Spaghetti Squash Obession

   I have a confession to make... I love Spaghetti Squash. What? You have never heard of spaghetti squash!?! But... its... amazing! What is it, you ask? Its a large yellow squash, that when cooked the middle comes out stringy like spaghetti. Then you can pair it with virtually anything you would pair noodles with. The kicker is... its HEALTHY. I know. I know. I just made pasta night have a new meaning. 
   Since moving I've been doing a lot of cooking. And of course pinterest.com has come to the inspiration rescue more than once. Little hint... just type in spaghetti squash in the search box and see how many recipes come up... there are a ton. Luckily, I stumbled upon this little gem http://bevcooks.com/2011/10/southwestern-stuffed-spaghetti-squash/  Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash.My boyfriend, who had never had spaghetti squash before, now loves it too. I think I have made this version 3 or 4 times in the last 2 months, and each time I add a little more to it. 
   This is what a spaghetti squash looks like :) 
 

The next step is to cut it in half lengthwise, then place it cut sides down in a casserole dish with a about an inch of water in it and bake it for 30 to 40 minutes on about 350 degrees. While it is baking go ahead and start chopping up your veggies and sauteeing them. Red onion, red and green bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeno. How spicy you want it is completely up to you, I started leaving the seeds in the jalapeno and using hotter chili powder. Once those have sauteed you are going to add in some seasoning, the drained black beans (this last time I used black beans with jalapeno and lime in them), and the frozen corn. Your last step once these are all warm will be to add the cilantro. Don't forget TASTE AS YOU GO!! That is the biggest mistakes cooks can make is to not taste.  Here are some of my ingredients.

   After the squash is done you take it out of the oven and you can let it cool some... however if you are like me and always in a rush... I never let it cool and use a oven mitt to hold the rind of the squash. Hold the rind and with a fork you can scoop or shred out the inside of the squash. Yeah I probably should have take a picture of that... but I didn't. Once you see it.. it is super easy and comes out stringy. I take the squash and put it in the pan with the vegetables and mix it all together. Taste again to see if you need more seasoning.

      Looks delish so far right? Then refill the rind with the mixture... and top off with cheddar cheese, maybe even layer some cheese in it. The best cheese I've found was chipotle cheddar... Yum! Once that's all situated pop it back in the oven for about 10 minutes. Just til the cheese is melted. Easiest way to serve if there are two of you... cut one rind in half... (if its a small squash) and put it on the plate. The first time we ate this... we ate the whole squash it was that good! 

Viola! Best part... it's healthy! And you don't really need any sides. I do think it might be good with tortillas though that would kind of kill the no carb part of the meal. Try it. Google spaghetti squash, there are a TON of ways to make it. Good luck and expect to love it! 

The Great State.... Fair of Texas, that is!

   Every year right after my birthday my favorite thing happens in Texas. And given it is Texas it of course is done BIG, well, and goes on for 3 weeks. Yes that's right boys and girls I am talking about the wonderful, the fabulous, and infamous State Fair of Texas. 
    A small little back history about this amazing event (yes I am an avid fan... who gets super excited every year about going). The State Fair of Texas actually started in 1886... and lasts 24 days. And when I say its big unless you have been there you have no idea... just a little clue though, its the biggest in the United States. I can attest to this fact at least to some extent because one year I went to the Big E, the East Coasts "State" Fair. Compared to ours those 6 states have nothing on us! It also has the largest ferris wheel in the U.S. Then there is Big Tex... the 52 foot Cowboy that greets fair goers every year since the 1950's. He's probably Dallas' most photographed resident.His genial smile and "Howdy ya'll" just brings a smile to your face and warms your heart. Everyone goes to the fair from Elvis Presley, to Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill, Presidents, Football fans, Texans from near and far. 

Big Tex!

   So why is a self-proclaimed foodie writing in her food blog about the State Fair?  Two words... Fried Everything. Fletcher's Corny Dogs. All through the year I dream about those corny dogs. Hand dipped deliciousness. Fletcher's claims they introduced and popularized them in the late 1930's at the State Fair of Texas though that is up for debate. One little fact I learned today for those of you who have their birthday during those blessed fair weeks.... If you go to the Fletcher's stand on your birthday you get a FREE corny dog!!! Needless to say... I'm a little heartbroken that my birthday is the week before the fair. Regardless, that is the first place I make a beeline for. 

Just look for this!

