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Once Upon a Menu: King Ranch Casserole
King Ranch Casserole! Where the heck is it from? You'd think King Ranch, but nobody there will claim it! No matter, this Tex-Mex classic is one you should lasso. Save time with pre-cooked chicken, add Ro-Tel and condensed soups to bring it together, layer with tortillas, add plenty of cheese and bake 'till gold and bubbly! The name's a mystery. The recipe? A keeper. ______________________________ Here's a 2020 version of this recipe that includes even more history. ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ค

Brian Theis
5 days ago2 min read
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Once Upon a Menu: Tipsy Cake
This cake isnโt drunkโฆ but itโs definitely tipsy! Angel food soaked in sherry and bourbon creates one boozy trifle that'll get your party started. Great for any season, but I've made one here for Christmas, with green vanilla pudding, whipped cream, pistachios, red goji berries, and other festive toppers. Don't let Uncle Melvin eat too much or you might have to call an Uber! For more stories and recipes follow my Once Upon a Menu series on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @th

Brian Theis
Sep 152 min read
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Once Upon a Menu: Coney Dogs
Did you know the "Coney" dog wasnโt created in Coney Island? Sorry, New York! This recipe was cooked up by Greek and Macedonian immigrants in the Midwest. It's all about the "Coney" sauce โ finely crumbled beef, warm spices, made to top a hot dog, and finished with yellow mustard and diced white onions. Hot Diggity! For more stories and recipes follow my Once Upon a Menu series on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @theinfinitefeast. ๐ญ ๐ญ ๐ญ ๐ญ ๐ญ Coney Island Hot Dog (with "C

Brian Theis
Sep 152 min read
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The Hungry Manโs Cookbook, 1958
From The Hungry Manโs Outdoor Grill Cookbook, 1958. ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ญ ๐ฅฌ ๐ท ๐ฅ Look, it's Shiva, or Vishnu of the Grill! I love this illustration. The whimsical cover. ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ญ ๐ฅฌ ๐ท ๐ฅ Burgers are thrifty! Or at least they were in 1958. Here's the BBQ sauce mentioned on the above page. Cheesy! ๐ (And don't be afraid of MSG - I use Maggi actually and love it.) No special skill required! ๐ญ ๐ญ ๐ญ Broil that ham! ๐ท Yes please . . . ๐ฅฌ It's a man's salad! ๐ฅ Happy grilling !!! ๐ฅ ๏ฟฝ

Brian Theis
Sep 41 min read
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Once Upon a Menu: Mystery Cake
๐ซ ๐ฅซ ๐ฐ ๐ซ ๐ฅซ ๐ฐ If you can guess the secret ingredient in my mystery cake i'll send you $1000! OMG, it's Campbell's Tomato Soup! Popular in the 1920s' and '30's, this cake recipe made its way into The Joy of Cooking by 1964. The soup creates a moist crumb close to carrot cake, and the cream cheese glaze comes together in a snap. Did you guess right? Let's get real, I ain't sending you money, but for anyone who did comment you might be automatically entered for a chance to

Brian Theis
Sep 22 min read
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See You in September
A Last Taste of Summer Good Morning America Saturday, August 29, 2026 Brian Theis The Infinite Feast โ๏ธ โ๏ธ โ๏ธ โ๏ธ โ๏ธ Itโs shoulder season for fruits and vegetables, as summer gives way to fall. But donโt worry, the last of our fresh tomatoes, corn, peaches, and green beans are soon to be joined by beautiful pears, figs, cauliflower, and apples! Iโve put together some summer-to-fall fusion recipes for you today that wave goodbye, but say hello to so many of our favorite s

Brian Theis
Aug 287 min read
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Once Upon a Menu: Eton Mess ๐ฌ๐ง
Have you ever heard of an Eton Mess? And no, I'm not talking about the Royal Family! Welcome to my series Once Upon A Menu. Strawberries, meringue, cream โ tied to Eton College. The legend is, either someone sat on a dessert or a dog ran over it at the picnic. Charming folklore, unconfirmed! For more stories and easy to make recipes, follow along, and send this to your messiest friend. You can keep up with my Once Upon a Menu series on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, @theinf

