True Grit - Corn Dodgers

ME: In the John Wayne movie True Grit, there was an item called corn dodgers. Do you have a recipe for that?

ChatGPT: Absolutely! Corn dodgers are a classic old-fashioned Southern cornmeal dumpling—very fitting for True Grit. They’re simple, rustic, and perfect with beans, stew, or fried pork.

Here’s a traditional-style recipe close to what would’ve been eaten in the 1800s:

🫓 Old-Fashioned Corn Dodgers

Ingredients

1 cup yellow cornmeal

½ cup boiling water

1 tbsp bacon grease or butter (traditional = bacon grease)

½ tsp salt

1 tsp sugar (optional, but common)

¼ cup milk (as needed)

Optional: a pinch of baking powder (for slightly lighter dodgers)

Instructions

Scald the cornmeal

Put the cornmeal in a bowl. Pour the boiling water over it and stir until thick.

Add fat & seasoning

Stir in the bacon grease (or butter), salt, and sugar.

Adjust texture

Add just enough milk to make a thick, moldable dough—not runny.

Shape the dodgers

With wet hands, shape into small oval logs (like mini torpedoes).

Cook them

Heat a skillet over medium heat with a little bacon grease.

Fry the dodgers 2–3 minutes per side until golden and crisp.

Serve hot

Best with beans, chili, stew, or just butter.

🔥 Notes

• These are not sweet like cornbread—very savory and hearty

• In the 1800s, they were often cooked in a skillet over a fire

• You can also bake them at 400°F (205°C) for ~15 minutes

Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Quick Oatmeal

ME:  Using quick oats, do you have a recipe for apple, raisins, and cinnamon oatmeal?

ChatGPT: Absolutely, Mitch! This Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Oatmeal with quick oats is cozy, fast, and perfect for breakfast 🍎✨

🍎 Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Quick Oatmeal

Serves: 1–2

Time: ~10 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup quick oats

2 cups water or milk (or half & half)

1 medium apple, peeled or unpeeled, diced small

¼ cup raisins

½ tsp cinnamon

Pinch of salt

1–2 Tbsp brown sugar or maple syrup (to taste)

Optional: splash of vanilla, knob of butter, chopped nuts

Instructions

Cook the apples:

In a small saucepan, combine the apple, raisins, cinnamon, and ¼ cup of the liquid. Simmer over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until the apples start to soften.

Add oats:

Stir in the oats, salt, and remaining liquid. Bring to a gentle boil.

Simmer:

Reduce heat and cook 1–2 minutes (quick oats cook fast), stirring often, until creamy.

Sweeten & finish:

Remove from heat. Stir in brown sugar/maple syrup, vanilla, and butter if using.

Serve warm with extra cinnamon on top.

🔁 Easy Variations

Apple Pie Style: Add a tiny pinch of nutmeg & cloves.

Creamy Boost: Use all milk + a spoon of cream cheese at the end.

Protein Add-In: Stir in a spoon of peanut butter or Greek yogurt.

Creamy Chicken Alfredo with mushrooms and peppers

Me: Creamy chicken alfredo with mushrooms and peppers, do you have a recipe for this?

ChatGPT: Oh yes, Mitch — that’s a fantastic combo 😄 Creamy, savory, and loaded with flavor. Here’s a Creamy Chicken Alfredo with Mushrooms & Peppers recipe you’ll love.

🍝 Creamy Chicken Alfredo with Mushrooms & Peppers

Ingredients

12 oz fettuccine (or pasta of choice)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

1 bell pepper (red or yellow), sliced into strips

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ cups heavy cream

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

½ tsp salt (or to taste)

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp Italian seasoning

Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Cook the Pasta

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.

Cook the Chicken

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high.

Season chicken with salt & pepper and cook until golden and cooked through (about 4–5 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.

Sauté the Veggies

In the same skillet, melt butter.

Add mushrooms and peppers; sauté 4–5 minutes until tender.

Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more.

Make the Alfredo Sauce

Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.

Stir in Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using.

Simmer 3–5 minutes until thickened.

Combine Everything

Add chicken and pasta to the skillet.

Toss to coat, adding a little reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Serve

Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan.

Serve hot!

I got the idea from an advertisement from Tom's Pizza in Baddeck Nova Scotia

Meatloaf Hamburgers

Meatloaf Patty Sandwiches

These meatloaf sandwiches are one of my favorite easy dinner recipes!

 

Servings: 8 people

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup Ketchup
• 1 tsp each of salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika

SAUCE

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup bbq sauce
• 1 tbsp mustard

Instructions

• In a large bowl, mix together 2 lbs of ground beef, 1 small chopped onion, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, an egg, Italian bread crumbs, ketchup and salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika.
• Gently mix together all ingredients with your hands. Form meatloaf mixture into 8 burger sized patties. Place them on a wire rack on a baking sheet.
• To make the sauce, mix together ketchup, bbq sauce, and mustard. Spread the sauce mixture over the tops of each meatloaf patty.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Once the beef is fully cooked (I checked them with a meat thermometer) broil at 500 degrees for just a couple of minutes.
• Place meatloaf on buns and top with any of your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Original video:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GBGaN5zyr/

Homemade Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns

✨Hamburger Buns✨

In a bowl or standing mixer, add the yeast, warm water (about 110 degrees F), and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes to activate. 

After 10 minutes, add the oil, beaten egg, and salt. Slowly add the flour and mix with your dough hook (or knead by hand) until a smooth dough forms. 

Divide the dough into 8 equal sections. Roll into a ball and place on a greased baking sheet. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes. 

Beat an egg and egg wash the top of your buns before placing them on the top rack in your oven.

Bake at 425 degrees F for 8-12 minutes. 

*can also be made into hotdog buns!