Crunch Wrap Supreme

For those of you who don't know C, he loves Taco Bell.  Loves might not be strong enough of a word to be blunt.  Whenever we talk about where we want to go grab dinner Taco Bell is always thrown in the mix.  I have a different view of Taco Bell... like it was good around 2am coming home from the bar 4 years ago, not as much on a Tuesday night at 7pm.  Either way, I saw this homemade recipe for a Taco Bell favorite and thought I'd make it as a surprise.  It turned out really good!

Brown beef in a skillet over medium high heat.

Add taco seasoning according to package directions, and set aside.

Bake the corn tortillas one at a time for around 10 seconds to warm them up, this will make the wrapping easier.  Lay out the flour tortilla and spoon some of the beef into the center.  Top with the cheese, either nacho or shredded, I used nacho.

Place the crunchy corn tortilla on top of the beef and cheese.  Spread a dollop of sour cream on top then toss in lettuce and tomatoes.

Starting with the bottom of the tortilla, fold the edge up to the center.  Continue doing this in a movement all around the tortilla until the filling is entirely enclosed.  Spray a frying pan with cooking spray and heat to medium.  Carefully place the wrap seam side down in the pan.  Press with a spatula and cook for around 3 minutes until brown, then flip over and cook for another 3 minutes.

I served with a topping of homemade guacamole, because that's makes everything taste so much better in my opinion!  These were really delicious.  I think C thought they were pretty close to what Taco Bell has, and I didn't mind them either because I could actually see the ingredients being used ;)  This is a quick dinner that everyone will enjoy.  

Crunch Wrap Supreme

Adapted from Full Bellies Make Happy Kids

Serving Size 4+

6 large four tortillas

6 small corn tortillas

1 pound ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

sour cream

nacho cheese (or shredded cheese)

shredded lettuce

diced tomatoes

Brown beef in a skillet over medium high heat.

Add taco seasoning according to package directions, and set aside.

Bake the corn tortillas one at a time for around 10 seconds to warm them up.

Lay out the flour tortilla and spoon some of the beef into the center.  

Top with the cheese, either nacho or shredded.

Place the crunchy corn tortilla on top of the beef and cheese.  

Spread a dollop of sour cream on top then toss in lettuce and tomatoes.

Starting with the bottom of the tortilla, fold the edge up to the center.

Continue doing this in a movement all around the tortilla until the filling is entirely enclosed.  

Spray a frying pan with cooking spray and heat to medium.  

Carefully place the wrap seam side down in the pan.  

Press with a spatula and cook for around 3 minutes until brown, then flip over and cook for another 3 minutes.

Serve and enjoy! 

Recipe for Vacation Part I

Play in the sand. 

Eat a turkey dinner on the deck.

Learn how to drive a pontoon, and how to lay on the horn.

Float at the sandbar.

Take an afternoon nap.

More vacation recipes to come!  

Christmas Day

As we get further and further into the new year it seems like Christmas was ages ago.  Thought I would show you the final pictures of my holiday spent in Michigan before too much time had passed.  Here's a preview to what Santa had in store for us.  I was a big girl this year and didn't sneak around and shake each gift to figure out what it was. 

My Mom and Hallie bug.

After church, opening gifts.

My brother opening his gifts from me.  How nice is that shirt and tie... what a lucky guy!

My parent's opening their joint give from my brother and I. 

I think we did a pretty good job!  Bought a wooden S and took pictures from when we were little until present day and glued them on with a clear gloss over.  Looks pretty cool.

My Mom had large afghans made for each of us.  My brother's was pieces of all his hockey jerseys.

Fresh holly.

Turkey dinner... yum!  Also tried rabbit for the first time, it was awesome.  Anyone else like rabbit?

Hallie REALLY liked the rabbit :)

We like to play games.  A lot.

And we get pretty into it.

Dessert time.  Apple crisp with whipped cream.

Best part of Christmas... no not my IPhone... family. 

Hope all of your holidays were as merry as mine!

Soup Spoon Cafe - Lansing MI

A couple weekends ago I took a trip to Michigan State, to see old friends and be in town for the big MSU vs UofM football game.  One of my good friends from college is in grad school and working in Lansing right now, and had scoped out a great place for us to have dinner, Soup Spoon Cafe.  She knows me so well, and honestly picked the perfect place :)  I started out with the pumpkin soup, served with a little whip cream on top.  Amazing.

A couple other people at the table ordered the seafood chowder, which was also delicious.  I could taste that these were homemade soups, which is rare and made me very excited for my main dish.

I ordered the shellfish risotto, and I had trouble not stuffing my face!  It was delicious, and filled with whole scallops, shrimp, and blue crab. 

I had to take a picture of every one's meal, so my friends got a taste of my obsessive food picture taking ;) This is the east side chicken, a chicken breast stuffed with spinach, sun dried cranberries, garlic and goat cheese.  It was served with fresh veggies and rice.

This pork looked amazing, like I said I wish I could have tried everything, but my meal was taking up all of my stomach's available space.  Slow roasted pork loin in a caramelized onion and pepper glaze.  YUM!

And finally the largest salad I've seen in a while.  It was filled with fresh vegetables, and looks just as good as it taste. 