    The simple pleasure of the fried cornmeal battered, hand-dipped hot dog is a heavenly combination on a slim stick wrapped in white paper. Once you get that little piece of fried deliciousness walk over to the ketchup and mustard stand and figure out which way you wanna go. All mustard? All ketchup? Combination? On the dog itself or on the paper for dipping. Me? The way I go every year is one line of ketchup down the dog followed by one line of mustard... looking for that perfect mix of both... then kinda smearing it together. Very ladylike I'm sure haha but it's the fair! My mom... she likes to put mustard in the paper and dip. Whatever your preference go for it. But don't miss the corny dogs!
   

yes that's me! I was more interested in eating the corny dog to take a picture!

   Every year the fair has a fried food contest in the months before the fair... there are articles about the winners... there are maps to where to get the standout items... It is a big to-do. This year The fried bacon cinnamon roll won most creative... best taste was deep friend jambalaya. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try either of these this year... I have in the past tried winners and standouts such as the deep fried grilled cheese, fried oreos, and fried cookie dough. I'm serious when I say its a friend food extavaganza. Fried beer, alligator, red velvet cupcakes, and this year even samoas. There is one other thing I can't leave the fair without... Funnel Cake. Ok I pretty much can't leave anywhere that has funnel cakes without one. I'm simple when it comes to my cakes. Just give me the powdered sugar and a lot of napkins... though in the end I still end up with powdered sugar all over me, my face, and shirt. Kind of a funny sight I'm sure. If you wanna get all fancy you can add strawberries, peaches, or chocolate even. They seem less portable to me that way, but if you go into The Docks to get them like I do every year you can sit in the nice cool a/c. 

Mom she let me snap a pic before we killed it

   If you come to Texas the last weekend of September til the middle of October... go to the Fair. Not only is it a fried food haven, there's exhibits, a butter sculpture, a petting zoo, cars and even pig races. Its insane. Its big. Its fun! And they have the best corny dogs anywhere!
 

Wednesday Night Experiment

 Wednesday Night Experiment

  It all started with my friend Danielle asking for Chicken n' Dumplins a couple of weeks ago, repeatedly.... What started, you ask? Wednesday night dinners. A new tradition began. Well ok to be fair I attempted to start a weekly dinner months ago but now its at least 2 weeks in the making. So instead of writing about a nice lil restaurant serving delicious food... or terrible... I'm gonna talk about my wonderful filling dinner I cooked this evening. 

    The Menu:

         - Sauteed Squash & Zucchini

         - Spinach Dip (made by Miss Danielle)  and chips

         - Stuffed Chicken Breast aka Kaytucky Chicken

    I was stumped as to what to make for dinner... so what did I do? What any woman nowadays does... Pinterest.com. Lo and Behold, I found this recipe for Kaytucky Chicken from this blog Kayotic Kitchen. I'm not going to list the recipe word for word but I'll give you an overview and pictures :) and if you want to try it just follow this lovely persons link. 

     I started by frying up some bacon, about 3 pieces. Sidenote: since I don't like bacon I don't cook it often... lets just say.. the fire alarm might have gone off. Oops! I chopped up some parsley, I couldn't find the flat leaf like they suggested so I used regular and some chives (or spring onions). Then I put the firm cream cheese in a bowl with with the chives, parsley, and broken up pieces of bacon. After a couple of failed attempts at trying to just mix this together with a fork and spoon... I went for the blender. That worked but was a lil messy so be careful! Once I got my mixed all creamified I got the chicken breasts out washed them off and cut deep slits in the fattest part of them. Do this carefully or you will cut all the way through them.. however if you do make that mistake (like me). Oh! I also added some Tony Chachere's seasoning and some pepper to the cream cheese mix. This is my stuffed product. 

   If you'll notice I had some extra mix (parsley, bacon, and green onions) and put that on top of the mix just for a little extra. In the meantime I had gotten out my frozen puff pastry sheets so they could start thawing out. Now I laid 'em out and flattened them as best I could. I actually ended up connecting the 2 large sheets into one big sheet. After doing this and while my oven was preheating to 400 degrees I took the each chicken breast one by one and placed them on the dough. I took each one and laid it with the cut cream cheese side down, then cut the square around it large enough for the dough to cover the entire chicken breast, the seasoned each one with cracked pepper and salt. I took a beaten egg and brushed the edges of the pastry before folding it over, then also brushed the top afterward to make sure there was an extra glow after it was done cooking. While my finished wrapped product isn't beautiful... it was wrapped. In the picture you'll also see that I had sliced up my zucchini and squash. 

