Bless the Cook

Blog Archives

Aug

Creatively Simple – How to Make Homemade Taquitos

We moved from Southern California to Tennessee in the late fall of 1993. It was a wonderful new place except for one thing. We had grown up on Mexican food. Not American style fast food Mexican but authentic, miles from the border California style Mexican food. There was no good Mexican food in Tennessee. So I made it myself. Then I taught my daughters. Then we had more daughters and they learned to cook better than me. And they got better and better. And now that there are plenty of Mexican restaurants in Tennessee, we still can’t find one that tastes as good as our daughters cook. So I followed Georgia around the kitchen with my camera just to get this incredible information for you! There will be lots of upcoming books on her incredible Mexican recipes.

This is just one of a series of Creatively Simple “How to” ebooks approx 20 pages with lots of pictures ebook download

not just a recipe, but a very detailed How To ebook with step by step instructions and lots of pictures $4.95 regular price

AND MY First Things First ebook I send to you with every purchase!

NEW Release special for a limited time only $2.95

Category: bookstore, main dish, mexican style Tags: mexican food, taquitos Leave a Comment

Jul

super simple salsa

Penny

We always make homemade salsa and in fact that is half the reason we grow a garden. Here is my super simple technique. It will take a bit longer if you don;t have a food processor, but just get a friend to help you chop. This will be enough to feed a small army.

12 med size fresh tomatoes
3 large peeled cloves of garlic
1 large onion
1 bunch of fresh cliantro
large handful of peppers, 6-10 your choice, we use jalapenos, cayenne, gypsy, poblano, and Anaheim, sometimes habanera
salt to taste

you will want chips to eat it with, we cook our own, see note below

Start by washing all of your ingredients. We will be using a food processor with the bottom mixing blade. Not the slicer or shredding disc. We will be using the pulse button.

Step #1 – Start with 6 of the tomatoes cut in half, cover and puree by pulsing several times, then put in mixing bowl.

Step #2 – Place garlic and cilantro in processor, cover and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Add to mixing bowl.

Step #3- Add all peppers, if big then cut in half or quarters, also add onion, peeled and quartered. Cover and pulse until chopped.

Add to mixing bowl.

Step #4 – Add remaining 6 tomatoes quartered, cover and pulse slightly only until diced in large chunks.

Add to mixing bowl.

Final step – Mix well and add salt to taste. Then refrigerate for 30 minutes to let flavors blend.

Homemade salsa is great on many things but best with home cooked tortillas. Take a stack of corn tortillas and cut the whole stack in 4ths using a butcher knife. Then separate and cook each in hot oil. We use a deep fryer and tongs. Be careful and only cook for a few seconds each. Drain on paper towels. You will think you are eating in a Mexican restaurant! Ole!

Category: main dish, mexican style, vegetable, vegetable dish, vegetarian Tags: salsa 3 Comments

Jul

vegetable fajitas

Penny

use the same recipe as the vegetable burritos, but substitute fajita seasoning and use small tortillas and add a bit of cheese and sour cream on top

Category: frugal meal, mexican style, vegetable, vegetable dish, vegetarian 2 Comments

Jul

vegetable burritos

Penny

this is another creative recipe – determine your own ingredients and amounts

you will need

large flour tortillas, 1 per serving
cooked rice, about 1/2 cup per serving
diced veggies, squash, zucchini, green beans, mushrooms, onions, peppers, whatever you like or is growing in your garden
diced fresh tomatoes
olive oil or butter

combine and sauté or stir fry your diced veggies using the butter or oil, all except the tomatoes, set those aside, brown your tortillas in a skillet

on a tortilla add veggies, cooked rice and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper or maybe even teriyaki sauce and fold one end over slightly then roll like a burrito, or eat like a large taco

yummy, fast, healthy, and cheap! but be forewarned your family may want seconds

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, side dish or snack, vegetable, vegetarian Tags: rice, stir-fry, tortillas, vegetable 2 Comments

Jun

crustless spinach quiche

Penny

7 eggs
2 bunches fresh spinach washed and stems removed
3 banana peppers chopped
1 bell pepper chopped
2 cups cooked white rice
9 oz shredded cheese, colby/jack mix
3 T butter

preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a blender add all eggs, and peppers and 1 and 1/2 bunches of spinach. Blend well, then place in mixing bowl and add rice and remaining spinach, stir well. Take baking dish and add butter, place in oven until butter melts, then pour in mixture. Bake until firm, approx 20 minutes, remove and spread cheese on top, then bake until bubbly. Enjoy!

6-8 servings

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, vegetable Tags: cheese, eggs, recipe, rice, spinach Leave a Comment

Apr

homemade coleslaw

Penny

1 head green cabbage shredded
1/2 head red cabbage shredded
1/2 onion shredded
1 carrot shredded

mix well in very large bowl or pan, then proceed with dressing

add the following to blender and blend

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 T sugar
1 T soul seasoning or some sort or pepper blend

mix well then pour over cabbage mixture, let set about three hours in fridge, mixing once per hour, serve cold

Category: salads, side dish or snack, southern cooking, vegetable, vegetarian Tags: cabbage, coleslaw, dressing, slaw 3 Comments

Apr

cooking tip – spices

Penny

Using spices in your cooking gives dishes authentic flavors,

for Mexican dishes use cilantro, and peppers

for Italian dishes use oregano and olive oil

Category: cooking tip, italian, mexican style Leave a Comment

Apr

tropical smoothie

Penny

Guess what we got yesterday? Yep, shredded coconut! And boy is it good! Since pineapples are on sale for 99 cents at Aldis we got 4 of them and bananas are on sale for 33 cents a pound at Wal Mart so we got several bunches of them. And now we are having a tropical party! To the blender we added some

fresh pineapple chunks,
a couple bananas,
a bit of spring water,
a couple spoons of natural sugar
and a spoon or two of wheat germ,

and whipped it up! Then added

several spoons of Tropical Traditions shredded coconut

and whipped for an additional few seconds. And WOW! This is wonderful! Can’t wait to try more recipes!

Category: breakfasts, desserts, side dish or snack Tags: coconut, pineapple Leave a Comment

Apr

breakfast pie

Penny

1 pound bacon
6 eggs
3 tomatoes, diced
1 small onion, diced
16 oz shredded cheese

Cook your bacon well in a cast iron skillet, then take out of pan keeping drippings in pan. Dice the bacon and set aside. Mix eggs, then add tomatoes, onion, add bacon, add to pan with bacon drippings, bake at 400 for 10-15 mins till firm, Top with cheese, bake till melted, serve with biscuits. Really yummy

Category: breakfasts Leave a Comment

Apr