Chipotle Shrimp Tacos with Salsa Verde

FINALLY...a good recipe. It was hard to come back after those gross short ribs (shudder) ... anyways! Tonight's dinner was soooo good, and I am planning to keep this salsa verde around full time! Oh and next time I make these tacos I'm going to add red cabbage on top so I can have a little taste of Taco Boy! Here is the link for the recipe!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chipotle-shrimp-taco-with-avocado-salsa-verde-recipe/index.html


Spanish Rice


Beginning of salsa




Finished Salsa..yummy!


Brown Sugar Plantains




SUCCESS!

Yep..you can put it on anything

I have discovered the greatest thing to ever hit your spice cabinet...it's called "yep shake" made by Blue Moon Co. and it really does go great on everything! It is made right here in Spartanburg and soon you will be able buy online, on their website!

http://www.bluemoonsauces.com/about.htm

I just bought my small shaker last week and we are already 1/4 down!
They also have personalized hot sauces, or sauces of any kind that you can have tailored to your palate...one of the bars we frequently go to in town has their own version of a hot sauce, sort of like texas pete but way more flavorful! Check it out if you get a minute! Happy Thursday everyone!

"The belly rules the mind." - Anonymous

I always seem to think of other things to blog about after I have posted a short one...but I figured I'd incorporate some of my photography in my blog now, and especially when I get my new DSLR camera (fingers crossed). My dad also got married this past Sunday and I have a couple of photos to share of that awesome day as well!! I also am now obsessed with Boursin Cheese stuffed Mushrooms now..thanks to the La Bastide Inn at the Cliffs. YUM!

Fall is coming...slowly...

I love fall...however, it is still SO hot here in Spartanburg and I can't stand it! Yes the days are gorgeous and sunny but it's still in the 90s and I am very ready for some 80 degree afternoons! But back to food :), I want to try some new dishes so leave your favorite recipe of ANYTHING that you love to cook in the Fall on a comment! I would love to know what some of you are cooking!! Have a great Wednesday!!!!

Braised Vegetables

...I know...braised-crazy but hey it looked good in the picture so I made it! It turned out MUCH better than the ribs so here are a couple pictures of this dish...also came from Martha Stewart's Cooking School.



It's just red potatoes, spring onions, cipollini mushrooms, and chicken stock. Then it is reduced so the stock is more of a syrup. It was pretty good. But I'm still disappointed with the whole meal..oh well, live and learn.

The Ribs of Horror

I followed the directions perfectly, took my time, and to my unfortunate surprise, they tasted like pot roast, and I HATE pot roast. I was so disappointed! So much time and effort put into those stupid ribs..needless to say I will not be making those again...ever.

Wine Braised Short Ribs

This is my work in progress, which I will get to enjoy tonight after babysitting...and ever since yesterday at 8, when I began cooking this dish, I have been so excited to try it! I wish I had smell-o-vision because as I cooked the aromatics for this dish I wanted to share it with everyone! Oh and I made a very exciting purchase yesterday...a cast iron dutch oven, and it's blue, and I love it : ). These are from my phone, sorry about the quality.








And now we wait...but only til tonight! Pictures of the final product to come!

Next on the food stops...

We tried "The Real Deal II" on Asheville Hwy in the 'Burg last night and it is so good. They make authentic phillies and the owners and cooks are from Philly and it really is the REAL DEAL...so much food and cooked perfectly. Mike decided he would have a foot long and after I filled up after my half, he ate my other half! He seriously needs to go on Man VS Food! I mean 1.5 feet of Philly Cheesesteak with BACON is a LOT of food.

The next time we get to go on a trip we definitely want to go visit a Primanti Brothers. They are
all over Florida and up around Pennsylvania. This is the sandwich below and why it's so awesome...all of the sides you'd normally get at lunch are ON the sandwich....my mouth waters everytime....
Another place we want to try is one we saw on Man VS Food is D'Arcys Pint in Springfield, Illinois. If you love fries, this is the place for you. They make these dishes named "horseshoes" and all are a little bit different but mostly consist of fries, a hamburger patty, house made nacho cheese and other various toppings...yum! Here is a picture!and another...

This one is a buffalo chicken horseshoe, which may not appeal to all but it sure makes me want to jump in the car!

And last but not least, a place in Puerto Rico, named Restaurante Raices...if we ever get the chance..this place has an enormous deep fried pork chop surrounded by chicharrones (Raices’ Chuleta Kan-Kan)...hello cholesterol! But hey, you only live once right?!

Back to the blog!

Sorry for the little break in posting, but I was more of a blog follower than a blogger for the past month or so...anyway, I did manage to cook during this time!

This was a recipe called Pancetta Wrapped Pork Loin, and it is SO good! I have made this several times, it's so simple but tastes like you have been cooking all day! The recipe comes from Martha Stewart's Cooking School, Cookbook, which I recommend for anyone who wants to brush up on their cooking skills...it's quite the workout.

This is an easy roasted chicken stuffed with lemons, thyme, olive oil and salt and pepper. It is so juicy and tastes great..no recipe for this one, I just always use whatever herbs I have around at the time. The challenging part is tying the chicken just right so the breasts and thighs cook evenly. That right wing isn't supposed to stick out, it was being rebellious and I gave up.