Advent Event: 19 Days

Ok, this one is way late in the day, but here it is.

Tonight we went to see our first movie since having our little one (she will be 6 months old on Sunday!).  It is not that we haven't had a babysitter (believe me strangers tell us they would babysit her...yes, strangers...the answer is no); but more that there hasn't been anything enticing enough at the theater to make the effort.  But as a foodie, the enticement is always the food at the movies. 

Popcorn and coke...and a snicker bar...and maybe a few nachos...and maybe a few Sour Patch Kids...and...ooohh, that ice cream sounds good!

What is it about the movies that stirs up the junk food addict in me?  I have actually gone to the movies not because I wanted to see the movie, but because I wanted to sit in a dark room and eat popcorn ravenously and drink a MASSIVE coke whilst thinking no one can see me!

So today's advent calendar foodie treat: permission to let your junk food flag fly!

And the good thing is there are some great movies that come out around the holidays that are just ripe for food pairings.  Here is a sampling:

If only the theater sold a spot of tea and some crumpets to go along with this one.

Only candy at this one (Skittles, Snickers, and a sugar coma) to match the squeaky voices.  You should check out this preview, it made me laugh out loud a couple of times!

For this one, I think I will go to one of those theaters where you can order a meal...hamburger sounds good.

This one has popcorn and a coke written all over it...pure indulgence. But maybe I should have two more things to eat to match the title.

By the way, we went to see the new Muppets movie tonight and I actually enjoyed most of it.  It was a little tedious in parts, but overall an enjoyable flick.  But the popcorn and coke were the best.  Good date night!

What is your favorite food/drink combination at the movies?  Don't worry, I won't judge what you shove in your face whilst you think no one is watching.

Taco Tuesday

OK, seriously there is a pattern forming.  What can I say?  We heart Mexican flavors.  So, for your salivation enjoyment, I bring you Pollos Dorados (from the Ultimate Mexican cookmag - like I said before, purchase it - you will not be sorry).

The recipe is fairly straightforward, but I did change it so here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. oil
1/3 cup chopped onion
can of Rotel tomatoes and chiles
1 cup of shredded cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie)
corn tortillas
Oil for deep frying
Choose your own garnishes (suggestions: cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, onions-green)

Procedure:
1. Start heating the oil for deep frying (You want it to get to 375F before dropping in the food)
2. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in saute pan over medium heat.  Saute onions until soft.  Add the Rotel (do not drain).  Cook uncovered until most of the liquid evaporates.  Turn off heat.  Stir in chicken to the tomato mixture. 
3.  Warm the tortillas in the microwave (wrapped in damp paper towels) for 20 seconds (2 at a time).  Place a small amount of chicken mixture on one end of the tortilla, roll up and secure with a toothpick.
4.  Place prepared tacos into the heated oil in batches of 3 or 4.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.  Remove and place on paper towel lined plate. 

These are very good, if somewhat greasy.  It's good to have something junk foodie every once in a while.  And, hey, we southern woman love us some deep-fried food.

Jalapeno (Not on a Stick)

Tonight dinner could not have been more simple.  I realized after a long day, I did not have all the ingredients to make another recipe and was too tired to try harder.  So, I made up a "new" recipe.  The resulting Stuffed Jalapenos were my take on a friend's recipe.  I didn't call her to get the recipe, I just guessed.  I thought they were great, the only problem was the last one was SPICY!!  Here's the recipe:

Stuffed Jalapenos (Jalapenos Rellenos)

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. bulk sausage. 
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut in half width wise (if desired)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
7 to 8 jalapenos, split in half and seeded

Procedure:
1.  Brown sausage in a skillet until no longer pink. Get the bacon going in another skillet.  Cook until lightly crisp (not fully cooked).  Drain sausage and bacon on paper towels.  Let cool slightly.
2. Preheat broiler.  Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese and garlic.  Add cooled sausage and combine.  Stuff the cream cheese mixture into the jalapeno halves using a teaspoon.  I over-stuffed them, so you might be able to do more jalapenos for this recipe based on the size of the jalapenos.  Wrap the bacon strips around the stuffed jalapenos and secure with a toothpick
3.  Place the jalapenos under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes.  Keep your eye on them so they don't get too brown. 

