Super Easy No-Bake Nachos

Try this for some really easy, super tasty, semi-homemade nachos...

You'll need:

• corn/tortilla chips (I used yellow and black corn)
• ground beef/chicken/or boca (recipe below)
• cheese sauce (recipe below)
• guacamole (make it easy, use a powder mix and add it to mashed avocados, tastes great!)
• salsa (again, make it easy and use a powder mix added to chopped tomatoes)
• sliced jalapenos
  
• lettuce, chopped

For ground beef/chicken/or boca:

You can use a pack of taco seasoning mix or you can add salt, pepper, chilli powder and cumin powder to taste. I like to cook a pound of ground beef or boca with 1/2 cup water to make it the right texture. Try different seasonings and spices to find a taste you like.

For cheese sauce:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 1 cup milk
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon paprika

Melt butter and whisk in cornstarch. Add milk and cream cheese until cream cheese melts. Add cheddar cheese until melted. Whisk in paprika and hot sauce until creamy.

Lay chips out evenly onto plates. Cover each chip with a jalapeno. Spoon some meat/boca mixture onto each chip. Next, pour some cheese over the chips. Repeat this process to get two or three layers on the plate. Top this with the salsa and lettuce, and serve guacamole on the side.

~ "Dense, unenlightened people are notoriously confident that they have the monopoly on truth." - Joshua Loth Liebman ~

Mom's Beef & Vegetable Stew

This is a very open recipe, any vegetable may be added, any set of herbs or spices... It's up to you what broth or bouillon you use. Thanks, mom, for sharing another perfect recipe :)

Ingredients:

• 1 - 1 1/2 pounds stew meat
  
• bit of all-purpose flour to coat meat
• salt and pepper, to taste
• teaspoon sugar
• 2 - 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  
• 8 cups broth or water
• herbs and seasonings of your choice
• fresh or frozen vegetables of your choice... I don't measure, I just eyeball it

Method:

Bring 8 cups of water or broth, herbs and seasonings and raw vegetables (except potatoes, they will become too soft) to a boil in a large stock pot. Meanwhile, combine flour with some salt, pepper and sugar and coat the stew meat with flour. Fry the meat in a hot skillet with a little oil until browned. Set meat aside. When this is done, take some of the broth/water and deglaze the skillet. Add this to the stock pot, turn heat down to a simmer, and add the meat. Make sure that the water isn't boiling when the meat is added, or it will become tough. Let the meat and vegetables simmer for about 30 minutes.

You can now bring your stew to a boil and add in whatever else you may want. Frozen vegetables can be added at this time, and also potatoes. You may also add a bit of barley, rice, or noodles. Return to a simmer for 30 minutes, and then you may enjoy :)

This time around I used some McCormick's Grill Mates Montreal Chicken Seasonings and it worked well for the stew.

A Couple Stir-Fry's

I've been on a stir-fry kick lately so here's a couple of my recipes...

For Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry:

• 2 pounds chicken, chopped and fried, set aside
• 1 head broccoli, cut and fried until tender-crisp, set aside
  
• 2 cups mixed stir fry vegetables ( I used peppers, asparagus, squash, onion & carrots) fried until tender crisp, set aside
  
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped fine
• a bit of vegetable oil, to fry

For Sauce:

• 1/4 cup oyster sauce
• 2 tsp. fish sauce
• 2 tsp. soy sauce
• 2 tsp. rice wine vinegar
• 3 tsp. plum sauce

Combine ingredients, set aside

Method:

Heat oil in large skillet and fry garlic a few seconds. Add chicken, vegetables, and sauce... Heat through and serve.


For Beef & Cashew Stir-Fry:

• 1 pound steak, sliced
• 2 onions, halved and sliced
• 1/2 cup cashew nuts, roasted
• 4 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• fist full of rice noodles, soaked
  
• vegetable oil, to fry
  

Method:

Heat oil in medium skillet. Fry steak and onions until steak is almost done. Add in rest of ingredients and cook until sauce thickens. Serve.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

With all the hustle and bustle I didn't get very good food pic's this Christmas but I can't help but share a couple good Christmas recipes with everyone!

A big pot of Mom's Beef & Noodles are sure to please along with some homemade Slut Bread!

