Jay Cutler Nachos!

No...the title does not mean that these Nachos are "An Epic Failure."

I decided to come up with something new to watch the Jay Cutler beat down yesterday!  These Nachos are so good that Jay Cutler would cry if he ate them...well, Jay Cutler cries about everything, so that would not be that big of a deal!  Way to go Packers for making him quit!

 
"Damn Coach...Those Nachos are spicy!  I think I need to sit the rest of this one out!"

What you need to make him Cry:
1 Can Pinto Beans
Tabasco
Jar Jalapenos
2 Cloves Garlic
3/4 lbs Chirizo (or other sausage)
1 can El Pato Tomato Sauce
1 Spanish onion (diced)
Tortilla Chips
Monterrey Jack Cheese


Spice Up the Beans:
1 Can Pinto Beans
Splash of Tabasco
Jar of Jalapenos (use as many as you want and hell, throw in the juice too!)
2 clove Garlic (minced)
1/2 Onion
Mix all in sauce pot and simmer until beans are cooked.

Fire up the Meat:
3/4 lbs Chirrizo or other sausage
1 Can El Pato tomato sauce (Enchilada sauce)
1/2 Spanish Onion (diced)
cook sausage and onions until meat is done.
Add in sauce a little at a time until well mixed but not "wet"
Pico de gallo (store bought)

Make Jay Cry!:
Layer Tortilla Chips on a baking sheet
Sprinkle top with Beans (no sauce)
Sprinkle with Meat
Add large amount of Pico de Gallo
Add generous amount to cheese
 
Repeat one more layer
Then pour 1/2 of the left over Tomato Sauce over the nachos.

Broil away from heat until cheese is melted
Top with more Pico de Gallo and serve with Guacamole or sour cream (or both!)

Caesar Salad Nachos

Game time or family time, these Nachos are quick, easy, and yummy!
I have recently discovered the joys of the salad kits they sell at the grocery now.  I have started experimenting with different kits to see what all they can be used for other than just a salad.  You can usually pick them up at Public for $2.50 a bag (buy one get one free) and they have everything you need to make a salad!

1 Bag Cesar Salad Kit
1 Tomato Diced
Tortilla Chips
8oz 4 Cheese Italian Cheese
1/2 Rotisserie or Hot Baked Chicken from the Deli

Remove the meat from the Chicken and toss it in 1/3 the dressing (from the kit)
Mix contents of the salad kit and 1/3 of the remaining dressing.
Arrange chips on a baking sheet and cover with 1/2 the cheese.  Top with salad and chicken and the rest of the cheese.
Boil Nachos until cheese melts, then top with remaining dressing and tomatoes.

A Successful Trip to the Packing Store!

I am so excited!  I found a bottle of wine a few months ago at a wine store in cool springs.  I was browsing the labels (and prices) and looking for a good every day wine.  One wine stood out when I saw it.  It was a simple label with a tree on it and aptly named, Tilia (Latin for Linden).
I read the back:
"Australian Melbec"....Good start.  "Shows concentrated black cherry and plum fruit flavors and aromas with a touch of spiciness"...Ding Ding Ding!  I think this wine is calling my name!
Price, $9.99!
The wine was amazing.  So the next time i was at my local Packing Store I told the manager about it and low and behold...they now carry the wine (for a dollar more, but it is in West Haven...so do you expect different?)

While there, I also got picked up a pack of beer I have been dying to try but could not find, "Ranger" by New Belgium Brewing Company.  New Belgium does not make a bad beer and 1554 is one of my favorites.  I poured a glass of this IPA as soon as I got home, and it was heavenly!  Loaded with Hopps with a nice citrus finish.  Just be careful it is a 6.5% high Alc. brew.

Lemon & Herb Roasted Chicken W/ Whipped Broccoli

This is one of those nights that reminds me why I love to cook.  I started out thinking I was just going to follow along with Tyler, but within the first 2 steps I realized that I did not have all the ingrediance and had to either scrap it or make it work.

