Chicken Tortilla Soup!

Well yes my presentation is haphazard...I'm about to eat it

This has got to be one of my favorite soups up to date. I got it from my dad, who got it from tripping through the internet. It's Chatherin's Spicy Chicken Soup fron the allrecipes.com site.

You will need:
2 quarts water
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teeaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon onion powder
5 cubes chicken boullion cubes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (16 oz) jar chunky salsa*
2 (14.5 oz) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed tomato soup
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 (15 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (16 oz) cans chili beans undrained**
1 (8 oz) container sour cream


Step numero uno:
In a large pot over medium heat, combine water, chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, onion powder, and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1 hour, or until chicken juices run clear. Remove chicken, reserve broth. Shred chicken. (You want to do the shredding as soon as possible so the chicken doesnt dry out, since there is no skin and no bone and its white meat, its very easy for this to happen. But please be carefull, because the outside may have cooled but the inside is stil very, very, hot.)


Step numero dos:
In a large pot over medium heat, cook onion and garlic in olive oil until slightly browned. Stir in salsa, diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, tomato soup, chili powder, corn, chili beans, sourcream, shredded chicken, and all of the broth. Simmer 30 minutes.

Top with fresh avocado dices and chopped cilantro

*depending on how spicy you want your soup depends on this ingredient, my dad uses the *hot* Pace Picante jar and its extra-specially delicious
**again my dad deviates from the recipe and uses one can chili beans one can black beans, gives it a little surprise and a new flavor.

Yeilds about 8 servings and takes about 45 minutes once you get the hang of it.
Have fun, experiment, and enjoy :)

Don't be afraid to leave a comment in the box Be-low

Tis the Season...that is almost over

So here is the two and only Christmas Drink Recipes I am doing this Holiday:

The Bailey's Holiday Martini                         and                 Peppermint Hot Coco
(POW take that Eggnog)                                                   (POW take that...regular coco)

2 oz. Bailey's Origional Irish Cream                                  1 oz Peppermint Schnappes
.25 oz Vodka                                                                   1 oz Creme de Cocao
.25 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur                                   

Shake, Strain, and Serve                                                 Add to a mug of hot Chocolate     
                                          
                                      
                                           ....and mm mm good....




Now the Bailey's was an idea from my boss  but the Hot Coco was the brain child of a coworker attempting to be creative with the drink special of the day. haha both ended well.

So with no furthur ado drink up and be Merry!
Please drink responsibly, and feel free to leave a comment in the box be-low!

"Spanish" Rice

Or just Rice, hey. I've used this recipe, ever since Miss Samantha gave it to me, when I'm feeling the need to stretch food. I companion it to almost anything. Eggs or turkey sausage for breakfast, whatever ive got defrosted for lunch, and more than likely chicken for dinner, or hey even by itself, whatever you like. Anyway its little ingredients that go a long way.

1 medium tomato
1 hot jalapeno (or three mild green chillies)
1/2 can tomato sauce
1 cube boullion (chicken and tomato) *
1 cup white rice
1 tablespoon oil**
2 cups water
1 key lime (optional)

On the cheese grater:
Grate the bullion cube and place in a seperate container
Then grate the tomato and jalapenos

Place oil and rice in a frying pan (a high lipped pan)
Brown rice over medium  fire stirring constantly until it is a yellowish brown
stir in the rice boullion with the yellow/ brown rice. turn burner to low flame
squeeze in key lime and stir
stir in the tomato sauce and simmer for 1 minute
stir in grated tomato and jalapeno mix and simmer for 1 minute
stir in 1/2 cup of water and simmer until water is almost gone
stir in remaining water to cook the rice to a fluffy but not sticky grain. (over medium flame) (cover with an alluminum sheet)***




*after playing with this recipe a few times see what you like i use half chicken boullion cube and half a package of sazon with Azafran
**you can use vegetable oil but i like extra virgin olive oil
***the reason for an alluminum sheet instead of a regular lid is, i find it helps the rice cook more fluffly so you dont get those raw rice bits

Now i like my rice a little more spicy so my peppers differ, but this recipe should not be too spicy for anyone.

Enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment in the box be-low

Jameson Irish Apple

'Tis the Season, time for thoes Seasonal Drink Recipies
This one was actually givin to me by a friend/ co-worker of mine at my most recent job and for some reason it just stuck. After playing around with it a bit ive come to a conclusion.

The Jameson Irish Apple

1 oz. Jameson Whisky
1/2 oz. Cinnamon Schnappes
1 1/2 oz. Apple Pucker
Cranberry Juice


Pack your 12 oz glass with ice and build this drink right in it.
its simple enough, whisky, schanppes, pucker, and fill the rest with cranberry, in that order.
If you dont like the taste of dark liqour but want to try the drink, squeeze in a wedge of orange, it gives it a slightly sweeter taste.
Have fun and Enjoy.
Please Drink responsibly.


