15 Tasty Ways to use Tortillas

If there's one thing you'll find on a Mexican table, it's tortillas. They're a staple in Mexican cuisine whether it's used to eat or cook with. From tacos, fajitas, burritos, quesadillas, or even lasagnas, many Mexican inspired dishes incorporate tortillas somehow. So for the upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration next week, I hope you have some tortillas handy! It doesn't matter if it's flour, corn, or even whole wheat, here are 15 Tasty Ways to use Tortillas...

Chicken Pesto Stuffed Focaccia

Article first published as Chicken Pesto Stuffed Focaccia on Blogcritics.

I've been enjoying bread baking lately while the weather is still cool enough. I wish my husband loved bread as much as I did. His carb of choice is rice (surprise, surprise.) One bread he's not a fan of is focaccia. He finds it too thick and doughy for his tastes. In my effort to help him embrace the beauty of focaccia, I decided to tempt him with this Chicken Pesto Stuffed Focaccia. Chock full of seasoned chicken, melted cheese and flavorful pesto, he finally warmed up to it! It's no wonder... it's just like a stuffed pizza that has filling possibilities that are endless!...

15 Appetizers for a Mexican Fiesta

We're counting down to Cinco de Mayo celebrations here! If you like Mexican cuisine as much as we do, stay tuned as I'll be posting some favorites up until Cinco de Mayo next week. Let's kick it off with some starters. Whether you're throwing a little fiesta or not, these all make for great snacks any time of year. Here are 15 Appetizers for a Mexican Fiesta or just to snack on!

Levain's Copycat Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Article first published as Levain's Copycat Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars on Blogcritics.

One of my favorite celebrity chefs is Bobby Flay. I respect his straightforward attitude towards food and enjoy watching him on his show, Bobby Flay's Throwdown. In this show, he challenges folks known for a specialized food or dish by creating his own version. The dishes are judged by a blind panel and in some cases, Bobby wins. One of the most recent episodes I watched involved a chocolate chip cookie throwdown against New York City's famed Levain Bakery. Ever since watching it, I've been craving chocolate chip cookies. After some searching I came across a copycat recipe for Levain's popular cookie. I took the recipe and adapted it by making these Levain's Copycat Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. If you're a chocolate chip cookie fan, these will knock your socks off!

5 Recipes Using Tequila... Olé!

This month is flying by and in about a week, many will be celebrating the start of May with Cinco de Mayo. Traditionally, Cinco de Mayo was to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride here in the United States and regionally in the state of Puebla in Mexico. So if you're in the mood to celebrate the colorful culture and tasty cuisines of Mexico, here are 5 Recipes Using Tequila to whet your appetite... Olé!

Sausage & Caramelized Onions Flatbread

Article first published as Recipe: Sausage & Caramelized Onions Flatbread on Blogcritics.

Yep, it's that time again. I hope I'm not alone here. I'm standing in front of my fridge and taking a rough inventory of its contents. A little bit of this, a little bit of that and some stuff that have seen better days. For those moments when I have a smorgasbord of random ingredients, my initial reaction is to make a pizza. Besides, anything baked on a good crust with cheese can't be bad, right?! So that's what I did... only I ventured out to try a new crust recipe. That's when this Sausage & Caramelized Onions Flatbread was born. Using a dough initially intended for a French Pissaladiere (a Provencal street food similar to a pizza), and topped with my favorite pizza fixings, I think I've found my favorite flatbread recipe!

Make it Natural, Make it Fun!

Earth Day just passed and lately, I've been thinking of ways to get on board with being more green, incorporating more natural products in our home, preparing more wholesome, natural foods, and enjoy life without the unnecessary chemicals and preservatives. It seems like the more I look, there's so many great natural products out there! If you're like me who's looking for a more natural way of living or at least, incorporating more natural products for your family, join me for a Twitter Party! I'll be hosting a 'Make it Natural, Make it Fun' Twitter Party while I snack on some all natural Frito Lay chips. We'll chat live about our favorite natural products for the home, our favorite natural foods and snacks, and share some tips on leading a more green lifestyle!

'Make it Natural, Make it Fun' Twitter Party!