And I can't resist some Pecan Pie, as this is the only time of year that I make or eat it! Now, this isn't my mom's recipe as we couldn't find it and she's forgotten it :( BUT, It's a Betty Crocker so It's still a good one :)

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to everyone!

Gyros w/ Mom's Tzatziki Sauce

My mom made Gyros frequently when I was growing up. I remember how awesome the sauce was she put on them, and I have tried so many tzatziki sauce recipes, but I could not replicate the flavor of my mom's. Then, I came across her recipe and figured out how she made it SO delicious. She used mayonnaise instead of yogurt! So, I had to try it again, and it was just as awesomely delicious as I remembered! I think I will be making these more and more frequently now! The marinade for the lamb I adapted from a kabob recipe from Faye Levy's feast from the Mideast. This makes enough for about 2 people. Now, on to the recipe!

For Lamb:

• about 1 lb lamb, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• drizzle of Olive Oil
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1 small onion, grated
  

Combine all ingredients and marinate lamb overnight. When ready to use, fry in a little bit of oil until cooked and tender. Remove and reserve for sandwich.

For Tzatziki sauce:

• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and chopped small
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves (my mom actually used chives, which are amazing, too!)
  

Blend everything well, and chill at least one hour.

For Sandwich:

• whole wheat pita breads, warmed and sliced
• 1 sliced tomato
• dill pickles, chopped
• reserved lamb
• tzatziki sauce
  

Fill pita bread about 1/3 full with lamb. Add some tomato, pickle and tzatziki sauce. Enjoy with some fries, or whatever sounds good to you :) Enjoy!


~ I don't have to agree with you to like and respect you - Anthony Bourdain ~

Comfy, Easy, Home Cooked Roast & Veggies

This is one of those dinners that makes me wanna eat all curled up on the couch under a blankie watching a movie with my family... This dinner reminds me of childhood! This was one of those completely casual dinners, nothing fancy, just good enjoyable, delicious food... Comfort food... eaten at a TV tray if we wanted! My mom would always make some homemade bread with it... biscuits, rolls, Slut Bread... either way, it was tasty, healthy, filling and warm! The other day I decided to make it for myself and my daughter... and though it tasted just how I remembered, I missed eating it in my old house, with both my parents, and old friends and family. I didn't appreciate it so much at the time, but I would love to have just one of those days back. To compound my evening of nostalgia, my daughter left today for camp... She will be gone until Friday and I won't even be able to talk to her :( I have never gone an entire day in her ten years of life without talking to her, and I haven't gone more than 2 days without seeing her. I am craving some comfort right now! :(

This method works for either a beef or pork roast... It's simple enough, I put the roast in an oven proof pan along with a tablespoon of oil and about a 1/4 cup of water. I season it with McCormick's California Style Onion Powder, salt, and pepper, and I roast it at 350˚F for 3 - 4 hours, covered. I check it every hour or so and add a small amount of water as needed. After a couple hours, I flip the roast and season again. When It's tender enough to be pulled apart, I throw in cut up carrots and potatoes and roast another 30 minutes to an hour, until the veggies are soft. Sometimes at the end, I will add a bit of bullion for a stronger flavor in the broth.

"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
~Franklin P. Jones

"Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do. With no relatives, no support, we've put it in an impossible situation."
~Margaret Mead

Burgers & Salad

This recipe is modified from feast from the Mideast 250 Sun-Drenched Dishes from the Lands of the Bible. I got this book from the library, but liked it so much, I bought it from Amazon... I think I will end up trying every recipe. The only major change I made is to add Thyme, and I made a different sauce than the recipe suggested.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground beef, chuck or sirloin
  
• 2 - 4 pita breads or sesame rolls
• 1 onion, sliced thin (optional)
• pickle slices (optional)
• sauce of choice

Method:

Prepare grill, pan, or broiler. Combine meat with cumin, turmeric, thyme, salt and pepper, and garlic. Shape into four patties, about 1 inch thick. If using rolls, toast them lightly.

Grill, fry or broil until juices run clear. This will take approximately 6 minutes on each side. To check, make a small cut in the center of burger to see the color.

If using pita, heat briefly on grill or oven for a few seconds on each side, making sure bread stays soft.

Transfer burgers to pita or buns and serve with toppings of choice, like onions, pickles and sauce.

