Decided to make gallo pinto (literally means spotted rooster, but it is a rice and beans dish). People eat it with most meals in Costa Rica.

Simple enough to make. Not as easy as merely cooking rice and beans, but a very different taste. Involved 2 cups beans to every 3 cups rice. Some sauteed onion and garlic. A variety of unexpected spices (ginger, cumin, and coriander) and worcestershire sauce. Added back in some of the liquids from the can of beans too.

Then we (sliced and) fried plantains.

A delicious dish. We brought it to the party and folks liked it. We enjoyed it. Will make again. Maybe we’ll try another recipe; “Natives say there are as many recipes for Gallo Pinto as there are Costa Ricans” (from the recipe site).

[Side note: The only two people who we talked to about the plantains thought they were bananas. No, they don’t taste like bananas. You need to cook them. They are starchy like potatoes…. The cashier at the grocery store told me I changed her life. Silly. My aunt couldn’t believe (after she tasted our plantains) that it was just plantains and oil and no breading or spices. Yes they are that good.] 21 hours ago

made a pact.

We will create one new dish every week.

I love cookbooks; I adore them. We have plenty; I read them for fun. Haven’t had time to make ‘new’ things for the past few years with grad school. We got in the rut of making the same things over and over; despite being delicious, they are still the same old things.

Yesterday I made some soup, an apple crisp, and then C made a foccaccia bread. All fine, but we didn’t really make them together.

C and I grew our friendship (so many years ago) through baking. We would get together every Wednesday night and bake cookies and pies and all sorts of things. It was such fun. C and I married last year and cooking/baking is still important to us. So every week, we decided, we will (together) make something new.

Later this week I think we will attempt gallo pinto. We were in Costa Rica last week and had the rice-and-bean dish many times — so delicious! 5 days ago

I made my own hamburgers the other day.
I don’t know why I haven’t done this sooner.
You can get such good wholesome tastes IN the burger instead of just on top.
The patty itself stayed together perfect also. 4 weeks ago

was a fail. No one liked it and that is ok. There are certain veggies, I’m not fond of. 4 weeks ago

Today’s 1st new recipe is:
Eggplant Ratatouille done in the crockpot….

I’ve never cooked eggplant before, but here we go, I sure hope it is good!

Ingredients:
onions
eggplant
zucchini
sweet bell pepper green, seeded & cut in thin strips
tomatoes cut in 1/2 inch wedges
and various seasonings of what I had on hand… 1 month ago

I haven’t been doing much cooking in far too long..

It’s time to make the time for healthier eating.

Soooo for 30 days, I shall put some thought and effort into what I’ll cook for the evening meal. Weekly real meal plans, shop for healthy ingredients, and get cookin! I’m ot saying this will happen each and EVERY single night (one does get invited out occasionally, etc) but I am going to put more effort into some healthy eating, and pre-plan as opposed to the too often – OMG – what am I going to eat tonight?...

And make some new recipes using the crockpot, the OVEN (omg that in itself is amazing!) ;)

This just may be a fun challenge! 1 month ago

OK, I want to eat what’s good for me. I want a practical creative outlet. I want my home to be more organized (that is, regularly keeping it up.) Seems like regular cooking would help me with all these goals.

It has been so long. I will first just try once a week. I have more time on weekends, but that’s when my VIP likes to go out for food.

So over the weekend I can at least make sure the kitchen is clean, so I will be inspired to cook. 2 months ago

I saw this flavor combo on masterchef and loved it – so I made soft shell tacos with Moroccan beef, apple and spiced Cous Cous and a hommus sour cream. Delish!! 2 months ago

I had some ground beef in the fridge and instead of a burger, meat sauce or tacos I made quesadillas and my family loved them. I cooked the ground beef and added: a can of black beans, a can of corn, cumin, chilli powder, garlic, cayenne pepper. I put the mix in flour tortillas, topped with cheese and baked them in the oven. I served them with salsa, sour cream and a salad of romaine, cucumbers and carrots. Better than take out and I used what I had in my kitchen. 3 months ago

Simplest Roast Chicken
Yield 4 servings
Time 50 to 60 minutes

Ingredients
1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
1. Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
2. When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
3. Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken’s cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve. 3 months ago

Risotto.. Bacon, charitzo sausage, spring onion, onions, green pepper, chilli powder, herbs, chopped green beans, garlic, chopped tomatoes & fresh baked bread baguettes! 3 months ago

Tuna pasta bake :) 3 months ago