Loaded (Everything but the kitchen sink) Nachos

Last night, it was awfully cold here and I wasn't in the mood for a traditional dinner and I was craving something warm and warmth-inducing, so...HELLO NACHOS!
Fortunately, my company did not mind.
Unfortunately, I was busy cooking up some other appetizers and my hubby took the pictures for me, which is why they're not great.
But, you can still get the general gist of the ridiculously delicious nachos

I've never made nachos the same way or with the same ingredients or the same brand of ingredients, but that's what makes them the opposite of boring, am I right?
I think I'm right.
This time I used good gourmet quality nacho chips instead of the regular cheap popular brands (I won't name names in case they sue me).
I also used a deli brand jar of jalapenos which are spicy but not as ass burning spicy as fresh raw jalapenos. I was going to post a picture of them but then I thought, what if people reading this don't live in my area and can't buy them where they are?
So, what I recommend is that you give all the jalapenos a try and see which ones you like best.
For that matter, give all hot peppers a try. Sometimes, I use other Mexican peppers to try something new.
Life is short, chums.
Eat hot peppers until you can't.

INGREDIENTS:

• Good quality nacho chips
• Kraft (brand name) Habanero cheese (pictured below)

If you can't get this cheese, don't stress. Any cheese will do. If there's one thing I have learned in life (other than using nail polish to keep pantyhose rips from spreading) is that there is no such thing as a bad cheese.
Unless you've let that cheese sit in the glove box of your car for three days during a July heat wave.

• Jalapenos
• Salsa
• Black beans
• Corn
• Sour cream
• Green onions, chopped.
• Ground beef  (fried in oil with chopped garlic, chopped red onions, cumin powder, chili powder, paprika, onion salt, black pepper)
• Grape tomatoes, chopped in half.

I took a large glass pie plate and arranged one layer of nacho chips upon which I put shredded cheese, jalapenos, salsa and green onions. I then added another layer and added more jalapenos, ground beef, more green peppers, black beans, corn and grape tomatoes. I baked it in the oven on 400F until the cheese was melted and the nachos looked a little brown (but not burnt!).

After taking it out of the oven, I added sour cream on top.

It was positively and undeniably edible.

And made my saliva run as I was serving it to my guests.

Just goes to show you that meals don't have to be traditional to be appreciated by your belly or the bellies of your friends.

Sassy Slurpy Summer Salad

This is such an easy, quick, colourful salad. 

It tastes fresh and fruity and exotic at the same time.

But, while it is simple, it is not boring.

You can use whatever fixings you want...the super star of this salad is the dressing.

If you want to impress your friends at the next pot luck, then this is the salad for you.

Trust me. 

INGREDIENTS: (You can omit things you don't like)

1. Corn...the recipe calls for you to roast your corn and then shave the kernels off. 
It adds a smokiness that I like, but if you're tired or lazy, feel free to pop open a can of corn.

2.  Black beans...I used canned. Rinsed and drained. About half a can but it's up to you.

3.  Avocado....one, chopped or sliced.

4.  Red onion...I used a third of a medium onion. Sometimes I use chopped Scallion.

5.  Roasted bell peppers...I've made it with and without roasting peppers in oven and I prefer the roasted. I put them in the oven on high heat for about 10 minutes, until they soften. (pictured below)

6.  English cucumber...I used one, sliced up. It doesn't matter how.

7.  Tomatoes...I chopped up one whole medium sized tomato, but sometimes I use grape/cherry tomatoes.

8. Cilantro...just a few leaves, sprinkled about. Or a lot of leaves if you love it.

THE SALAD DRESSING:

• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice (or bottled, but fresh tastes better)
• 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice (read above)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 small clove garlic, chopped (I used a large clove and it tasted strong and good but the taste stayed in my mouth and was oozing out of my pores for days).
• salt and fresh ground pepper

It doesn't matter how you layer. Sometimes I put it on a platter and arrange it differently. Feel free to be the mad scientist I know you can be.

