Spice things up

Sometimes you need to add some spices to kick-up your food a notch. Here are my two favorite.

Taco Seasoning Mix (your tacos will be hot and spicy)

2 t. dried minced onion
1 t. salt
1 t. chili Powder
1/2 t. cornstarch
1/2 t crushed dried red pepper
1/2 t dried minced garlic
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. ground cumin

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until evenly distributed. Spoon mixture onto a 6-inch square of aluminum foil and fold to make airtight. Label and store in a cool, dry place. When ready, add to 1 pound ground beef already browned, plus 1/2 cup water. Simmer till the liquid is mostly gone and presto you're done.


My mom used to use these spices when making Cornish hen but I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breast. It's just so much easier to eat.

Chicken spices

Salad Supreme
Season Salt
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper
Poultry Seasoning
Sage (ground)
Chili Powder

My mom didn't know how much of any of this to add; so just sprinkle the spices on till they look good. Add more if you like a certain spice to be stronger. Pour in soy sauce till there is about an inch in the pan and let it marinate for a couple hours. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or untill cooked through. Serve over rice and it's wonderful.

Chicken Chili Soup

Now that it's fall it's time to break out those soup recipes. I love making soup because most of mine come from the can and are supper fast.

Chicken Chili

1 1/2 lbs. cubed chicken

1 medium onion, minced

1 16 oz. can tomatoes

1 15 oz. can of chicken broth

1 15 oz. can of pinto beans

1 15 oz. can chili beans (chili starter)

1 10 oz. package frozen corn

1 can tomato soup

1 T. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

Top with sour cream and cheddar cheese

Cook chicken until browned. Remove from pan. Add onion to pan and cook until translucent. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Serves 6-8.

If You're in the Neighborhood

While in Daytona yesterday, we discovered a "hole in the wall" type of pizza place.  It seats, maybe 18.  But, the owner (see above) is actually the cook (or is the other way around?)  Anyhow, he makes almost everything from scratch, none of this Sysco frozen stuff you get at the chains.  In fact, he brought out the pan in which he made our pizza's sauce, still remnants at the bottom.  Perhaps not a five star restaurant, but definitely one worth returning to over and over.  (Location:  201 Seabreeze Blvd, Daytona Beach)

Clowers' Week

Here is ours...

Sunday: Broiled Tilipia Fillets w/ Baked Sweet Potatoes and Corn on the Cob, and green salad
Monday: Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts w/ Herbed Roasted Potatoes and leftover corn
Tuesday: Chicken Parm
Wednesday: Crock Pot of Beans w/ sliced tomatoes and cornbread

That's all I got so far this week...we're out of groceries and I am just throwing things together!

Okay, Nicol...

I did not do much planning this week, but this is what we had...

Sunday - grilled ribs (David is trying to perfect 'fall off the bone' ribs - which was successful this attempt!), green salad, potatoes
Monday - grilled Cod fillet seasoned with salt/pepper/butter, fried rice (Hiromi told me how to do it RIGHT, thanks!), lima beans (the girls LOVE them)
Tuesday - homemade chicken strips, potatoes, green beans w/ almonds
Wednesday - Nicol's black bean burgers, potatoes, grilled squash
Thursday - pulled pork sandwiches
Friday - leftovers
Saturday - another round of David's ribs (I never even ate ribs, ever, until I married David), fried rice w/ vegetables, garlic bread and Michelle's blueberry muffins

I am trying to perfect foccacia bread, so hopefully I will have a recipe posted soon.

Red Beans & Rice

1Lb bag dried red beans
Smoked Pork Hock
Onion/chopped
3-4 cans chicken broth
Smoked sausage (optional)

Soak beans overnight. In crockpot, cook pork hock and onion in chicken broth on low overnight. The next morning drain and rinse beans, add to crockpot. Cook on low all day. You could cut up some smoked sausage and add them with the beans. Serve over rice.
I usually serve this with some green vegetable, and corn bread of course.
Super Easy, Super Yummy!

I'm Not the Only One

Our menu for this week
S: Mac & Cheese
M: Bar-b-que Pulled Pork
T: Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas
W: Spicy Soba Noodles w/ Chicken in Peanut Sauce
T: Red Beans & Rice
F: Pizza
S: Leftovers

I know you guys plan menus, Let's see them!