Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup was as good as any I've had in restaurants or cafes. I really enjoyed the broth, tomato sauce and tomato mixture with the other spicy ingredients. There was not enough meat and "kick" to the recipe so I tripled the white chicken chunks and doubled the chopped green chilies. Oh, and I added a couple more teaspoons of lime juice to the final product and before serving topped it with a few fresh cut cherry tomatoes.

The soup was so easy to make and really does come together in just 10 minutes. And yes, it does boil faster if you stand by and watch, but don't blink, it will be ready before you know it. It tastes even better with a little Spanish music playing in the background. "A mi me gusto mucho!"

Ingredients (Original recipe):
1 lg.onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
5 cups chicken broth
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes w/ garlic and onion, undrained
3 cans (5 ounces each) white chicken, drained
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
2 tsp. lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Crushed tortilla chips
Shredded Monterrey Jack or Cheddar Cheese

In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil; add the chilies, garlic, jalapeno and cumin. Stir in the broth, tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; stir in chicken. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes.

Add the cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Top with crushed tortilla chips and cheese. Yield; 7 servings.

The Man Cave Decor'

How to create a macho retreat that men will love.

It's the hottest thing on the home front since man discovered fire: the man cave - a refuge where men can be men and rules can be ditched. It can be in a garage, basement, guesthouse or spare room. Each cave is different, depending on what its dweller likes. Trophies, tools, moose heads or motor mags. Nothing's set in stone. But here are a few (manly) tips to get started.

Pick a favorite object (poker table, guitar collection, pinball machine) and make it the focal point of your man cave.

Studies show that men tend to prefer earthy tones: blues, greens and neutrals. Color schemes like purple, pink or anything with the word “glitter,” not so much.

Typical toys for a man cave might include a flat-screen TV (the bigger, the better), comfy chair or recliner, stereo/DVD player, computer, bar and mini-fridge. Furniture should be sturdy, man-sized and super-comfy.

Spills happen, so consider furniture fabrics that can be spot-cleaned or washed. Leather and vinyl are smart choices. You might want to skip carpeting altogether and go for washable rugs instead.

For decorating ideas go to http://www.pier1.com/the-man-cave.shtml

Procrastinatin' Drunken Monkey Banana Bread

This recipe turned out to be an adventure for me. It requires dark rum and flaming the alcohol out of the rum. I went to the local grocery store to buy dark rum and learned that it is only available up the street at the state liquor store. Then burning the alcohol from the rum, which is added to the dried cherries, let me know what those little blue flames look like in real life and how long these last before disappearing. The recipe was correct timewise in its projections. However, it did not warn me that the smoke detector would be going off in my place as part of the burning process. That was ALARMING!

I had to bake the bread an extra 30 minutes at the mountain elevation of 6980 feet above sea level. The bread was moist and the dried cherries give it lots of positive "curb appeal" as we use the term in landscape design. Many who tried a piece of the bread were taken back by the dark cherries, but warmed up to the idea of liking the recipe once they got a taste of the incredible flavor. I'll keep this drunken "monkey on my back" any time.

Pasta Meatball Soup

I have always been a connoisseur of a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. This recipe would be put at the top of my list for tomato flavor. Thank goodness for ready-to-bake Italian meatballs from Costco which is a main ingredient. It was easy to pull all the meat, diced carrots, frozen peas and pasta together, prepare quickly and serve hot. With a garlic/butter seasoned slice of baguette bread aside my bowl of soup, it was like taking a quick trip to Italy and back again. Ciao!

For the recipe click here

Landscape Color is the Key

Pastel colors set a mood of tranquility, best viewed close up, look washed out in harsh mid-day sun.

Bright colors invigorate and energize a garden, hold up well in sunshine, and attract the eye even from a distance.

Complementary colors, colors opposite on the color wheel, are high in contrast and add creative energy.

Harmonious colors, colors next to each on the color wheel, unifies a garden without being monotonous.

Monochromatic colors, a single color, wherein interest is created by using plants with different sizes and shapes of flowers and varying textures.

Key Lime Cake

I couldn't wait to make this one since I love Key Lime anything! I felt fortunate that there were actual key limes available this weekend in the store. I made the decision to double the recipe and go for the 10" round version. As the recipe indicated the baking may take twice as long. It was right. However, in my efforts to add foil to the baking pan to keep the top of the cake from browning I closed the oven door too quickly and the cake fell. Ouch! I was determined to rise above this moment of defeat. So, I got ambitious and over indulgent and made a second mix of batter and cooked up two 8" square pans of cakes. I really wanted to know if it baked any differently from the round pan. So, I ended up with lots of cake to say the least. The glaze was too liquidity in my opinion. So I kept adding more and more powdered sugar until it appeared thicker like on the Food Channel. Just a visual thing for me.

Before serving I top dressed the cake glaze with powdered sugar. It gives the crystallized glaze a little softer appearance. I kept some of the glaze in a small plastic container and drizzled it over the cake before serving. I was going for all the key lime tart flavor I could get in one bite. I served the square cakes to the office staff and shared the round cake to all my neighbors. A "win win" situation for everyone. Look at all the people I made happy on this one! Key lime pie has found its competition!

