Recipe for Week 11

(This was written Friday morning, but I forgot to hit publish. Such is life)

OK I understand this is not really a recipe, but more of a concept but I am counting it nonetheless since we have never eaten it like this before. (If that is not a lame excuse for an opening sentence I don't know what is!)

Last night began March Madness and our team played (not well but at least they played) so TheHub wanted to have a basketball game meal. Generally when we have a game night meal it is something like hotdogs, but I was not in the mood for them. A few days ago I was flipping through some online recipes and I saw a recipe for sheet pan chicken nachos. I couldn't find it last night, but thought "Hey it's nachos." It's not like I needed a recipe to make them really so I winged it, which is a play on words since I sauced the chicken with buffalo wing sauce.

Here is a breakdown of how I made it. Take what works for you and change what doesn't. It's nachos and there are no rules.

1/2 bag leftover tortilla chips (enough to fill the bottom of a jelly roll pan)
1 boneless chicken breast and 1 boneless chicken thigh, poached and shredded.
Buffalo wing sauce (I used Moore's blue cheese buffalo wing sauce cause it was in the fridge)
1 can petite diced tomatoes, well drained (If tomatoes were in season I would have used fresh ones, but they are very hard and pithy here right now.)
2 jalapenos seeded, ribbed and diced, (Substitute bell peppers or omit entirely)
1 small can drained sliced black olives.
1/2 onion minced
1 8oz. pack of taco flavored cheese shreds
4 ounces (ish) grated white cheddar (it was what I had in the fridge)

Line a jelly roll pan (15 x 10 large baking sheet with sides) with aluminum foil. Put the tortilla chips all over the bottom of the pan. Put the shredded chicken in a bowl and toss with buffalo wing sauce. I used about 4 tablespoons, but had a lot left in the bowl after coating the chicken. Arrange the chicken somewhat evenly over the chips then sprinkle the tomatoes over the chicken. Add the jalapenos, olives and onions in that order over the tomatoes. Top with the cheeses and bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes until the cheese is nice and melty and the veggies are softish. Serve piping hot with a side salad. We all thought it would have been better with a dollop of sour cream but we had none. Enjoy!

I wish I had used black beans and some frozen niblet corn, or better yet the Trader Joe's fire roasted frozen corn but I had none. Next time I will. This was really good and we all decided we wanted to have it again. I might even make it without chicken and just toss the onions in the buffalo sauce, or change the whole thing and use bbq sauce. I figure the sky and imagination are the only limits, so next time we will have sky high nachos. It is quick and easy and is going to replace the hot dog dinner before TV games.

The best thing about the whole baking pan concept is having just on pan to clean and since it is lined prior to cooking, the pan really just has to be rinsed well. Try it, you might like it!

p.s. This is definitely NOT Whole30, but it is so good!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Pats!

Thought I would start my day like I have for many years with this wonderful video and celebrate the day Alabama style. Then I decided I should not keep this to myself, but should share it with everyone. My personal favorite is the artist rendering. Enjoy!

And just in case you are interested a follow-up parody post.

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/03/ostrich_mobile_leprechaun_retu.html

Beware!

When Son3 was young he overheard me calling My Beloved Sister one day and wanted to know why I had called her, disguised my voice and said "Beware the Eyes of March"

So whether today summons your inner Caesar or inner Warby Parker, watch out for your Ides or Eyes!

New Recipe Week 10

I have just finished 30 days on the Whole 30 program and am taking a couple of days off before I begin it again. It is a very good way for me to eat, plus it keeps me on my toes trying new and different ways of preparing our foods. I find myself looking through an enormous collection of recipes. Generally while I am wandering through the jungles of paleo land some totally random and inappropriate recipe will find its way through the search maze of meats and vegetables. The one I tried this past week is one such recipe. Why in the world Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread would pop up in a paleo search is beyond me, but I did put it in my new bookmark category, "When Whole 30 is Over".

Last night I decided to bake something and looked at the new category. I saw this recipe bookmarked, immediately clicked on it (here) and decided this was easy, quick and would suit my criteria; something sweet, quick, using what I had in the pantry and the fewest utensils possible.

1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
4 eggs beaten
1 c oil
1 1/2 c self-rising flour
1 tsp vanilla
2 c pecans, finely chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the pan (Use Pam, vegetable oil or melted butter. I save all my butter wrappers in a baggie in the freezer and use them to grease pans, tossing them after I use them)

