Dec 5, 2016 |
Let’s talk winter comfort foods and family memories. Remember this little teaser from last month?
My Happy Planner: Recipe Teaser
That’s right. I’ve been using My Happy Planner for just over two weeks now. Talk about your sweet sauce! I’m tracking bills and budget, appointments, social media sharings, and the greatest of great, holiday gatherings. Of course, the first and most important reason was the great recipe organizer. How many people does this make happy?
I’m pretty sure Jacqueline will try to steal my chili recipe once we get to Blue Ridge. [Don’t tell her, but I think I’ll sleep with it under my pillow for safe keeping. The planner. Not the chili.]
But enough about that. Today, we’re talking winter comfort food. Today, we’re talking easy. Today, we’re talking meatloaf.
I mean, doesn’t the word itself conjure up happy memories of family mealtimes, maybe a potluck or party? Meatloaf is my happy place. I can make it nine ways to Sunday, and then some. And to prove that statement, I intend to give you a dozen meatloaf recipes in 2017. Yup, that’s right. I’m gonna haul my cart over to Winco, grab some grub gear, and make y’all some of the best meatloafs you’ve had in years. One each month. How do you like them apples? Eww. No. I’m not putting apples in the meatloaf. It’s a phrase, people. Just a phrase. Although . . .No. No apples in the meatloaf. Moving on.
Today’s recipe was inspired by my Magic friend, Hobbes. No, he’s not magical. Well, he is kinda special. He’s one of my gaming buddies. You know. Magic: The Gathering. [Yes. I know. I’m a nerd. We’ll discuss that some other time.]
Hobbes’ Mexican Chicken Meatloaf
Hobbes is kinda talented when it comes to building good gaming decks, and since I needed a deck I could assault Aaron with, let’s say I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. He’d organize my cards and I’d let him live feed him properly. Being the overly perfectionist attentive host that I am, I made sure to ask if he had any allergies, and what his fave foods are. He came back with a combination of chicken recipes and Mexican flavors, and also mentioned meatloaf and potatoes. So, voila! [Side note: When I was a kid, I always thought that was viola, as in, a mini violin. Maybe it made a high-pitched screech that got everyone’s attention, and that’s how the word came about? Apparently not. But now you know I wasn’t always the wordsmith I pretend to be present myself as am.]
So. Uhm. Yes. Voila! Say hello to Hobbes’ Mexican Chicken Meatloaf.
Recipe: Hobbes' Mexican Chicken Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup (apprx) Fritos chili-cheese chips
- 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilis, drained
- 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced seasoned tomatoes, drained
- 1/2 packet taco seasonings
- 2 eggs
- milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Crush Fritos chips in small bowl. Add just enough milk to cover. Set aside.
- In large mixing bowl, add ground chicken, green chilis, tomatoes, eggs, and 1/4 packet taco seasonings. Mix thoroughly.
- Add Fritos. Mix.
- Shape into loaf pan.
- Top with remaining taco seasonings.
- Bake 50-60 minutes.
Notes
Using chicken instead of ground beef makes this a healthier alternative to some other meatloaf recipes. Two eggs will help bind the loaf together for presentation, but doesn't affect the taste. Use just enough milk to soften the corn chips.
3.1
https://franklymydearmojo.com/2016/12/05/recipe-hobbes-mexican-chicken-meatloaf/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
Did you ever think of using ground chicken instead of beef in your meatloaf? Well, now you have. You’re welcome.
Recipe: Mexican Chicken Meatloaf
Dice up a few potatoes, spritz with olive oil and season with dill or kosher salt, and you have a perfect side dish.
And here’s your bonus holiday food hack: Drop a half-cup of chocolate chips or chopped nuts (or both!) into your banana bread batter for a delightful dessert.
Now it’s your turn: What are some of your favorite meatloaf dishes?
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Jul 5, 2016 |
Exciting news: NOLA is nearly fifty percent written!
Josie and her new friends are going through the wringer (it is a mystery, after all) but still finding moments to enjoy the Crescent City. Would you like to meet her friends? You would?
How about one in particular? One very special friend.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Rain.
Meet Rain, from NOLA
Rain and Toni are best friends. He lives on the plantation he inherited. I could tell you more, but I can’t give away any secrets.
Josie is immediately attracted to him, and relishes in learning more about him every chance she gets.
What does he do for a living? Let’s just say food is involved. He’s also a take-charge kind of guy.
