Monday, March 26, 2012

Chipotle Chicken Tostadas


Do you find yourself always trying to get out of your weekly dinner menu rut?  You wander around your kitchen, with your grocery list and pen in hand, and you stare at the cupboards in a fog.  Then you write down: pizza, chicken, pasta, done (by the way, there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of those options, but when you are eating them for the 12th week in a row, you may just be craving something... new?  I know Peter would disagree, as I truly believe he could eat pizza once a day for the rest of his life).  


The nice thing about this recipe is it's not a drastic turn from your regular dinner staples but offers new flavors without scaring your picky eaters.  Plus, they're fun to eat because you can have a contest where the one who can actually eat them without spilling half of their plate on the floor wins. (Fern gives this recipe five paws.)

This is not an original, however. I have changed up a few things to make it more convenient for those working 40-hour weeks. Just because you're workin' your 9-5 doesn't mean you can't come home and have the best dinner ever!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Chicken Noodle Soup with Kale & Squash




Sometimes when I am experimenting in the kitchen and come up with a really yummy dish, I don't write the ingredients down. Maybe it's the food coma that creeps in after finishing the meal that prevents me from lifting a pen and jotting down notes, but I have been trying to get better about this, especially since starting this blog.

Today I was on my computer and saw a document squished into the desktop space, hidden amongst the others that had gone unnoticed for about five months. It read, "Lara's Chicken Noodle Soup."


Time-out!  Side story-
A while back I had a serious craving for chicken noodle soup.  But not your average chicken noodle soup.  I was in search of one that was actually exciting to eat, yet still held that comfort you would crave on snowy night. So, that night I attempted my first homemade and completely on-the-fly chicken noodle soup. The outcome was just what I was looking for (I love when that happens!); it worked as your typical "I've got a cold" chicken noodle soup but actually had some substance AND flavor!!! The sad part was, I didn't write down any of my notes (or so I thought).

Okay, return to today.  I would love to have another batch of that soup, except all I can remember is that it had leftover chicken in it from those delicious Chipotle Chicken Tostadas… until now!!! I stared at the icon in disbelief, as I had no recollection of typing up anything about the soup. I decided to open it with the understanding that this is probably something totally different... maybe like a picture of a chicken enjoying some noodles?


NO! IT WAS THE SOUP! WOOOHOOOO!!!

I am totally making this soup tonight and you should too!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Puerto Rico

Hola all!

I apologize for the delay since my first post. You probably think I'm not for real with a posting schedule like this... or lack there of, but I have been away!  I just returned from my honeymoon in Puerto Rico. I'm sure you are all thinkin', oh, geez, thanks for sharing... BUT, I promise this will benefit you, too!  

While traveling, I tasted A LOT, and have quite a few inspirations up my sleeve.  I cannot wait to share some of the delicious Puerto Rican fare that we came across while touring Rio Grande, Old San Juan and Luquillo.  Then you, too, can have a mini 'moon to Puerto Rico!

While I concoct some Puerto Rican experiments, I promise to have my newest post "up and at 'em" this weekend.  Get ready for souped-up chicken noodle soup!

Chat with you soon!  ...I promise :)
LaraThalice.com participates in select affiliate advertising programs, which means that I get a commission if you decide to purchase the product after clicking on the link. But I would not share these items with you without passion behind them. I literally own every single one and I mean it when I say, I pause and stare at them longingly before using them, admiring their beauty, strength, wisdom, and skills.