It's Foodie Friday Again - WOOO!

Nothing makes me happier than food. I really do love to grocery shop, love to cook and love to eat! I used to have aspirations of owning my own restaurant and now of being the Next Food Network Star. You could see me with my own television show, couldn't you? I mean, I would prefer if only blind people ate my food - I can't make anything LOOK good, but most everything I make smells and tastes good, for sure!

I have eaten Mexican food almost every day this week. I generally eat it about once a week and something Italian for the rest of the week (much to Jarrett's chagrin), but this week for whatever reason, I've wanted Mexican. I have been playing around with different stuff - mastered chicken quesadillas (or case-of-dias as little Jack calls it!). So I've taken your typical Chicken Fajitas and kicked them up a bit. Here's the recipe

Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:
4 flour tortillas, heated
1 package fajita seasoning
2 onions, sliced
3 chicked breasts, cut into 1-in. pieces
2 green peppers, sliced
1 package fresh portobello mushrooms
1 can pineapple chunks
4 slices bacon, cooked and sliced into 1-in. pieces
Montery Jack cheese
Optional - zuchini

Follow directions on fajita mix packet.
Add chicken, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and zuchini.
Simmer until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.
Add pineapple and bacon to the pan and stir in.
Lay tortilla flat and add cheese, then the mixture.
Fold and enjoy!

Foodie Friday

It's been a while since I've posted. I've been a little busy with life, but can always make room for food! I am sharing a recipe today in honor of Father's Day.

I am SUCH a Daddy's girl! My Dad and I are extremely close, and have been all my life. I love and respect him so much. When I was in elementary school, he'd drop me off in the morning and everyday would say, "I love you. Make 100s!" And I would, because I didn't want to disappoint him. We'd play baseball and basketball together, laugh at my older sisters together, and he even once got me to try golf!

I love my Dad for small, seemingly unimportant moments like laughing at Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee. I love my Dad for sending me off to Tuscaloosa, Alabama sight unseen, out of state tuition looming, and telling me we'd figure it out later. I love him for coming to all my high school softball and soccer games in and out of town. I love him because he is a good, Christian man, taught me morals and values, and made me live up to them (and want to). I love my Dad because he is a clean freak and perfectionist, just like me!

I also love my Dad because at a very young age, he had me cooking with him. Because of him, I don't know how to measure, have become extremely creative in the kitchen, and discovered that I love food I never thought I would. While I don't bake, there are two desserts that I CAN make, Cheesecake and Boiled Chocolate Cookies. Dad and I always make them together, and I must say, we're super good at it. Happy Father's Day!

Boiled Chocolate Cookies - by far, my favorite cookies ever

Ingredients
⅓ c. Cocoa

1 stick butter (melted)

½ c. Chunky Peanut Butter

2 c. Sugar

½ c. Milk

2½ c. Quick Oats

1. Mix milk, cocoa and butter together. Bring to boil and let boil for exactly 3 minutes.

2. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and oatmeal.

3. Drop by teaspoon onto wax paper and let cool to room temperature

Foodie Friday

Okay, so in honor of my favorite thing to do, COOK, I thought I would start doing Foodie Fridays to share some of my favorite recipes, kitchen stuff and ideas.

In case you don't know, Rachael Ray is my hero. I love everything about her, even her awful catch phrases like EVOO and YUM-O! So, I think it's only appropriate to start with a jazzed up version of my all time favorite Rachael Ray recipe (and one I could honestly eat every day), Cowboy Spaghetti.

If you've ever been to my house around dinner time, you've more than likely been lucky enough to try this marvelous meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Pasta (I love rigatoni....the sauce gets all in the middle of it! But any kind will do)
• 5 slices Bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 lb. Ground Turkey (or Sirloin)
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 3-4 Garlic Cloves, minced
• Hot Sauce (as much as you’d like -I put A LOT)
• Worcestershire Sauce (as much as you’d like - I put A LOT here, too!)
• 2 cans Fire Roasted tomatoes or original Rotel Tomatoes
• 8 oz. Cheddar Cheese
• Optional ingredients: Mushrooms, green peppers, black olives

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook to al dente. Drain.

Heat a deep skillet over Med-High heat. Add EVOO and bacon. Brown the bacon and remove from pan. Add the meat and brown it. Add onions, garlic, hot sauce, Worcestershire and bacon (and and optional ingredients) to the pan. Cook 5-6 minutes to let the flavors combine, then stir in the tomatoes and tomato sauce. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Add the cooked spaghetti to the meat sauce and put cheese on top.

ENJOY!