burn.
5. Build each sandwich from the top down by first spreading about a tablespoon of the mayonnaise on the toasted face of a top bun.

6. Spread about 1/3 cup of chopped lettuce over the mayonnaise.

7. Arrange two tomato slices on the lettuce.

8. Place a chicken breast on the toasted face of the bottom bun.

9. Flip the top part of the sandwich over onto the bottom and scarf out.

Serves 4.
Tidbits

Liquid smoke is a flavoring found near the barbecue sauces and marinades. Use hickory-flavored liquid smoke if you have a choice.

Burger King vs Big King

The Burger Wars are becoming the biggest foodfight since that cafeteria scene from the movie"Animal House". The two burger giants, McDonald's and Burger King, have each been cloning the other's top products in the bloody battle for the big burger buck.

Burger King stepped up first with the Big King vs Burger King's version of the McDonald's Big Mac. Yes, it had two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun; although everything was arranged a bit differently, and there's no middle bun in there.

Then McDonald's rolled out the Big N' Tasty, which bore a striking resemblance to Burger King's Whopper, with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion on top of a huge beef patty. Who's winning this fight by leveraging the popularity of the other company's product? Nobody, really.

McDonald's chose to alter its Big N' Tasty recipe by making it smaller n' cheaper, then changed the name to Big Xtra!, while Burger King bailed out on the Big King altogether. But this food fight is far from over. More recently Burger King tweaked its french fry formula in an unsuccessful attempt to steal away fans from McDonald's winning fried spuds recipe.

And McDonald's has added morebreakfast sandwiches to compete with Burger King's wider wake-up selection. So the war continues. And the battlefield is splattered with ketchup.

Recipe for Spread

1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 teaspoons French dressing

2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 pounds ground beef

dash salt

dash pepper

4 sesame seed hamburger buns

1 1/3 cups chopped lettuce

8 slices American cheese

1 to 2 slices white onion, separated

8 dill pickle slices

1. Prepare the spread by combining the ingredients in a small bowl. Set this aside until you are ready to use it.

2. Preheat your barbecue or indoor grill to high heat.

3. Divide the ground beef into 8 even portions (3 ounces each). Roll each portion into a ball, then press each ball flat to form a patty about the same diameter as the bun.

4. Grill the beef patties for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until done. Lightly salt and pepper each side of the patties.

5. As the meat cooks, brown the faces of the buns in a hot skillet, toaster oven, or face down on the grill. Watch the buns closely so that they do not burn.

6. Build each burger by first spreading a tablespoon of the spread on the face of the top bun. Arrange about 1/3 cup of lettuce evenly over the spread.

7. On the bottom bun stack a patty, then a slice of American cheese, another patty, and another slice of cheese.

8. On the top slice of cheese arrange 2-3 separated onion slices (rings), then 2 pickle slices.

9. Turn the top part of the burger over onto the bottom and serve. You may also want to zap the sandwiches in the microwave, individually, for 15 to 20 seconds each.

Serves 4.

Boston Chicken Macaroni & Cheese

Boston Chicken Macaroni & Cheese


Categories: Pitzer, Pasta, Cheese
Yield: 6 Servings


Recipe's Ingredients
3 c Dry spiral shaped pasta Cook al dente, drain
2/3 c Milk (2% or regular)
1 lb Velveeta cheese, light or cubed small
1/4 ts Dry mustard powder
1/2 ts Ground turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste

Place into top of double boiler over gently simmering water milk, cheese, mustard powder turmeric, salt and pepper in that order. Stir with whisk occasionally until melted and smooth. Stir pasta into hot cheese mixture and keep hot until serving time over hot water, up to an hour. (If it begins to thicken up too much, dilute with a little milk). Neverput into oven or over direct heat as it will scorch and change the texture to a sticky mess. 6-8 side servings or 4 main-dish servings.

Boston Chicken Creamed Spinach

Boston Chicken Creamed Spinach


Categories: Vegetables
Yield: 4 servings

Recipe's ingredients:
1 tb Flour
4 tb Butter, margarine or canola oil
1/2 ts Garlic salt
Salt and pepper
20 oz Frozen chopped spinach; cook and drain
1 sm Onion; diced

In a saucepan, on medium heat, stir together with wire whisk soup, flour, butter, garlic salt, salt and pepper until smooth and piping hot. Combine with spinach and onion. (MY NOTE:I'd substitute fresh minced garlic for the garlic salt).