Chicken
1/2 C EVOO
Zest of 1 Lemon
4 Garlic Cloves (smashed)
2 tsp Thyme
2 tsp Rosemary
2 Bay Leaves
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
S&P
1/2C Chicken Stock
Juice of 1/2 the Lemon
1 T unsalted Butter

Broccoli:
2 T EVOO
Pinch Red Pepper Flakes
3 Garlic Cloves (chopped)
1 bunch broccoli, including stems (chopped)
1 C Chicken Broth
1/4 C Italian Cheese Blend
2 T Ranch Dressing

Infuse the Oil:
Combine oil, Lemon Zest, Garlic, Thyme, Rosemary, and Bay Leaves in a small pot and cook over very low heat.  "Steepthe herbs like you are making tea."
When the oil simmers, remove from heat.

The Chicken:
Preheat oven to 350
Thin the chicken by covering it with parchment paper and pounding it with a heavy spoon until flat.
Add salt and pepper to both sides.  Drizzle 1/2 the oil mixture over the chicken breasts.
Add the rest of the oil to a cast iron skillet and heat over medium until oil begins to smoke.
Place chicken in pan and squeeze lemon over chicken once it starts cooking.
Cook on both sides for 5 min.
Place cast iron skillet into oven and Roast for 20-25 min.

While Chicken is Roasting...

The Broccoli:
Heat the oil in a medium pot.
Add red pepper and garlic and broccoli, Toss to coat
Add Chicken Stock, Cover, and steam Broccoli for 10 min
Drain 1/2 the liquid and add the rest of the contents into food processor
Add Cheese and Ranch
Pulse contents until partly smooth and partly chunky

The Sauce:
Transfer chicken to plates and pour out all but 1 T of juice from Cast Iron Skillet and return to Med Head on stove top.  Add Chicken stock and Lemon Juice, and cook scraping skillet with wooden spoon until liquid  become syrupy.  Melt in butter and serve sauce over chicken.

The End...

Chinese Pepper Steak

This recipe was given to me by my grandmother, Meme, when Lindsey and I were married.  It has evolved a little, but is basically the same as she used to make and it has become a staple of our house over the past 2 years.  She always served this on toasted hamburger buns, but it can be served over rice or even noodles.

1lbs Ground Turkey (or ground chuck)
1 Green Bell Pepper Chopped
1 Red Onion Chopped
1 Can Diced Italian Tomatoes (With Juice)
1 T Soy Sauce
S&P
2 tsp Sugar

3 Hamburger Buns
EVOO

Brown Turkey in skillet.
Add Soy Sauce, Pepper, & Onion.  Cook Until Tender but Crisp
Add Tomatoes.  Cook on Medium Heat until blended.
Add salt and pepper to taste and Sugar.

Add EVOO to pan and heat over Med-High Heat.
Cook Buns in oil until browned and crisp

Serve Pepper Steak over buns.

Even Ellison Loves it!

Al Gore...Shut Your Face!

I have never really bought into what ole' Al had to say.  Save the environment and bla bla bla...yea we get it, we are killing the blue and green blob known as Earth, but come on, we all know it is the oncoming ice age that will drive us into extinction!

Welcome to a mini-ice age Southerners!  Unlike those New Yorkers who just never get around to buying an AC unit for the record breaking heat wave that happens every year, I am prepared for the cold...do I like it?  Hell no, but having a 2 year old to go sledding with makes it a lot more enjoyable!
Word to the wise, when Lowe's puts the sleds out in September, its a smart move to pick one up.  You will not regret it IF it snows!

Sledding at the Elk's Lodge

The house after the first snow before Christmas!

After 3 tries, I have finally finished the Kitchen!!!

For Christmas I received a box of tile.  Now most of you would be like, "Why the hell would you want a box of tile for Christmas?"  Well, If you have not figured it out yet, I kinda like to pretend I am a handyman and can do most anything around the house, don't tell that to the electric fuse I blew when trying to change the plugs from white to black...BUT I did manage to change my first fuse in the fuse box!

So when we moved into the house, this was what the kitchen looked like...

Then my first attempt at the kitchen.  It turned out nice, but in the end was just not my taste..

Then we did the counter tops...(see post on this too)

And then we repainted the walls and cabinets AGAIN...Green...(I accidentally deleted these pics)

So, over Christmas break I installed back splash.  It looks AMAZING!  I am now done with the kitchen!

Until I decide to strip the popcorn ceilings and add crown molding!!!