Friday, February 28, 2014
Taco Salad with Amys Chunky Salsa
I am not one who desires a gadget for every single individual task to be done in the kitchen. I definitely prefer a more old school multitasking approach when it comes to the functionality of culinary tools. However, that doesnt mean that I dont appreciate a nifty device when it comes along. A girl can certainly take some help when she can get it! So, knowing my obsession with all things taco, I could not wait to dine on my first home made taco salad with the help of my new tortilla bowl mold. Though the multi-functional use may not be evident just yet, it definitely served a desired purpose. Actually, now that I think about it, I absolutely see a gigantic taco salad shell shaped cupcake in my future.
To form the tortilla bowls I brushed a corn tortilla lightly with canola oil and pressed it in the mold. After preheating the oven to 400 degrees, I baked the shell for about 10 minutes until it became golden brown and crunchy. After unmolding onto a plate I filled it with shredded iceberg lettuce, seasoned taco meat, colby/monterey jack cheese, Amys chunky salsa, sour cream and some hot sauce. Scrumptious! Oh, just so you know, its the chunky salsa that MAKES it!!!
Amys Chunky Salsa
1 avocado, diced
1 mango, diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1 small can black olives, drained
1 tomato, diced
pickled jalapeno slices, to taste
juice 1/2 lime
salt
handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Great topping for taco salad, tacos, enchiladas or just by the spoonful!
Pasta with corn in Indian style

Now a days different kinds of pastas are available in the market among them soy pasta is the best!!! The other grain pastas are also good, here you can see the information of nutrient facts in a dry pasta, the good thing about pastas is they give you minimum of 8% fiber. Athletes eat pasta when they are preparing for a marathon, this is because the starch in the pasta releases energy slowly and for a long time they do not feel hungry!!!
Coming to recipe!! Ingredients Pasta-100grms or 1 cup onion-finely chopped-1/4cup tomato finely chopped-1/2cup red and yellow bell peppers(capsicum)-1/4 cup also you can use any bell pepper you wish oil-2 tbsp Yellow corn-1/4cup jeera/cumin seeds-1/2tbsp ginger garlic paste-1/4tbsp salt to taste green chili-2 Pepper powder-pinch Method: ![]() Cooking Pasta: To cook pasta take a large bowl and add 3 times to the volume of pasta you have i.e 1 cup of pasta requires 3 cups of water. Add 1/2tbsp of salt and cook till pasta is well cooked. Drain pasta and pour some cold water and keep aside. when the pasta is cooking, you can prepare the curry mean while. For this, take a skillet heat oil and add cumin seeds when they splatter add onion, green chili, corn, capsicum and cook till onion turn transparent. Add ginger garlic paste. Then add tomato and little salt. Cook under medium flame till tomato is completely done. Add pasta and cooked pasta and cook under low flame for 1min and turn off the stove. ![]() Serving tips: You can serve hot by sprinkling some cheese on top or you can sqeeze some lemon drops, sprinkle some chopped cilantro on top and serve or you can even add pudina powder while cooking curry. |
SANDRA’S BAKED WHOLE WHEAT HERB PITA CHIPS
These warm and crispy herb pita triangles have a crazy-good texture and flavor you just cant get compared to the store-bought version... |
Servings: (10)
Prep: 5 Mins.
Cook: 7 Mins.
INGREDIENTS
6 whole-wheat pita bread pockets
Olive oil cooking spray
Spice/Herb Mixture:
¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
¼ teaspoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
METHOD
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a couple of baking sheets with foil; spray, then set them aside.
Cut each pita bread around the circumference so you have 12 halves.
Line the cutting board with foil (for easier clean up), and spray both sides of 12 halved pitas with olive oil spray.
Mix the spice/herb mixture in a small bowl. Sprinkle one side of the halved pitas with half of the spice mixture, then spray with olive oil for spices to adhere. Repeat, doing the same on other side of pita halves as well. Toss the tin foil, and cut pita halves into 4 equal triangles; yielding 48 total pita chips (or cut them smaller if you wish to yield even more smaller triangles).
You will be baking these in batches. Begin by placing the pita triangles on baking sheets in a single layer, and bake for about 7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Watch carefully, as they could easily burn! ~ Enjoy!
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Tip: I only make as much as we are going to eat of the herb pita chips at one setting, as they tend not to store or reheat as well as when they first come out of the oven.
Click here for Sandras Addicting Baked Tropical Jalapeno Spinach Dip |
Thursday, February 27, 2014
My 2010 Meal of the Year – A Big Easy Brunch Sans Pants at Commander’s Palace
So, youd think with so many options, choosing a "Meal of the Year" would be difficult. Well, thats not the case. In fact, it’s a total no-brainer. And by brain, I actually mean pants.
Thats right, my meal of the year came as a direct result of not wearing pants. Id love to explain. This all took place on a press trip Michele and I attended, hosted by the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.
We had already enjoyed several days of incredible food, drinks, and music in the French Quarter, and the trip was to culminate in the Garden District with a special brunch, prepared by three of the citys star chefs, at the venerable Commander’s Palace.
As we waited to be seated, I stared hungrily into the colorfully decorated dining room. The smells were glorious; the scent was some sort of sweet, smoky amalgamation of bacon and butter. I was shaken from my trance as our group was led forward toward the source of these heavenly aromas. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
If youve never been to New Orleans in August, let me tell you, its very humid, and very hot. People say things like, "it may only get up to 95 today." So, since it was brunch, and hot enough outside to accidentally make roux, I decided to go with a nice pair of khaki dress shorts.
She politely explained to me, and the completely horrified PR rep who had made the plans, that everyone who makes a reservation is told about the dress code, and that in the 130 year history of the establishment, no one has ever been allowed to enter the dining area sans pants. Clearly, my "dont you know who I am?" was not going to work.
Since everyone was flying out after this event, I had no intention of keeping the other press members waiting. The only option would be to return to the Ritz-Carlton to change, thereby missing out on the first half of the menu.
Then, just as my exposed knees and I were about to leave in shame, I was introduced to the true meaning of Southern hospitality. Ti told us that while I would not be allowed to enter the dinning room, she had checked with the kitchen, and they were fine with setting up the Chefs table.
Michele and I looked at each other half-smiling, in total disbelief at our good fortune. A few seconds later we were seated smack in the middle of the most famous kitchen in New Orleans. A few friends from the press group came down to check on our situation, but as soon as they saw where we had landed, their looks of concern quickly turned to envious bemusement.
Executive Chef, Tory McPhail, started things off in grand fashion with an amuse bouche of sweet corn Johnny cakes, pulled pork, soft poached quail egg, Atchafalaya river basin caviar, lemon and champagne gelee, hollandaise, and Louisiana sugarcane.
The benefits of such practices were as obvious, as they were delectable with this butter-roasted grouper with chanterelle mushrooms, Louisiana soybeans and crushed local blue crab bisque.
Alligator "Boudin" Sausage with Stewed Greens
As the meal came toward a close, Michele and I discussed how we could tactfully pass on dessert. We knew Commander’s Palace was known for its decadent desserts, but we were full…and not regular full, New Orleans full. We decided wed just split a plate of something, so as not to insult our hosts.
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