Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter O

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Over-the-Border Spicy Chicken Ranch Soup! That’s a mouthful, to be sure. I start with my classic potato soup recipe and spice things up a bit. As you can imagine, one thing leads to another and within minutes, you’ve got a meal in a bowl. 
OVER-THE-BORDER SPICY CHICKEN RANCH SOUP
Ingredients:

2 cups water

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut up

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 small onion, chopped

1 packet of dry Ranch seasoning mix

2 cups milk

1 cup pre-cooked grilled chicken strips, cut into cubes

1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables (corn, peas, carrots, and green beans)

4 ounces Velvetta cheese, sliced

Instant potatoes to thicken, if needed

Parmesan cheese, shaved
Instructions:

In a 2-quart pan, add water, potatoes, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, onion, and butter. Bring to boil and cook until tender. Do not drain. Stir in Ranch seasoning mix until blended. Add milk, chicken, vegetables, and cheese. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. To thicken, sprinkle instant potatoes into soup using a tablespoon at a time. Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese. 

Dining Outside the Home: Sail Loft of Boston

Getting a first-hand referral to the Sail Loft by Jamie on the Long Wharf Marriott brought a seafood bounty of incredible clam chowder and whole fresh lobster. OMG – can life get any better than this?

Artfully Speaking: Boston Has Style and Culture!

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!

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter N

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. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter M

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. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter L

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” Blogger Award

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

Simply Stated: “No Strings Attached” Award

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