BOB "OVEN'S " COLONIAL DRESSING

BOB "OVEN'S " COLONIAL DRESSING


Serving Size : 1

Categories : Dressings

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 c Water
1/8 c Cornstarch
1/2 c Vinegar -- light or dark
1 c Sugar
1 t Onion powder
1 tb Salt
1/4 c Butter or margarine
1/2 ts Pepper
1 t Celery salt
1 tb Celery seed

Put water and cornstarch into blender on High speed for 1 minute or until smooth. Transfer to a 2 1/2 qt. saucepan. Cook mixture over Medium High heat, stirring constantly as you begin to add each of the remaining ingredients, stirring well after each addition. Cook and continue stirring until it begins to thicken and become quite smooth. Let it cool completel before pouring into a refrigerator container. Cap tightly. Kepps for about weeks. Do Not Freeze.

Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Variations:

Creamy Italian Colonial: to one recipe (above) add

1 Tbsp. prepared mustard,

1 Tbsp. light corn syrup,

1 Tbsp. dry oregano leaves,
1/2 tsp. garlic powder and

1/2 cup mayonnaise. Stir to
combine well. Keep refrigerated.

Makes about 3 cups.
Do Not Freeze.

Catalina Colonial: To one recipe (above) add:

1 cup catsup and

1/2 cup sweet pickle relish.

Makes 3 1/2 cups.

Creamy Onion Dressing: To one recipe (above) stir in:

8 ounce carton onion chip dip.

Makes 3 cups. Do Not Freeze.

Slaw Dressing: To one recipe (above) stir in:

1/2 cup sour cream,

1/2 cup mayonnaise.

Use within one week of preparing.
Makes 3 cups. Do Not Freeze.

Benihana Japanese Fried Rice

Benihana Japanese Fried Rice

When 20-year-old Rocky Aoki came to the New York City from Japan with his wrestling team in 1959 he was convinced it was the land of opportunity. Just five years later he took $10,000 he had saved plus another $20,000 that he borrowed to open a Benihana steakhouse on the West side of Manhattan.

His concept of bringing the chefs out from the back kitchen to prepare the food in front of customers on a specially designed hibachi grill was groundbreaking. The restaurant was such a smashing success that it paid for itself within six months.Here's a clone recipe for the fried rice at Banihana that is prepared by chefs with pre-cooked rice on those open hibachi grills.

4 cups cooked converted or parboiled rice (1 cup uncooked)

1 cup frozen peas, thawed2 tablespoons finely grated carrot

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup diced onion (1/2 small onion)

1 1/2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons soy sauce

salt

pepper

1. Cook rice following instructions on package (Bring 2 cups water to a boil, add rice and a dash of salt, reduce heat and simmer in covered saucepan for 20 minutes). Pour rice into a large bowl to let it cool in the refrigerator.

2. Scramble the eggs in a small pan over medium heat. Separate the scrambled chunks of egg into small pea-size bits while cooking.

3. When rice has cooled to near room temperature, add peas, grated carrot, scrambled egg and diced onion to the bowl. Carefully toss all of the ingredients together.

4. Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter in a large frying pan over medium/high heat.

5. When butter has completely melted, dump the bowl of rice and other ingredients into the pan and add soy sauce plus a dash of salt and pepper. Cook rice for 6-8 minutes over heat, stirring often

This recipe serves 4.

Tidbits

This fried rice can be prepared ahead of time by cooking the rice, then adding the peas, carrots and egg plus half of the soy sauce. Keep this refrigerated until you are ready to fry it in the butter. That's when you add the salt, pepper and remaining soy sauce.

Benihana Style Steak

Benihana Style Steak

1 cup Uncooked rice
6 oz sirloin steak - boneless
1 tbsp Peanut oil
2 large Mushrooms - sliced
Salt Pepper

Cook rice according to package directions. Set aside.
Heat griddle to 350 and pour on oil to coat surface. Sear steak on both sides. Cut steak into strips. Return togriddle along with mushroom slices.
Turn meat pieces until done to preference. Season with saltand pepper to taste. Serve with boiled rice and magic mustard sauce.
This recipe makes 1 serving.