Just pour the dressing over the salad and toss.

Voila!

How to keep your meat fresh in the freezer.

Nothing excites me more than learning a new trick (aside from a glass of good wine), and if you want to learn something new, click on the site below:

http://www.littlethings.com/bucket-of-water-vacuum-seal/?utm_source=LTts&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=NVcomment

But, do not keep this meat in the freezer for a long time because it could also be hazardous to your health according to this site:

http://readynutrition.com/resources/vacuum-sealing-can-be-hazardous-to-your-health_12022013/

Heat Wave Induced Sandwiches

Because of this ghastly heat and soul-wilting , hair-limping humidity (40F!!!), I have not been inspired to cook indoors.
I haven't been arsed to stand over a hot barbecue grill, either. 
So, sandwiches and salads, it is!
But not just any sandwiches. 
Please! I'm not some boring old hag...although I bear a sneaky resemblance to one when I look in the mirror on Sunday mornings.
I have a sandwich grill that doesn't emit a lot of heat, so I crank the air conditioner to "Hang Meat" setting, throw a wool sweater on and fire that sandwich grill up. Nothing says "fancy" like those brown grill marks across an artisan hunk of bread. Fill this bread with a good quality cheese from a country with happy cows with Swiss accents, a fistful of smoked butcher store meats, some homemade pickles (home made by someone else, preferably), a dollop of coarse grained mustard, some hoity toity bacon flavoured or curry flavoured mayonnaise and you've got the makings for a "party in your stomach".
People will not turn up their noses at these sandwiches. 
If they do, I urge you to find new friends.

I found these snaps from Martha Stewart's website...
(You're welcome for the promotion, Martha. If you sue me, you won't get a cent from my estate as I am stone broke.)

This picture is from "Grilled Cheese Social" on Pinterest. Fabulous ideas!
It is the Thai-Inspired Breakfast Grilled Cheese, with avocado, egg, and sriracha

Remember chums...there are no boring sandwiches, only boring imaginations. 

Nutty Veggies

I have a 10 year old nephew who just told me that he hates the word "veggies". 

In fact, he can't stand it. He gets like a rash all over his body when he hears someone say it.

So, that is why I'm going to keep saying it.

One, because he would rather make a mustache out of my shaved eyebrows than ever read my blog, and 

Two, because I know it annoys him,

I am such an awesome aunt. 

High five!

And I am not just doing it out of spite for all the times he drew pictures on the walls with my make up pencil.

Nope.

So, let's move along, folks. 

Here's what you'll need:

• sesame oil
• olive oil
• butter
• soy sauce
• broccoli
• red pepper
• potatoes
• pine nuts
• ginger root (optional)
• garlic
• garlic salt

Boil taters and after draining them, don't put them back on the burner like some clod I know, unless you know you turned it off for sure. Argh...:(.

Heat olive oil and a bit of butter together. It depends on how much oil you like and how big a serving you're cooking. 

 Sprinkle potatoes with garlic salt and fry for a few minutes (at least until they look fried).

When taters done, add brockles (broccoli).

Add red peppers and pine nuts. You could probably add them to the pan with the potatoes so that they can brown up more.

Add 1 TSP grated ginger root. Drizzle with sesame oil and soy sauce. Sprinkle a bit of garlic salt. Or add any other spices you like. The sky's the limit. I don't think I've ever cooked anything with less than 8 spices before, but there is a first time for everything, as my bookie says...

Anyway...VOILA!
And don't let it turn you off just because it's healthy. 

Olympics Party Snacks

I just found these cool snack ideas for those of you who are thinking of hosting an Olympics Party or having Olympics theme days.
So, here are a few from the six sisters stuff website. All the pictures posted are from their site.

1. The Breakfast (Bagels) of Champions...
Okay, I made that title up.

2.  Candy jars...how sweet... ;)

3.  Snacks of the World...

For more ideas, go to:

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/07/25-olympic-snacks-and-party-ideas.html

Great idea for road trips!