Category Archives: Sunny Mexico

December 5, 2012 · 8:38 am

Tacos (in a Salad)

tacosalad6

I love tacos.  Like really love them.  Like I’d maybe consider marrying them.

And while I’m not quite ready to say I love tacos more than pizza at this exact moment, I’m sure there are times when such a proclamation might be made.

tacosalad3

I love the crispy shells.  The soft shells.  The spiced ground beef.  Tacos with cilantro lime marinated chicken.  Shrimp tacos with fruit salsa.  The taco truck tacos.  The overpriced restaurant tacos.  The Taco Bell tacos.  Tacos in foil.  Tacos on plates.  Tacos with sides of beans and rice.  Tacos with sides of lime wedges and cabbage.  Tacos with salsa.  Tacos with sour cream.  Tacos with avocado.  Tacos in my mouth.

tacosalad4

I am an equal-opportunity taco eater and lover.

But you see the thing is… tacos… well much like pizza… I can’t exactly justify eating them on the regular.  Because according to my hips, they’re not the healthiest thing in the world.  And according to Shakira, “Hips Don’t Lie.”  Jerks.

Although just a few months ago I was visiting my lovely friend Paloma, who is also an avid lover of tacos, and her wonderful Momma introduced me to a whole new world of tacos.

tacosalad5

Taco Salads!

And before you tsk, tsk, tsk… I should forewarn you there is no taco shell involved and the dressing isn’t creamy.

These are basically a deconstructed taco and can be as healthy or unhealthy for that matter, as you want them to be.  And since I’m getting all fixed to get married and stuff, this recipe errs on the side of healthy.

tacosalad

Sweets and I throw this easy dinner together probably once a week.  It’s become one of our favorite go-to quick and easy dinners.  It’s also the perfect thing to make when we have friends over for din-din.  I can think of at least three pals who’ve enjoyed this particular meal at Casa de Krajewski-Sharpe.

A few of those dinner guests have actually reported checking S&K for the recipe… and I’ve failed them!  And failed you!  But not for long!  I’m redeeming myself right NOW!

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March 21, 2012 · 8:43 am

A Pinteresting Evening

I still don’t know how I feel about this new Pinterest fad.

It seems like yet another way to waste time and really, who has more time to waste?
Well truth be told, given the number of pins I see on a daily basis, I guess its safe to say plenty of us.

In any event, time wasting aside, my problem with Pinterest is that it’s just too much.  Too many ideas, pins, boards, crafts, outfits, recipes, books, tutorials… see I’m already getting overwhelmed!

As if my to-do list wasn’t long enough as it is, this stupid site comes along, sucks me in and gives me a billion more ideas of things “I want” to do.  But that’s the thing, they’re things I want to do but likely won’t EVER do.  Because I don’t have time.  Why?  Because I’m wasting that extra time on that damn site (oh and Facebook, watching TV, reading books, Facebooking statusing, Web-surfing, a little bit more Facebook stalking but most importantly nestling up to Sweets).

And so thanks to this jumble of inspiration, I’ve had to add all these new things to my to-do/to-cook/to-make/to-something list but more-often than not that’s where these ideas stay… on some board I created on Pinterest… and whenever I look at this world of stuff I’ve yet to do… I get this stupid “I have so much to do!” anxiety.

It’s. Just. Too. Much.

Soup & Jaw Breaker Nails

But tonight I decided to make some progress tackling that list and can now check off not just one but TWO things that pinterested me.

To keep things real I also broke into a little treat (Strawberry Infused Tequila) you may remember from last summer that’s brewing for an upcoming party.

First Pinspiration?

Mexican Lime Soup

Why is Mexican you ask?  Well because the recipe is from Wiliams & Sonoma and if anyone or thing knows what makes something all Puro Mexicano it’s that place. If you don’t know me well enough to sense it… please forgive the sarcasm.

But whatever it’s called, or who named it that, this is a really good soup.  It’s similar to soups I’ve made before (this and this) but takes on a delicious tang with fresh squeezed limes and feta garnish that really helps it stand out.  Stand out in some seriously delicious glory.  Oh it’s also super easy so there’s really no excuse not to check this one off as soon as possible.

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January 25, 2012 · 12:31 pm

Chicken Tinga ala Boo

Before there was Sweetie there was Boo.

Also known as Annelise Augusta and still known as one of my very closest friends and favorite people.

Boo and I spent many New York days lying on the couch watching Brett Michael’s Rock of Love and many nights eating tacos, whether it was in my Brooklyn apartment ordered in from Cinco de Mayo or some new place near her place in Spanish Harlem.

Although it was almost always the former, which allowed us to eat in pajamas while catching up on Daisy of Love.

New York was a hard place to leave, but leaving my Boo bear was one of the hardest parts.

And while Boo stayed in New York for a couple years after my departure, she finally had enough and made the ultimate sacrifice so that she could be closer to, not necessarily me, but my people.

She moved to Mexico.