These are great for appetizers!  Enjoy!

Ode to Ohh La La

There is a burger joint out here in the desert serving what might possibly be the best burger I have ever had.  Tonight when I started thinking about dinner and the burgers we were going to have, I decided I was going to do my "version" of them in hopes that it would fight the craving for a little while until we go there again.  I will spoil the ending and say it didn't.

The Ohh la la burger is an all beef burger with bacon, boursin, and wine infused sauteed onions with a chipotle mayo.  It is perfection!  I love it but the man who takes my order hates me because I change their burger every time.  If you read the above list of ingredients you would think that would be enough, but all their burgers include pickles, lettuce, mustard, and tomato.   Why, I ask, would you ruin the first list of ingredients with the second list?  One of life's mysteries. 

So tonight...Drew got a burger seasoning kit from Target that he really wanted to try (he is all about seasonings) and so he made the patties for the burgers.  I fried some bacon and put the burgers on the George Foreman.  I did not do a chipotle mayo because honestly, I would not use it in any other circumstances and struggle with the amount of condiments already in my refrigerator.  I also did not do the onions (which I did not remember until after we started eating).  The burgers looked great...so excited to get my mouth around one. 

They were not that great...bummer.  Drew did not like the seasoning blend and only ate half of his burger.  I did not really enjoy it either and only ate about half of my burger.  I guess that's what amounts to a diet in this house. 

Southwestern Pizza and a Win

Last night we had a wonderful dinner!  Then we watched the Mavs beat the Lakers.  All told, this was a great evening in the Hudson house.
Let's start with dinner.  I made a Southwestern Queso Pizza from PC's 29 Minutes to Dinner 2.  This may make it to the table again (and sometime soon, too!).  I enjoyed making this one because it comes together in just the right order to make it fast and easy.  I used the Cheese Dip from Pace (one of our favorites) and swaped out shredded chicken for a package of prepared grilled chicken (cut up into smaller pieces).  The resulting flavor was wonderful.  One thing of note: the recipe calls for more cheese dip than you need.  I would cut the quantity in half.  The bell peppers add just enough health to this otherwise indulgent pizza.  We paired this with a salad to fill out the veggie requirements of the night.  The battery for the camera ran out while I was trying to take a picture, so you will just have to make this to see it.  This was a great meal to prepare us to win something!
The game was great - the first win of the season for the Mavs.  And against the reigning champs...not bad!  we are looking good this season and it is just getting started!  Mavs 94- Lakers 80.

Labor Day weekend

We are enjoying our extended weekend.  I had a hard time posting Saturday night's dinner because then you will know a dirty little secret in the Hudson household.  We sometimes don't eat that well.  I do my best to make sure the dinners I make are well rounded and include all the items on the food pyramid.  Other times, we have what amounts to junk food for dinner.  Sorry, it is just the facts.  We haven't even started basketball season yet and I am already craving some not-so-good-for-me stuff.  So for dinner Saturday night we had Steamed Wonton Purses (from Pampered Chef Seasons Best) and the leftover Asian Veggies from Friday night.  Yes, I snuck in LEFTOVERS to Drew and he ate them!!!  Here's the review for the Wonton Purses:

Recipe is actually fun to make because it is very steps-oriented.  I like the repetition and they look really good when you get done.  It calls for ground turkey, but if I were to make them again (which is a distinct possiblity come Mavs time), I would use ground pork.  We are used to the wontons at one of our favorite restaurants (P.F. Changs) and they have pork in them.  I just think the pork has a bolder flavor.  Drew and I were discussing the wontons and concluded that they could have been spiced up a bit more.  I think I would throw in a little thai red chili paste, to (as Emeril would say) kick it up.  The Sauce they have you make is WAY, WAY too vinegary.  I tried to calm it down with more soy sauce, but no amount would have brought it down.  I would recommend you start by adding equal parts soy and vinegar and then go from there to your taste. Overall, good recipe.  This would be a great thing to make with teenagers and let them do their own fillings.  Great for a crowd if doubled or tripled.

And for those of you now worried for our physical health, I brought some grapes upstairs for us to snack on while we played Guitar Hero.