Tequila Lime Shrimp Tacos

When I say tequila, I mean it.  It really comes through in this recipe.  If you've ever had a bad tequila experience (and if you have, then you know the kind I'm talking about...) and you haven't quite gotten over it, then you might exercise some caution while reading this post.  Or just walk away.  Its okay.  I understand. 

Shrimp and Corn Chowder

Here's a nice chowder to serve along with those Cheddar Bay Biscuits I posted last week.  I made them together and couldn't have been more pleased by how well they got along. 

Let me tell you how much I love shrimp. 

I LOVE SHRIMP!!!

If I had to request a last meal (we won't get into the details about the events leading up to such a request), it is very likely that shrimp will be involved.  Maybe as an appetizer, possibly as a component of the second course (my last meal would have seven courses, minimum.  No, I haven't put much thought into this, why do you ask?), but definitely involved somewhere. 

Meatloaf

Meatloaf was never one of my favorite foods growing up.  It was always kinda bland, boring, and tasted like... well, like bland boring meat, I guess.  But I think that had more to do with the way it was prepared rather than the dish itself.  Meatloaf, I have discovered, can be very tasty.  It all depends on the kind of flavor you want to mix into it.  I like mine to be a little zesty.  I've come up with a recipe that adds just the right amount of zest without being overpowering and still tastes like a traditional recipe.

Garlic String Bean Chicken

I had a craving for Chinese food.  It happens a lot. 

I also had a large amount of green beans that I needed to cook.  That happens a lot, too. 

We eat a lot of green beans around here. 

This tastes a lot like the string bean chicken you might order at a well-known Chinese-food-chain-restaurant- with-a-Panda-for-a-mascot who shall remain nameless.

Don't ask me where I got the recipe.  I'll never tell.

Beef Stew

My husband and I used to work together as science teachers at the same high school.   Students were frequently confused.  Especially at the beginning of the school year... "Did you know that they put 'Mr.' on the schedule?  Oooh, burn!"...  "Mr. Wilson is in the next building over.  You're in the wrong class."...  "Oh."...  *slink away*

This situation had its ups and downs.

Up:  We drove to work together so our gas bill was totally manageable.
Down:  I couldn't leave until he was ready to leave.  He's such a workaholic. 

Up:  We got to eat lunch together everyday.
Down:  We had nothing new to talk about.

Up:  We totally got to gossip to each other about people, and we always knew who the other was talking about!  I mean... we didn't gossip.  That's not nice.
Down:  We kinda gossiped about people, and we always knew who the other was talking about.  

Up:  Every year our Home Ec dept. would have a cookbook sale as a fundraiser and my hunny always bought one for me!

Valentine Spaghetti and Meatballs

So Valentine's Day is on Monday this year.  If you're a grown up with a job and maybe even some kids, its likely you won't be celebrating with a full shebang on a Monday night.  Or maybe you're die hard about
Valentine's Day and you are...  to each their own.  In case you're staying in, but still would like to do something to commemorate the occasion, here's an easy, Monday night dinner option with a little Valentine's twist for you.

Lasagna

So this is easy.  Really.  There are tons of variations to your basic lasagna recipe but this is the way I like to make mine.

Remember that marinara sauce I made the other day?  I made it for this lasagna.  It was tasty. 

Chile Rellenos

I love, love, LOVE me some chile rellenos!  I don't make them very often, but I'm starting to think I should.  They're just too good to not have them in your life at least once a month.   And if anyone participates in the whole "Meatless Monday" craze (we don't), these are a great meatless dish that is so very filling and satisfying that you won't even know what you're missing. 

Crock Pot Pozole

I had a serious craving for some pozole and I let it go on for about a week before I got off my backside and whipped some up.  It's extremely easy, especially when you do it in the crock pot, so I had to kick myself for putting it off for so long.  By the time I finally made some, I had eyes about 30 times the size of my stomach and I ended up making far more than I, or my little family of four, could ever eat. 

That left me with a major decision to make.  Do I a) extend an invitation to my family and friends to come over and partake in my delight, or do I b) be greedy and keep it all to myself? I pondered.  Cause folks, this isn't as easy as it seems.  We're talking about pozole, here.  Share it?  Eat it?  Share it?...... Eat it?........

Lazy Freezer Jambalaya

This is not a traditional jambalaya.  It will win no awards for being authentic, but it is definitely tasty, quick, and a super-cinch!
I decided to call it Lazy Freezer Jambalaya because:
1.  There is very little prep work involved.  Its a real throw together dish.
2.  Most of the ingredients are in frozen form.
3.  Its got Old Bay seasoning in it, contributing to the "Cajun" flavor- therefore, jambalaya

Beef Enchiladas with Brown Sauce

Maybe this is new to you, maybe its not.  But when I first had these enchiladas with brown sauce- not red, not green, but brown- I fell in love.  I have to credit my step-mother, Linda, for this recipe.  I don't know where she got it, but she taught me how to make this sauce and it has become my family's favorite.  It's a bit of a process, as enchiladas tend to be, but if you've never made enchiladas before, I encourage you to try it!  By the way, I hope you don't mind getting your hands dirty.  Or the counter tops... your stove...wear an apron.  There will be a mess.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce - aka "Meat's Ball"

I know, I know.  Why bother when its so easy to crack open a jar of Ragu?  I'll tell you why.  Because its TOTALLY worth it and its a super-cinch!

But before we begin, I must apologize here.  I didn't take any pictures to accompany this recipe.  Partly because I was in a hurry to throw it together since I literally ran through the door to the stove after a grueling gymnastics session (in which I was not a participant, obviously, but my youngest and I watch my oldest through the glass and then she proceeds to imitate her sister's moves in my lap), and partly because I initially had no intention of posting the recipe here.  But I've since changed my mind because of the sheer wonderfulness, awesomeness, deliciousness MAGNIFICANCE of what came to be in that skillet!  And the best part is, it was fast and made from stuff I always have around.    

So, as a friendly guesture to you all for having botched the picture recipe, I've chosen to substitute pictures with a lively story.  I hope you'll indulge me. 
I've entitled this recipe "Meat's Ball"
Let us begin.