I made these yummy chicken sandwiches for dinner tonight. Season chicken breasts liberally with Cajun seasoning and cook up in a pan. Melt a slice of Swiss cheese on top of the chicken breast once the chicken breast is cooked through. Crisp some bacon in another pan while you are cooking the chicken, 2 slices per sandwich. Toast your hamburger buns in the oven. Top the bottom of each burger bun with a romaine lettuce leaf, the cheesy chicken breast. Top with the bacon and then slather the top of the bun with some Jalapeno Ranch. Chomp Chomp Chomp

With much reluctance I made black beans for dinner tonight. Chris had requested them a couple of days ago and I was not feeling them then, or yesterday, or even today. Still I gave in and made him his black beans...guess what? I am so glad I did. They actually came out really delicious, even my mom and step dad who had never tasted black beans liked them. I am forever a believer in homemade black beans.

Black Beans

*The night before you plan to make the black beans soak them in a pot full of water, this will shorten the cooking process. *

1/2 lb. Dry black beans
Bunch of green onions chopped
3 Garlic cloves minced
1/2 tsp. Cumin
1/2 tsp. Oregano
1/2 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper
2 tsp. Sugar
2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper

Put beans in a large pot to cook with about 4 1/2 cups of water. Turn heat to high and once water begins to boil lower heat to simmer, (I used number 2 on my stove) and cover. Cook this way for 30 minutes. Once the 30 minutes has passed uncover and skim off any frothy stuff. Add half off the chopped onion making sure you put all the white parts in the beans and stir. Cover the beans again and simmer for another 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes has passed add the garlic, cumin, oregano, red pepper and simmer uncovered for 30 more minutes. During these final 30 minutes add in the sugar and salt and pepper. Serve over steamed white rice topped with crumbled Cotija cheese and the remaining chopped green onions.


I served these with thin pan fried pork chops.

I made a Spinach Cobb Salad for dinner today. Chicken breast, grape tomatoes, avocado, egg, blue cheese, and crisp bacon all piled on top a bed of fresh spinach. Delicious!


Want to know how to make chicken breast that stays moist and yummy? Take your chicken breast and season with whatever seasonings you like. In a skillet on high heat, melt about a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter. Cook chicken for 1 minute on each side and then lower the stove to just above the low setting, that's a 2 on my oven, and cover the chicken. Keep covered and cook this way for 10 minutes. Do not remove the cover during this time. Once the ten minutes has lapsed turn the heat off the stove but keep the chicken covered and don't touch for another 10 minutes. I repeat do not uncover the chicken. After the 10 minutes has lapsed you can uncover the chicken and it should be moist, juicy and done.

This sauce is sooo good, I could seriously lick it off my plate and I might have licked it off my fingers just a little...

Cajun Shrimp Pasta

1 16 oz. box pasta of your choice. I used Rotini cause that's what I had on hand but this would be good with Fettuccine or Penne as well.
1 lb. of Shrimp cleaned
2 1/2 tbs. Butter
3 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp. Paprika
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 tbs. Chopped roasted red peppers
2 tbs. Chopped tomato
3 Green onions sliced
2 cups Heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. Crushed red pepper
S&P to taste

Combine Cajun seasoning, paprika, pepper, and salt in a large plastic Ziploc bag. Add the shrimp, seal the bag, and shake up so that all the shrimp is coated with the seasoning mixture.
Melt the butter on med/high heat in a large skillet. Lay the shrimp flat in the skillet flipping over once to make sure both sides are browned and shrimp is just done. Do not over cook the shrimp! Remove shrimp and place on a plate. At this time you can start cooking the pasta according to the directions. Add roasted red peppers and tomatoes into the skillet and saute for about 3 minutes. Add in the heavy cream and crushed red pepper bring to a low boil and then lower heat to simmer. Once the sauce starts to thicken up a bit add in the shrimp and the green onions. Once the sauce has reduced and thickened up a bit more add the Parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Salt and Pepper the pasta to taste as needed. Serve over your cooked pasta. This would be awesome with some crunchy buttery garlic bread to sop up the delicious sauce.

Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps

1/3 Cup of soy sauce
2 1/2 tbs. Sugar
1 tbs. Sesame oil
3 Garlic cloves minced
2 tbs. Roasted sesame seeds
1/2 tsp. Crushed red pepper or more if you want it spicy
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1/2 tsp. Minced ginger
2 Green onions sliced
1.5 lbs. Sliced beef
Romaine lettuce leaves for wrapping

Combine all ingredients except the beef and lettuce in a bowl and stir. Add beef and massage marinade into it. Place meat and marinade in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerate over night. When you are ready to cook the beef heat a pan with a small amount of sesame oil. Make sure the pan is very hot before you put the meat in as you want to cook it quickly but get the meat to crisp up some. A wok works great for this but you will have to cook it in batches. Serve in lettuce leaves with some more sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish. I also put Sriracha on mine. YUM!

Yesterday my mom and I took Penelope to the Safari Park located in hot hot hot Escondido, CA. The park is mainly made up of plants and animals that are native to Africa with a few others in the mix. The created habitats for the animals are much more open then your typical zoo giving the animals room to roam and mingle with each other. Here are some photos I took to help you get an idea...

One of my favorite exhibits was the Wings of the World Aviary. You can find an array of beautiful and exotic birds flying above and around you. You can also find some unique birds scattered throughout the park and even an enclosed area where you are allowed to feed the birds nectar right out of your hand. 

Another fave was the Lemur Walk. These cuties are literally hanging out all around you. You are warned not to crouch down when you enter the exhibit as these little guys like to bounce around on things.

Penelope enjoyed the petting zoo where she got to chase around sheep. Just be careful though, some of these guys seem to have a bit of an attitude.


This guy taking in the shade from a tree is one of the parks biggest attractions. You can actually watch a cheetah run at top speed, about 70mph, in a partially open track. Did I mention the cat is not on a leash when this is happening! We didn't get a chance to witness this because I couldn't stand to be in the scorching sun any longer and we left before the show started. I know I'm a bog party pooper, but we have season passes!

You ever just crave tuna pasta salad? I do! Today was one of those days, so here it is...


Tuna Pasta Salad

1 13.5 oz box of Elbow Macaroni ( I used Dreamfields)
Half of a 10oz. can of black olives sliced
1 10oz. can of corn
2 7 oz. cans of tuna
About 3 green onions chopped
Mayonnaise
Mustard                  (TO TASTE)
Salt & pepper

Cook pasta, drain and then rinse under cold water. In a large bowl mix first 5 ingredients well. Add mayo and mustard to taste. S&P to taste. Refrigerate until cold. I always think pasta salads taste better the next day. This will make enough for a small get together or enough for leftovers. My mom adds diced jalapenos to this for a spicy kick.

Here is an easy and completely satisfying breakfast that I have been enjoying for years now. I actually don't remember the first time I had fried egg over rice, it might have been my late teens when I was living in San Francisco. I vaguely remember a Denny's in Japantown that might have had it on their menu. In any even I absolutely love it, yes it's simple but it is sooo tasty. Now if I could only convince Chris to try it, I know he would be hooked! You simply fry an egg and place on top of some cooked white rice and then pour on some soy sauce and enjoy.