AfricanKelli

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Some aspects of cleaning up the pantry and using what I have are more fun than others. I put Finny’s Christmas gift — which included jam and this homemade pie filling — to good use this weekend.

~K

I hosted a couple friends and their owners last night for dinner on the patio. We enjoyed a new recipe — cochinita tacos — from a recipe I got out of a waiter at Gallo Blanco. (Pork shoulder, can of Coke, can of Negro Modelo, onion, garlic, any other veggies you want — Dutch oven for 3 hours at 300.) I also did my best impression of a radish and honey appetizer I had at FNB the other day that was a delightful mix of flavors. And greens from the farmer’s market.

There is something rather awesome about coming home to a pot of wonder bubbling on the stove (I prepped, Matt put it in the oven), a fridge full of locally grown vegetables and a patio begging for some attention. Throw in a handful of people I consider family, a sky full of stars and two of the sweetest dogs on earth at our feet? Simply perfect.

I’m making the same pot of pork for Adam’s birthday tomorrow. I’ll modify the recipe with a can of diced pineapple too. Shredded on tortillas with a bit of avocado? Divine.

~K

Food voyeurism — a new photography genre.

~K

Do you ever wonder who are those people who get talked into infomercials? Or, say, the cute guy selling super blenders at Costco?

Well.

Smoothies today, skinny tomorrow. It’s already working for my wallet.

~K

And that is how with one quick run to Costco, you “cook” BBQ chicken pizza at home. I probably could have ordered one from the local pizza shop and it would have been healthier, but wowza — this was good. Without green onions, I browned leeks, onions and garlic. With shredded rotisserie chicken and a bit of bbq sauce — heaven.

The crowd was pleased.

I’m looking forward to spending time in the sun this afternoon with the leftovers and a good book.

Winner, winner, BBQ chicken dinner.

~K

I promised a friend recently that I would do a month-long “cleanse.” This included eliminating caffeine, alcohol, dairy and wheat from my diet for a month. Why I even bother to say I will try to do these sorts of things is beyond me. Is it that am so delusional, I think I’m going to wake up with Superwoman discipline and will power?

I made it a day. And then “one splurge” turned into “one bad day” turned into “aw, hell. Forget it. ” One day. As in 27 days short of the challenge. (She even picked a short month.)

I’m a creature of habit and as much as I’d like to have the body of an Athleta model, it isn’t happening this week. Although I continue to kill myself at the gym and with my running group, and make small changes here and there.  Typically, when craving Mexican food — I round up a few willing bodies and head to Gallo Blanco or Macayo’s for a $40 sodium feast. Guacamole, margaritas, chips, salsa, huevos rancheros. Zero guilt. I had a hard day. I earned that meal. I deserved it.

Never mind I’d wake up the next morning sick to my stomach, bloated and grumpy for my run. Like clockwork. If this were food math: night of splurging on Mexican food + margaritas = discomfort/bloating/misery. If this were my reasoning math: just because it happened the last 50 times  ≠ tomorrow I’ll feel gross.

Not surprisingly, math was never my strong subject. But fueled by a broken promise and a bit of shame,  I’m making compromises. Such as veggie tostadas on toasted flatbread with a glass of wine. Portion control, fresh veggies in lieu of chips, no salted rims. Still zero guilt. I still deserved it. And no stomach ache or regret the next day. (Who knew?)

This recipe is so yummy, simple and easy — you just need to the photos to follow along:

Ole!

~K

Like a bird.

The cinnamon rolls, pre-icing. I didn’t have a chance to eat one, but the reviews were good and they made my home smell like Christmas.

And pumpkin pie! I don’t like pie. So I didn’t eat any of this either. But hot damn, I was so impressed with my pie making skills. It was so pretty and my family loved it. Never mind my friend Andrew came over to help bake and we had to go back to the store twice for ingredients I missed. Oy to the vey.

What I did eat: all the turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green chile corn casserole and cranberry relish in southern Arizona. Yum.

And then I ate the Scottdale region’s portion this morning at my desk for leftovers. (Yes, you can use your best Nancy Drew skills to deduce that I am not doing so great on that 30 pound weight loss.  Although I did hire a trainer who I’m pretty sure learned her techniques from the gestapo. And now that I’m through Carbfest 2010, I’ve got a company Christmas party and a trip to Africa to think of, I imagine I’ll refocus. )*

Now, on to Christmas decorating and planning/plotting/scheming! Yahoooo!

~K

*If you can’t find me, I’m on the elliptical. Dreaming of bagels.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Servings:6

Ingredients:

3 acorn squash — halved, seeds removed, placed flesh side down on a cookie sheet

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cloves of garlic, peeled

1 cup of black beans

6 tablespoons of goat cheese

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 pinch of garlic salt

Directions:

Heat oven to 350. Roast squash and garlic for 45-50 minutes, drizzled with olive oil. Using tongs, place flesh side up in a casserole dish. Fill with cheese, beans, tomatoes, and sprinkle of garlic salt. Split roasted garlic among the six halves. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes to warm. Optional — use diced tomatoes with jalapenos, or top with salsa.

Healthy, easy and bright. So many great colors on a plate — and a lovely way to make your home smell like Fall’s roasted vegetables.

Reviews:

“Damn good.”

“What chipmunks would eat on vacation in Mexico. Acorns meets Acapulco.” (Okay, I made that up. But it is my review!)

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167 calories per slice with this Cooking Light recipe. And oh man, is it good. Having time to bake like this is such an indulgent luxury. I love the weighing and measuring and I want to dance around the house as it fills with the warm smell of baking spices.

Happiness, at times, comes in a loaf.

Tonight, this is to be shared with friends after dinner. I’m bringing together friends new and old for a small dinner party on the patio. Another joy — November weather in Arizona.

~K

I’m throwing softballs this week — busy with lots of community projects and haven’t been crafting much. As such, a few lazy photos of some fabulous Italian eats enjoyed this weekend at Casa Mia.

(So lazy, in fact, there are no photos of the completed pizza. Inhaled before captured.)

Yep. Those orange cookies are my infamous peanut butter pumpkin recipe. It is below 90 today in Phoenix — officially Fall!

~K