Well… maybe that’s not officially why she moved there… it may have had something to do with a job but I kind of prefer my more self-indulgent version.

Given the distance between us, me in the New Mexico her in the Old one, we can’t exactly enjoy a cache of tacos together the same way we used to.

According to Google Maps, Mexico City is approximately 1,393 miles from Albuquerque.

But just because we can’t exactly break bread together, that doesn’t mean we can’t still eat the same meal and pretend we’re together watching the Real Housewives of some city.

So last week, after hearing Boo talk about it for several months I decided to take a shot at my Boo’s new found Mexican dish, Chicken Tinga.

A yummy shredded chicken dish spiced with tomatoes, garlic and Chipotle peppers.

The only thing that could have made the dish any better was enjoying it with Boo, oh and another season of Rock of Love. I’m pretty angry that Mr. Michaels decided to give up on finding love at my entertainment’s expense.

In any event, let’s get back to the grub!

Chicken Tinga ala Boo

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December 15, 2011 · 2:33 pm

Didn’t try these in 2011? Make them in 2012.

As the New Year rolls around I figured this would be as good a time as any to go ahead and jump on that “Top 10 list” bandwagon.

I’m a pretty big fan of lists as a whole.

Grocery and to-do lists do their best to keep this scatter brain temporarily focused.

Lists like this make me choke up and smile (#6, #42), gasp in shock (#10 & #18) and then again in horror (#16), cry (#20) and then smile (#25 & #34).

Lists like this, while mildly disturbing (see #18), make me giggle a whole lot.

And then there are lists like this that leave me wondering who these shoplifters are? Filet Mignon, Axe Body Spray, Let’s Rock Elmo?

Lists like this overwhelm me… and eventually my Kindle.

And for those who disagree with any end of year lists there’s this.

So many lists – so little time.

Now for a list that makes your stomach rumble (in a good way) and you drool (in a delicious way).

Sweetie & The Kitchen’s Top 10 Recipes of 2011 LIST!

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Filed under alcohol, Appetizer, Baking, BBQ, Beef, Burgers, Chicken, Chile, Cold Dishes, Drinks, Fish, Healthy, Hearty, Italian, Lamb, New Mexican, Salad, Sauce, Side Dishes, Soup, Sunny Mexico, Sweets, Veggies

May 5, 2011 · 10:55 am

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Chicken Tacos & Calabacitas

Chicken Tacos con Calabacitas

In honor of Cinco de Mayo I encourage you to wear a flower in your hair, create a Mariachi music station on Pandora, make yourself a margarita and plan to spend the night in.

That is unless of course you like hanging out in over-crowded bars with a bunch of rookies (people who only go out on those designated drinking holidays i.e. St. Patricks Day, New Years Eve, Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo and I’m sure a few others I’m forgetting).  And since it’s Cinco de Mayo chances are those rookies are drinking tequila and given their inexperience it’s fair to assume they are going to try to go BIG which means someone’s going to get puked on.

You don’t want to get puked on, right?  No of course not.  Let’s just stay in tonight.

OK take a second to get the above mentioned images out of your head.  Back to flowers, Mariachi music, margaritas (in moderation) and…

You need another minute to forget about the hypothetical bar (Maloneys)… sure… go ahead…

Ready?  Great.

and…

Tacos and Calabacitas! Ole!

Sure, sure I know you already know how to make tacos.  And calaba… what?

Keep reading… we’re not talking ground beef and taco seasoning tacos now.  No.  I would never.  And the calaba… whatchamucallit?  Patience my friends.

This is actually one of the first meals I figured out how to make really well.  It’s what I made to try to win the belly and hearts of boys I liked, all of whom pale in comparison to the “AMAZING how did I get so lucky!?!” Sweets whose heart and belly I won around the same time he won mine.

It was perfect for Mothers Days dinners, Birthday dinners, thank you for letting me crash on your couch dinners and ohhhh look at me I can cook dinners.

The recipe for both dishes has since made it’s way into the kitchens of many of my friends from Los Angeles to New York.  It’s a playa with a passport!  Or maybe a playa with some frequent flyer miles?  Either way it’s kind of my signature dish.

But apparently I’ve gotten carried away with the whole trying new things stuff because last week after posting a post about shrimp tacos a friend of mine asked me if I had featured my “amazing chicken tacos on S&K yet” (her words) and I realized I had not made this so called signature dish in nearly a year… eeck.  Apparently I had lost sight of my roots…

But with a few slaps of a knife, opening of a can and lighting of a stove top… I was back to my roots.

Phew.

Chicken Tacos and Calabacitas (note to my friends & family: there is one very MAJOR and delicious addition I have made to the latter recipe.  Be brazen.  Try it.)

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April 28, 2011 · 7:00 am

Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Strawberry, Mango & Avocado Salsa

shrimp tacos

Ole'!

Every time I go to a restaurant and fish or shrimp tacos are on the menu I order them.

And then I talk about how easy they would be to prepare and tell Sweets how we should really make them for dinner that next week.

