An Expression of Outdoor Art in Boston is uniquely captivating to the eye. From wall graffiti on brick and transparent prisms in the sky to watercolor artists in the park and nautical flag pinwheels. So much to see and do!
What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Nacho Macho Supreme! Get ready for the most amazing loaded nacho platter for those warm summer nights on the back porch. The music is playing, the conversation is flowing, and the margaritas are going down real slow. These are the nights that are made for us.
NACHO MACHO SUPREME
Ingredients:
1 large bag of corn tortilla chips, café style
1 pound ground Mexican chorizo
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed
1/2 cup black beans, drained
1/4 cup sliced jalapeño peppers
4 green onions, sliced
2 tomatoes, diced
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup salsa
1 cup sour cream
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a pizza pan with nonstick oil. Lightly salt. Set aside.
In a shallow skillet, cook chorizo, garlic, and cumin until meat is brown. Drain on paper towels. Assemble nachos by dividing into three or more layers to form a pyramid—chips, chorizo, corn, beans, jalapeños, green onion, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Watch! Serve with salsa, sour cream, and cilantro garnish.
We were given the royal treatment by our waiter, Hakim, including a complimentary cannoli dessert. He even shared the secret recipe with me. Grazie!
What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Mango Medley! This is one of my all-time favorites when serving fish tacos. It’s fast and easy, not to mention soft and sweet. When the mango is at its peak in ripeness, the juice resembles a combination of peach and pineapple. I know, right! When mixed with Campari tomatoes (which have low acidity) plus fresh cilantro, it’s a perfect blend of flavors. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
MANGO MEDLEY
Ingredients:
2 ripe mangos, peeled and core seed removed
1-pound Campari tomatoes
Fresh Cilantro to taste
Instructions:
Peel, pit, and cut up mangos. Place in a medium bowl. Slice tomatoes into quarter wedges. Add to mangos. Snip fresh cilantro over all. Toss gently. Refrigerate prior to serving for flavor enhancement.
What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Linguine Chicken Salami! Sometimes it’s just not possible for me to get to a restaurant for one of my favorite dishes. That’s when I prepare the dish at home. A good friend of mine shared tips on putting together a great Italian marinara sauce. It’s all about taste buds and choosing the quality of herbs. If you don’t have the extra time, simply choose a store-bought alternative until you can perfect the right combination for you.
LINGUINE CHICKEN SALAMI
Ingredients:
6-8 chicken fillets
2 tablespoons lemon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 Vidalia onion, sliced
28-ounce can peeled tomatoes in basil sauce
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1/2 teaspoon basil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 pound Italian salami*
6-ounces of spinach linguini
6-ounces of angel hair pasta
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
*Sliced pepperoni can be substituted for the Italian salami.
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Pour lemon olive oil into a shallow skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken fillets seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Lower heat to medium. Sauté chicken until browned, about three minutes per side. Add sliced onions, cover, and cook on low setting until liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes longer. Set aside.
For sauce combine cut-up tomatoes with sauce, oregano, marjoram, basil, garlic cloves, sugar, sea salt, and cracked pepper. (At this time, I add the cooked onions to the sauce.)
Spoon 1/3 of sauce into a casserole dish. In single layer, arrange chicken fillets. Slice salami into strips, using kitchen shears, covering chicken. Pour remaining sauce over all. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Remove lid and bake 10 minutes longer until cheese turns golden brown.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Spoon pasta into single servings. Carefully place one fillet over pasta, making sure to add extra sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and serve.
HOW SWEET!!! The “Sisterhood of the World” Bloggers Award
What an incredible opportunity it is to belong to a community of women linked together by a common interest in communication and expression! I am proud to be nominated by Kritika, who is gifted in the fullness of verse. Thanks very much. I deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness and grace. And I really enjoy your blog!
“In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips.” ~ Author Unknown.
RULES:
* Thank the giver and link their blog to your post.
* Answer the 10 questions given to you.
* Pass the award on to 7 other bloggers of their choice and let them know that they have been nominated.
* Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog.
Here they are:
1. On the bad days, how do you cheer yourself up?
A- I count my blessings and then try to figure out a way to be a blessing to someone else. Sometimes that means heading to the kitchen to make a special dessert.
2. Which is your favourite food?
A- POPCORN!