Brian Theis
Aug 261 min read
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The Wonderful Danish Idea
For Open-Faced Sandwiches! ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช The first photograph below (which I made into a moving gif) is from the SAS Smoฬrgaฬsbord cookbooklet, 1965. The recipe ideas below that are from The 1,000 Fabulous Sandwiches Cookbook, also 1965. These ideas for Danish smรธrrebrรธd are indeed wonderful. Partake! ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ Beef Bรฉarnaise and Lobster Salad?! Yes please! The attractive cover. ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฅช

Brian Theis
Aug 31 min read
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Cheesed Potato Chips, 1958
From LIFE Picture Cook Book, 1958. A great idea I've never thought of before. ๐ ๐ง ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ง ๐ฅ __________________________ __________________________ Said chips are in the blue bowl lower left between the two dips. CHEESED POTATO CHIPS Potato Chips Grated Parmesan cheese Spread potato chips on a baking sheet and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake in a hot oven (400ยฐ) for 5 minutes or until piping hot. ๐ ๐ง ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ง ๐ฅ

Brian Theis
Jun 251 min read
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Mid-Century Cheese Balls on Parade
Three new recipes presented today with my friend Ben Aaron on PIX11's "New York Living" to celebrate National Cheese Day (June 4, 2026)! ๐ง ๐ง ๐ง Three cheesy recipes for your next summer party. Click on the gif below to go to the segment. __________________________ Mini Wasabi-Feta Balls Makes about 60 balls Bite-sized cheese balls for your next Japanese party! 16 ounces Philadelphia cream cheese, softened 12 ounces crumbled feta 1/3 cup plain 5% yogurt 1 1/2 ounces finely m

Brian Theis
Jun 43 min read
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California Salad Bowl & Sausalito Dressing
From McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection, 1973. CALIFORNIA SALAD BOWL 1 medium avocado 4 cups bite-size pieces romaine 2 cups bite-size pieces Boston lettuce 2 cups watercress sprigs, stems removed 2 cups bite-size pieces chicory 1 stalk Belgian endive, sliced crosswise ยฝ cup sliced green onions 1 medium red pepper, cut in rings 1 can (3 7/8 oz) pitted ripe olives, drained (3 7/8 ??) 1 can (2 oz) anchovy fillets, drained 1 cup SAUSALITO FRENCH DRESSING (below) Sto

Brian Theis
May 41 min read
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Flamenco Veal Chops, 1965
From 100 Ways to Be Original in all your Cooking . Lea & Perrins, circa 1965. The low-cal way! A few notes from the editor: To brown the chops, I would be inclined to use canola, not olive oil, and I expect 1/3 cup might be better than 1/4. I would then carefully remove most of the remaining oil from the skillet (leaving about a tablespoon) so could soften the green pepper and onion for about 4 minutes (then add remaining ingredients, etc). I would double the consommรฉ, rather

Brian Theis
Feb 232 min read
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Cento Marinated Mushrooms
Cento marinated mushrooms are indubitably one of my very favorite things. I consume jars and jars of these every year! They are great as part of an antipasto appetizer tray, and perfect with a tart and tangy Italian vegetable salad. Robรฉrt Fresh Market here in New Orleans also makes their own delectable marinated mushrooms, but if I'm not near a Robรฉrt's, Cento is always the winner! Cento makes an endless number of other delicious products as well. If you're not near a groce

Brian Theis
Feb 161 min read
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My Favorite Mustard
I have six in my fridge but one tops them all! โ
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๐ฏ Of course I have a bottle of the great American classic. I have several recipes that call for nothing less than (next to Grey Poupon) perhaps the most recognized mustard there is. I love all things Schaller & Weber. I regularly shop there on my way to or from meetings on the upper east side of Manhattan. This horseradish mustard is mustard first, horseradish second, and includes sugar and spices just