For the "garlic sauce":

I have tried to make authentic garlic sauce and haven't been successful, so this was my adaptation. I took about 1/2 cup mayonnaise, added a couple tablespoons olive oil and about 5 cloves minced garlic and let this sit in the regrigerator to blend flavors. This worked well, and gave the flavor I wanted, though the texture was a little different.

Suma from Suma's Cuisine tagged me ... Thanks, Suma ;)

**The rules are: Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other people.

1. What is your current obsession?

Worrying about the future.


2. What are you wearing today?

Jean skirt & T-shirt.


3. What’s for dinner?

Frozen Pizza.


4. What’s the last thing you bought?

Soap.


5. What are you listening to right now?

Harry Potter/ Prisoner of Azkaban


6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?

Very nice, great blog, and so sweet for thinking of me and tagging :)


7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world ,where would you like it to be?

I don't care, but close to people I care about.


8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?

Sandals, jean skirts, t-shirts and sunglasses.


9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

California.


10. Which language do you want to learn?

Spanish, as I could get a job just for being able to speak it.


11. What’s your favourite quote?

"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst... then you don't deserve me at my best."
-Marilyn Monroe-


12. Who do you want to meet right now?

Sri (Soybean)


13. What is your favourite colour?

Burned Orange


14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?

My jean skirts & t-shirts.


15. What is your dream job?

Writer/ Author


16. What’s your favourite magazine?

Right now, Science Illustrated.


17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?

I'd take my daughter to lunch tomorrow, then to the mall and buy her something... Then maybe something for myself.


18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

I don't care about fashion, probably wearing clothes too tight and small.


19. Who are your style icons?

I don't have any, style and fashion aren't really important to me.


20. Describe your personal style.?

Comfortable, clean, good-fitting and appropriate for the situation.


21. What are you going to do after this?

Take a shower, and go to the library.


22. What are your favourite movies?

The King & I, Gone with the Wind, It's a Wonderful Life, What Dreams May Come, The Gladiator, Shawshank Redemption, John Q, Puff the Magic Dragon, Water, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Seven Pounds.


24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

Foundation, eye-liner & blush.


23. What inspires you?

Intelligence.


24. What is your current favorite song?

Runaway - Love and Theft.


25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?

Get frustrated and stay in the house.


26. Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the mornings, tea in the evenings.


27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?

Lay around, cry, try to figure out how to fix everything in my life, then get more depressed.


28. What is the meaning of your name?

It's Greek for a sea nymph.


29. Which other blogs you love visiting?

All food blogs


30. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?

Right now, I'm craving some Tira Misu.


31. Favourite Ornaments.

Earrings & Nose Ring.


32. Most important thing your parents taught you?

Work Ethics.

I'm tagging anyone who wants to do this... :)

Steak at my mom's...

I think I've mentioned before how I never buy and prepare a steak on my own, but if I happen to be at my mom's and she decides to make a steak, then I'm all for it!

Last week my mom made some steak for dinner and I decided to take pictures and post them, just in honor of the kick-ass food I grew up on... and that I never make for myself.

My mom always served fresh salad's along with dinners... This is one of her standards of tomatoes, cucumbers and onions with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. She lets it sit awhile in the fridge, and there's no need for any dressing!

Beef Stir-Fry w/ Bok Choy

I went to the farmer's market Saturday and picked up a bunch of Bok Choy, which I have never actually bought before, but figured I'd try it out on something. I wasn't even sure if I had eaten it before or how it tasted, but I decided to try it in a stir-fry. My mom had given me a sirloin steak and I had quite a bit of ingredients on hand to make a sauce... I decided just to throw sauces together in equal proportions and see how it turned out... It was really great! The trick is to fast fry the steak and make sure It's not cooked any longer than it needs to be, so it doesn't turn chewey or tough.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons oil
1 pound bok choy, stems removed, leaves washed and chopped
1 pound round or sirloin steak, sliced thin
2 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 tomato, sliced into wedges
black pepper, to taste

Sauce (combine)

1 tablespoon plum sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon sriracha hot chili sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon cornstarch combined with a little water to make a paste

Method:

Heat oil in large skillet and fry onion, ginger, garlic and bell pepper until it starts to soften, add beef to hot oil and fry at high heat until it browns. Add the combined sauce, tomato and bok choy and cook a couple minutes. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook a minute until thickened. Serve over noodles or rice.