   After pulling the Spinach dip out of the oven I popped these bad boys in for about 30 minutes... They were pretty much done by the time the puff pastry was nice and golden. I would recommend putting them in a greased pan because they were rather difficult to get off of my cookie sheet. While the chicken was cooking I got out a big sautee pan, some butter, and more Tony Chachere's (I LOVE the stuff) and sauteed up my vegetables. Another sidenote: start the zucchini first then add the squash because it cooks a lot faster. Standing in the kitchen waiting the last few minutes for the chicken we started in on the dip... and it was fantastic. Then it was time for the main course! And man did it look fantastic... here's the set up :) 

   Let me just tell you the finished product did not disappoint. Next time I might try it with other greens inside... maybe spinach. After eating, lets just say... the chickens weren't the only things that were stuffed... hahaha. Ok Ok sorry had to go there! If you wanna give it a try and look a fancy for someone its really easy to do... I'd say I did it in about an hour maybe a little more due to distractions. First Pinterest recipe a success! 

   Stay tuned... more Wednesday night dinners will follow... and some friends and I ate at a new spot this past weekend and it rocked our faces off... so I'll definitely be going back and writing a little piece about that.

Jimmy's Food Store.... A little piece of Italy

  If you take a drive down to the corner of Fitzhugh and Bryan Street in Dallas you're going to pass an old building with a red, white and green awning and signs touting Italian wines, coffee, and fresh meats and sausages. From the looks of the place you'd never suspect that deep inside they not only have these amazing options but also a meat counter where you can order an absolutely phenomenal sandwiches. After pushing through the front door of Jimmy's Food Store you enter into a slightly cramped Italian grocery store that somehow still manages to have a cozy welcoming feel and also feels a little like you're in New York City. Head down one of the isles stocked with wine, fine olive oils, or fresh pasta straight from New York back to the meat/ sandwich counter. As you approach you'll notice people of all ages milling around waiting to collect their their sandwich when their name is called. The menu is posted up on the counter and signs for $2.00 canoli's, fresh pizza dough, sausage, and cheeses decorate the wall behind the counter. 

   

   There are 12 sandwiches on the menu... my personal favorite? The Italian Stallion.... ok ok we already know I love to eat... and this is a mammoth of a sandwich. Seven meats, two cheeses and a salad mix that contains lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, cherry peppers, romano cheese, and a olive oil it's more than you can handle in one bite. But after that first bite.....you'll be hooked and decide to become a life long patron of Jimmy's. While the Stallion is my standby favorite, I've also had their delicious meatball sandwich and the Italian Beef. Jimmy's meatballs... are homemade, amazing, tender and tasty. The DiCarlo's have been making and selling them for years. The beef, you ask? Tender and juicy.... you can't beat it, at least not that I've found. From what I can tell native New Yorkers, old school Italian imports, and Dallasites agree with me.  

Italian Stallion

     

   Once you hear your name called and grab your sandwich head down the last aisle grab a beverage and head up to the front to pay. If you have friends and time for a leisurely lunch grab a bottle of wine and let Jimmy's open it up for you and grab a table. You can get a small table right inside and peruse Italian cookbooks or at a little table outside on a sunny day. Unwrap your white butcher paper encased sandwich and dig in to the delightfulness that is Jimmy's. Even though Jimmy's Food Store is a little out of the way... it is completely worth the trip... and be prepared after one taste you'll be making multiple trips and bringing your  family and friends. Don't forget it's a great place to find that elusive pasta you are looking for or get some fresh pizza dough for pizza night. Just in case here's the website for you http://www.jimmysfoodstore.com 

This is the Italian Roast Beef on the left and the Meatball on the right... of course I made someone share with me! :) Buon mangiare! (Good eating!)

Greenville Avenue's Corner Market

  Corner Market.... a unique concept located on Greenville Avenue in the heart of Dallas is not a place where I often remember to eat but every time I do, my tastebuds love me. This past week my tummy was interested in something other than my (almost) weekly trip to the Taco Joint... so I decided to branch out. Where to go for a good lunch? That was the question... and while baked goods were also desired where else could we go but Corner Market. 

   Baked Goods? What? Let me explain. Corner Market is nestled between Society Bakery and Corner Market Flowers. Yes a slightly eclectic conglomeration of businesses, but they work wonderfully. Society is well known in Dallas and throughout the country for its cupcakes and has even been featured in "Bon Appetite" Magazine. And from what I hear with very good reason, though I have yet to try one of these delectable treats. The flower market is quaint and has a good selection... though that isn't what we are here for. 