New Experiences in NOLA
Josie soon discovers some of Rain’s imperfections and struggles to make sense of the chaos surrounding these revelations.
But New Orleans is a restless environment, throwing Voodoo, hurricanes and Rougarous into the mix.
How is Josie going to learn all Rain’s truths? And does she really want to?
Want more? I was hoping you would. Join the Facebook NOLA Swarm Group and be a part of the fun.
NOLA should be released later this year.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
May 1, 2016 |
I feel bad for not blogging like I used to. I really do. It’s not that you don’t matter. You’re my Swarm, of course you matter!
You matter so much, that I’ve been putting my efforts into the bigger projects. I know you’re just waiting for NOLA to be finished, and that’s my focus right now.
NOLA Inspiration
And here you are, checking your inboxes every day, patiently waiting for news.
Have you joined the Facebook NOLA Swarm group? That’s where you’ll find most of my updates.
In the meantime, here’s a little bit of what’s happening:
NOLA is about two-thirds rough drafted, and half of those pages have already gone through some deep edits. That means I’ve only one-third left to write. It’s getting pretty exciting. Last week I dreamt the final scene. So this week, I’m finishing the deep edits and writing what comes next.
In just a few weeks, I’ll be at this year’s Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and network with other writers, agents, and publishers. I’m looking forward to connecting with known friends and discovering new ones.
So I figure it’s about time y’all met NOLA’s protagonist, Penny Jo Embers. She goes by “Josie” but her new friends call her “Penny”.
When she first arrives in New Orleans, she finds a place to stay.
Red-Headed Embers
Later, she meets characters, mystery, and food. Oh, the food! [Note: You didn’t hear it from me, but it’s quite possible a NOLA Companion Cookbook is in the works, as well.]
She’s not sure what she’s supposed to do. Her life feels over. Or unstarted. Or just messed up. Is she running away from it, or is she taking a break to gather her thoughts?
Torn between a home she doesn’t love and a place she loves but isn’t home, she manages to find a moment of peace with her new friends.
Josie the Firefly
Of course, that’s just a snippet of what happens. Let’s be real. She’s in New Orleans. It’s not just about the food and the fireflies.
Want more? I was hoping you would. Join the Facebook NOLA Swarm Group and be a part of the fun.
NOLA should be released later this year.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Oct 9, 2015 |
Pumpkin Soup
October is a beautiful month, isn’t it? Full of crisp air, sweaters out of storage, leaves changing colors and crunching under your feet. The start of the holiday season before the holiday rush. I think October is my favorite month.
On Facebook, I asked “What are some of your favorite fall/harvest moments?” Each reply was unique to the individual commenter, but there was one running theme: pumpkin. It seems pumpkin everything is what gets people most excited about October.
The Pumpkin Grinch
Each year I share this photo. It was taken by a friend about ten years ago. We were at the local pumpkin patch when I spotted this pumpkin. It looks so much like the Grinch to me. I asked suggested begged my friend to photograph it for posterity. A much better way of keeping it than, say, buying the pumpkin only to toss it out in three weeks or less, don’t you think?
As I was going through the blog last weekend, working to make it a better experience for both you as a reader and myself as the writer [read Under the Hood], I realized I’d not posted many articles on food for quite some time. No recipes, no foodie photos. No reasons to salivate or say “I want to try that!” And I’m supposed to be a foodie person.
It’s also been too long since I’ve posted a Five Things Friday as well. No connecting of the dots between A, B, C . . . you get the picture.
What’s This Girl to do? Why, combine it all together, y’all! So welcome back, October. Welcome back, Food. Welcome back, Five Things Friday.
Let’s get this post started.
- Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino. Oh, come on. You know you saw that one coming. I may as well get it over with right away. The first week of September ushers us into that wonderful realm of cinnamon, spice, nutmeg, and that must-be-in-everything-from-now-until-Valentine’s-Day ingredient, pumpkin.
Autumn Bliss
Now . . . who’s not a fan of Starbuck’s? I can’t even talk to you if you’ve raised your hand.
- Soups. Now is the time of year when the slow cooker and Dutch oven live outside the cabinets. They’ll take up residency on the stove top and counter, and stay there until January. Homes everywhere will be filled with wonderful aromas, not-so-quick but definitely easy concoctions of broth, creams, and one-pot meals.