Up until last night these grand fishy taco plans have been all talk and no action.

The other night, or maybe it was early morning, I am pretty sure Sweets was talking in his sleep.  He said something about dinner, then something about shrimp quesadillas with strawberry tropical salsa.  Or maybe it was me that was listening in my sleep?  Either way the suggestion, while blurry, stuck with me and so a couple days later when putting together the list for that weeks grocery shop I revisited that sleepy suggestion.

So let’s pair said sleepy suggestion with the previously mentioned “I could make this” proclamation and you get:

Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Strawberry, Mango & Avocado Salsa

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April 14, 2011 · 6:00 am

Chicken Tortilla Soup <3 <3 <3

<3

If there was a googly-eyed emoticon I’d say this was an occasion to use it.

But until someone can figure out an appropriate way to combine symbols, numbers and letters into a dough eyed smiley little guy hearts or <3′s will have to do.

A few days ago Sweets and I made the most delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup… the kind where you can see each and every ingredient (well spices aside) through the broth.  The kind where each bite has so much perfectly melded flavor your mouth nearly explodes.  The kind where you just keep talking about how good it is even though you’ve barely allowed yourself time to take a breath as your primary focus has been to keep that spoon moving… at least until your bowl is empty.

Yeah it was pretty good.

Nah, I’m over that modest crap (clearly – I have a blog dedicated to the delicious meals my Sweets and I make) it was really really effing amazing.

You should make it.  Tomorrow.  No scratch that, you should make it now.  So what if you’re at work?  Pretend you’re sick, go to the store, go home, make it and eat it.

Alright, fine wait till tomorrow – or whenever – but if there is one recipe you take away from this blog take this one.

You ready?  You should be.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

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April 7, 2011 · 1:35 pm

Let’s Make Some Green Chile Sauce!

Our State Sauce

Chile <3

No, it’s not chili it’s Chile with an “e.”

Also goes by the names Red, Green and X-Mas (and not the Ho-Ho-Ho kind).

Those of you from New Mexico know what I’m talking about and those of you who know someone from New Mexico have likely heard about this mystical pepper – that makes its way not only into our food but our hearts.

Photo Courtesy: Flickr

Excuse my French, but we take this shit seriously.

We roast it, grill it, bake it, fry it, stuff it, make a sauce of it, cover our food with it, infuse our beer with it, even make ice cream out of it (seriously) and have entire festivals dedicated to the pepper.

Photo Courtesty: Itsatrip.org

Front doors may be decorated with wind chimes and holiday flags in the rest of the U.S. but here in Nuevo we have Chile Ristras (strings of bulked dried Chile that hang anywhere from 1–5+ feet long).

Recently our Governor signed the Chile Advertising Act into law, which makes it illegal to advertise any product as New Mexico Chile unless it is GROWN right here in Land of Enchantment.

It may seem silly to some, but see above (we take this shit seriously).

Chile is to New Mexico what Champagne is to France so don’t eff with our baby.

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March 23, 2011 · 12:41 pm

Frito Pride (headline courtesy: Isa DB)

frito pie

The finished product.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say Frito Pies are probably one of the most delicious meals out there.

Are they the healthiest? Well, no.  But I like to think that my little play on the dish is a bit friendlier around the gut than the traditional take.

I don’t believe the exact origin of this magical dish is carved in stone anywhere, but some say the first Frito Pie originated at a Downtown Santa Fe lunch-counter.

I remember stopping by that lunch-counter inside the Woolworths with my Dad where we’d get our pies to go and eat them outside on the Plaza when the weather was nice.

original

The assembly line

Sadly, Woolworths shut its Santa Fe doors in 1997 but those little bags full of Fritos, red chile, pintos, onions and cheese continue to live on in many locals hearts, minds and bellies.

Recently a friend of mine from New York was visiting and wanted to try some authentic New Mexican.

Now as those of us from these parts know New Mexican food is typically pretty heavy. Ahhh to live in the land of pork carnitas, fried corn chips, refrijoles made with lard, delicious little fried papas all the while almost every dish is covered in mountains of cheese. Don’t get me wrong it’s delicious but in lieu of my friends visit I thought I might give her a taste of something still authentic but maybe a tad bit more nutritious and most importantly, homemade.

This friend now wants to move to New Mexico and I’m pretty sure it’s at least in part (just in tiny part) due to my delicious Frito Pies.

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September 14, 2010 · 3:29 am

A beaner at heart <3

Black Bean SoupI LOVE beans.

L-O-V-E

So does Sweets.

Lucky for me but sadly for him… beans affect me ahem shall we say, traditionally? He’s managed to defy that tradition.

When looking to impress another with my awesome domestic abilities, I like to tell the story of how I once made a bag of beans last for TWO weeks!  That’s 14 days.  4 days greater that 10.  You get my point, it’s impressive.

Week One: Crock pot o’ beans complete with Spanish brown rice :)
Week Two (and the point of this blog):

Black Bean Soup

and so it goes….

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