Guava Glazed Chicken Wings & Avocado Pudding...Super Quick & Less than $10

Last Monday night I had promised a nightmare because frankly, I was too lazy to cook my normal Sunday dinner after my race on Saturday.  We were in a time crunch because due to some tutoring I got home late from work so here are the ingredients we grabbed from City Market.  I don't enjoy cooking chicken with bones in it - just one of my strange hang-ups.  However, I was happy with the chicken wings when I found out that Alex almost brought home chicken feet.  I have already started my research on that ingredient because I know it is bound to show up in my kitchen soon!

Iceberg lettuce, chicken wings, corn on the cob, kiwi fruit, guava, avocado

Wedge Salad with Peppered Bacon, Kiwi, Tomato and Balsamic Lime Vinaigrette

Cilantro Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Guava Glazed Chicken Wings with Cilantro Chipotle BBQ sauce and Chili Lime Grilled Corn

I finally tried something I have been wanting to for a long time - Avocado Chocolate Pudding.  It only has four ingredients; avocados, cocoa, vanilla extract, and agave nectar.  I was skeptical, but am down to try anything that is healthy and delicious.  To my surprise it tasted even more sinful than any regular chocolate pudding I have ever tasted.  If you have never tasted this delicious dish, it is a must try! 

(and one of the easiest things I have ever made) 

 

 

Victory Dinner, courtesy of Alex

This Saturday I competed in the Austin Oyster Urban Adventure Race.  It was not the easiest thing I have ever done, but I did it, so I will leave it at that.  Let's just say an 8:00am bike ride from Riverside Drive to Mount Bonnell and back on the first leg of a 6 leg race was not what I had in mind (I have been on my bike maybe 3 times in the past 6 months!)
Our goal was to finish in time to watch Texas take on Nebraska by 2:30.  The driving force behind finishing in time wasn't just the game, but the reminder that Alex was smoking his now self-proclaimed "world famous" pork butt to be ready in time for dinner.  My awesome team and I finished the race and I made it home by the 2nd quarter, in time to watch Texas beat Nebraska.  Here's to my amazing guy, my amazing Horns and an amazing victory dinner!

 

Tacos al Pastor!  I'm a lucky girl :-)

Lavender, Grapes, Baked Cheese, Stinky Papaya - Oh My!

Some sort of strange Baked Cheese, Sweet Potatoes, Grapes, Maradol Papaya, NY Strips

The strange "baked bread" cheese

Chopping fresh garden lavender to put in the lavender butter for the steaks

I thought I was really creative by mixing sweet potatoes, grapes, bacon and vinaigrette then roasting it.  After looking online, evidently it is done quite often - usually with sausage rather than bacon.

 

 

The Maradol Papaya.  I had big plans for a papaya salad, but once I opened this thing I could barely stand to be in the same room with it!   The smell was so off-putting that I checked online to see if it was maybe rotten.  Evidently, these guys don't smell like roses, or the normal Hawaiian Papaya I am used to.  It is a nightmare, so I have to use it!

 

Best way to a perfect medium rare steak - start with a super hot grill.

This is how I incorporated the nasty papaya.  I put it in the juicer with limes and made a vinaigrette.  Voila - Spinach salad with garden peppers, red onion, pecans and papaya vinaigrette.

Baked cheese.  Extremely tasty...and believe it or not did not melt on the high heat of the grill.

Grilled NY Strip with Lavender Butter and Baked Cheese; Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Bacon and Grapes

Grilled Asian Chicken and Vegetables

Grilled Chicken marinated and topped with Mango-Sesame dressing; grilled Shitakes, Radishes, Red Peppers, Onions and Baby Bok Choy; Cilantro Ginger Rice; Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls with Homemade Sweet & Sour Sauce

Ginger Cilantro Rice

My first stab at Texas Chili

I had a ton of leftover brisket, some chorizo and ground beef.  What to do on a Sunday afternoon - make Texas Chili, of course!  To be honest, I have never tried to make chili before but figured now was as good a time as any to build up my repetoire of Texas dishes.  Afer all, every Texas girl needs to know how to make a mean bowl of chili!
*note:  this chili was cooked slowly for hours on Sunday, and reheated to eat for Monday night football.  i read it is better this way.*

Smoked Brisket, Chorizo, 80/20 course ground beef (either buy chili meat, grind your own, or ask your butcher to grind the meat coarsely for chili)

Evidently, chili needs lots of spices.  Good thing my spice cabinet looks like that of a hoarder.

 

Dump 1

Dump 2

Dump 3

Dump 4

Self-Imposed Liver and Chayote Nightmare

Like I said in my previous post, I've sort of been slipping with my cooking lately.  We haven't had much time to get to the store, and Alex has been busy with music this week so no time to bring me ridiculous ingredients.  I headed to City Market last night (my only nearby choice since the death of Randall's).  My goal was to buy at least 2 ingredients I had never cooked with before.  Ten minutes later I was home with chicken livers and chayote squash.  I promise to step up my game next week!

Mandatory ingredients:  Boneless Pork Chops, Chayote Squash, Chicken Livers, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Habaneros, Sweet Potato, Red Potatoes

Yum?

 

Boneless Pork Chops marinated in Garlic-Citrus Mojo

Crispy Fried Oysters and Spinach salad topped with Pecans, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Balsamic Pecan Vinaigrette

Pan grilled boneless pork chops with Chile Roasted Chayote Squash topped with Habanero Tomatillo Salsa;  On the side: Tortilla Crusted Potato Gratin

This and That...

I'm a bad "chef wannabe".  I haven't done much cooking over the past week or so.  We had that fabulous trip to Dallas for the OU game ;-( and then it was Alex's birthday which brought several dinners out with family.  I found a few random pics on my camera from the past few weeks that I felt were marginally worth posting. 

Ingredients for my "sort of" Nicoise Salad.  I tried to use things I had around the kitchen.  Alex had late band practice and we were in need of a healthy meal after our binge of fried foods at the fair, and gluttonous birthday dinners.

I made it to Quality Seafood Market too late and they had already closed.  I was looking for Ahi tuna for our salad, but had to settle for tilapia from the local grocer.  On the side, sourdough bread with artichoke spread.

Last week Alex smoked pork butts in the Bradley Smoker.  This time he wins the award - as it was the best I have ever tasted, hands down.  He has some sort of secret dry rub he uses that is perfection!

THE most amazing pulled pork.

Just because they are precious :-)