Lemon-Pepper Chili-Lime Wings
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Lemon-Pepper Chili-Lime Wings

Try getting everyone in your family to agree on what movie you’re going to stream and watch. When this frustration wears off, ask them what they want for dinner. If you’re lucky enough to agree on chicken wings, then test your luck by picking a flavor. But all is not lost. These wings are the best of both worlds and combine the citrus bite of lemon-pepper with the savory tang of chili-lime. I’m more of a spicy wing kind of guy, but when it comes to picking movies and wings, compromise is the key. These mild wings are sure to be a family favorite.

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Box Alarm Burger
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Box Alarm Burger

Grab your SCBA because this burger is a worker. Charring the jalapenos provides some nice color and texture but also allows you to control the level of spiciness. The less you leave it over the heat, the hotter it will be (if ya follow that logic). So like a BC, you get to call the shots. Attach pepper-jack cheese and some spicy mayo to build out the assignment.

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Thai Style Mussels and Clams
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Thai Style Mussels and Clams

There’s something about food from this part of the World that appeals to every taste bud on my tongue. I usually lament the fact that I have to book a flight and navigate airport security just to get a decent Po Boy – but at least this travel is in the same hemisphere. I can’t imagine my limited attention span surviving a flight to the other side of the globe. Luckily, there are an increasing number of Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Thai restaurants in most North American cities so I don’t have to dust off my passport and shoehorn my ass into the smallest and most uncomfortable seat in the air.

These ingredients are a staple and this simple sauce gets used with shrimp, clams, mussels, all three, poured over rice, tossed with noodles, and even drizzled over roasted or grilled corn on the cob.

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Guinness Stew
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Guinness Stew

What pairs better with stew than an Irish Stout? Why pair with beer when you can add the beer? This Irish Beef Stew is less of a soup and more of a beer flavored gravy. And who doesn’t love beer gravy?

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Prostitute Pasta
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Prostitute Pasta

As the old saying goes: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Back in the olden days, in Naples, the enterprising businesswomen of the evening took an approach to attracting their customers through their noses. They made a pasta sauce with the most fragrant local ingredients: garlic, anchovies, capers, and olives. While these women were more interested in a man’s income than his heart, they still created one of the best sauces in Italy, Puttanesca. You don’t need any ulterior motives to simmer this tasty sauce up. It’s easy, perfectly legal, and only takes about 20 minutes.

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Chinese Salt & Pepper Wings
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Chinese Salt & Pepper Wings

The Salt & Pepper in this recipe does not refer to the two most common spices in every person’s kitchen. Nor does it refer to a hip-hop group from Queens. It’s based on a popular Chinese style of dishes. These wings are a nice change-up from traditional Buffalo-Style. They can be made mild or they can be made hot if you want to push it. Push it good. P-push it real good.

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South Street   Seared Chops
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

South Street Seared Chops

To call this a ‘Southern’ recipe would be a misnomer. This is a recipe from as far south as you can go without a passport. If you’ve been to the intersection of Whitehead and South Street, then you’ve also probably had some of the best Cuban food outside of Cuba. The key to these delicious chops is searing a good crust into them by pan-frying over high heat. And the garlic-cumin seasoning. And the limes. That’s a lot of keys. But this is a lot of flavor.

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Wild Salmon with Leek Cream Sauce
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Wild Salmon with Leek Cream Sauce

Leeks don’t seem to be the most popular vegetable but they should be. Part onion, part garlic, all tasty. Simmering them down into a sauce makes for a sweet and creamy topping that also adds some crunch. This is a great balance to seafood – especially salmon.

Resist the temptation to save money by purchasing farmed salmon. Go wild. In addition to supporting the Fishing Industry, the extra dollars you spend equate to better flavor and a healthier, happier fish. And don’t you want your fish to be happy?

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Rogue Squadron Salad Bites
Kevin Pagenkop Kevin Pagenkop

Rogue Squadron Salad Bites

After Wedge Antilles and Luke Skywalker blew up the Death Star, the second time, they returned to the rebel base on Endor and rocked out some of these delicious salad bites with Wicket and company while they sang “Nub Yub” over, and over, and over again. If you want to get your midichlorian count above 15,000, study the ways of these Salad Bite Appetizers. While they are no bigger than a womp rat, judge them not by their size. The Force is strong in Blue Cheese.

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