Upcoming Flavor Initiative...Rome, Ohio, anyone?

To be posted soon: Last night I made some REALLY tasty Italian burgers and potatoes on the grill... complete with pictures to document the tale... except for the finished product. It smelled so good, I ate half of it before I realized I hadn't snapped a shot of the final result! Oh well, you'll get the picture anyway...... Stay tuned!

Viva Italia!! (is that even Italian? I'm such a lame-o 1/8th Italian)

Flavor Initiative - Tex Mex Rollups

As promised (drum roll please.....): the first installation of Flavor Initiative!!! The pilot dish is (drum roll please......): Tex Mex Rollups! I spotted these in a little seasonal cookbook/pamphlet I have from the Pampered Chef, and I decided to tweak it a little (like I do with almost all recipes) and make it my own. And boy am I glad that I did!!!

What do I need?

~ 1lb lean ground beef or venison*
~ 1 small green or red bell pepper (chopped medium/fine)
~ 1 small white (or red) onion (chopped medium/fine)
~ 1 can black beans (drained, but not rinsed)
~ 1.5 or 2 cups shredded cheese (I used a Mexican blend, but cheddar would be fine)
~ 10 8" flour tortillas
~ 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (this isn't mandatory, but I can't live without it)
~ Spices! (I used a Chipotle mix and some extra cumin to flavor, but you could also use packaged taco seasoning, or just cumin, chili powder and some cayenne pepper... just throw some stuff in there and keep tasting until you like it!)
~ Nonstick cooking spray or veggie oil

* I'm a vegetarian with the exception that I eat venison supplies by my boyfriend, Ernie. I'm sure you're saying, "What? That doesn't make any sense." But without getting into a big discussion about my views, I'll leave you with this: The biggest reason I don't eat meat is because I don't want to support the questionable practices and energy expenditures associated with factory farming. (Also, you should note that not many things about me make any sense. That will probably help you get through this.)

How do I make it?

Preheat the oven to 450F. Put the ground meat into a large skillet over medium/high heat and add your seasonings. Stir occasionally until the meat is browned and there's no more pink. Add the peppers, onions and black beans and continue to cook for until the beans are heated through and the veggies are crisp tender (another 2 minutes or so). Remove the skillet from the heat and dump in your cheese... stir that around until it gets yummy and melty...mmmmm. Chop up your cilantro (if using) and add it in there too.

Scoop a heaping spoonful of the meat mixture into the middle of a tortilla, roll it up, tucking in the sides, making it a nice little package of tex-mex-y goodness. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. Line them up onto a baking pan (I lined mine with foil) coated with some cooking spray. Spray a little on top of the roll ups as well. Pop these little puppies into the oven for about 10 minutes, until the tortillas get to be a nice crispy golden brown. (The picture below is before they were in the oven and had a chance to get all nice and crispy golden brown)
I served mine with some pico de gallo I had made and a dollop of sour cream. Seriously, what can't a dollop of sour cream fix? It's a miracle food. You should really make these. Ernie told me that they're better than Chipotle. (and while I don't really agree with him, I'm not going to turn down a compliment of that caliber... I hold Chipotle in the highest esteem)
I also highly suggest serving this with a delicious margarita. Enjoy!!

The Flavor Initiative

Hello to the crowds (3 people) who read my little blog. I'm sorry I've neglegted you (and my little blog) so much. I never write, and I never bring you flowers anymore. So sorry.

I've been so busy domesticating myself, I've hardly had time to read the several blogs that I'm addicted to (see list at right), let alone pen something for my own. But I need a creative outlet of some sort, so I'm coming here... to my little blog. One of the domestication activities that has been taking up such a large part of my domestic life is... cooking.

I love cooking. I didn't know it, but I do, I really do. Don't get me wrong... I've never hated cooking... I've always enjoyed a little lasagna making here and there... had fun throwing together a pizza or calzone... making a strawberry pie with Carlie... But my cooking experiences were few and far between, and they always hovered around a very small (but reliable) arsenal of sure-fire favorites.

Well thanks to a couple of years of religioulsy watching (and subconciously retaining information from) the Food Network, and the last couple of months of becoming ridiculously addicted to and enamored with cooking websites such as The Pioneer Woman Cooks and Smitten Kitchen... I've developed quite the urge to COOK COOK COOK.

So what better way to fuel this new found cooking fire than sharing it with you on a weekly basis? I'm going to call this new weekly feature, "The Flavor Initiative." I've found myself becoming more in tune with flavor combinations and have risen above my usual, "This tastes good," or, "This tastes bad." Now I say such highly evolved things as, "This would taste even better with a hint of citrus," or, "I should cut back on the cilantro a little next time." Just kidding. I would never say that I should use less cilantro.

So later today, I'll be putting up my first Flavor Initiative post for Cheesy Tex-Mex Roll-Ups. I know you can't wait, but you're just going to have to. Here's are a couple of pictures to get you in the mood.... Ole!

PS - thanks for the inspiration and all the yummy ideas P-Dub and Deb.

Look How Cute

I like kids. I like photographs. So I guess it's natural that I like photographs of kids. I really don't have much else to say about it, except, "Look how cute!"

They're just soooooo cute!

Stop it.... stop the cuteness... I can't handle the cuteness.....

Top o' the Green Beer to Ya...

It's St. Patrick's Day. I hope you're wearing green, or else your bottom may be sore by the end of the day... if you're coworkers are of the sexual harassment persuasion, that is. I love good ol' St. Patty's Day. Perhaps it's the tradition of Irish food such as a tasty Reuben sandwich, or a big plate of corned beef and cabbage. I mean, who doesn't love that gastrointestinal bliss on a dish? Or maybe it's the cheap green Bud Light available at every establishment with a liquor license. But then again, maybe it's the fact that St. Patrick's Day is a day when we can all come together and stake claim in our (real or imagined) Irish heritage. A day when differences are forgotten in the face of something bigger than me and you, something bigger than all of us - an excuse to drink yourself stupid. Drinking green beer, puking on your friend's purse, and waking up in a stranger's house with a tattoo of a shamrock on your right breast... it just doesn't get any more Irish than that.