When: Thursday, April 28, 2011 @ 8pm EST / 7pm CST

Where: #NaturalFun tag on Twitter

Who: Be sure to follow me @WC_Chicago and @FritoLay. We will also be joined by representatives from Frito-Lay who will be available to answer your questions. We’d also like to extend a very special welcome to the Frito-Lay Fans who will be joining us!

Speaking of natural foods, one of my favorite all natural snacks are from Frito-Lay. They've a delicious job revamping their product line made with all natural ingredients such as potatoes or corn, all natural oils and salt. With zero grams of trans fat and plenty of offerings packed with whole grain, Frito-Lay offers smarter ways to snack!

While we’re chatting about natural products and making greener lifestyle choices, we’ll have 3 giveaways, compliments of Frito Lay!

Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.  The first three people to tweet using the #NaturalFun hashtag during the event will win a bag of Artisan Recipe chips!

To help jump start the party, the first 25 readers that RSVP below will receive
a bag of Tostitos Artisan Recipes: Roasted Garlic & Black Bean Chips!

RSVP – Planning on attending? Let us know here! Click the green text below. A new window will pop up requesting your first name and URL. Your URL is your full Twitter URL i.e. http://twitter.com/WC_Chicago

Make it Natural, Make it Fun! Participants

1. @WC_Chicago (Joelen) 2. Emily Zuker 3. Debbie 4. Samantha 5. Kristen 6. Kristen 7. HezziD 8. @ChunkyMonkeyMD 9. @StaysAtHomeDad 10. mom4everANDEVER 11. @breaduh 12. @momofbestbay 13. @suelynn1956 14. @cin_20

15. @lilac_the_bunny 16. @Kailey2004 17. @freshbananas 18. @beeacutie2 19. @DreamFog 20. @everywheresafe 21. Shihtzuation 22. @tiffany053p 23. @bobisyellow 24. @mamasarahjane 25. @wldflowur13 26. @lovinmomma8 27. @OhioCatfish 28. @sunrae17

29. @mellanhead 30. @LLLSummer 31. @purplelover04 32. @SereneMoments 33. @JoeyfromSC 34. @wiffieward 35. @jillyrh 36. @matkeltri 37. @kamewh 38. @livelovelynn 39. @lolamichele 40. @elivya 41. @Neekyme 42. Jason Porter

Thin Mint Truffles

Article first published as Thin Mint Truffles on Blogcritics.

I'm pretty sure somewhere in the world, a cute little Girl Scout is selling her cookies... and people are going crazy over them. Well, I'm not sure how many folks really go crazy over them but I know I've been guilty of buying my fair share of boxes of Girl Scout cookies. After polishing off a box or two enjoyed as is, I realized I could have some fun with them by incorporating them in other recipes. My friend Megan must have read my mind because she made these Thin Mint Truffles the other day. If you're looking for a new, fun way to eat your Girl Scout cookies, you should check out this recipe!...

Cuban Picadillo Rice

If you're ever in a cooking funk, venture out to other cultures for inspiration! In my kitchen, I love making dishes from other ethnic cultures. It's my way to taste the world with my family and to introduce flavors to my young son. Our tastebuds took a recent trip to Cuba when I made this Cuban Picadillo Rice. Chock full of peas, carrots, potatoes, bell peppers and olives, this traditional seasoned ground beef dish gets tossed with rice for a one dish meal.

A Weekly Serving - 4/23/2011

This week definitely flew by! I hope you had a great week yourself. Here's my weekly musings on family, food, and fun...

Family - Joel is 50 weeks old this week and only 2 more weeks until he turns 1 year old... it's crazy how quickly this countdown is going! This past week was pretty busy. I've been bogged down with lots of work around the house, having family drop in almost every other day, and just trying to balance things. I need a break! Thankfully, when my parents are visiting, I get some time to myself and just work a bit on things online.

Food/Restaurant News - It's been quite a journey with this restaurant. More often than not, I haven't been too pleased with the way it's been going. There's been quite a few red flags raised with the whole ordeal and it's now at the point where I need to step back and re-evaluate whether this is where I want to be. I guess I'm very much 'by the book' and have a certain way of dealing business where I'm super anal about details, followup/execution and thinking 5 steps ahead with potential consequences. Given the circumstances and my experience the last couple of months with the restaurant, it's time to break off my ties. I value my time, effort and professional reputation so I'm disassociating myself from the restaurant. Besides, I've been so busy with my own culinary endeavors before, during and well after this whole restaurant thing happened that it's no loss to me. Now I'll have more time to focus on all my other stuff and more importantly, family. I'm still catering privately, teaching culinary classes and doing other things with major food companies/corporations to keep me busy for awhile. So, stay tuned to see what things I'm working on!