  Walking in you are greeted by yummy smells and a clean deli atmosphere. The display case is beautiful and has a wide range of tasty offerings. All the little tables in the snug dining room were filled and everything looked amazing. The beverage cooler has a wide variety of drinks that vary from your normal everyday Coca-Cola to Jones Sodas and homemade juices.

    Food. Good tasting... filling, delicious food. This is my second trip to Corner Market... last time I tried the smoked turkey and apple sandwich which was very tasty. This time I was feeling adventurous. Now what I am about to state next might come as a shock to you.... In all my 29 years of life I have never had pastrami. Yes I know this is heartbreaking and I am even more heartbroken that I have wasted these years without it. My choice after much debate.... The Fireball. Here I'll let the picture say a bit before I dig in... 

  Ciabatta bun... Pastrami... jalapenos.... Swiss cheese.... Tabasco sauce.... lettuce... tomatoes... and one more kind of sauce that is slipping my mind at the moment. All of this added together equals an absolute delicious explosion of taste. AMAZING. I'm pretty sure the pickles are made in house also. It's as wonderful as it looks and I was highly satisfied with my first pastrami experience. 

   In addition to my sandwich I had also spotted a super large iced cinnamon bun that I absolutely had to have. It was like it was calling my name. And yes I have a picture of that too. ;) A glass of their fresh brewed green tea completed my lunch ensemble. 

I told you it was large :D

  While I ended up eating most of the cinnamon bun later after dinner the entire meal was wonderful. Next time I'm looking for a quick delicious lunch and I'm in the neighborhood Corner Market will be on my list. Ok ok even if I'm not in the neighborhood it is worth the trek. So give it a little try. I definitely rcommend The Fireball... espcially if like me you love spice.. cause it does have some kick. Or just drop in for a quick sweet treat. Love you guys! Oh and I'll try to keep more on top of this little project.

Taco Joint!

  I seriously believe I have found the best taco place in the state. Ok ok maybe in Dallas. But I am talking phenomenal.  The Taco Joint at 911 N. Peak in Dallas is that place. Located in a small strip mall the place doesn't look like much from the outside... but then these seem to be the best places to grub. I went for lunch this past week and left with the biggest smile on my face and a stuffed belly.... what can I say I couldn't stop! The place was packed... with only 11 tables and a counter along the windows... people were everywhere and standing waiting for others to get up. When entering you are greeted by a large mural on the wall of various Dallas sites... and black and white photos of what I am assuming are customers. (let's just say I WANT to be on that wall!!) 

  The line wound to the door and just looking around at all the baskets of food I knew choosing would be a challenge. And the prices... extremely reasonable... nothing over $7.00... I can totally handle this. When I finally got to the counter to order I was still at a loss as to what to order. So I asked..."Should I get soft tacos or hard?" The response "Both. The Lester Plate" Of course this is what I ordered then after I revealed that this was my first time I was handed a poker chip to redeem a free queso. You always win with free food and by recognizing a new customer. The queso was delicious... just enough flavor and the salsa was great too. I couldn't wait to get my food.

  When they called my name this is the deliciousness that I picked up from the counter. The Lester Taco is "A warm, soft flour tortilla layered with refried beans then folded around a crispy corn shell filled with ground sirloin and then topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese". Let me just say, this is no double decker from Taco Bell. Just look at it the picture speaks for itself. I also had a little taste of the brisket tacos... they were also amazing. 

  Taco Joint also serves breakfast tacos... one of my favorite things to eat and which I will definitely be going back to partake in. Their website http://thetacojoint.com tells how the place got started... though it is a little unbelievable, though hilarious. :) If you're hungry and feel like eating some delicious tacos this is where you should go... if you need someone to go with you... I'm your girl!  

Westy's and Tee's Fireside Cafe

   One of my favorite things about traveling is trying new places. One of my golden rules about traveling is eating somewhere I don't have at home. Preferably somewhere I've never eaten before. There are times when adhering to this rule isn't always feasible and when the others with you aren't up for the adventure... but when it is... oh the food you can find!

