homemade tortilla chips...

ingredients...

• 12 corn tortillas
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• kosher salt

preheat oven to 400 degrees F



brush both sides of each tortilla lightly with oil.



cut the tortillas into 8ths.



place the chips on two baking sheets...evenly spread out...and not overlapping. bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden...rotating cookie sheets halfway thru cooking process.



remove from the oven & sprinke with salt.





place in bowl & serve.



this recipe...courtesy of food network.

meatball & lentil soup...

this morning was crazy! my own private friday the 13th. whatever could go wrong...went wrong.

cooking calms me. so i decided to make some soup.

ingredients...

• turkey stock
• lentils
• meatballs
• carrots
• baby bell peppers
• onions
• cilantro
• kosher salt
• black pepper
• chili powder

add all ingredients (except the meatballs) into the crock pot. cook on high 2 hours... and on low 6 hours.



i had some swedish meatballs in the freezer...that i heated in the oven for 15 minutes. add the meatballs to the crockpot. stir and serve.

pancake breakfast...

today...i made pancakes.



gathering the ingredients...



add in...

• blueberries
• pecans
• nutmeg

cooking the first batch...










warming in the oven...

turkey chili...

the weather is cool. rain is expected. it's chili weather. besides...ground turkey is on sale this weekend...2 packages for $5.00.

even though i went to the store for the ingredients for my chili...i came away with other bargains. i.e. $.99 packages of whole wheat pasta!!!

this is an easy to throw together chili. open a few cans...and a couple of seasoning packages. add a few fresh ingredients...some salt...pepper & chili powder. viola!

***

ingredients...

• olive oil
• 1 package ground turkey
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 cans chilli beans
• 2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 2 packages mccormick chili seasoning

optional toppings...

• cheddar cheese
• sour cream
• diced onion
• corn chips
• cilantro
  

heat olive oil. add garlic & ground turkey. cover over medium until turkey is browned. add in onion...beans...tomatoes...chili seasoning packets...salt...pepper...chili powder. bring to a boil.





reduce heat...cover and simmer 20 minutes...stirring occasionally.



add cheese.



serve.

chip~n~ dip...

have you ever had homemade potato chips?

have you ever made them yourself?

this was my first time making them...and they were pretty easy to make. especially when you have a mandoline to slice the potatoes. i was able to get the potatoes sliced, seasoned and on the cookie sheet in the time it took the oven to reach 450.

***

ingredients...

• 3 large russet potatoes (2 1/4 pounds total) sliced into 1/8-inch thick rounds
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
• salt
  

directions...

• Toss potatoes in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of oil, and pepper until well coated.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Arrange potato slices in 1 layer on 2 cookie sheets.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until chips are crisped and lightly browned.
• Remove from oven, season with salt and cool.

***
i saw this being made on the food network a few weeks ago.

lunch...

my lunch companion had mussels.



i ordered the crab louie.



and instead of the usual salad dressing...i requested fresh limes & kosher salt.

not as tasty...but definitely healthier.



i had a nice cup of coffee at the end of the meal.



stay tuned tomorrow...when i make potato chips!

jammin...

blackberry jam on homemade biscuit.

as you can see...i'd already started eating it...when i remembered i was supposed to take a photo. oops!

oh well...just shows how good it was....because even as i was getting the camera...i was taking another bite!

food traditions...

the menu:

prime rib
greens w/turnip roots
black-eyed peas
white rice
cornbread salad





my meal on new year's day wouldn't be complete without black-eyed peas, greens, rice and cornbread.



the greens and peas are seasoned with an arsonal of herbs (kosher salt, pepper, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, chili flakes or soy sauce)...instead of hunks of ham and salt pork.



the main course; however, fluctuates. this year...it's prime rib. in fact...it's quickly becoming a part of my 'tradition'.



there are many foods that are considered to be lucky. do you have any food traditions? if so...what are they?

oh...and for dessert...fresh fruit...or pound cake...or both!



bon appetit!