Chicken Noodle Soup

I'm sad to admit that this was my first attempt at chicken noodle soup. The recipe suggested using Debone chicken, that was not my "cup of tea." So, I boiled several chicken breasts with the quarts of water, later cubed these, and it worked out great. I was taken away with the flavor of this soup and it tasted "healthy" too. I shared it with several friends and they had the same positive reaction, Hmmmmm, so goooooooood! This soup couldn't be better if may say so myself.

For the recipe click here

An Unexpected Show in the Garden

Listed below are some key factors which invite butterflies to your garden with nectar-rich perennial flowers, shrubs and trees. Once established, these bold bloomers will attract a wide variety of these colorful insects, as one romances the butterfly!

- Locate the butterfly garden in a sunny location. Butterflies are cold-blooded insects that are more active in the sunshine.
- If possible, plant your butterfly garden in a spot that is protected from high winds. Gardens near a fence, wall, or hedge will provide a safe haven for your butterfly neighbors.
- Include food plants for the butterfly larvae. Dill, fennel, parsley, carrot, and milkweed are all good choices.
- Never use herbicides or pesticides in your butterfly gardens.
- Butterflies like moisture, too. Fill a shallow dish or saucer with wet sand and sink it into your garden soil. On hot days, butterflies will enjoy the moisture provided by the wet sand.
- Plant a mixture of spring-summer, and fall-blooming perennials as well as annual flowers to provide a complete butterfly menu.

You can get started by letting a corner of your backyard go wild. Many butterfly species lay their eggs on “weed” plants such as clover, nettle, violet, and milkweed. Be sure to plant butterfly-attracting flowers in drifts or clumps. Plants lined up single file like toy soldiers aren’t as pleasing to the eye as those planted in large, more natural-looking groupings.

Missy G's Sweet Potato Pound Cake

This cake was a complete success and a favorite so far. I first bought red sweet potato's in the store and then before leaving traded these in for yams because the clerk told me that the cake would be sweeter in taste with the later. I'm glad I did and she was right. I doubled the amount of Granny Smith apples because I wanted more of a tart flavor to the cake. I'm pleased I did and it worked. I had lots of mashed yams and diced apples left over so I kept them aside. Later, I added some brown sugar and butter to these two items and ate them as a side dish to an entree I had prepared for dinner. Nothing was wasted. So, if you do not want left overs from the recipe, go light on the yams and apples prepared.

Everyone raved about the moist texture in this cake and I liked the overall amber color. This is a plus in my opinion for this recipe. The crumble brown sugar and pecan topping was so delicious, but made the cake difficult to cut into pieces with nuts being in the way of perfect slicing. However, this little drawback would not keep me from making this cake time and time again. Thanks "Missy G," whoever you are!

Taco Soup

I was in the mood for something on the spicy or as the spanish say, the "picante" side of things. This soup appeared to satisfy my interest for the day. It also looks great in a bowl with all the trimmings. I added a dash of chili pepper to spice it up a notch and it hit the spot! Placing several white corn chips around the inside of the bowl was a perfect touch and made the soup great for dipping a few bites too!

For the recipe click here

TSGD - An Easy Approach to Landscape Design

In my experience as a professional, I have found that many home owners get frustrated with a personal landscape design because they just don't quite know where to get started. Through many hours of consulting, an approach called the "TSGD" has been conceptualized. One could say this stands for "Take Some Good aDvice," however; the letters "TSGD" actually stands for a few simple steps to completing a unified landscape plan. These steps are "T" - Theme, "S" - Scheme, "G" - Green, and "D" - Dream. First select a design theme, formal or informal, that suits your lifestyle. Second, create a spatial scheme that meets your needs and uses. Third, select plants that reinforce the schematic opportunities and constraints. And fourth, fulfill your dream by over time implementing the ideas generated from your concept and final plan.

Following is some additional advice and information taken from other sources that will guarantee visual success to a landscape design. Choosing colors is one of the real pleasures of gardening. And now that breeders have expanded the color range of so many plants the possibilities seem endless. Although your gardening goal may be simply to surround yourself with colorful flowers and foliage, you should be aware that color can play special roles. Your design will take shape more smoothly if you decide on a color scheme from the start. Before making a firm decision on a set of colors, remember to consider garden paving, the facade of your house, and any other conspicuous features.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

I completed the first cake from the book and served to fellow employees today. It was entitled "Brown Sugar Pound Cake." I enjoyed cooking this one in my mother's 10" angel food cake pan that dates back to her early baking days. She would celebrate being 89 years old this month if she were still alive. This one was as sweet as was my dear mother. I drizzled caramel topping on the plate before serving the cake. An artist's touch!

Many persons commented positively on the dense texture and the moist content.

Curried Chicken Rice Soup

I adore any type of recipe that includes curry powder. This comination of carrots, celery, onion, cubed chicken and rice sounded delicious to me. I was disappointed in the thickness of the soup and would have preferred it to be a bit more "soupy." I kept adding more and more chicken broth to make it more to my liking and expectation. Perhaps using 2% milk in the recipe, rather than evaporated milk, would do the trick next time.

For the recipe click here!