Fast Friday: Smashed white bean & kale quesadillas

Happy Friday to you, yours, and everyone else's!  How was the week?

Ours was nice and chill.  After a busy weekend, largely spent away from the apartment, we laid low in the evenings and entertained ourselves at home.  We even hosted friends dinner twice.  Not surprisingly, those two dinners were the only two that went off exactly as I'd planned; the rest were delicious but waaaaaaaay off the beaten path original meal plan.

Recently, a friend was teasing me for planning all of our meals for the coming week.  I gave my spiel about how much easier it makes grocery shopping and ensures that I don't have to make return trips to the store later in the week.  (You know, except for those emergency baking errands.)

Turkey, black bean & pepper quesadillas with spicy apricot salsa

I don't know how it's possible, but I always seem to forget about quesadillas.

Allow me to pause while you pinch yourself.  You're not dreaming.

Standard bread sandwiches are just more familiar and, therefore, easier for my brain to recall in stressful times.  Stressful times = when my stomach is sending my brain impatient and borderline angry messages demanding sustenance.

But, every now and then, the universe sends me a sign puts an entire show on TV about quesadillas and the nudges me in the right direction.

Salsa burgers with guacamole

Can I tell you something?

I'm in the throes of a major burger kick.

For the past few weeks, I've been craving meat like more than I can ever remember.  Wherever we go, I'm scanning the menu for a steak or a burger.  Doesn't have to be beef necessarily, but it's gotta be sizable and cooked just right.

I've wracked my brain as to what could've triggered this, and the only real change is that I've been running more.  A lot more, to be exact.  But I would've guessed my cravings would be for pasta, breads, and spaghetti sandwiches.  Not so, apparently.  My muscles want protein.

Crock Pot salsa pulled pork tacos

Because it's Wednesday.

Because it's hump day.

Because I love my Crock Pot.

And I know you do, too.

I have a mind-blowing slow cooker recipe for ya.

Fast Friday: 5-ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup

Happy Friday to you!

These past few weeks have been gloriously busy.  Days and evenings -- even weeknights, gasp! -- have been filled with parties, travel, reunions, shopping, and the most phenomenal concert ever.

To make time for fun things, I'm finding myself borrowing time from certain activities, like sleep.  The bags under my eyes make me look terribly ragged, but I promise I'm awake, alert, and ready to party.  I can sleep in January!

I can also clean and do laundry in January.  I thought about buying more underwear but realized that, too, requires washing and drying before wearing.  If you're interested, I'm looking to hire a laundry associate.  Please inquire for further details.  I will pay you handsomely in cookies.

Mini chicken taco bowls

Is there a food in your fridge or pantry that you tend to forget about?

For us, it's 6-inch corn tortillas.  I'll buy a pack for enchiladas or tacos, use 5 or 6 of them for a specific recipe, and toss them back into the fridge.

A week or two later, I'll find them stashed on the second shelf, way in the back, all alone.  Then, every time I open the fridge, that bag of corn tortillas will be the only thing I see.  Tunnel vision, if you will.

I'll become obsessed with using them up, like, yesterday.  And I'll turn it into a challenge to come up with a new way to eat them, too.

Huevos rancheros

Talking to a friend recently, we were trading the evening's dinner plans.  I said I'd be making one of our stand-bys, huevos rancheros.

"Huevos what?"
"Oh, you know, eggs, tortillas, beans, salsa.  Nothing fancy."
"Eggs and tortillas and beans and salsa?  That sounds so good!  Is it on your blog?"
"Uh, probably."

Good thing I didn't place any wagers on that because she called my bluff.  "I can't find it anywhere."  Oops.

Had I really not posted it anywhere?  In nearly 4 years of sharing recipes here with you?  I seriously couldn't believe it.

Salmon tostadas

Recently, I professed my love for chicken.  We eat it for dinner at least three nights a week, sometimes more.  Grilled, stir-fried, baked, breaded, sauced, shredded, poached, and any other way you can cook it.  It's one of the best culinary canvases, bar none.  I love it... but something else has a true hold on my heart (and stomach).

