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Chicken with Pasta and Peas

Chicken with Pasta and Peas

  I made this the other night; it was the second time I made it and it was yummy! This one is for my friend  Poppy over at  http://poppyview.blogspot.com I am also writing this for Saturday – trying to catch up with NaBloPoMo Printable Recipe 

A look back….

A look back….

   I think everyone knows this about me…but I am officially announcing it:   I love Spaghetti         Can you tell! Mangia, Mangia…No Talk!

Tacos…tonight

Tacos…tonight

 

Tonight we had tacos, a quick and easy meal that I whipped it in less than 45 minutes.

 
Preheat oven to 350
 
Add to the bottom of a baking pan one can of re-fried beans (optional), pour a couple drops of Taco Sauce; spicy or non-spicy it’s your preference. I sprinkle it in three or four spots.  Add on a layer of Mexican blend cheese covering the re-fried beans. 
 

Heat up a frying pan add a small amount of olive oil less than one Tablespoon, add one chopped garlic clove saute, add chop meat 1 lb. of sirloin lean.  Brown chop meat season with a pinch of salt, 1 Tablespoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, (optional items that also can be added are a chopped jalapeno pepper, and or cayenne pepper.) I kept it mild this evening. Once chop meat is fully cooked, I drain all the liquid that has accumulated and set to the side. At this point, the baking pan goes into the oven to warm the re-fried beans and melt the cheese.



 
I chopped 3 Roma or plum tomatoes, half of a head of lettuce.  Take out baking pan out of the oven add the chop meat, some more Taco Sauce, more cheese…place it in the oven once again. 


 
Wrap soft tortillas in damp paper towels, and microwave for about 30 second intervals 2 times.  
 


 

Please note; I did not, or would ever consider microwaving the tortillas in the plastic container above. I wrapped them in a damp paper towel, placed them on a paper plate, and zapped for 30 seconds.

 
 
Assembling is easy. Take the baking pan out of the oven layer the lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and olives.  

Serve with my favorite salad; 
 
 
Tomato and Avocado salad, and a large spoon to scoop from the bottom- for vegetarians leave out the chop meat.



 
Tip: If you only have one really almost dry lime in your basket, (because someone did not buy any last week) place in microwave for 20 to 30 seconds- the heat makes it quite juicy and enough to squeeze over the salad.
 
Sorry with the quality of photos, camera acting weird I took these with my IPad.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mangia, Mangia…No Talk!!!
More of Nonna

More of Nonna

She saved paper towels after she used them, she laid them across a radiator in the kitchen

Baby its Cold Out There…..Soups on!

Baby its Cold Out There…..Soups on!

I make this soup often but I never posted it before, because I don’t think Split Pea Soup photographs well!
 
You can be the judge of that!

Happy Birthday, Nonna Martina!

Happy Birthday, Nonna Martina!

Today I want to honor my Nonna Martina’s Birthday
 
Nonna Martina, Happy Birthday in heaven
 
Your funny little ways are truly missed,
 
I think of you often and you are always in my heart.
 
You would always tell me, “Marisa I am going to tell you something and
I want you to put it here” and point to my forehead.
 
Everything you told me is in my heart always and forever!

 

Nonno Mecuzzo & Nonna Martina at  my wedding 29 years ago
 My Grandparents
Buon compleanno, in cielo Nonno Martina
Mangia, Mangia…No Talk!

 

Crock Pot Beef Stew

Crock Pot Beef Stew

Here is the truth about beef stew.  I was never a fan until I made this recipe…, which was given to me by my sister Silvana – she doesn’t cook this in the crock-pot, so this can also be cooked on the stove top.  By the way, she got this recipe from my mother-in-law…who knew.

Roasted Vegetables a side of Thanksgiving!

Roasted Vegetables a side of Thanksgiving!

PSST…It’s almost time….Ssh, Ssh, Ssh, don’t say it so loud – the holiday season is approaching fast! Ssh!