~ “The fight to save family farms isn't just about farmers. It's about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food supply for all of us. It's about jobs, from Main Street to Wall Street. It's about a better America.” - Willie Nelson ~

Lamb & Spinach with a side of Potatoes

I don't write my own recipes often, but when I have some produce that I need to use up, I find this to be my perfect opportunity to do just that. I'm really happy with these two recipes, and will surely make them both again!

For Lamb & Spinach:

Ingredients:

• about 1 pound lamb, cooked until it falls off the bones, then bones removed
• 1 bunch cilantro, cleaned
• 4 spring onions
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons coriander powder
• 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper, to taste
  
• 2 bags, 16 ounce each, frozen spinach
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons ginger, minced
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 2 tablespoons ghee
  

Method:

1. Grind cilantro, spring onions and tomatoes in blender, adding water to get paste.
2. Heat ghee in large skillet, and fry garlic and ginger few minutes. Add coriander, cumin and cayenne powder and fry until the oil separates.
3. Add paste from blender and simmer about 20 minutes.
4. Add spinach and lamb and cook just until spinach is good and hot. Add salt and pepper as needed.
   
5. Add garam masala and serve.

For Potatoes:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup moong dal
• 2 cups water
• pinch turmeric
• 3 tablespoons ghee
  
• 5 medium potatoes (I used Yukon Gold) peeled and chopped into about 1-inch squares
• 1 tablespoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ajwain seeds
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Cook dal in 2 cups water and pinch of turmeric until softened, skimming off foamy top.
2. Add potatoes and enough water to cover, and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft.
   
3. In a small skillet, heat ghee and fry coriander powder, cumin powder, ajwain and cayenne pepper few minutes.
4. Add this to the potatoes, stir, and serve.
   

Pallavi's Hyderabadi Kheema

Here was our dinner tonight... it was very fast, easy and filling. I have eaten Kheema before, and tried to make it once, but it didn't turn out so well. So I tried Pallavi's recipe, and it was perfect! Thanks, Pallavi, for sharing your recipe!

~ When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car ~

Mona's Daliya Soup

Ugh... My digital camera finally broke (after 5 years), so I'm taking pictures from my computer now.

Here is a picture of Mona's Daliya Soup. It was excellent the day I made it, and even better the next day, warmed up! Thanks, Mona, for sharing your recipe :)

~ Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity - Voltaire~

Saag Gosht & Vanilla Jamuns

This is a recipe I've adapted over time, the original recipe having come from Betty Crocker's Indian Home Cooking. I changed a lot of the cooking method into something I was comfortable with.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds bone-in lamb, roasted with a little water at 250 degrees fahrenheit until meat falls off the bone. Remove bones and keep meat in same pan, saving for later. (I do this to save and use all the flavor left in the pan.)
  
• 2 - 16 ounce bags frozen spinach
• 3 tablespoons ginger paste
• 5 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 15 ounce can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne
• 1.5 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 1.5 teaspoons garam masala

Method:

In a large pot, sautee garlic and ginger until golden brown. Add coriander, cumin and cayenne until fragrant, one or two minutes. Add tomato sauce and simmer until oil separates. Add spinach and salt until spinach is wilted and heated through.

Heat the lamb and slowly add the whipping cream. Next, add the spinach and cook until everything is hot and combined. Add the garam masala and serve!

The Vanilla Jamuns are just something I came up with one day when I was out of rose essence. I added 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to my sugar syrup and it turned out really good. I prefer vanilla over the rose now.

Although I am posting again, it might be a little sporadic for awhile :)

Vindee's Rogan Josh, Okra, & MeMe

One of my favorite dishes is Rogan Josh, and whenever there is something that I like so much, I always try different variations of it. When I saw Vindee (Passionate About Baking) had a recipe, I decided to make it... as any time I try a dish of hers, it never dissapoints! As I expected, It was awesome! I made this along with an okra dish I found in Neelam Batra's 1,000 Indian Recipes. It has all the spices, like coriander, cumin, cayenne, ginger/garlic & some chaat masala... but the interesting thing was the way it was made. Instead of pan cooking, It was coated with spices and oil, and broiled then baked in the oven till golden. The chaat was added at the end before serving.