  Sunday night started one such adventure with my sister M. We were driving from Texas to Nashville and rather hungry. For people making this trek in the future if you are hungry before you hit Little Rock... stop and eat! Because between Little Rock and Memphis there is nothing but immense black (well if its dark) nothingness, shotty cell service, and a few fast food places... most of which are closed after 9pm. Needless to say by the time we hit Memphis I was threatening cannibalism and crankiness was setting in. However finding somewhere that is open and not scary in an unfamiliar town at 11:00pm on a Sunday night can be a slight challenge. Memphis PD to the rescue! I spotted a police car in a gas station parking lot and a clever idea struck me.... what are cops known for? Their knack for finding the best places to eat! After a quick inquiry we were pointed in the direction of Westy's.

  Open and serving food until 3am... the sign said. And it can't be too bad right? The cop suggested it... he knew we were 2 girls alone... requesting a safe but good place to get some food.... right? Well upon first glance... I seriously doubted Mr. Officer's suggestion. Westy's is in a slightly run down neighborhood in a slightly run down building. Picnic tables with umbrellas are all around the front door and inside Christmas lights adorn the ceiling. The menu is actually quite extensive, offering everything from fried pickles to creole dishes to homemade tamales (what? in Memphis?) I pulled the old trick of asking what's the best thing on the menu. Immediately the friendly waitress (who I am pretty sure was missing some of her teeth) pointed me to the homemade creole... that I'd already been eyeing... and the chicken sandwiches. In the end M opted for the pulled chicken sandwich and I chose a cup of shrimp creole and some fried zucchini. Let me just say.... Delicious. Just the touch of kick... large pieces of shrimp and absolute yumminess. M's tater tots were good and her chicken sandwich lived up to the expectations. All the while we felt safe an secure because two cops were sharing a neighboring table... well ok until they jumped in their car and sped off to a call. The food hit the spot... it was delicious... and quick. And honestly if I lived in Memphis I would be a frequent customer... and I can say if I'm ever driving through again and hungry I know exactly where I am stopping.

  After finally making it to Nashville and catching a few hours of sleep I was up and hungry again. On my own I decided to check out a little place down the road from my sister's apartment in a shopping center. I asked the pharmacist a few doors down about Tee's Fireside Cafe. "Its good but a little pricey" was the response but my other options were fast food or subs, neither of which sounded appetizing. Pricey is an understatement... and my experience made me wish I had gone with fast food. Walking in the place just kind of came off as not put together. It looked like they were trying to achieve a bistro feel with the typical "bistro-esque" pictures on the wall and dark tables. A sign told you seat yourself... and I realized later you are also supposed to grab your own menu (strange). As I sat down I gave the room another glance and started looking at the menu. Ok $9.00 for a turkey sandwich? This must be some serious sandwich. There was also a soup of the day listed and soup and sandwich combo. When the waitress approached I asked her what the soup was. (Note: there were 3 ways to order soups... two combos and alone). Her reply "We don't have soup today". What? Why would you offer something on the menu and not have it even available? I ordered a glass of tea and a turkey club. Now... don't get me wrong I have nothing against plastic cups... as in solo cups... but when I am paying $9.00 for a sandwich in a sit down being waited on establishment I'd like a glass. Maybe that makes me a snob, but you should go with the ambiance you are trying to create. I know I'm crazy. Really though, what could I expect "The Price is Right" was blaring on a tv somewhere behind me overwhelming the entire restaurant. When my sandwich came I was half expecting it to be on a plastic plate, and while it wasn't my potato salad was served in a styrofoam to-go dish. The one redeeming quality of my sandwich... there was a ton of turkey on it. The bread was listed as homemade so naturally I was thinking big thick slices, but no they were thin... too thin for so much turkey. What about the potato salad you ask? I'm Southern. I love good potato salad... this was not good potato salad. New red potatoes in a mayo base with hard boiled egg, no seasoning, and a ton of green onions chopped up on top. The only flavor was the green onions and while I love them that is not what potato salad should taste like. Other little things through out my lunch further persuaded me that this is not somewhere I would be suggesting to anyone coming to or already in Nashville. A gentleman at the next table came in about 30 minutes before close and was rushed to order for he and his wife. When his wife arrived 10 minutes later the closed sign had already been turned on even though they didn't close for another 20 minutes. She stood outside confused for a moment and once she was seated the waitress explained there had been a large party earlier that day and they needed to clean up so they closed. A simple "oh you have to get it ready for dinner tonight?" was followed with a reply of "no we aren't open for dinner". My question was... then why do you need to put up the closed sign that early? Clearly not good business practices. Later that night when experiencing a delicious dinner (which I'll tell about later) I told my sister and her boyfriend about my lunch.. Their reply... "well they won't stay in business long". Let me just say... I have to agree.