Salmon!

Pitter patter goes my heart.  I can't tell you when my salmon journey began, but dates are irrelevant.  All you need to know is that salmon is my hands-down favorite meat/poultry/fish/protein.  If I were forced to pick only three foods I could eat for the rest of my life, salmon would be one of them.  In fact, it's the only one that hasn't changed over the years.

(If you're curious, the other two fluctuate frequently, but right now I'd probably say strawberries and mozzarella cheese.  Avocado and kale are close runners-up.)

Friday Five: Cinco de Mayo eats

Friday!  At time of posting, I'll be in Maryland at my grandma's house.  My parents, aunt, uncle, and I are spending the day doing some spring cleaning and painting while new carpet is installed in two rooms.  A little elbow grease and quality bonding time is so much better than any day at the office, don't you think?  That and the chance that Grandma may have a pan of her famous Oreo dessert waiting in the freezer for us ;)  Fun family Friday for the win!

It'll be a quick trip for us, since I'll be back late Friday night, just in time to enjoy the weekend.  A weekend full of variety: a baby shower, the Pittsburgh marathon (only cheering this year), a long run of my own, out of town visitors, and Cinco de Mayo celebrations on Sunday!

While there's no real reason I should be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, there's also no reason I can't!  Much like St. Patrick's Day brings out the Irish in everyone, so does May 5th bring out the sense of Mexican pride in all of us.  That and it gives everyone a chance to reaffirm our love of Mexican cuisine and frosty margaritas.  Who doesn't love a good party?!

Wherever you are and whatever your background, I hope you enjoy this week's edition of Friday Five:  Cinco de Mayo dishes!

1. Beef taco salad

2. Taco turkey casserole

3. Slow cooker black bean soup

4. The ultimate chicken enchiladas

5. Pumpkin enchiladas


Enjoy your very own south of the border celebration.  Save a margarita for me, please :)  Happy Cinco de Mayo, friends!  And a special good luck to all of the runners participating in the Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday!

BBQ shrimp tacos

I had a plan for last night's dinner.  A plan that was laid out nearly a week ago when I channeled my future self and took educated guesses as to what I'd want to eat for the following week.  You know me and my plans -- we're likethis.

I also had plans to wake up and go to the gym before work every day this week.  But, when the alarm went off at 5:40, I swiftly got up, turned it off, and crawled back into bed... without managing to even open my eyes.  Apparently, I knew on Sunday night that I was going to be lazy this week, because I set a second alarm for 6:20, the time I wake up when I don't exercise in the morning.  I'm a sloth soothsayer!  (Say that five times fast.)

When did I become so utterly lazy?  As Matt said, "Who are you and what have you done with my wife?"

Copycat Mad Mex chick pea chili

Last week, a group of us went out to celebrate our great friend Natalie's 29th birthday.  The birthday girl chose the place and, boy, did she choose wisely: Mad Mex!

Mad Mex is a local gem when it comes to Mexican food.  There are a few locations in western PA, one of which is nestled in the heart of Pitt's campus.  When I think of Mad Mex, I'm reminded of many nights we spent there during college, sipping on their famous margaritas.  Natalie always seemed to end up there after a pharmacy school exam, and many of us caved under pressure and joined her there, too.  :)  To this day, I have yet to taste a better and fresher strawberry margarita!

The food menu is totally overwhelming, partly because it's massive and partly because everything I've ever ordered has been delish.  Nachos, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas... yum!  This particular evening I was craving something warm and satisfying but not too filling since there was dessert to be enjoyed after dinner.  (I brought homemade funfetti cupcakes for the birthday girl's treat!)

