Adams Media - Restaurant Recipes: 50 Essential Recipes for Todays Busy Cook

Avon, Massachusetts Everyone loves to go out to eat at their favorite restaurants; however, surveys have shown that people are spending less money than ever at restaurants due to budget restrictions and a declining economy. If you are one of those people, why not surprise your family and friends with their favorite restaurant dish by making it at home in your own kitchen? You dont have to be a master chef to prepare these meals. All 50 recipes here use basic ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. There is no need to buy any fancy equipment, since the cooking techniques are simple. Portion control is another benefit! Many meals at restaurants are served on a giant plate, with the thought that more is better. Most diet books recommend that when dining out you eat only half the portion of an entre and put the rest in a box to go.

Cooking at home allows you to control the amount of calories you consume. Plus, you can take a break from the meal and have dessert and coffee several hours later, which is something you cannot do in a restaurant. Recipe cloning can be a fun activity in which the whole family can participate. You will be able to prepare dishes from several different restaurants in one sitting. Let the children pick an appetizer from T.G.I Fridays, Dad can choose his favorite dish from Outback Steakhouse, and Mom can choose a dessert everyone will be happy with the meal! If youd like to explore restaurant recipes in more detail, check out The Everything Restaurant Recipes Book , available in both print (978-1-4405-1125-7) and eBook (978-1-4405-2509-4) formats. Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls These breakfast sweets are easy to make since the recipe uses prepared pizza dough.

They are sure to become a family favorite. Yields 12

Ingredients 1 tube refrigerated pizza dough For the filling: 1 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon cup softened butter Icing: 4 tablespoons softened butter 3 ounces cream cheese 1 cups powdered sugar teaspoon vanilla extract teaspoon salt

1. Preheat the oven to 400F and lightly grease a large baking dish.
2. Spread the pizza dough out on a lightly floured surface.
3. To make the filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Set aside.
4. Spread the butter all over the dough.
5. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly over the surface of the dough. Roll the long side of the dough up like you would a jelly roll.
6. Cut dough into 12 even slices and line up in a baking dish. Bake rolls for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
7. While the rolls are baking, combine the icing ingredients. Blend well with an electric mixer until fluffy.

   Spread the icing over the warm rolls.

Cracker Barrel Apple Streusel French Toast This recipe is a nice variation of the basic French toast. You may use any kind of flavored fresh bread from the bakery if you do not want to make your own bread. Yields 2 small loaves Ingredients 2 cups Bisquick baking mix cup flour 2 teaspoons apple pie spice 4 beaten eggs 1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling 1 cup apple sauce cup brown sugar cup cooking oil 2 eggs

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 2 small loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, combine baking mix, flour, and apple pie spice.
3. In another large bowl combine 4 eggs, apple pie filling, apple sauce, cup of the brown sugar, and oil. Add this to flour mixture and stir until moistened.
4. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Top each loaf with remaining brown sugar.
5. Bake for 5560 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes.

   Remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack. Wrap and store overnight for easier slicing.

7. In a small bowl, beat the 2 eggs. Cut the bread in thick slices.
8. Dip each slice of bread in the egg.
9. Fry on a griddle until golden brown on each side.

Cracker Barrel Anniversary As part of its fortieth anniversary, Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores announced a special limited time only menu featuring two new breakfast items, and the Apple Streusel French Toast is one of those items. IHOP New York Cheesecake Pancakes The New York Cheesecake Pancakes are a new item on the menu and have become one of their most popular signature pancakes. Top these pancakes with strawberry jam, whipped cream, or maple syrup. Yields 15 pancakes Ingredients 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese 2 cups Bisquick mix cup graham cracker crumbs cup sugar 1 cup milk 2 eggs

1. Slice the cream cheese into 4 pieces and freeze overnight.
2. The next day, preheat a skillet or griddle on medium high.
3. In a large bowl, combine all the other ingredients.
4. Cut the frozen cream cheese into bite-size pieces and add to the batter.
5. Spray a skillet or griddle with cooking spray.
6. Add cup of batter and cook about 2 minutes per side until done.

Starbucks Bran Muffins This recipe is a healthy muffin just like the ones served at your favorite coffee shop.

Combine it with yogurt and fruit for a full breakfast meal. Yields 24 muffins

Ingredients 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoons salt 2 cups crushed bran cereal cup chopped dried apple cup dried cherries 1 cup boiling water cup softened unsalted butter 1 cup sugar cup honey 2 large eggs 2 cups buttermilk cup walnut pieces

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Line a muffin tin with baking cups.
2. In a small bowl, stir flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, combine bran cereal and dried fruit with the boiling water.
4. In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, honey, and eggs.
5. Add the buttermilk to the butter mixture and beat in. Then add the flour mixture, then bran mixture, and the walnuts.
6. Divide the batter into the lined muffin tins.
7. Bake muffins for 20 minutes.

Starbucks: More Than Just Coffee Starbucks started business as a coffee bean roaster and retailer in the early 1970s and has become the largest coffeehouse company in the world. The expansion brought with it a line of food products that includes salads, sandwiches, pastries, and snacks.

Applebees Spinach and Artichoke Dip Anyone who has ever visited an Applebees restaurant falls in love with their mouth-watering spinach-artichoke dip. Serve it with fresh bread or tortilla chips. Serves 2

Ingredients 1 (14-ounce) can drained and chopped artichoke hearts 1 (10-ounce) box frozen chopped spinach 1 (10-ounce) jar Alfredo sauce 1 cup of shredded Parmesan and Romano cheese blend 2 diced Roma tomatoes 4 ounces softened cream cheese cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic

1. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Spread the mixture into a small baking dish.
3. Bake in a 350F oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheeses melt.