With all the delicious food, two bottles of wine, and the great company I couldn't have asked for a better night.  I will definitely be back to the Soup Spoon Cafe the next time I'm in the Lansing area.  Take a look at their website by clicking here, and if you live in the area take a night to try them out. The atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable, and the food will leave you very satisfied.  Thank you for the great service and night! 

Szechuan Noodles with Chicken & Vegetables

It seems like a million years ago not but when I was in Door County this summer I took a cooking class.  I posted pictures and a recipes from the class, but have finally gotten around to making one of the recipes on my own.  I will warn you; this meal is not for the faint hearted.  It takes some time, effort, love, and a food processor.  If you don’t have one, this might be the recipe that makes you change your mind.  Plus, in all honesty, I bought mine for less than $50 and love it.  It’s not super fancy, but for the amount I use it (once, maybe twice a month) it does the job.

Start by making the chicken.  Thinly slice shallots and garlic cloves. 

Heat oil in a heavy duty skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add the shallots, garlic, red pepper flakes and cook until the shallots soften.  Add the chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink and the shallots begin to brown.  Set aside.

Place garlic and ginger in a food processor.  Add the vegetable oil, sesame paste, peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry, honey, chili oil, sesame oil and ground pepper.

Puree the sauce; it will look like a thin peanut butter.

Boil salted water and cook spaghetti al dente.  Drain the pasta and place in a large bowl.  While still warm toss with ¾ of the sauce.   Then add the red and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, and scallions and toss well.

Serve with chicken on top.  Note that you shouldn’t combine the sauce with the pasta until you’re about to serve, because soy sauce tends to break down the noodles.  Yes, I did learn that from the cooking class.  This meal is SO awesome.  Jam packed with flavor, and very diverse.  The peppers and broccoli aren't cooked so their crunchy texture with the creamy pasta is delicious. You can serve this hot and cold, another bonus, and it’d be tasty both ways.

Szechuan Noodles with Chicken Vegetables

Serves 6-8

Chicken:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 medium shallots, thinly sliced

¼ teaspoon black or red pepper

1 lb. boneless chicken breast, cut into strips

Heat the oil in a skillet or wok over medium high heat until simmering hot.

Add the shallots, garlic, and pepper and cook stirring frequently.

When the shallots have started to soften, add chicken.

Cook until the chicken is no longer pink, and shallots have started to brown.

Set aside.

Noodles:

6 garlic cloves, chopped

¼ cup fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

½ cup vegetable oil *I used olive oil

½ cup sesame paste

½ cup smooth peanut butter

½ cup soy sauce

¼ sherry *I used apple juice

¼ cup sherry vinegar

¼ cup honey

½ teaspoon hot chili oil

½ tablespoon black pepper

18 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 pound spaghetti

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 yellow w bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 small head broccoli, blanched

4 scallions, sliced diagonally

Place garlic and ginger in a food processor.  Add the vegetable oil, sesame paste, peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry, sherry vinegar, honey, chili oil, sesame oil, and ground pepper. 

Puree the sauce.

Boil salted water and cook spaghetti al dente.

Drain the pasta and place in a large bowl.

While still warm toss with around ¾ of the sauce.

Add the pepper, broccoli, and scallions.

Toss well.

Serve warm or at room temperature with chicken on top.

*Leftover sauce can be added as needed to moisten the pasta.

Lafayette, Louisiana

I posted a few weeks ago that I would be spending Labor Day weekend with my best friend Arran.  Although she has since moved, at the time she was living in Lafayette Louisiana with her boyfriend and my little granddaughter (dog) Gracie :)  Gracie had to show me her new PJ's, aren't they adorable.

The whole weekend it was rainy, which was a nice change from the Dallas weather.  It kept us inside though, so we decided the best idea was to go bowling.  Obviously. 

We also went to a Cajun restaurant for dinner called Prejeans.  Take a look at their website by clicking here.

I ordered the stuffed shrimp.  It was pretty amazing, and it came with awesome sides.  Corn in a pie crust?  Yes please!

C ordered the duck, and although I didn't sneak a taste, he said it was delicious.

Best of all was the dessert.  A peanut butter mouse on a chocolate cookie crust with chocolate sauce.  It was one of the best desserts I've had in a while.  I will be attempting to make these myself, that's how good it was.

Thank you to Arran and her family for having us.  Hopefully we'll be visiting your new city very soon.  LOVE YOU!

My Summer Vacation Part V (last but not least)

On the last night of our vacation in Door County we took the whole gang out to eat at Fred and Fuzzy's.  It's a little place right on the lake, known for its great food, beautiful sunsets, and the outdoor seating.  Say cheese!

My Mom and Dad digging in!

After dinner we stuck around and watched the sun set.  Above are the guys relaxing and enjoying the view.

Perfect time to go picture crazy.. which is exactly what we did.

The "kids" ha, I wish.

My Mom admiring my Dad's tan.  He hails from Florida, all he's missing is his Fort Myers visor and a cigarette :)

So beautiful!!  I can't think of any other word to describe it. 

These are the last of my vacation pictures, sad it's all over.  I had such a great time, and loved spending time with everyone.  Until next summer... :)