HOT AND SPICY!!! :-)

Ok so I have a friend who I love to cook with. I love it because he pushes me. The one person who will be honest and say "ya know, this doesn't have enough..." or "I'm not a fan or this because..."

It's hard when you are a cook, because most either a) don't know how to cook so no matter what you make is amazing b) don't ever help in the kitchen which can be a positive AND a negative and c) never give constructive criticism (at least in a good way)

So this weekend I went on a cooking spree... first of Pork Chops, my family Broccoli Cheese (also known as "Susan Broccoli" in my family) and garlic mashed potatoes

Of that, I'll only give you the pork chops because Broccoli Cheese is a family secret and mashed potatoes I hope you can make on your own

Pork Chops:

Mix together the rub:

2 tbsp. olive oil
dash of pepper
1 tbsp of basil
1 tbsp of oregano
4 tbsp of cayenne pepper
1 tsp of pepper
1 tsp of salt
a dash of crushed red pepper

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Wet boneless pork chops, lay in dry mix (both sides), place in broiler pan lined with aluminum foil. Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour

So second meal and tied or even better....

My family chili altered (cuz other than my late father and some guy cousin no one can take heat!!)

1 lb ground turkey
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cans of stewed tomatoes (preferably with basil and oregano)
2 chopped jalapenos
2 chopped serreno peppers
2 chopped orange habenero peppers
2 tbsp hot sauce
1 can of pinto beans
1 can small baked beans with brown sugar

1) Brown ground turkey in big pan

2) Add onion and minced garlic until onion is tender and meat is brown

3) Add stewed tomatoes, hot sauce and peppers and spices

4) Cover pot and let stew for 45 minutes - 1 hour

5) Add beans

6) Heat and stew for another 10-15 minutes

Serve with cheese, crackers, hot sauce and cornbread


The chili was a HIT!!! :-)

WARNING: these are for only those who can hang with hot, spicy goodness :)

Happy Birthday to all Spring Babies! :)

March through May are soooo many birthdays for family and close friends to me, including my own. April alone has 17 birthdays on my calendar in a month of 30 days! So two of my beautiful friends had a bbq to celebrate their birthdays and friendships and I felt it was a perfect opportunity to make a cake. My awesome neighbor Lisa came up and helped me bake it for a great Saturday experiment. I found this recipe on Rachel Ray and I knowing that I have only made meringue once and it was in a freshman high school cooking class, I thought it would be fun. It so yummy and fun to make that I actually did it again on Sunday - just so Lisa could actually try it. :-)

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
Finely grated peel of 2 lemons, plus 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 large eggs plus 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
One 11-ounce jar lemon curd
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, line with parchment paper, then butter the paper.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, stir together the milk, lemon peel and lemon juice.

• Using a handheld mixer, beat the butter with 2 cups confectioners' sugar on medium speed until fluffy, 2 minutes. Add the whole eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, mix in half of the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, then the remaining flour mixture.

• Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and bake until springy to the touch, about 25 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and let cool completely.

• Clean the mixer. Beat the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and the egg whites. Place over a saucepan of barely simmering water and cook, whisking, until the confectioners' sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and beat on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and the mixture is cool, 7 to 10 minutes.

• Peel the paper off 1 cake layer and place bottom side down on a cake plate. Spread one-third of the lemon curd on the cake and arrange the berries on top. Drizzle the remaining curd evenly over the berries. Peel the paper off the remaining cake layer and place upside down on the filling. Top the cake with the meringue.

Preheat the broiler to high. Broil the cake just until the meringue peaks are golden, about 2 minutes.

Teamwork makes the best Jambalaya

Last Saturday, I visited a friend and we decided we would make dinner. After much debating (lasagna, casserole, something "interesting") we ended up choosing jambalaya - which neither one of us have ever made or knew how to make. I've never made it because I always thought it came with shrimp and I'm allergic. This might be where an iPhone would come in handy but neither one of us having one we stopped at the store and just started grabbing things that we thought would go into jambalaya; tomatoes, chilis.. we then ran back to the house to google a couple of recipes and ideas on what would go in. After just glancing at a couple, we went back to the store and grabbed the rest of the ingredients. We went back to the house and I started cutting up veggies and throwing things in a pan. It turned out amazing and always seem the best meals come from not following a recipe (ironic I have a food blog) but here is what we did.

1/2 diced onion
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. vegetable oil
cubed chicken breasts
Italian sausage (we used turkey sausage)
1 diced green bell pepper
1 chopped carrot
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 tsp. cayenne pepper
sliced jalepenos
hot sauce
cooked rice
*can add shrimp if not allergic like me :)


Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add diced onions and minced garlic. Add chicken breasts and cook fully. In another smaller pan cook the sausage at the same time until they are fully cooked. Meanwhile, heat green bell pepper and carrots until tender. Cut cooked sausage into pieces and add to the large saucepan. Add the tomatoes, jalepenos, cayenne pepper, hot sauce and jalepenos. Cook on medium low heat for 15 minutes or until hot. Serve over rice.


So easy and tasty and I've realized that experimenting in the kitchen with a partner is much more fun than doing it by yourself. It also makes for an entertaining Saturday night, especially combined with many hours of Guitar Hero. ;-)

Muuuurrrrdeeer!!!

One of my closest friends bought me a kit for a Murder Mystery party for Christmas and last Saturday night I decided to use it. I googled and googled and could not find what I was looking for, and more importantly what I thought everyone else would like! After much debating, I settled on an entree I kinda made up before and a cake I found on one website. It was so easy and delicious, I need to share!

Appetizers - veggies with ranch dressing, mozzerella cheese and tomatoes, brie and crackers and chicken wings

Drinks - red wine and "coolie" (champagne, 7up, sherbert)

Sides - wild brown rice, green beans and salad.

Entree - Apple Cider Pork

- package of boneless pork loins
- dash of minced garlic
- one potato
- a couple of granny smith apple
- 1/3 c. diced onion
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- tsp of nutmeg
- 1 cup apple cider

Peel and dice potatoes and place in crock pot with onions and dash of minced garlic. Brown each side of the pork loins in hot vegetable oil. Place in crock pot. Top with slices of granny smith apples. Add cinnamon sticks and nutmeg. Pour in half cup of apple cider. Cook on HIGH for 5 and 1/2 hours. Before serving, add remaining 1/2 cup of apple cider.

Dessert: Death by Chocolate Cake



- package of chocolate cake
- 2 small boxes of chocolate pudding
- cool whip
- a couple of crushed heath bars

Make the pudding and put it in the fridge to harden. Bake the cake. Let it cool. In a big bowl, put part of the cake on the bottom, layer chocolate pudding, cool whip, and then heath bars. repeat layers. top with cool whip and crushed heath bars

It was all a hit and a lot of fun! :) The key is to make the dinner easy but tasty!