Thursday, July 31, 2014

Passion or Obsession

I woke up this morning determined to post another recipe....Then I realized....SLOW DOWN....ENJOY the writing, the time spent researching and experimenting......Another lesson learned and appreciated.......So.....Hope you are enjoying your day....YES, I DID ponder over my cookbooks, but then?  Took a swim.......OF COURSE....I wrote on notepads.....used my highlighter....and contemplated on some fun things to try....... love to all <3

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

EASY CHICKEN TACOS

I LOVE Mexican/Salvadorian food....I could eat it every day, we all could....BUT, when it is THIS easy?  Come on, stay in the comfort of your home, put on "Napoleon Dynamite" and enjoy....HERE is my recipe....


First take your chicken breasts and grill them until close to done, add salsa....MY favorite is HERDEZ, it has the best flavor....I add a good Taco Seasoning Mix...(mine is from Costco, but you can buy the packaged brands too....all made with the same basic seasonings......Let it simmer and 'marry' ( cute, right?)
Once it is cooked thoroughly, shred those chickens to the consistency that YOU like.....Some like chunky, some like fine....At this time, I might add more salsa to let it simmer......ok....I WILL, because I ADORE salsa....ON EVERYTHING!
This is the time that I get out the goodies.....Haas avocados with fresh tomato/onion mixture, BIG splash of lime......WHAT, You ask is in that white bowl with the cover?  LATER, my friends...


Take corn (or flour) tortillas and cook them on the fire until they are the 'color' you like......
Now, STUFF, it....YUM
Now to that covered bowl? THE BEST chips you will EVER eat is when you make them yourselves....Take those leftover corn tortillas, cut in strips, triangles, or whatever shape you like......put them in a small pan of oil and wait until they crisp up, salt.....HEAVEN, for CHEAP....Ok, there is the mess.....but when you are eating this delicious meal, and trust me, I add a packaged spanish/mexican rice........CLEANUP doesn't matter..... Enjoy!!  Just a note....If you want to do a LARGE batch and want some free time?  Cook the chicken with the salsa in the slow cooker for 10 or so hours and it will be ready to shred when you are....Just check periodically to see if you need to add more 'salsa/juice'....Easy Peasy.....
Love to All <3



PASSION FOR COOKBOOKS

Retirement has been good to us, traveling, spending time with our family (actually spending HOLIDAYS with them), and getting back into the 'cooking/baking' mode.  When Scott was working, he would work at least 24 hour shifts, there would be times he wasn't home for days/weeks... Cooking large meals wasn't top priority for this mom of a young child/teen....Quick, easy, because the words "I'm HUNGRY" were thrown about every few hours.

Now for MY new beginning!  I have ALWAYS loved to bake, it has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember.  Cooking on the other hand has been a chore, I never felt that complete abandonment of fear regarding spices, measurements, etc.  Crazy?  I know, but my husband is an excellent cook....REALLY good, he has NO fear.....I on the other hand am a great baker....in the kitchen with my apron on, I feel no fear in throwing in a dash of this, a pinch of that..NOW? This girl is learning to get rid of the fear.... I started with soups/stews.....

THIS my friends, is my adventure with my experiments, including successes and failures.....Hey, I am not afraid to share what I will be learning, or have learned....I enjoy writing and t a l k i n g....so this affords me the ability to do both....OH, and do NOT even get me started on INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST.....LOL

Now, back to COOKBOOKS, which fit right into my ever expanding BLOG, BOOKWORM...I can sit for HOURS and read cookbooks, writing things down, taking notes, using my 'highlighter' (remember school?)....Then, in the middle of the night, when all is quiet, a recipe or idea comes to mind.....and coffee in hand, I am ready to figure it out....Therefore, I felt this was the perfect venue to expand....and to become more adventurous myself.....Years ago, I helped compile a cookbook from many women who I knew and they shared their favorites.....I STILL refer back to that book.....and smile each time I recognize the women who contributed, many gone now, including my mom, ...WHAT joy it is to remember the laughter, the 'secrets shared', the good and bad with these special women.

Let the adventure begin....Love to all......