Feel free to leave a comment in the space Be-low

The Coconut Mango Mojito

1.5 -2 oz Parrot Bay Coconut Rum (or more hey its whatever you like)

Fresh Mint Leaves

Mango Sour (replaces the simple syrup)

Sweet and Sour

1 Fresh Lime Wedge

Crush mint with a wooden spoon in the glass your using, squeeze lime juice and feel free to drop the rest of the wedge in the glass, add Rum, about 3oz Mango Sour, and fill the rest of the glass with Sweet and Sour. Pour into a martini shaker, shake twice and pour over ice. Do not strain.

I drink out of a plain glass since I use a straw, but if you like the exrta 2 inches, garnish with a fresh lime wedge and rim the glass with sugar.

This has got to be one of my favorite summer drinks. We were messing around with drink ideas at work and I decided that I was going to go home add mango to the mix and see how that works out. Safe to say it was pretty good.  

Try it out, see how you like it, and feel free to leave a comment in the box Be-low.

The Centre Page, yet another overseas suggestion

Another London Suggestion

The Centre Page

My Aunt took this picture and thoroughly made fun of me 

Across the Millennium Bridge, London, Eng, UK

   I know restaurants overseas is a little difficult to get to but hey I enjoyed my stay.

The Centre Page, on the other side of the millennium bridge, a decent location compared to everything around it. Now I don’t really remember where it is since my Aunt and I did so much walking, ha, buuuut everyone in the area are very nice, so don’t feel nervous to ask for directions.

The Chips were good

Now I know this wasn’t a coastal restaurant so this may not have been the best thing to order, but I so bravely asked for….Fish and Chips. Oh believe me I will definitely wait to be at the coast to order this again, it wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t that great. Ok I’m lying my aunt and I got crazy sick after we left, having to share one hotel bathroom…goodness. Now I’m not digging on the restaurant itself, because I liked it, it’s actually a tavern (complete with old school pub decor) and pretty fun to be in, it obviously is a big tourist spot because the servers are very accommodating to odd requests (like taking pictures with me). But I think if I get back I’ll just drink my face off at the bar. That or order something the wait staff actually recommends, that’s normally a better idea.

 I guess until next time.  Feel free to leave a comment be-low.

There are more things to do with food, than chew.

ESH Eat Simply Healthy

Just a Suggestion

ESH Eat Simply Healthy

London, Eng, UK

If you ever find your way to London (the England one ya know) take a beat at ESH Eat Simply Healthy

Now I know it sounds like a health kick place but it’s pretty great. This place got me hooked on fresh hummus and pita, among some other things.

Everything they have is right in front of you on a – to be simple- conveyer belt, and each thing is on a different colored plate to show the different prices. The environment is relaxed, the people very friendly, and its easy to work if you’re a stranger.              

Now this is a Lebanese influenced place, if for some reason that just isn’t your favorite type of food, then maybe this place isn’t for you. Buuuut it your down for trying new things and you get the opportunity to be in this area, or you live in this area, then make sure you take a breath and pull up a stool. I don’t know if there are multiples of this side restaurant but I went to the one in Harrods you can take the Tube to this area, the Piccadilly Line and the Knightsbridge Station, pretty easy, and don’t forget to just buy a Tube day pass and visit all of Harrods, this mall is beyond huge. So if your ever here, enjoy, have fun, and if your coming from the States “Mind The Gap”.

Oh, The In-and-Out Burger Review

In-and-out Burger

Arlington, TX

Interesting History…Not so Interesting Burger.

Since this place has everyone up-n-at’em I have decided to give it at least two tries. And with all the hype from the California natives and visitors I thought In-and-Out Burger would blow my mind and the line wrapped building was helping to drive that thought home.

Try Numero Uno:  Hamburger, Boasting a 100% pure beef patty, lettuce, tomato, and a “spread” (Mystery?), on a bun. With regular potato fries.

(Burger information received from http://www.in-n-out.com/menu.asp)

Oh how disappointed was I when I bit into that burger and all I tasted was tomato and onion. The burger could very well be fresh and flavorful just like everyone claims but the only flavor I grasped was, plain, the best parts were around the harder cooked edges. Don’t get me wrong the food wasn’t bad, but I definitely don’t think it is worth the line or the hype, and let’s get real, fries are fries.

Burger Flirtation Numero Dos:  Animal Burger and Animal Fries

Ok with the fries they have added an onion sauce with caramelized onions, bacon bits, 1000 island dressing, and loads of cheese. Now I could have done without the 1000 island and cheese ( I found myself eating around that) but the onion sauce, caramelized onions, and bacon, excellent choices!  Just the right flavor combos at just the right amounts and the fork that comes with it, very necessary (unless you dig the messy finger look).

Animal Burger, the burger honestly is the same, they have added the onion sauce, caramelized onions, and 100 island, which again I could have done without the 1000, and once more the onions and sauce serve to boost the flavor on the otherwise plain burger, but again lets be real the burger is a burger and at the end of all of this, I just don’t see the big deal. But what can you do, fast food is fast food.

Official Blanket Disclaimer

The reviews posted here are opinion only. They are not meant to be disrespectful to establishments or establishment owners. Enjoy.