Split Pea Soup

Growing up near the famous Pea Soup Anderson's, I have never had pea soup...in all of my 29 years of life. I don't like peas AT ALL....but one day I walked into my Nina's house and she was making soup. Before I left, I decided to give it a spoon taste and it was so good, she sent me home with a Tupperware for hubby to try. Well I don't think it lasted that long cause I ate it all hahaha...

I decided to buy a bag of peas and have had them for a few weeks but kept forgetting to buy bacon (we eat turkey bacon and needed pork) or smoked ham hock everytime I went to town. Today I finally remembered! Yay me :) I put a pot of water, dried peas and a hock to boil until peas got super soft..when it was done I added salt to taste. You can cook with diced onions or celery or carrots (I chose not to) I added a dollop of sour cream and some cheese to my bowl and that made it much more creamy and tasty! Even my picky eater Isabel like it :))))

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Baked Potato con Chorizo

I had a dream last night about food and woke up craving this new concoction so hubby tried his best to make my food dream come true!
Microwave or bake a potato.
Cook chorizo, add egg and when potato is done carve out some potato, mixed it with chorizo and egg and restuff the baked potato. Serve and enjoy.

Whole wheat wheat bread disaster and success

My first ever attempt at making wheat bread failed. I read the recipe wrong and mixed up some numbers...I thought I would be able to fix it by doubling the recipe and little did I know, doubling the recipe doesn't work well with baked breads...why im still not sure, it just doesn't ;( so I dumped my gross sticky mixture, concluded that I don't do well with metric measurements and chose a different recipe....this time, it was a success!

The bread smelled amazing when it was done and tasted just as amazing...for lunch I made hubby and I low cal wheat bread sandwiches and we shared a serving of Doritos (since we are doing this low-cal thing) instead of mayonnaise I used mustard and cucumbers! Very good...I will def have to make more and continue to try recipies until I find the "perfect" low cal whole wheat bread!

Potato Soup with Green Chillies and Cheese

A Big thanks to my friend Audrey...

My friend posted this recipe to her FB and i just had to try it. especially with this cold weather fall/winter weather. I checked for the ingrediant and I had everything, so this was our dinner and it was delicious. I addred real crunchy bacon pieces to the end of the cooking. Im surprised it was a hit with the whole family...kids and dad included.

When i was little my grandma used to make potato cheese soup and it was (is still) my favorite. Our version was different and more tomatoey than creamy. But this version is definetly a HIT!!!
Thank you Audrey!!!

2 tbsp. veg. oil 1 med. onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 c. chopped unpeeled potatoes 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 c. chicken or veg. broth 2 c. milk 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies, undrained 1/2 tsp. celery salt 1 1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese (shredded) White or black pepper

Heat oil in 3-qt. pan over medium heat.  Add onion & garlic; cook until onion is tender.  Stir in potatoes; cook 1 minute.  Stir in flour; continue cooking 1 minute.  Stir in broth.  Bring to boil.  Cover; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  Stir in milk, chilies, & celery salt; heat until simmering. Add cheese; stir & heat just until cheese melts. DO NOT BOIL.  Add pepper to taste.

Pollo en Pato

A few days ago, we went out to eat with my dad to a restaurant that my husbands co-worker kept telling him about. usually i love going to the same resturants that i know and love...but i thought id give this a try.

to my surprise, it was actually pretty good and perhaps better than one of my other favorite mexican restaurants...

My husband ordered "cordoniz en salsa" (quail in sauce), i ordered something familiar to my liking "chile relleo and enchilada" and my dad ordered "pollo encebollado con jalapeno" (chicken with onions and jalapeno). His dish looked super yummy, but because we are barely getting acquainted again, i didnt dare stick my fingers in his plate and he is a big eater so i didnt ask him for a taste either...

instead i went home and 2 days later, i made my own version. not sure how his tasted, but my version was amazing, if i must say so myself lol

i cut chicken breast pieces (bone in),  browned for a few minutes in oil, added a can of chile pato sauce (the yellow tomato sauce can with the duck, it has a spicy kick to it), chopped up oinion slices and bell pepper, salt and pepper. I covered the pot and let it simmer and cook on low heat for about 30 minutes or so or at least until chicken was done. I served over white rice with lentils on the side and mmmmm!!!

Anisa even had 2 servings, thats how i know that its good sometimes....when the kids ask for more!

the lentils i make by boiling until they are done about 30 minutes to 40minutes. finely chop onion, garlic and fresh jalapeno. add goya seasoning-cilantro and tomato, salt and let simmer a few minutes until all flavors have incorporated!

Eggplant, Basil & Garlic Pesto with Fettuccini and Scallops in Garlic Butter and Parsley

OK i have to admit my side dish is not mine. I went to Trader Joes and saw these in the freezer section and thought they looked super delicious. Its my easy way out side dish....hey we all need some of those!!!!

The main course was Eggplant, basil, and garlic pesto with fettuccini.

I diced up in bite size pieces half of a large eggplant (enought more hubby and i), sauteed in grapeseed oil (hubby's new found healthy love), until golden brown. In my food processor (cuisinart, not the ninja), i put fresh basil (courtesy of my cousin Leticia), 2 garlic gloves, a pinch or 2 of salt and a dash or 2 of oil. Too cooked fettucini, i added a handful or 2 of parmesean cheese, tossed then added eggplant and basil. tossed some more. It'd be great with not so noodlely noodles also, maybe smaller ones.

The original recipe i saw on giada de laurentis' show. Her recipe called for pine nuts into basil and spiral noodles. but as always, i love doing my own version... :)

Shrimp Ramen and Asparagus

Steamed Asparagus with butter

Shrimp Ramen with Bellpeppers and Water Chesnuts

When ever i dont know what to cook, i pretty much just look ing my fridge and cupboards to see what i have and what is easy to make.

 I boiled some Top Ramen noodles, then drained when they were soft and transferred them over to a pan to finish cooking with the sauteed bellpeppers and water chesnuts and shrimp. I added cajun spice season and a little bit a black pepper. When it was done "meshing" together, it was done and to my husband's surprise, it was mighty tasty!