Roasted Chicken

I want to roast a chicken.  Roasting a chicken is like the step you have to take before graduating to Thanksgiving Day Turkey.  So I WANT TO ROAST A CHICKEN.  I found a recipe where I have most of the ingredients already and also sounds yummy.  It's called Chipotle Glazed Roast Chicken with Cumin & Red Chile Rub.  Although I'm feeling pretty daring in wanting to roast a chicken I still get a little freaked out when reading one of the steps in the recipe...

"...rub salt under the skin, on the skin and in the cavity."

 

Under the skin and in the cavity?  Ewww....  Gosh, this whole cooking thing is starting to get icky but I will face this challenge.  Don't mind the funny faces I will likely make during the process though. ;)

 

I can't eat a full chicken and will probably need a little help with the whole rubbing the chicken thing so I will likely invite a friend over to help me.  Love my friends and their willingness to participate in my cooking experiments. 

 

Stay tuned for pics and my analysis of this recipe.   

 

xoxo...



Mexican Sisters

FYI - I found this blog entry sitting in my Drafts file.  I can't believe I never posted this!  The blog entry is at least 3 years old.  Oh well, I still love it and love what I tried to communicate.  Read on and enjoy! xoxo...

Oh how I love the Mexican Sisters! They're funny, lovable, and cook amazing. I'm talking about my mother's sisters. Two of them are in town for a long weekend and I love it. How can I explain the joy in my house right now?

Yesterday my mom took care of my nephew but it was great seeing her sisters help with feeding, playing, and cuddling. All three grandmothers taking care of a one year old. Priceless!

Taking care of my nephew didn't stop them from their real mission of cooking as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. Last night the sisters baked mexican bread and mexican cookies called coricos. Today the sisters are making tamales. They've been up since the crack of dawn working on this process. It's a tamale assembly line! haha! But seriously, I love this. They have been working hard and talking about everything and anything. I guess this is my small glimpse of their life back in the days at "el rancho".

(from left to right: Tia Marie, Tia Jacinta, and my mom)

I abosolutely love these ladies! They still fight like they're teens, laugh like their teens, and enjoy each other like only sisters can. So today it is my duty to spend the day with them and drive them wherever they want to go. I am happy to oblige!

To all my friends: I now see that being a smart ass runs way back in my family. haha!

 

xoxo...

Thanksgiving 2012

 

This year for Thanksgiving I made Roasted Butternut Squash with Sage, Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots, and Veracruz Corn.  I was pretty proud of my cooking but too bad that usually the veggies are always the last to go during dinner. Lol, oh well!  I have tons of leftovers and I can't figure out what to do with them.  I have a feeling I will end up tossing them. :-/

 

We had so much food as usual that I really didn't get to enjoy dessert.  That was so disappointing but I honestly couldn't fit anything else inside of me without getting sick.  Dessert sure did look yummy though...

 

I had a great time with my nieces and nephews.  The two older ones got my phone and took silly pictures galore.  Love when they do that. :)  Anyhow, I got my Christmas card idea that evening. I will post it on here when its done.

 

I had a pretty good weekend with family and friends.  I can't complain and I am always appreciating the blessings God provides daily.  Love my life...

 

xoxo... 

Dating...

So I have started dating. Like official first dates at a restaurant. I even found my favorite "first date" restaurant. Its far enough away from home, has valet, and safe because I'm known by some employees there. Feels good to date. All my past relationships have been so unconventional. That tells me that I've been going about it all wrong since none of them have worked out.

This year I allowed physical relationships in my life but like the year, I'm quickly coming to the end of that. I want something serious. I want to be taken out. I want someone to tell me I'm beautiful. Not "can I see you tonight?" It's my fault for allowing it and therefore not allowing myself to be seen in another way. I kind of held hope that the physical relationship would grow into something more serious but I realized that its not going to happen.

So this is why I'm dating. I had a date last Friday. He treated me to a nice meal and told me i was beautiful. That's what I want.

Xoxo...

Chicken Soup

 

I'm so proud of my first attempt to make chicken soup.  I did not follow any recipe and just took some pointers from my friend and then followed my instinct. 

 

I cooked the chicken breast in chicken broth with chopped tomatos, onion, some lemon grass and a little garlic.  I added salt and lemon pepper to taste.  Once the chicken look cooked I added all my veggies.  Those veggies were:  celery, carrots, green beans, and potatoes.  I let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until veggies were cooked. 

 

I loved my soup so much I didn't even add Tapatio sauce or lemon!  

 

Can't wait to make it again!

 

xoxo... 

Sopa De Fideo

 

Sopa de Fideo is one my favorite childhood soups.  It was a repeat dish growing up and I didn't mind that at all.  I would mix in Tapatio sauce and lemon sometimes or other times mix in mayonaise.  Yup, sounds weird but I loved it.  My friend commented that the pasta I used was shells instead of the broken up spaghetti (aka fideo).  I told her that in my family we've always used all sorts of pasta for this sopa.  I remember shells, stars, alphabets, macaroni, and spaghetti.  It's delicious none the less and I'm so glad I know how to make it.  It's so easy you can try it too!

 

Ingredients:

 

7 oz bag of pasta (your choice!)

Knorr Chicken Flavor Bouillon (to taste)

Tomato sauce (about half of 8oz can)

1 tablespoon of cooking oil

3 - 4 cups of water

 

First you slightly brown the pasta in the oil for a few minutes stirring it regularly to make sure it cooks evenly.  Add enough tomato sauce to coat the pasta but be careful not to add too much.  Stir it in and then add the water and chicken bouillon.  Stir it, cover it, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes, or until pasta is cooked.

 

Enjoy!

 

xoxo.....