 

Fun - It's Easter weekend and we're spending it with family. My parents and in-laws are stopping by and we'll probably eat out since I'm way too tired to prepare a meal this year. (And I secretly don't want to be in the kitchen catering to family.) Here's some pics from Joel's little Easter photo shoot. The basket is merely a prop since we aren't big on giving Joel sugar sweets or little knick knack toys. Trust me, this kiddie has enough toys in every single room of the house and we didn't even buy a single one of them!

Hope you all enjoy your weekend and have a great week ahead!

Julia Child's Chicken Fricassee (Fricassee De Poulet A L'Ancienne)

Article first published as Julia Child's Chicken Fricassee (Fricassee De Poulet A L'Ancienne) on Blogcritics.

Ah, the French certainly have a way of making magic in the kitchen. Thanks to Julia Child, I can attempt French cuisine at home and not feel so intimidated. It may not be properly executed using true classical French techniques, but the end result sure is delicious! Julia Child's Chicken Fricassee (Fricassee De Poulet A L'Ancienne) is one dish I recently made and the time and effort to make this dish is so worth it. Chicken is slow braised in stock and white wine and served with a buttery sauce alongside tender whole onions and stewed mushrooms. Who needs a fancy French restaurant when you can make this at home?!...

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

Article first published as Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes on Blogcritics.

Cupcakes are still quite the trend, aren't they? Well, I don't think this trend is ending anytime soon... especially when the sky's the limit for cupcake flavors! Take for instance Boston Cream Pie. It's not exactly a pie but rather a cake. When it comes to cupcakes, pretty much any cake can be adapted in cupcake form. These Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes are a delicious example. Tender cake filled with sweet pastry cream is crowned with a rich chocolate ganache. What's not to love?

10 Easter Must Have Menu Ideas...

For some folks, this weekend is going to be a food fest... Thanksgiving Lite, if you will. Growing up I remember the feasts my parents prepared for Easter Sunday. Over the years, they got tired from all the work that goes into the big celebration and we've resorted to going out for Easter brunch instead. But this year, I'm keeping the tradition alive with an Easter spread. For those also considering a special meal for Easter, here are some suggestions for 10 Easter Must Have Menu Ideas...

Chili & Cheese Macaroni

Article first published as Chili And Cheese Macaroni on Blogcritics.

Comfort food is always welcome on the table. In our house, we love macaroni and cheese along with the different variations. To prove it, I shared 12 mac & cheese recipes along with a version using buttermilk not too long ago. So here's another version to add to our growing list of mac & cheese variations. This time, I incorporated some favorite hot dog toppings, chili and cheese. This Chili & Cheese Macaroni brings together all the spice of chili and the creamy goodness of melted cheese. If this isn't comfort food, I don't know what is!...

5 Recipes for Leftover Easter Ham...

Do you know what this weekend is? Well, for some, it will be a lighter version of Thanksgiving. Easter Sunday is just a few days away and many folks will be celebrating with a holiday ham. Just like Thanksgiving, there might be some leftovers to deal with. You could certainly enjoy your fill of ham sandwiches for days on end, but who wants to do that when I have 5 Recipes for Leftover Easter Ham to share? These recipes will use up any leftovers in no time...

Peach BBQ Pork Ribs

Article first published as Peach BBQ Pork Ribs on Blogcritics.

We've been lucky here in Chicago to have some nice, warm days. It's quite a tease since we just started spring not too long ago. Despite the warmer temps, we haven't fired up our grill just yet but I certainly hope we do soon! With grilling on the brain, I've been thinking about ribs... a lot. So to feed that craving, I made these Peach BBQ Pork Ribs to get an early taste of summer.

Osso Buco

Article first published as Osso Buco on Blogcritics.