3. How do you let go?
A- I pray and remind myself that God has a plan for everything. “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.” ~ Romans 8:28.
4. How much do you value ‘silence’?
A- It is in silence where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control are manifested.
5. Will you hurt someone intentionally or lie to make them feel better?
A- I do my best to never hurt anyone intentionally.
6. Do you have faith in humanity? why or why not?
A- Yes, I do have faith in humanity because God believes in us.
7. One thing you really wish could come true?
A- Only one thing? (lol) I have discovered when I cannot make up my mind…. God has given me the “desires of my heart.” I once received THREE birthday wishes because I could not make up my mind on only one. True story.
8. If you had to sum up your life in 10 or less words, what would they be?
A- Life is a gift and God is Great!
9. How do you express anger?
A- Internally. Or with tears.
10. What is the one thing that will turn you completely off about a person?
A- Manipulation.
My List of Nominations Include:
1. Lina
2. Stephy
3. Estelea
4. Melinda
5. Andreas
6. Viera
7. Sharon
Blessings and Peace to you.
Gail
What an interesting concept. To be connected to bloggers All Over the World, and yet to feel no obligation to make the noted recognition conditional. I was in awe when I discovered a single blog post can touch others in lands I only dream of visiting. What a treasured perspective to encounter new friends through the blogosphere of WordPress. It is with heartfelt thanks I acknowledge my peer, Kritika Vashist, of “From the Soul to the nib of the Pen”. Her penchant for poetry and photographs touch my spirit in ways that I look forward to on my journey of balance and grace. Her encouraging words sustain me as reinforcement of persistence and creativity. Thank you, Kritika, for visiting http://www.snapshotsincursive.com as I journal “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet” filled with recipes and photographs. It is a pleasure to know you.
My list of nominees consists of both seasoned bloggers as well as those fresh on the scene. I am intrigued by the diversity of topics and look forward in anticipation to expanding my interests. After all, Life is a journey that is filled with interesting stories about everyday moments. Everyone has a story to tell.
No order of preference is listed:
Jess Nguyen
Janet Sheridan
Andreacfrt
Bill Brennan
Dray0308
Happy reading!
Gail
What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Kalua Pork Roast! This special blend of herbs is a tribute to warm, tropical summer nights. The term, “Kalua”, is Hawaiian for slow cooked. I have put this frozen roast in the oven and let flavors blend all day long for an exotic taste that will have your senses wondering if you’ve been transported to a private paradise. The extra meals provided are a bonus that will have others showering you with praise in the days following.
KALUA PORK ROAST
Ingredients:
4 pound boneless pork butt roast
1 tablespoon Red Hawaiian Alaea Sea Salt*
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash garlic and herb seasoning
2 cups apple juice
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 bottle beer
Instructions:
Set oven to 275°. Place frozen pork roast in a covered roaster, fat side up. Pour apple juice and apple cider vinegar over roast. Next apply liquid smoke. Finish by sprinkling the Alaea sea salt and Mrs. Dash herb blend over the pork. Make sure the lid is on securely. You will begin to smell the heavenly aroma as it slowly cooks. Five hours later, check the roast, as the liquid will absorb. I discovered some roasters allow the liquid to evaporate a little sooner than I expected. I have found Le Creuset to be very reliable. If the roast needs more liquid, pour a bottle of beer over it. Keep it covered and slowly cook it at least another three hours. I have let it cook for ten hours total without a problem. It is so fork-tender you will be amazed. And the drippings can be used for gravy or barbecue sauce.
*Available through Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salts. (I receive no recompense for promoting their product.)
As many of you have discovered, maintaining and following a blog can be quite time consuming. Yes, it has its rewards and challenges. And I wouldn’t change it for anything! When I’m not preparing dishes in Gail’s Kitchen, posting recipes, or snapping photographs, I’m……EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET!
You would think it’s taking a toll on my waistline. Not so. Instead, I needed to upgrade my eyeglass prescription. I guess that means I get to make a fashion statement, too. All kidding aside, I am so excited about my new glasses. They are from the Drew Barrymore Eyewear Collection called Flower. What do you think? Will they make me look wiser? Or younger? Or more creative? Or will I simply continue to see the world through “rose-coloured glasses”? You tell me.