Homemade chicken soup . . . Good for the body and the soul.
I love boiling a whole chicken with added herbs and seasonings to make freezable broth and stock. The only part I throw away are the bones and skin.
- Adult beverages. Please. I’m an adult. I find no shame in admitting I’m a fan of adult beverages. This time of year, I’m all about the pumpkin beer. Am I right? That crisp, dry flavor deserves to be imbibed with something special. Like a pumpkin muffin. Or a bowl of chili. Or a breath of autumn air. And let’s not forget my new holiday classic: The Chocolate Martini.
Chocolate Martini made with Scharffen Berger Chocolate.
Remember when I won that Scharffen Berger gift basket a few years ago? And that beautiful coffee table book came with it? In those magical pages I discovered this magical recipe. My holidays are oh-so-much happier now.
- Casey’s Cupcakes. Even though It’s been over a year since I’ve visited my beloved Riverside and my most favorite place, The Mission Inn, I still long for Casey’s most delicious treats. If you’re in Southern California between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, I highly recommend you visit The Festival of Lights and indulge in a little holiday treat from Casey’s.
Glamorous Gingerbread at Casey’s Cupcakes
At any time of year, it’s an experience you’ll savor. (See what I did there?)
- And of course, last but not least, good for any day of the year, could there be anything better for This Southern Girl At Heart than a huge gulp of sweet tea?
Sweet Tea at Blue Ridge
It refreshes my body, it renews my soul. It reminds me of Blue Ridge and my trip to North Carolina. The writers’ conference. The connections. The beauty. We all need a little more sweetness in our lives, yah? Go on. Take a sip. You’ll be glad you did.
BONUS: To celebrate this unofficial beginning of the holidays, and the return of Five Things Friday with this Foodie Post, today only The Unemployment Cookbook Kindle edition is available for free download. Just click through the photo below to get yours.
The Unemployment Cookbook, Kindle edition
Happy start to the holidays. Happy eating.
Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment and tell me: What are some of your favorite foods this time of year?
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . #FiveThingsFriday. What are your favorite foods this time of year? #pumpkineverything @realmojo68
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . #FiveThingsFriday The #Foodie Post. #October is a beautiful month, isn’t it? @realmojo68
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . #Starbucks #Pumpkinbeer #cupcakes A few of my favorite things. #FiveThingsFriday @realmojo68
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
Do you have a copy of The Unemployment Cookbook? Would you consider leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads? That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Jun 14, 2015 |
Look at those eyes!
Mewwo. Mom’s been busy so she hasn’t let me blog for a while. What’s up with that? She leaves in the morning and sometimes is gone until long after dark. She dances around singing things like “I’m Too Sexy For My Cat”. Excuse me? Should I take that personally?
And get this ~ she got the idea to let me blog . . . from a dog. A dog! Now, I’m all about making friends, and I’m sure Charlie Bear is nice and all that. I mean, he doesn’t look too big. In fact, he’s a little like the human sister’s owner at the grandparents’ house. But he’s still a dog. And I’m beginning to sense that Mom might be liking him. What’s a cat to do?
At least she still lets me cuddle up with her at night. When she was gone to her Writers Conference last month, the fur sisters decided we should all get along better. We thought maybe Mom had enough of our sqaubbling and toilet paper tantrums. She was gone for quite a while.
But she came back and we’re all good again. Don’t tell her, but I missed her. That’s why I lick her face each night. And bop her nose when she snores.
And to show that she missed us, she bought us new food. Not just new as in fresh, but new as in type.
She used to feed us the cat food with the four-letter word on the label. So it’s not the same four-letter word that humans use, but for me and my fur sisters it may as well have been. The four-letter-word food caused us upset stomachs and hairballs even though it was supposed to be for older, indoor cats.
Instead, she now gives us the Good Life.
Good Life vs. Four-Letter Word Food
She said something about real food, which is good because we’re Real Cats. Realy, we are. [Wait for it . . . There yah go. Realy.]
I’m going to tell Cousin Zoey about it. Maybe her people will spoil her. If not, well, that’s something to talk about at the next family reunion.
It tastes great. It fills us up faster, so we don’t each as much. Which means less upchuck and hairballs. Lots less. Which makes our mommy love us even more.
It’s a win-win situation.
I guess I’ll keep her.
Lizzie Love
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Life With Lizzie: My Mom Can Be Crazy
Meet Zoey