These days, there seems to be various controversies revolving around so many food topics. Some of those controversies include high fructose corn syrup, genetically modified ingredients, sustainable food and even free-range meats, to name a few. Veal is one meat that often comes up because of known issues with how they are raised and treated. Some folks even shy away from veal dishes because of farming practices. But rest assured, this classic Osso Buco is an exception since it was made with free-raised veal...

Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta

Article first published as Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta on Blogcritics.

Do you ever look in your pantry and have an ingredient that you tend to use for the same dish every single time? When it comes to Marsala wine, my go to dish is naturally Chicken Marsala. I've made a few different versions but this Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta is the most favorite of my husband. The creamy Marsala sauce with caramelized mushrooms and onions really make it even more comforting. It's a dish you can make during the week for family and it's even good enough for company...

A Weekly Serving - 4/16/2011

This week definitely flew by! I hope you had a great week yourself. Here's my weekly musings on family, food, and fun...

Family - Joel is 49 weeks this week... we're in the home stretch! He's been doing well, especially in the food department. I love how he's open with eating pretty much everything we give him. In fact, I'm really glad he's not picky (at least, not yet!) with food. Since he's eating what we've been eating, Joel has tried quite a few ethnic cuisines and so far, he hasn't pushed food away. From Cuban, Puerto Rican, Jewish, Moroccan, Korean, Irish, Pakastani, Thai,... even maki sushi, I love he's a little foodie. I think it's safe to say that he's probably the most comfortable in the kitchen. Whenever I'm in there, he's often right there with me taking in all the sights, smells and sounds. One of his favorite things in the kitchen is watching the oven when the light is turned out and he gets mesmerized by the microwave when I'm heating things up. Pretty much anything that makes sounds like my food processor, stand mixer, immersion blender, etc all interest him. As a result, I've decided to start a new chapter in our baby/family blog...

Food/Restaurant News - Because Joel is now at a great age where he's curious about food and able to try different foods, I'm taking advantage of this learning stage. Our baby/family blog will be changed to 'What's Cookin, Mama?,' and will supplement my current food blog to specialize in kid friendly foods and foodie activities. I'm still in the process of redesigning the blog but hopefully it will be up within the next couple of weeks. In addition to this, I've also created a new social group by the same name to help encourage other moms to introduce foods to their children, regardless of age. So far we've got nearly 50 members! Within our social group, moms will be able to enjoy foodie activities with their children while helping children learn about food through colors, shapes, textures, numbers, etc. We've already got a few events planned so I'm anxious to meet with fellow moms where both Joel and I can make new friends in and out of the kitchen.

Although Joel is just about a year old, he has some cousins who are a bit older that love being in the kitchen with me. In my What's Cookin, Mama blog, I'll be sharing kid friendly cooking and baking activities and recipes for kids of all ages. Saturdays tend to be the day the cousins come over to play so we're structuring kid friendly kitchen events where everyone will make lunch together, enjoy it and then have some play time.  So stay tuned, especially if you have children! I know this new adventure will be fun, especially with Joel as my side kick!

Fun - It's been a relaxing week yet again! I'm starting to think if this is the calm before the social storm when we will be busy with a lot of events. Nonetheless, we love our quiet days and look forward to summer!

 

 

Here's a roundup of what I cooked up in the kitchen this past week...

Overnight Banana Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

Island Pork Tenderloin with Toasted Coconut Rice

Baked Teriyaki Chicken

Diner Style Omelette

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta with Chicken

 
Giving NYC a Taste & a Frito Lay Giveaway!

8 Finger Lickin' Good Chicken & Biscuit Recipes

5 Garden Vegetable Recipes to Dig Into

10 Sweet Dishes for Easter Brunch

8 Recipes Beyond Snacking... and our Frito Lay Giveaway Winners

Hope you all enjoy your weekend and have a great week ahead!

10 Sweet Dishes for (Easter) Brunch...

Easter is just around the corner... where did the time go?! Growing up, my family often celebrated with a big Easter Brunch immediately following church services. The brunches were always plentiful of both sweet and savory dishes to choose from. I think that's why brunch is my favorite meal, especially on any given weekend, not just on Easter! This year I'm looking forward to another Easter Brunch with family. I'm still tweaking my menu plans and if you are too, here are 10 Sweet Dishes for Easter Brunch (or any time, for that matter!)...