Bless My Heart I Married A Yankee

It seems most of my experiments are due to scanning the web for new ideas with stuff we have on hand.  A few weeks ago I was looking at various recipes that my friends had suggested.  I thought while the idea was interesting the sweet factor for us was a bit too much.  Of course, I had to change and figure out what we would like and with doing so I came up with a version that was sweet but had a twang we tend to like.  Now, I do have to admit living in North Carolina has colored my view on BBQ and it's sauce.  This recipe is not a BBQ recipe.  However, it does have a similarity that will stand out for people that understand NC BBQ.  With that said, it really is totally different.  I make my own NC style bbq sauce and the sauce in the recipe has nothing to do with that but it does incorporate apple cider vinegar and my changes to the various recipes out on the web make it quite interesting.  When you are picking your pork you really can use about anything.  You can choose a

This is the second installment of Fun fact Friday.   King Henry VIII was quite a character.  He changed England's religion all because he wanted a divorce. He also slept with an axe beside him at nights.   That is not all, he owned over 6500 guns!! Talk about home or castle defence.   He sure did like an axe.  Is that not how he got rid of a few wives? Sorry if this is morbid but I found it rather interesting.  Plus my husband has recently started collecting axes.   Happy Friday and ENJOY!!

Tacos, everyone loves tacos.  I mean why else do we have Taco Tuesdays?  Well, that is exactly what we had last night for dinner.  Tacos!!!  After fixing them I realized I was out of this wonderful sauce.  I normally keep a few jars canned in the basement but I used the last jar a few weeks back.   Needless to say, I needed to make more since I had the tacos already cooking.  I am so glad it is very easy to make.  Quick and simple.  I will admit though it is better if you let it sit a few days I did but not have the time for that last night.  After all, it was Taco Tuesday in the Cristina's household. Gather your spices together.  Measure out each into a small mixing bowl. Mix it all together. Add tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar. Mix together. Here is a secret ingredient that I add to make it taste yummy.  Lemon pepper seasoning.  It takes the level up a bit and makes it taste so much more like Ortega.   COPY CAT ORTEGA TAC

Lemon curd, have you ever heard of it?  I had not until about a year and a half ago when I saw some at Trader Joes.  I picked it up and looked at it but put it back on the shelf.  However, lemon curd has been on my mind since that day.  Seriously, I was curious as to what it would taste like because I love my sweets a bit tart.  Then last year I came across someone talking about it and again my taste buds were curious but still, I did not make it.  However, just recently I have been wanting to make yogurt in my pressure cooker.  In doing research for yogurt again lemon curd came up.  Someone was making suggestions on what to put on your homemade yogurt and lemon curd was one of the suggestions.  Now, this got me going on making lemon curd.  If you do not know what lemon curd is the best way to descript it is that the texture is or should be creamy.  The flavor should be sweet but deliciously tart.  It is heaven right in your mouth making your taste buds scream, more more more!!! Yo

It is Lent and for some unknown reason, I always have a hard time coming up with recipes to make for my husband.  No meat on Fridays becomes a challenge for me.  Think about it, doesn't it sometimes feel like you fix the same ole foods all the time?  Kind of like being in a runt.  I guess that is why Lent throws me for a loop.  We eat fish and seafood pretty regularly around our house so I feel like for Lent I need to spice it up some on Fridays.  That is why I came up with this recipe.   I fix lemon garlic butter stuff all the time.  I mean, is that not like a staple when cooking seafood?  Since we like hot and spicy foods, I thought why not add some hot chili powder to my same ole same ole lemon garlic butter marinate?  I have to say it really kicked up the fish to a higher level of goodness.   In this recipe I am using red hatch hot chili powder, given to me by a friend around Christmas.  Her grandmother had sent it to her and she gave it to me.   I juiced a

My friend Lyndsey told me about this dish and sent me her recipe.  As usual, I look at a recipe then make it my own.  The original recipe, I felt needed something.  So, I adjusted the amount of lime juice and made sure I used fresh limes.  I also added used extra virgin olive oil.   I make something very similar using shrimp.  Here is that  recipe .  While it is similar it is totally different.  With that said, I think this recipe would also be great with shrimp.   This is a quick and easy meal to put together and you really need to let it sit a few hours before eating it.  The flavor really enhances with time. As I said, I used real limes and not pre-made lime juice. Juice one to two limes. Cut your avocados.  Make sure to cut them bite-sized.   Slice some spring onions. Chop fresh cilantro. I used canned chicken.  Click here for  the recipe . Add everything into a bowl. Next, add the freshly squeezed lime juice