Simply Scrumptious!

While I may not be the best cook or even chef material, my children appreciate the things that come off my stove and out of my oven. There are even times when creativity hits me when I can recall all the ingredients that would make a tasty dish. I have created several items without a recipe and most of them came out great...we won't discuss the ones that didn't. I get pleasure out of recreating something from a restaurant without seeing one ingredient....again...good times only. I will save mishaps & epic failures for other posts!

I was given an opportunity last Sunday, when it was just going to be my daughter and me for dinner. My son was with his dad, so I decided to take my daughter up on throwing together a simple scrumptious Italian dish. I am happy to say that three days later she is still saying how delicious it was. She also told me to cook things like that more often. Last night we were talking about it and how there are so many ways to make that dish rock.

According to Sara this meal was fabulous! It makes this momma's heart swell to know she cooked something that was not only nutritious but tasty too. I would love to tell you the exact recipe but since I made it up as I went I can tell you the ingredients:

Pasta (of course, angel hair is best but we had thin spaghetti)
Cream (used 2% milk)
Butter
T of Flour
White Wine
Lemon Juice
Fresh Garlic
Salt
White Pepper
Nutmeg (a hidden ingredient in A LOT of ethnic cuisine especially Italian ones - made a dish but something is still missing? Try nutmeg!)
Capers
Tomatoes
Next time I will add singed spinach to toss in as well as mushrooms. If I get really adventurous I will add chicken or salmon.

Tonight is just the two of us for dinner again....let's see what we come up with next!

But it is a cold rainy day and wouldn't you know it, I am craving Mexican food??!! It is just what we do in Texas on a cold rainy day - eat hot and spicy to stay warm and toasty.

Until next time,
Chef Chel!

Mishaps

Over the NYE weekend I was at the deer lease with my son, my boyfriend, and his family. I was cooking breakfast when one of "those" things happened to me. Have you ever created a huge mess because you felt too much heat through an oven mitt or was afraid that you might?

I had been preparing the breakfast meats on the griddle and it was time to drain the grease into a bowl in order to cook the eggs. I had no choice but to use towels as I could not find any mitts. One towel that I had selected was especially small. Then it happened! My mind told me I was about to get burned, mind you I had not been nor did I feel any heat, but my hand instantly responded and I let go of the griddle full of grease.

Yes, I let it go....have you ever done that?

It happened to me once before years ago when I was baking brownies. That time I actually felt the heat coming through an old oven mitt and it did burn me. The beautiful cranberry colored glass dish and hot brownies ended up all over my kitchen floor.

Have you had any kitchen mishaps that either caused embarrassment or disappointment? I was disappointed that we lost those delicious brownies years ago and I spilled the grease all over just as my boyfriend walked into the kitchen at the lease....yes, I was embarrassed!

You're next...Confess,
Chel

Easy Salsa

For this easy salsa recipe all you will only need a few ingredients.

2 large cans of whole tomatoes
1/2 bundle of cilantro
1 whole white onion
3 jalapenos
garlic (either 2 cloves off the bulb or a few dashes of the powder,  I use the powder most often)
salt and pepper to taste

I roast the jalapenos at 350 for about 15 minutes then mix all ingredients together in blender.
Next, pour into a sauce pan and bring to a boil then lower heat to simmer for 20-30 minutes.

This can be served warm or cooled over night to be served the next day.

Salud!
Rachele

The Best Drip Beef

3 lb pot roast

3 T beef bouillon granules

2 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)

2 T of dried oregano (I like to cover the meat with it.)

2 bay leaves

2 cups of water (I usually add more to cover the entire roast.)

Earthgrains Sour Dough/French rolls (Haven't been able to find these in my area for a while)

Large roasting pan

***NOTE - bouillon is salty - do not add salt until it is done then do it to taste.

Place roast in pan cover sprinkle the meat with the oregano. Dissolve the bouillon granules in 2 cups of water. Sprinkle the garlic powder over the meat. Fill roasting pan up with enough water to cover the entire roast. Cover with lid or foil and bake roast in oven at 225 or 250 for approximately 5 hours. Make sure meat is tender enough to shred with a fork, then remove and cool. Once meat has cooled enough to be handled, shred the meat, remove fat, and serve with toasted french sour dough rolls. Use the aju for dipping your sandwich. (The sandwiches will drip hence the name...DRIP BEEF.) spice trick: if you don’t want the oregano and bay leaves in the aju then place them in a coffee filter and secure with a rubber band. Remove prior to serving.