Sujatha (Khazana of my favorite recipes) has tagged me for a meme :)

1. Last movie u saw in a theater?
Juno

2. What book are u reading?
None right now :(

3. Favorite board game?
Yahtzee (More of a dice game I suppose)

4. Favorite magazine?
National Geographic

5. Favorite smells?
Green Cardamom, anything grilled over charcoal, vanilla & my bf's cologne

6. Favorite sounds?
Quiet noise of a fan running, and nothing else!

7. Worst feeling in the world?
Anxiety

8. What is the first thing you think of when u wake?
:(( NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

9. Favorite fast food place?
Subway

10. Future child's name?
Future Child???

11. Finish this statement—'If I had a lot of money I’d....’
Try and remember what It's like to barely have enough to get by and enjoy the freedom!

12. Do u drive fast?
Sometimes, but I try not to.

13. Do u sleep with a stuffed animal?
No

14. Storms–cool or scary?
Awesome, I love them!

15. What was your first car?
Mercury Sable

16. Favorite drink?
Water

17. Finish this statement - If I had the time I would…
Relax and take a looooong trip to Chicago.

18. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
Yeah

19. If you could dye your hair any other color, what would be your choice?
I like my hair color because I haven't seen anyone with my hair color before :)

20. Name all the different cities/towns u have lived in?
Kalamazoo, MI (yup, I'm that boring)

21. Favorite sports to watch?
I use to watch basketball, now I don't watch anything but I don't mind seeing tennis if someone else watches it. Anything really fast paced is ok.

22. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you?
Sujatha has a great blog I was happy to find and she was sweet enough to think of me for this meme :)

23. Whats under your bed?
Nothing

24. Would u like to be born as yourself again?
Yes, and knowing everything I know now, too!

25. Morning person or night owl?
Neither, I like the mid-day.

26. Over easy or sunny side up?
Over easy.

27. Favorite place to relax?
My quiet apartment, while no one is home!

28. Favorite pie?
Pumpkin

29. Favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate Almond

30. Of all the people u have tagged, who is the most likely to respond first?
I don't know, as I'm not going to tag anyone in particular, but anyone who wants to do it... You're IT!!! ... And thanks Sujatha for the tag! :)

Mom's Beef & Noodles

This is one of those dishes my mom would say she was cooking and I would be dreading, until the first bite! It always sounded so boring, bland, and ordinary...but my mom can make anything taste amazing! I hadn't eaten it in a long time, as my mom cooks less and less as she gets older...well during Christmas she cooked up a big batch of this and everyone went nuts for it...that's when I asked her for the recipe and decided to make it for myself. It turned out perfect, just like my moms, and that rarely ever happens when I try to cook her food.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless beef roast
• salt & pepper
• Mrs. Dash's Onion and Herb
  
• beef bullion
• 8 ounces egg noodles
• Spike seasoning (optional, it was my own addition)
• about 6 cups water

Method:

Season both sides of roast liberally with salt, pepper, and onion & herb. Place in baking dish with about 1/4 cup water. Roast in the oven, covered, at 325 degrees F. for approximately 3 hours, turning once about half way through.

Drain broth juices into a large pan. Add enough water to make about 6 cups of liquid in this pan. Taste for strong flavor and add beef bullion as needed. Bring this to a boil and add in the egg noodles. While this is cooking, pull apart the roast into the desired size pieces. When the noodles are finished, add the meat, and serve...sprinkled with Spike seasoning if desired.

Depending on how much meat you like to eat with your noodles, you can cook up 8 more ounces of egg noodles in some beef broth and add the remaining leftover meat to that whenever the first batch of noodles are finished.

~ Nah... I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into? - Juno Macguff ~

Shriya's Mutton Soup

I was thrilled to see that Shriya of SpicyTasty had tried and liked my Slut Bread so much that I had to try one of her recipes. After enjoying and drooling over so many good posts, I decided to make her Mutton Soup. I took it to work and shared it with a couple co-workers who loved it as much as I did. I used lamb instead of mutton since that was more available, and I cooked it over a few hours as I am terrified of pressure cookers :D Thanks again Shriya for trying my Slut Bread and for giving me the the chance to try your Mutton Soup!