There is a cute little tutorial on the recipe page and everything is measured into little bowls and tossed in the mixing bowl at the appropriate time. At the end of the recipe you will have used 7 bowls, a wooden spoon, baking pan, spatula, and knife, plus your measuring utensils. Trust me when I tell you, that is way more than necessary. I made this recipe using one mixing bowl, 1 wooden spoon, baking pan, 1 cup measuring cup and 1/2 cup measuring cup. I am writing the instructions as I made it, not as the recipe said. I definitely believe in the K.I.S.S. method of cooking (Keep it stupid simple or keep it simple, stupid)
Measure the sugars using the 1 cup measuring cup and toss in the mixing bowl. I always start with the white sugar because it has no dampness to it at all, followed by the brown sugar. Next measure the one cup of oil using the same measuring cup. (And no, you do not have to be like my mother was and wash it between each measure. The oil does not care if a few grains of brown sugar remain in the measuring cup and it will not alter the recipe at all)
Stir the sugar and the oil until it is well blended. Add the eggs one at a time to the bowl. They will rest on top of the sugar/oil mix. Using your wooden spoon beat them lightly then incorporate them into the sugar mix. Then add 1 teaspoon vanilla (I eyeball this, but I am pretty good at eyeballing)  and stir everything together.  Use the half cup measure and add the 1 1/2 cups self rising flour. Mix it in, but don't over stir. Add 2 cups chopped pecans. Stir them through then turn the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it using the back of the wooden spoon as your spatula.
Bake for 25 -30 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares.

The verdict? This is a dense sweet bread and it was fine, especially for the ease of cooking, but it was not the best thing I have ever made. I live in pecan country and have access to free and/or relatively cheap pecans so I always have a large store of them in my freezer. I would probably not pay full price for the amount used in this recipe because it was just not spectacular enough to warrant the regular retail price. It would probably be equally good using whatever nut is readily available to wherever you live except for black walnuts. I think their taste might overpower the batter.
I used grapeseed oil which is a neutral tasting oil and I actually thought the batter would benefit from some additional flavor. Maybe 3/4 cup oil to 1/4 cup butter. I would also use half light brown sugar and half dark brown, just to add some additional taste.

We tried it fresh out of the oven and were all underwhelmed, but I had a small piece this morning to see if it improved after sitting and it was much improved. If you make it, make it at least a half a day in advance so it can cool totally. Honestly I will most likely never make this again. It is perfectly fine, but that is all it is__fine.

Sorry, Y'all

I understand and feel the pain of all of you who are digging out from the snowfall. 

I looked out my kitchen door this morning to check the weather and this is what I saw while I was standing on my deck.

Instead of gray skies and snowfall I saw sunny blue skies and a pink puff of redbud blooms.
I am pretty sure spring has sprung here, but I also know Mother Nature can be sort of fickle, so I am not planting anything __yet!

Raining

Son3 is a musician and I guess it is true that birds of a feather do flock together because his beautiful GF3 is also a very talented singer/songwriter/actor.
Yesterday she posted this beautiful song she wrote and I thought I would share it with anyone who wants to invest 2:49 listening to her lovely voice and lyrics. The link here should connect you with her recording. Hope you Raining as much as I did.

March Joy List

I begin March with a new list of things that should bring me the joy that I am actively seeking in everyday life. I see and read so much around me that is unpleasant, cruel or heartbreaking and I don't want to sound like I am becoming an ostrich and just burying my head in the sand, oblivious to everything happening in the world but I can either rant and rail or I can seek joy that is abundant all around me.  I choose joy.

1. Continue expanding my personal horizons
a. Listen to "In This House On This Morning" completely through, uninterrupted.
    Listen to "la Boheme"  completely and uninterrupted.
    Listen to "Peter and the Wolf", completely and uninterrupted
    Listen to   "Symphony No.3" by Mahler completely and uninterrupted

b. Read that blooming self help book I didn't read in February.

c. Try a new to me beverage each week

d. Make a new to me recipe each week

e. Try a different hair color.

f. Read a new to me magazine each week (doable thanks to DIL's Texture gift)

2.   Call My Beloved Sister on March 15. Pitch my voice down as low as possible  and say "Beware the Ides of March" (She hates March and particularly the Ides, so naturally I have been doing this to her for about 30 years)

3.   Try something I have never done before.

4.   Go to a movie by myself, popcorn optional

5.   Go to a play or concert

6.   Volunteer

7.   Have a birthday celebration for Mom

8.   Learn a new song on the piano

9.  Give someone flowers.

10. Take food to someone having a hard time

11. Call a long neglected friend

12. Send a thinking of you card simply because I am thinking of someone

13. Enjoy sitting in the sun and listening to the birds sing

14. Watch young kids playing and listen to their giggles

15. Invest some time looking at plants and planning the summer garden.

16. Create something weekly that is not food related

17. Tell someone how important they are to my life. (No idea who )

18. Do something for someone expecting nothing in return. Anonymous is best

19 During the days between whole30 (Yes I am doing it again but taking a 2 day break) bake bread.

20. Create time to just listen to TheHub (I am bad about not paying attention or multi tasking sometimes)

21. Visit a small town near me and enjoy its uniqueness.

22.  Spend at least one weekend at the lake.

23. Take Mom somewhere different (Maybe exploring the small town)

24. Take Mom out at night, she misses the lights

25. Have an fire outside and roast marshmallows for s'mores.

26. FaceTime weekly with the most beautiful girl in my world.

27. Binge watch something on a rainy day.

28. Have a St. Patrick's Day celebration

29. Have a small dinner party

30. Try to start each day spirit filled.

31. Be kinder than usual. Our world needs each of us to step up our kindness.

32. Keep a list of daily joys. They are out there but sometimes I forget to look for them.