Taco turkey casserole

"I want to live inside that!"  That being this:

That's exactly what Laura and Matt said as they took bite after bite after bite of this at dinner recently.  If there's a more satisfying comment about one's own cooking, I'd like to hear it because that one had me grinning wildly and patting myself on the back.  Thanks, you two :)

Having bookmarked the recipe a few weeks ago, I'd pegged it as a Mexican version of classic Italian lasagna.  I was looking forward to making it, assumed it would taste good, put the necessary items on the grocery list, and didn't give it much more thought until I got into the kitchen to cook.

Slow cooker black bean soup

 
I've never been the kind of person who listens and quietly obeys instructions.  I've also never been the kind of person who is quiet.  I'm okay with that, and I hope you are, too.

My parents will agree with both of those observations.  For as long as I can remember, my mom or dad would lean over during a certain part of the church service to tell us a little story.  "We were always so happy that the minister never invited kids up to the front of the sanctuary for a children's sermon when you two were little.  We were afraid of what you and your sister would say."

Are you kidding me, Mom and Dad?  What we'd say?

I guess they were referring to things that kids say when responding to a pastor's questions, like that Easter is when Jesus sees his shadow or, worse, something private about their parents.  I'm going to resist the urge to point out that, more often than not, it's parents who say things that embarrass their children.  Because I'm a mature adult.  And mature adults are gracious and don't point out the faults of their elders.  Like I said, I'm a mature adult.

Pumpkin & bean enchiladas

Have you ever caught -- and stopped -- yourself in the midst of doing something only to realize that you've actually been doing the same thing, unnoticed, for hours or days at a time?

My favorite example of this occurs when I'm shopping.  I'll be browsing around a store and begin picking up items when, after a few shirts, scarves, or sweaters are draped over my arm, I'll notice that every item is some shade of orange.  I'll picture my closet and think, "Hm, maybe I could use a pop of bright color and some more orange in my wardrobe," and head into a dressing room.

It's there, in the dressing room, when I'll catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and put two and two together:

I'm wearing an orange sweater with an orange scarf.


I'll then realize that I've been in an orange kind of mood and worn something in that color every single day that week.  Now it all makes sense!  I wasn't trying to fill some pumpkin-hued void in my closet.  I was continually satisfying a craving to dress like a traffic cone.

Armed with this knowledge, I'll once again examine the items in my dressing room... and I'll try on all of 'em anyway.  There's no stopping me.  When a lady wants orange clothing, she's going to get orange clothing :)

Homemade taco seasoning & shells

Lately, I've noticed that I prefer to make my own [insert easily store-bought item here].  I'm not turning up my nose at the packaged stuff because it's both incredibly convenient and, let's be honest, pretty darn tasty.

Instead, I like to think of this new-found preference as a personal culinary challenge.  "Can I make such and such as good as the pros?"  And, maybe do it with a little more control over what goes into my food.  Because, hey, my name is Katy and I'm a control freak.  I know, I know, you're so shocked.

I've conquered some of the best pre-packaged foods out there with great success and made homemade versions that rival and even surpass the originals.  Brownies.  Marshmallows.  Even beloved Oreos.  If I could make myself dessert, I could surely tackle the main meal, too.

(I bet I almost fooled you into thinking I've never eaten just brownies for dinner.  Totally have and totally will again.  Many times.)

A week ago, out of the blue, Matt said, "We should make tacos."  That was all it took for me to jump on the taco train.  In part because he never, ever requests particular meals, but mostly because I looooooove tacos.  So, so very much.

Fast Friday: Chicken fajitas

Do you have a fear of making certain restaurant foods at home?

Um, believe it or not, I do.

Maybe fear isn't quite the right word, so let's just say I'm incredibly hesitant and usually unwilling to make certain dishes in my own kitchen.  At the time, I'll say it's because I don't have the right tools or that the ingredients are too "out there" or pricey.  But really because, deep down, I'm worried they won't taste as good as I think they should.

What's funny, though, is that the dishes that fit that description in my head are wide-ranging, from fancy to exotic to downright homey. 

Like eggs benedict.  Fancy pants city, people.  I've made it at home once, and the hollandaise (or, as Matt calls it, holiday) ended up with the consistency of melted butter, not thick and creamy like it should've been.

