i posted some VIDEOS on my old blog last month because wordpress is all complicated about posting videos (click videos or the pic). i was reminded because i heard coldplay’s viva la vida while shopping. i wasn’t even into that song until i heard the kiddies sing it. now i love it. enjoy the warm fuzzies.
it’s been awhile since i’ve blogged about my cooking adventures. both of these recipes are totally blog worthy. my edits in pink.
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS (source: what’s cooking in the orange kitchen)
verdict: SO TABLE POUNDING GOOD!
Filling:
1-2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 pound lean ground meat (beef, turkey or chicken will all work) 2 chicken breasts, shredded ( i boiled them in chicken stock & seasoned it with salt & pepper)
1 medium red onion chopped
1 bell pepper finely chopped(I used red but any color will work), reserve half for sauce 1 small can of green chiles
1 clove of garlic, pressed
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese (I used a reduced fat generic target 4 mexican cheese blend & pepperjack)
Sauce:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
half of the reserved bell pepper
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
2/3 cup water (used a little less)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp dry parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cumin, dash of cayenne pepper (to taste & add heat)
salt and pepper to taste
For assembly:
8-10 8 inch tortillas ( I used flour)
1/2-1 cup shredded cheese
Preheat over to 350 degrees.
In a large skillet heat the vegetable oil and then cook the onion and bell pepper for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Next, add the meat and green chiles to the pan and brown and mix together. If the meat is too greasy then drain and return to the pan. Finally, stir in the sour cream and cheese.
In a small sauce pan heat the vegetable oil and cook the bell pepper until tender. Then add the rest of the sauce ingredients from tomato sauce to salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Then pour into a pie plate.
Dip each tortilla into the sauce and coat on both sides. Spoon 1/4 cup of the meat mixture onto each tortilla and then roll the tortilla around the filling. Place in a greased baking dish. Repeat until you’ve used all of the filling.
Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas and then top with the cheese. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until the cheese and sauce is bubbly. i prepared it, waited for it to cool & popped it in the fridge to be made the next day, it was heaven.
STRAWBERRY SOUR CREAM BREAD (source: closet cooking)
verdict: so delish that i made it again tonight as muffins with crumb topping! awesome way to use left over super ripe strawberries.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup toasted pecans walnuts (coarsely chopped)
2 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen)
Directions:
1. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl.
2. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
3. Beat in the vanilla.
4. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in another bowl.
5. Mix 1/3 of the dry ingredients into the wet.
6. Mix 1/2 of the sour cream into the wet ingredients.
7. Mix 1/3 of the dry ingredients into the wet.
8. Mix the remaining sour cream into the wet ingredients.
9. Mix the remaining dry ingredients into the wet.
10. Mix in the strawberries.
11. Pour the batter into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan.
12. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until golden brown and a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes.
ever since i read the twilight series (which i only give 3 stars to) i have been addicted to reading tween books. i don’t know what’s wrong with me. i think its because after i read heart heavy books like my sister’s keeper, the white tiger, and a thousand splendid suns i need something that doesn’t make me want to cry, be angry at the government, or really engage my brain too much. enter the tween/young adult category. i guess they’re more like guilty pleasures like harlequin novels.
ps. why do tween books have so many sequels?
pss. i’m not into harry potter but am now reading that too. aye.
ppss. twilight? 3 stars? blasphemy? YES! other than the shapeshifters & the int’l vamps….it ain’t that good. gimme a real vamp love story. enter underworld.
(i love this series and i think there are some good themes in it to challenge adult thinking, its like 1984 for tweens)
pretty little liars series (total guilty pleasure, i think very similar to gossip girl (which i will probably read next, haha) with a murderous twist. when you think you’ve got it all figured out, along comes another book.)
hunger games (my next read)
Tried the trader joe’s whole wheat ready made pizza dough. The cool thing about making pizza at home is you can pile toppings galore! Came out super delish and it was super easy!
found a new dialer for my iphone. i love it.
i need a rug. who knew they could be so expensive not to mention i’m indecisive. too. many. choices. another dilemma is i have a bulldoggy dog who sheds his white hair like crazy…meaning…dark rugs = lots of maintenance. aye. suggestions? send them my way.
design republic (there tons more $$$ beauties on that site) & west elm
and the moorish rug from pottery barn which can only be found on ebay now. boo.
there’s been so many amazing disney/fairytale images floating around blogland that are must shares.
Set #1 is a project called fallen princesses shot by vancouver photographer dina goldstein. the project portrays our favorite fairytale princess in current event situations. the concept is pure. genious.
Set #2 – Tim Burton’s rendition of the movie Alice in Wonderland – nuff said.
of course Johnny Depp is playing the mad hatter and helena bonham carter is up in the mix. see more characters here. i’m so excited to see this adaptation just for its visuals that will rock my world.
i love the look of old film so i covet images that are vintagey, grainy, or cross processed. im not really good at carrying a camera all the time let alone big ones like the holga or diana. enter iphone. i. love. my. phone. what other handheld gadget can you read tons of books, decorate sticker pictures, watch you tube videos, monitor aunt flo’s visit, listen to ALL my music (that’s right all 30+gigs of it, play a puzzle sushi game, plan tonight’s dinner, read blogs, and capture these lovelies:
of course my subjects were of pups & kids, they’re just to cute to resist. took these with the toy camera app and the quadcamera app. they’re so fun to play with!
CHI.squared. 