~ "I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details." - Albert Einstein ~

Gyros

When I made the sauce for these, I decided I wanted to add the onions and tomato directly to the yogurt instead of leaving them on the side to add to the Gyro later. It gave the sauce really good flavor, and I am using the leftovers in another recipe that I will be posting later.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups yogurt
• 3 tsp. Greek seasoning ( I used Penzey's)
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cucumber, chopped
• 1 medium red onion, chopped small
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 1 tbs. olive oil
• 1 tbs. lemon juice
• a bit of shredded lettuce
  
• 4 - 6 whole pita breads

Method:

Combine yogurt with 2 tsp. of Greek seasoning, tomato, cucumber and red onion. Set in refrigerator. In a small bowl combine 1 tsp. Greek seasoning with the olive oil and lemon juice. Add this to the lamb meat and pat out lamb into thin strips. Fry in very shallow oil on both sides until done, drain on paper towel. Warm up pita breads in the oven and slice each in half. To serve, put some lamb into each pita half and top with some of the yogurt sauce and lettuce.

~ Blushing is the color of virtue - Diogenes ~

Padma's Lamb Curry

I wanted to thank Padma for the sweet award she gave me by cooking her delicious Lamb Curry. WOW! This curry is GOOD! I'm so glad I tried this...Thanks Padma for posting the recipe!!! And thanks again for the award :D

" The POWER OF SCHMOOZE AWARD is the award for bloggers who effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don't limit their visits only to the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship. "

Reading this reminded me of one blogger in particular who helped welcome me into the world of blogging, and has always taken the time to visit my humble space and leave friendly comments. I want to pass this award to Viji at VCuisine and thank her for being such a great schmoozer :D

~ A candle glow can pierce the darkest night ~

Chimichanga's with Nearly Salsa

I really need to go grocery shopping as I had a hard time finding something to make for dinner...Somehow I pulled this together without a few of the things I needed, but it still tasted really good!

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, halved & sliced
• 1 tsp. cumin seed
  
• 1 can kidney beans, smashed
• 3/4 lb. ground beef
• 1 tbs. oil
• Mexican shredded cheese
• 6 soft taco flour tortillas
  

Spices to mix:

• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper powder
  
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. paprika powder
  
• 1/4 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder

Make beef mix:

Heat oil in skillet, when hot, add cumin seed and onion...fry till onion is translucent. Add beef and when it starts to brown add mixed spices...finish cooking beef.

Assemble & Fry 'changa's:

Spread each tortilla with some of the smashed beans, then add some ground beef mixture being careful not to overfill. Next add some cheese and roll up the tortillas by folding in sides then folding ends over. When finished folding, heat enough oil in a skillet to come half way up 'changa's and fry them till golden-brown. Serve with some lettuce and salsa.

Nearly Salsa Recipe:

Chop up 3 Roma tomatoes...add a large handful chopped cilantro, 1/2 small minced onion, 1/4 tsp or more salt, and 2-3 tbs. lime juice. Stir & chill.

~ We like someone because, we love someone although.

My Mom's Favorite Spinach & Beef

I have a lot of different ways to make this and I can't believe how hard it is to write down a recipe when I'm so use to making it by throwing things in here and there. That's why I have so many ways of making it...each time something different would come out and I'd have a new favorite. This is the way my mom loves it because the flavor comes primarily from the beef.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds frozen spinach
• 1 pound beef (I like pinwheels) cut into small pieces
  
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 1/2 bag frozen pearl onions
• 5 large cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
• 4 black cardamom's, crushed lightly
• 1 1/2 tablespoons coriander powder
• 2 tablespoons cumin powder
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 2 tablespoons oil
• salt & pepper to taste

Method:

Heat oil in large pan, when hot, add the cardamom and sizzle for a few seconds. Next, add onions, garlic & ginger, sautee until golden. Next add the beef, coriander, cumin, cayenne powder, salt & pepper and sautee until beef is slightly browned. Finally add the spinach, pearl onions & garam masala. Reduce heat to med-low and cover until spinach is warmed and beef is cooked (sometimes I have to add about 1/4 cup water). At the very end I remove the lid, turn up the heat, and warm it up before serving, adjusting the salt & pepper if necessary.

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