A momentary break from winter

Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Christmas shin-digs, chilly snow days.  If you are like us, then you have recently been in a blizzard of delicious, comforting soul food for the last 8 weeks or so. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE soul food (what isn't good battered and fried???). But, we decided a little taste of "something light" would be a good break from all the winter food madness.

Tonight's menu:

    Blackened Mahi Mahi/Apple-Cabbage-Slaw Buritto with Herb Roasted Potatoes

Getting started:

Slaw:

• 1/2 head of cabbage
• 1/2 red onion
• 1 green apple
• 1 stock of celery (1 piece)
• 2 tbl spoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbl spoon mayonaise 
• 1 tbl spoon mustard (whole grain for that extra kick)
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Julienne (thinly slice, like a match stick) all vegetables and place in bowl. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over cabbage mixture. Mix well and place in fridge.

Fish:

• 1 1/2 lbs of Mahi Mahi ( I always request the piece closer to the head)
• salt, black pepper, cayenne, Italian herb blend

Cook that fish:
Remove skin from fish (you can request the skin of the fish removed at the store). Cube fish (a little larger then a nickel) and toss in a bowl with season mixture. In a hot pan with a table spoon of vegetable oil, cook fish on high heat for 3 minutes on each side. With a slotted spoon (helps leave excess oil in pan), remove fish from pan and place onto a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.

Ok, time to roll the burrito:

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Place tortilla in microwave, covered with a wet paper towel, and heat for 45 seconds.
Place a piece of romaine lettuce on tortilla (this keeps moisture of the slaw from dampening tortilla).
Add slaw, then fish. Then add shredded cheese and avocado.
Fold sides over and roll (hint: tucking in as you roll helps keep everything inside burrito).

Cutting allows for easier eating, and for wrapping-up leftovers

Sarah has already forgotten about the snow and is on a beach in Hawaii

A Dos Equis or Sol are my two suggestions for washing down this tasty treat

Well at this point there isn't enough to wrap...

Delicious!

No school, No work...what's for breakfast?

So the roads are all icy and the office is closed, and your kids are going a little stir crazy from being home the last two days...how about a fun breakfast that they can help you with? Ellie helped me with ours!

Reese's peanut butter cup pancakes

Gather your ingredients:
-3 eggs
-1/2 cup sugar
-2 tsp vanilla
-3 cups all purpose flour
-2 cups buttermilk ( whole milk works as well)
-1 pinch salt
-1 table spoon baking powder
-1/2 stick melted butter
-2 Reeses Cups crumbled up

Getting Started:
-Whisk together eggs sugar and salt.
-Add baking powder, flour and milk (alternating flour and milk 1/2 cup at a time)
-Using and sifter with help avoid clumps in your flour
-Add vanilla and melted butter ( should look like thick batter, adjust milk or flour to thin or thicken)
-Add Reeses crumbles

-On medium heat in a greased pan, ladle in 1/2 cup of batter.
-Cook until bubbles on pancake open, Flip cook for 30-45 seconds an place on cookie sheet in warm oven until finished with batter.
-Left over batter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days

Pancake are great with scrambled eggs and a cute family!

Enjoy!

Snow is in the Forecast

If you are in North or South Carolina, even the idea of snow means: get to the store, get all the bread and milk you can fit in your cart, go home, and do not leave until it has all melted...

Since you are already at the store, why not pick up some ingredients to make your family some delicious chili? After all, you're gonna be cooped up for a few days!

What do you need (feeds 8):
2 lb ground beef
Yellow onion
Red and green peppers
Jalapeno (for those who like a little kick)
1 can kidney beans (optional)
1 can crushed tomato
Chili powder
Cumin
12oz stout beer
Beef stock

Gettin' Started:
-Rough chop all vegetables, except jalapeno (you will want to give this guy a finer chop as nobody wants to unknowingly bite into a big, spicy pepper).
-Brown the beef (use the same pan you will cook the chili in, adds flavor to the pan as well as less mess to clean. strain grease and set aside).
-Add 1 tablespoon blended oil to hot pan (80/20 vegetable/olive oil. This blend works best; tastes like olive oil but has the heat tolerance of vegetable oil). 
-Add vegetables and sweat (cook onions until they become translucent).
-3 tblspoons chili powder and 3 tblspoons cumin
-Add beer and simmer 2-3 minutes
-Return beef, add tomatoes, and drained beans
-Add enough beef stock to cover beef
-Season with salt and pepper and cover
-Simmer on low heat...

Enjoy the snow!
-Thomas