Smoked sausage skillet meals are so delicious and can be made with many different ingredients to make them savory, sweet or spicy. I had some pineapple chunks in the freezer that would pair well together for a tasty teriyaki skillet dish. Adding rice pilaf on the side complimented the sweet and spicy sausage. With so much free time these days it made sense to assemble all the ingredients and start the prep work early. Once that task was done it took no time at all to put it together. I added some chopped onion and roasted red pepper to the mix but you can use other things that you have on hand including broccoli, carrots or any sweet or bell peppers. For such a simple meal it won’t be soon forgotten.
Hi all, I hope every one of you are safe and well! It’s been surreal these last couple of weeks to say the least as our lives have changed as we know it. No more living in the moment, it’s all about planning. Planning for how long we will have to stay at home, planning when to go out and get groceries plus planning for how much we really need or how long it will be before we can safely go visit family and friends. We take so much for granted and it’s going to be a sacrifice but we are all in this together. We have communicated by phone with our kids, family and friends more than we have in years. It’s not about the texting or emails, it’s just more reassuring to hear their voices to know that they are all okay! I’m sure you all have similar feelings. I’m also trying to be frugal and not waste anything, especially food. I don’t always have fresh vegetables and fruit on hand but I have a pantry full of goods that I can make due with. I went through my dry goods and found a package of blue cornmeal. What a perfect time for some cornbread! I had planned on making some black bean soup and cornbread would make it last a bit longer. Looking through my cookbooks I found an old recipe in “The Progressive Farmer” cookbook that sounded a lot like how my Mom used to make hers, so I gave it a try. It turned out so good! And I found a bottle of “Monroe’s Red Chile Honey” in the pantry which was perfect to drizzle over top.
Anytime I don’t have a plan for dinner my backup is always breakfast. Joe loves breakfast more than any meal so I try to make it special. Recently breakfast quesadillas have been top of the list. Oh, the taste of those crisp flour tortillas loaded with melting cheese, fried potatoes, bacon and fluffy eggs. If that’s not enough you can add other ingredients including sausage, ham, green chile, red pepper, green onion, avocado . . . it’s really whatever you choose. And don’t forget to spoon some salsa or green chile sauce over your quesadilla to spice things up. It’s definitely a meal worthy of breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Posted at 10:12 am by NativeNM, on February 28, 2020
My favorite go to blog for Asian food is “The Woks of Life“. This family of four make some of the most beautiful and authentic Asian dishes you’ve ever seen. I have enjoyed learning their techniques and ingredients that go into Asian cooking. After trying many of their recipes, I have to say they are always delicious and easy to make. This recipe is my take on their Chicken and Broccoli with Brown Sauce. This made enough for a meal plus leftovers for lunch the next day. I went with veggies that my family likes and added some chili oil for a spicy kick.
Posted at 9:52 am by NativeNM, on February 13, 2020
Who doesn’t love truffles? They really dress up a plate and taste so decadent. I didn’t always have such a sweet tooth but as I’ve gotten older I appreciate a good chocolate indulgence every now and then. A dollop of edible cookie dough covered in dark chocolate with a sprinkle of sea salt will make your taste buds sing! Way better than a box of chocolates! Once made they can be refrigerated for 2 weeks or frozen for a couple of month’s. That is . . . unless you can’t help yourself from eating them all.
Posted at 8:28 am by NativeNM, on February 7, 2020
I have a real weakness for homemade cinnamon rolls! It takes all my willpower not to eat the whole pan full. The smell of warm brioche, with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar is so intoxicating. Since a snow day was in the forecast I went out and got my supplies ready for a day of baking. There’s something special about baking on a cold day while looking out the window at falling snow. When the time finally came to pop these rolls in the oven I was rewarded with such a wonderful aroma. I couldn’t wait to drizzle the glaze over top and taste one. They are so light and buttery with the sweetness of cinnamon and sugar. As far as pastries go, these might be my favorite!
Posted at 10:07 am by NativeNM, on February 4, 2020
A few years ago my best friend Paula introduced me to Tiramisu. I don’t think I had ever tasted it until she suggested we share a slice. All I knew it was an Italian dessert. That first taste could only be described as luscious and decadent all at the same time. Who could disagree after tasting that creamy goodness with coffee undertones. It was absolutely delicious! It’s taken awhile but I finally have a recipe worthy of sharing. I found a great tutorial video from Sally’s Baking Addiction that helped me put it all together. I used her method and steps but changed a few ingredients as well as trimming the recipe in half. For me, chilling the dessert in the freezer for about 10 minutes prior to serving made it even tastier. If you haven’t tried a slice of Tiramisu you don’t know what you’re missing!
Posted at 10:23 am by NativeNM, on January 31, 2020
For 25 years Joe and I called Kansas City home. I will always be sentimental about our time in Kansas, that’s where we raised Josh and Cam and made so many good friends. Kansas City is a passionate city. They love their barbecue and they love their Chiefs! And since Kansas City is going to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years, I think this is cause for a celebration. In honor of the Kansas City Chiefs I am making the ultimate super bowl dish . . . Kansas City BBQ Fries. Now you all know that Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is about the best there is with their burnt ends, ribs, brisket and pulled pork, but what you might not know is that they make the best fries too. I remember one year when they were voted #1 for the best fries in the state of Kansas; they rewarded their customers with a free fry day and gave away an order of fries with every order. Oh my goodness, you just don’t know how good they are until you’ve tasted them. On Sunday we’ll be cheering on the Chiefs and eating some good barbecue! Hope you enjoy the day no matter who you’re rooting for!
Posted at 11:05 am by NativeNM, on January 24, 2020
I haven’t made meatballs in the longest time. They were one of Cameron’s favorite things to eat. I used to make a big batch and package them in single serve bags that he could pull out for a quick meatball sub or add to his favorite pasta. These meatballs are much different than any I’ve ever made before. I added a bit of New Mexico with some roasted red and green chiles along with some queso fresco cheese and tortilla chips. The meatballs on their own turned out quite tasty with a little kick in every bite. I envisioned these meatballs simmering in salsa which turned into two salsa’s. The first is a chile de arbol salsa which was by far my favorite. It included roasted red tomatoes along with onion, garlic and tomatillos. While I was at it, I had all the ingredients to make a verde salsa, which was loaded with green chile. It made more than enough for a meal and then some. Whatever is left can go into the freezer until the next time a meatball craving comes along.
Posted at 3:19 pm by NativeNM, on December 19, 2019
I can’t believe it’s mid December already with the holidays just around the corner. As the days pass by, I don’t want to be planning my holiday meal at the last minute so I decided to make some mini hand pies now. They can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen until you need them. Also, you can thaw just the number of pies needed and save the rest for later. I found a new pie crust recipe to try that includes a secret ingredient . . . vodka. I was a bit hesitant but found it to be one of the best pie crusts I’ve ever made. The dough was easy to work with and also baked light and flaky. It tasted so good with a cranberry apple filling that is perfect for the holiday season.