Brian Theis
Nov 10, 20252 min read
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Karen Valentine's Marinated Chicken
๐ท ๐ ๐ ๐ท ๐ ๐ ๐ท ๐ ๐ I loved her back in the day, on "Love, American Style." Karen Valentine's Marinated Chicken Serves 6 2 cleaned broiler-fryer chickens, cut into serving pieces 1 cup dry sherry 1/4 cup salad oil 2 tbsps. parsley flakes 2 1/2 tsps. salt 2 tsps. paprika 1 1/2 tsps. thyme leaves 1 1/2 tsps. basil leaves 1 tsp. tarragon leaves 1/2 tsp. curry powder 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper Place chicken in a tight-fitting container or plastic b

Brian Theis
Nov 10, 20251 min read
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Brian's Tangy Beef 'n Mac
When you've got a bunch of hungry mouths to feed, it's just what's for dinner. This recipe is a website exclusive. You might see it in an upcoming cookbook. Meanwhile, there are dozens of other original, tempting main dishes to choose from in my first best-selling cookbook . Order your copy today . ๐ฅฉ๐๐ง ๐ฅฉ๐๐ง ๐ฅฉ๐๐ง Brian's Tangy Beef 'n Mac Makes 4 to 6 servings 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce 1 can (10 ounces) Ro-Tel tomatoes with green chiles, d

Brian Theis
Nov 10, 20251 min read
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Next Level Pizza Casserole
Mamma mia, this pizza casserole is next level! (Skip the anchovies if you're allergic ;-) โฌ๏ธ ๐ โฌ๏ธ ๐ โฌ๏ธ ๐ โฌ๏ธ ๐ This recipe is a website exclusive. You might see it in an upcoming cookbook. Meanwhile, there are dozens of other lip-smacking casserole recipes to choose from in my first best-selling cookbook . Order your copy today . Say hi to my next level pizza casserole demonstration model. โฌ๏ธ ๐ โฌ๏ธ ๐ Next Level Pizza Casserole Makes at least 6 servings 12 ounces fusill

Brian Theis
Nov 10, 20252 min read
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The Chapala & Cocktail Tacos
Here are the latest exciting recipes from my treasure box, " The 2 in 1 International Recipe Card Collection for Mixed Drinks and Hors D'Oeuvre ." (Random House, 1977). ยกOlรฉ! Let's mix up a few chilled Chapalas! ๐ ๐ ๐น ๐ ๐ ๐น ๐ ๐ ๐น And roll up a few cocktail tacos! ๐ฎ ๐ฎ ๐ฎ ๐ฎ ๐ฎ ๐ ๐ ๐น ๐ ๐ ๐น ๐ ๐ ๐น

Brian Theis
Nov 4, 20251 min read
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Holy Pumpkin Mole Enmoladas
What the heck is an enmolada!? Well, that would be an enchilada with mole sauce. This is one recipe that has multiple glorious bouquets that scent the house with delicious complexities for hours afterwards. I have never cooked both the pork and the mole at the same time because I'm afraid the combined aromas might make me collapse under an avalanche of YUM! ๐ ๐ถ๏ธ ๐ท ๐ฎ ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ซ ๐ฟ This recipe is a website exclusive. You might see it in an upcoming cookbook. Meanwhile, there

Brian Theis
Oct 27, 20253 min read
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BBQ-Chicken-Pizza Nachos
"Nacho" usual nachos! With the classic ingredients and flavor profile of a 1980's BBQ chicken pizza, these nachos are surprisingly "light" and oh, so good. The BBQ sauce and smoky Gouda are what put this recipe over the top. The chicken takes a bit of time but is gloriously worth it. Pro-tip (alternate approach) : skip the rest of the nacho ingredients and serve the thighs whole, as a main course. Absolutely delicious! ๐
๐ ๐ ๐ง ๐ฟ This recipe is a website exclusive. You m

Brian Theis
Oct 27, 20252 min read
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