Or lobster ravioli.  It's safe to say that I'll never, ever make that from scratch.  Lobster, nope.  Homemade pasta, definitely nope.  And the patience to combine them?  Hellllllllllllllllllllll no.

Still yet, chicken tikka masala from India Garden.  This is, hands down, Matt's favorite meal in the world.  A few months ago I almost summoned the courage to make it but chickened out (no pun intended).

I'd like to think the average home hook, or even above average, isn't making any one of these on a semi-regular basis.  (If you, however, make eggs benedict for your entire household on a weekly basis, please refrain from commenting and sharing that fact with other readers.  And, you know, please come visit me at your earliest convenience. Thanks!)  All three dishes are relatively complex and even a bit exotic.  Not your standard everyday fare.

Unfortunately for me my ego, most folks wouldn't lump chicken fajitas into that category.  What's so daunting about seared chicken and vegetables in a humble tortilla?

Savory cornmeal waffles with salsa & black beans

Ever since my bridal shower last October, my life hasn't been the same.  Sure, my family and friends spoiled me rotten and created a magical day for me that I'll never forget.

But, the life-changing part of the whole thing?  It was also the day that a waffle maker came into my life.  (Thanks, V!)  My waffle maker.

Should he have a name?  I guess it's a he now...

Walter?  I like Walter.  If you haven't noticed, I like alliteration.  Makes naming inanimate objects that much more fun.  Try it!

Anyway, Walter and I have gotten along swimmingly since that fine Sunday.  You see, we've tried to learn from the mistakes of others who neglect their waffle makers for decades at a time, only to eventually cast it off at a garage sale for good.  At least once a month, we have a date with flour, sugar, and maple syrup.  At times, we even get a little crazy and the batter overflows and... whew, it's a whirlwind, I'm telling you.

Well, a few weeks ago I bookmarked a recipe that seriously intrigued me.  It rocked the very sturdy and sweet foundation upon which Walter and I have built our relationship over the past months.

Savory cornmeal and chives waffles.

What the what?  Is that too crazy?

The ultimate chicken enchiladas

It's high time that I post a recipe for you.  I mean, really.  Where do I get off not sharing a new one with you for almost two weeks?  Tsk tsk. 

But if there had to be a drought followed by the most glorious rainstorm, this is that rainstorm.  The first recipe of 2012.  Heck, it could be the last of the year, too.  That's right.  If you only make one recipe in 2012, make it this one.

Or, do what I did and make this as your last home-cooked meal in 2011 and freeze a small batch for your first home-cooked meal in 2012.  You know, when you've arrived home from your honeymoon and want to delay shopping for groceries as long as possible.

I normally love food and grocery trips, so I blame my momentary lapse on honeymoon brain.  It's dangerous... and probably napping by a pool somewhere.

Beef taco salad with chunky tomato dressing

According to Wendy's, it's there.  Don't you love that the company has revived it's famous slogan from 1984?  I hear that was quite a great year :)

Finding myself in search of beef but not quite willing to give in to fast food so early in the week (it was only Tuesday!), I thanked my lucky stars and planning prowess that I had the makings for a spicy and hearty beef dish.

Beef taco salad!  Trust me.  You want to make this right now.  So glad I dismissed that craving for Wendy's because this was a million times better!... and without any guilt!!

Smoky seasoned lean ground beef and black beans.  Crisp chopped romaine hearts.  Sharp white cheddar cheese.  Yum!

Zucchini and portobello tacos

Happy Cinco de Mayo, amigos!  Without intentionally planning it, this week has turned out to be quite the celebration of Mexican dishes.  Yesterday I shared with you the it-can't-possibly-be-that-easy cilantro chicken with homemade salsa.

Today I've got a doozy for you -- zucchini and portobello soft tacos with alllllllll the toppings: salsa, sour cream, and melty cheese!  Be still my little jumping bean of a heart!!