So for all of you lads and lasses out there who have either started your morning with green eggs and kegs, or are anxiously anticipating the shenanigans to be had after work, here is a little limerick I wrote in the spirit of the day. Please enjoy responsibly.

A pregnant girl could not drink beer.

She watched her friends with a small tear.

One day she said, "Screw it."

Grabbed a beer and went to it.

Now she fears her her poor baby to be queer.

Here's to you, Sarah, and your queer baby.

Love is in the air.... and also the smell of a T-Bone

Let me apologize up front to the ladies who are keeping this from their boyfriends/husbands if I am letting the cat out of the bag... BUT..... Tomorrow, Saturday, March 14th is STEAK & BLOWJOB DAY!!!!

Aren't you excited? I know, I know... but think how thoughtful your man was on Valentine's day. What? He got you a crappy card and a $7.50 bouquet from the grocery store? Do a little experiment... induldge your beau this S&BJ Day, and see how much better V-Day is for you next year (don't forget to remind him come next January about how great it was...)

It really is the perfect way to show your man some appreciation if he's not the sentimental type... and even if he is the sentimental type, I would imagine he would still appreciate it quite a bit. So don't forget to stop at the store on your way home from work tonight and pick up your boy toy's favorite cut o' meat and maybe some flavored lube. He won't even know how to thank you (but I'm sure you can think of something for him...)

Jingle Bills, Jingle Bills, Jingle All the Way (to the poor house)

It's that time again... time for the warm smell of sugar cookies coming from the kitchen, the crackling of logs in the fireplace framed with stockings, and the sick feeling in your gut when you open your January credit card bill. Can't we all just make each other a scarf or a book of coupons promising to wash your car or babysit your kids? I think it's time to start thinking outside creatively when it comes to "gift" giving. I'd really rather someone just give me a plate of cookies they made, rather than spending $10 at Bath & Body Works on some smelly crap I don't even like (note: there is plenty of smelly crap that I DO like from B&BW, however, I never get any of that.) In these tough economic times, I urge you to stop yourself as you're about to buy that impersonal gift card or pre-packed "spa set" from TJMaxx, and ask this question... "Is this just going to be re-gifted?" Save yourself the money, and give a gift from the heart that will really mean something.

I found a nice list of 34 Do-It-Yourself Christmas gifts on Get Rich Slowly. Below I've compiled my favorite ten (but check out the entire list for yourself!):

1) Homemade candies/cookies. You can by inexpensive white boxes from any craft store and decorate them with wrapping paper and ribbon. Try making something uncommon that most people don't make for themselves, like chocolate truffles... mmmmmmm.

2) Create a recipe booklet of all your favorite recipes (could be holiday recipes, or follow some other theme), and include samples as well! Package it all up in a nice little basket, or maybe an inexpensive oven mitt.

3) If you have an artistic side (or even if you don't), think about creating a drawing or a painting that has meaning to the giftee... maybe a drawing of a favorite memory or snap shot. Pick up an inexpensive frame, and you've got an instantly invaluable gift. (I've done this one myself many times... it's a great idea)

4) Give the gift of your time of skill. Cooking lessons (if you're a great cook). Music lessons (if you are a musician). Housesitting or Babysitting (if you like to sit). Create a little coupon book if you like. Just be prepared to pay-up!

5) I won't paraphrase this one... Here it is, verbatim from the website... I think this is so nice: "One Christmas when I was a poor college student, I leafed through children’s books at the library, looking for pages and pictures that reminded me of various friends. I photocopied these pages, colored them by hand, and then framed them with construction paper. I added a little note to each friend on the back of her piece. I spent maybe $10 total for all my gifts, though it took hours of my time. That was perfect: In college, I had plenty of time, but very little money, and making these things felt like an act of love. But giving somebody a CD I bought from Amazon? Not so much."

6) Make a personalized calendar with pictures of you and your friends or family. Be sure to add dates that would be of importance to the giftee. A good "something extra" for this gift that I'd never heard before is to add a free babysitting coupon for a weekend, or a couple of dollars in the summer for an ice-cream treat.

7) Compile a mixed cd or music that has sentimental value between you and the giftee. You could make a mix of all the songs that you and your friend liked back when you were in high school. Or a mix of sappy love songs for your significant other. Have fun with it. Create a cd cover to slip into the jewel case as well.

8) Make a "Secret Hollow Book" out of an old book you can pick up for next to nothing at a thrift store or library sale. Glue the pages together and hollow it out with an exacto... couldn't be easier... and definitely one-of-a-kind!

9) Make a homemade handwarmer, neckwarmer, heating pad. Bsicaly like making a bean bag, but fill it with dried corn (available at farm supply stores ie: Tractor Supply) or ceramic pie weights. All the giftee has to do is warm it up in the microwave when they're feeling chilly.

10) I'm a big proponent of themed gift baskets. You can usually throw these together pretty inexpensively if you shop at the dollar store, and you can incorporate something homemade like salsa or pasta sauce. Some ideas: "Movie Night" (popcorn bowl as the basket, popcorn, candy, movie rental coupon), "Gardening" (bucket or tote as basket, trowel, gloves, seeds), or "Pasta" (colander as basket, your homemade sauce, some dried pasta, garlic bulbs). The possibilities are endless!

Don't forget to take my christmas tree trimmings poll to the right ------>

Happy Holidays...now go make something!