Calabacitas (New Mexican zucchini and corn dish)

December 29, 2011
Calabacitas

This is a traditional New Mexican side dish.  Calabacitas means “squash” in Spanish. You’ll find this side dish offered in most of the restaurants that serve Mexican food in New Mexico. It’s a favorite in my household and come summer time it can’t be beat on the scale of deliciousness when fresh corn and zucchini …

Read the Rest »

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

December 29, 2011
Chicken Taquitos

We never called Mexican food “Mexican Food” when we were growing up. To us it was just “food”. All other food had a label or was referred to by it’s name. For example if we were eating Pizza or Spaghetti or hamburgers then whenever we were called to the table the dish was announced “Come …

Read the Rest »

Sopapillas

December 27, 2011
Sopapillas

What’s a sopapilla? What?! You have never had a delicious New Mexican fried bread called a sopapilla?! Oh my word… you must vow never to eat another morsel of food until you have. VOW IT! You’ll be glad you did because well… we’re talking sopapillas here. I was raised on these things (man oh man, …

Read the Rest »

Bananas Foster Muffins

December 26, 2011
Bananas Foster Muffins

This morning I woke up at 4:30 in the morning.  Crazy.  It’s especially crazy if you are me.  I am convinced that I am allergic to mornings.  I always wake up in a fog and with all the grace of a zombie I shuffle and snort my way to the bathroom where I spend the …

Read the Rest »

Triple Coconut Macaroons

December 26, 2011
Coconut Macaroons

Mike loves Coconut Macaroons.  He will always chose them as his first pick from a cookie tray.  Because he loves them so I knew I had to make him some good ones.  I like making these cookies because in my book they fall under the category of “easy”. Double yay… happy hubby, less work for …

Read the Rest »

Cream Biscuits

December 20, 2011
DSC_0013

Tonight was “quick and easy” dinner night.  I wasn’t going to blog about it but as we were eating the biscuits, I changed my mind.  These biscuits are delicious, soft, pillowy, quick, and easy to make.  Mike is not much of a biscuit eater (???) and even he loved them! This particular recipe calls for …

Read the Rest »

Salisbury Steak

December 18, 2011
DSC_0094

When Mike and I were newly weds and I told him that I was making Salisbury Steak for dinner, it usually involved a trip to the freezer to retrieve the box.  Hahaha… I shudder to think about the amount of TV dinners that I fed to that poor man during those early years.  I thought …

Read the Rest »

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

December 18, 2011
Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Tonight we had Salisbury Steak and Garlic Mashed Potatoes for dinner.  Oh man, these potatoes were the best!  I got the recipe for Cook’s Country Magazine (the “America’s Test Kitchen” people). They came upon a way to cook the garlic, cream, butter, and potatoes together so that you get that sweet and earthy “roasted garlic” …

Read the Rest »

Crochet wreaths and true love

December 17, 2011
Crochet Wreath

When I was about 10 years old or so my Mom learned how to crochet.  She learned from a sweet older lady named Elaina who was on her bowling team.  Each Tuesday night the ladies would get together at the Sugar Bowl (our town’s only bowling alley and one of our most beloved landmarks) and …

Read the Rest »

Vanilla Hot Chocolate Mix

December 17, 2011
Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate Mix

Last year I made a big batch of this Hot Chocolate Mix and gave it to friends for Christmas.  I wrapped it in pretty Christmas cellophane bags and included a recipe card with preparation instructions. It takes a bit of work to chop nearly 3 pounds of good quality chocolate and just a bit of …

Read the Rest »