Benihana Japanese Fried Rice

Benihana Japanese Fried Rice


4 cups cooked rice
1 cup frozen peas - thawed
2 tbsp finely grated carrot
2 eggs - beaten cup diced onion
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp soy sauce salt pepper

Cook rice following instructions on package (Bring 2 cups water to a boil, add rice and a dash of salt, reduce heat and simmer in covered saucepan for 20 minutes). Pour rice into a large bowl to let it cool in the refrigerator. Scramble the eggs in a small pan over medium heat. Separate the scrambled chunks of egg into small pea-size bits while cooking.

When rice has cooled to near room temperature, add peas, grated carrot, scrambled egg and diced onion to the bowl. Carefully toss all of the ingredients together. Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a large frying pan over medium/high heat. When butter has completely melted, dump the bowl of rice and other ingredients into the pan and add soy sauce plus a dash of salt and pepper.

Cook rice for 6-8 minutes over heat, stirring often.
This recipe makes 4 servings.

Arby's Sauce

Arby's Sauce

Although the beef sandwiches from Arby's would be very hard to duplicate since they are made from specially processed beef hunks, thinly sliced,this fast food chain's barbecue sauce can be cloned easily.

Now you can whip up this slightly tangy sauce to put on your own homemade sandwich creations, even barbecued ribs or chicken.

This recipe ingredients:
1 cup ketchup

2 teaspoons water

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco pepper sauce

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce begins to boil, 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Remove the sauce from the heat. Cover and allow to cool.

3. Pour into a covered container for storage in your refrigerator. Keeps for a month or two.

Makes 1 cup.

Applebee's Tequila Lime Chicken

Applebee's Tequila Lime Chicken

It's one of Applebee's top-selling signature dishes and a big request here on the site. This tasty dish combines the tangy flavor of the tequila lime marinade with creamy southwestern-style dressing, and tops it all off with a melted cheese blend.

Just be sure you don't marinate the chicken longer than the 3 to 4 hours, or the citric acid in the lime juice may toughen the chicken. The bed of crispy corn tortilla strips can be easily cloned with crumbled store-bought corn chips, but if you want strips like those served at the restaurant, just follow the "tidbits" below.

Serve this dish with your choice of rice (Spanish rice is recommended), along with some pico de gallo (you can find a recipe here) or salsa on the side.

Marinade

1 cup water

1/3 cup teriyaki sauce

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 teaspoons minced garlic1 teaspoon mesquite liquid smoke flavoring

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon tequila
4 chicken breast fillets

Mexi-Ranch Dressing

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon milk

2 teaspoons minced tomato

1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar

1 teaspoon minced canned jalapeno slices (nacho slices)

1 teaspoon minced onion

1/4 teaspoon dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon Tabasco pepper sauce

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon dried dill weed

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/8 teaspoon cumin

1/8 teaspoon chili powderdash garlic powderdash ground black pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar/monterey jack cheese blend

2 cups crumbled corn chips or fried tortilla strips (see tidbits)

1. Prepare marinade by combining marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the chicken to the bowl, cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours.

2. Make the mexi-ranch dressing by combining all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well until smooth, then cover dressing and chill it until needed.

3. When you are ready to prepare the entree, preheat the oven to high broil. Also, preheat your barbecue or indoor grill to high heat. When the grill is hot cook the marinated chicken breasts for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until they're done.

4. Arrange the cooked chicken in a baking pan. Spread a layer of mexi-ranch dressing over each piece of chicken (you'll have plenty left over), followed by 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese blend. Broil the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes, or just until the cheese has melted.

5. Spread a bed of 1/2 cup of the tortilla strips or crumbled corn chips on each of four plates. Slide a chicken breast onto the chips on each plate and serve with your choice of rice, and pico de gallo, or salsa. Serves 4.

Tidbits

Crumbling store-bought tortilla chips is the easy way to make the bed of crunchy chips that the tequila lime chicken rests on. But, you can make tortilla strips like those served at the restaurant by cutting a stack of eight 6-inch corn tortillas in half.

Stack the halves on top of each other and slice the tortillas into thin strips. Fry the tortilla strips in 2 cups of oil preheated in a large skillet for 3-5 minutes or until crispy. Salt lightly and cool on paper towels to drain.

Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad

Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad

Applebee's 60-item menu is revised twice a year.That means about 40 percent of the entire menu changes on a regular basis. The other 60 percent are items that are found on menus in all of the Applebee's restaurants, and seldom ever change.

One item that has been on the menu for some time now is this Oriental Chicken salad, which is considered one of the restaurant's signature items. The recipe makes one dinner-size salad and can be easily doubled or quadrupled for additional servings.

This recipe comes from the third book, "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes," but the dressing has been improved to more closely match the current dressing served at the restaurant.

Oriental Dressing

3 tablespoons honey

1 1/2 tablespoons rice winevinegar

1/4 cup mayonnaise1 teaspoon Grey Poupon Dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

Salad

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup corn flake crumbs

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast half

2-4 cups vegetable oil (for frying)

3 cups chopped romaine lettuce

1 cup red cabbage

1 cup Napa cabbage

1/2 carrot, julienned or shredded

1 green onion, chopped

1 tablespoon sliced almonds

1/3 cup chow mein noodles

1. Preheat oil in deep fryer or deep pan over medium heat. You want the temperature of the oil to be around 350 degrees.

2. Blend together all ingredients for dressing in a small bowl with an electric mixer. Put dressing in refrigerator to chill while you prepare the salad.

3. In a small, shallow bowl beat egg, add milk, and mix well.

4. In another bowl, combine flour with corn flake crumbs, salt and pepper.

5. Cut chicken breast into 4 or 5 long strips. Dip each strip of chicken first into egg mixture then into the flour mixture, coating each piece completely.

6. Fry each chicken finger for 5 minutes or until coating has darkened to brown.

7. Prepare salad by tossing the chopped romaine with the chopped red cabbage, Napa cabbage, and carrots.

8. Sprinkle sliced green onion on top of the lettuce.

9. Sprinkle almonds over the salad, then the chow mein noodles.

10. Cut the chicken into small bite-size chunks. Place the chicken onto the salad forming a pile in the middle. Serve with salad dressing on the side.Makes 1 dinner-size salad.

Applebee's Baked French Onion Soup

Applebee's Baked French Onion Soup

Don't even try to find this one on the menu at Applebee's, because it isn't there; though it's the most popular soupserved each day at this huge restaurant chain. This is the first of several big-time soup clones we'll unveil here inthe next few weeks to help get you through the cold wintermonths.

And they're all a cinch to make. Just be sure you have some oven-safe soup bowls for this one, since we'll have to broil it a bit before serving. Under the gooey melted provolone of the original version you get from Applebee's is a unique round crouton that's made from bread similar to a hamburger bun. So that's exactly what we'll use in our clone.

Ingredients for this recipe:
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

6 medium white onions, sliced

8 cups beef broth (Swanson is best)

1 cup water2 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

5 plain hamburger buns10 slices provolone cheese

10 teaspoons shredded parmesan cheese

1. Add 3 tablespoons oil to a large soup pot or saucepan over medium/high heat. Add the sliced onions and saute for 20 minutes until the onions begin to soften and start to become translucent. You don't want them to brown.

2. Add the beef broth, water, salt, garlic powder and black pepper to the pan and bring mixture to a boil. When soup begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

3. To make the croutons cut off the top half of each top of the hamburger bun so that the bread is the same thickness as the bottom half of each bun. Throw the tops away. Now you should have 10 round pieces of bread -- 5 bottom buns, and 5 top buns with the tops cut off. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place the bread in the the oven directly on the rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until each piece is golden brown and crispy. Set these croutons aside until you need them.

4. When the soup is done, spoon about 1 cup into an oven-safe bowl. Float a crouton on top of the soup, then place a slice of provolone cheese on top of the crouton. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the provolone.

5. Place the bowl into your oven set to high broil. Broil the soup for 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown (you may need to broil longer if you are making more than one bowl at a time). Sprinkle an additional 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the soup and serve. Repeat process to prepare remaining servings.Makes 10 servings.