Southern Nuggets

I'm going to come clean...I haven't been cooking. I know, the shame! As much as I'd like to say that I haven't fell victim to holiday gluttony - that would be a lie. In addition, I knew before arriving into the Land of Enchantment that the battle to cook for myself was an uphill, if not, losing battle. My mom has been known to cook seldom as it is. I forgot that her new condo, as cute as it is, lacks a kitchen. I helped her moved into this new place last year and when I left there was a refrigerator, a sink, and a microwave. Not much as changed upon my return with the exception of a conventional oven. But I suppose that this is part of the journey. This won't be my last time to New Mexico or my final trip anywhere. It's important that I learn to navigate restaurant menus, including recognizing sacrifices when menu options don't satisfy my appetite as it used to. I live in the most gluttonous country in the world, I really should doubt I'll starve. Ho

My first visit to New Mexico was during my sophomore year of high school. I moved to Albuquerque two days after my high school graduation. I graduated on a Friday. I checked into the dorm Sunday afternoon. I started my first college classes on Monday. It wasn't so much that I was super smart or eagerly wanted to get college going. It was more because that was my one way ticket out of the small, reservation town that I grew up in and I cashed it in the first chance I had. I regretted by decision about two weeks into it. I remember getting so homesick. I literally didn't know ANYONE! What was I thinking?! Even my first day of college was rough. I didn't have the resources that would be available in the fall. It was quite a perfect example of "sink or swim." I didn't even have an idea where the dorms were. I remember the taxi dropped me off in front of the UNM book store and I struggling to drag four heavy suitcases, with wheels, all across campus trying to

Shopai made me so mad a couple nights ago. I went to go dump more kitchen scraps into the compost, not feeling at all bad or worried she might ingest something no Bueno. Soon after I dumped the contents over the compost wall, Shopai dove in and started feasting! As you might guess, I take the compost out just before bed so it's dark out. I didn't notice the side that acts as a door fell down. As I examined it, it looks like she chewed at the string of a ripe long enough it finally gave and she pulled the door down. Smart dog...but BAD DOG! Had it not been 10 p.m. and raining, I may have been inclined to solve this dilemma right then. I swallowed my anger and came back inside. Yesterday it was still raining. As much as I loved playing in the mud as a child, those days are behind me and I'd rather wait for a dry day. I'll work on this after I post this entry. I can't believe she did that! If you happen to follow me on Snapchat, you know that I ventured out last

My dog eats vegetables! Did we talk about this already? I noticed it about two weeks ago when one morning I came outside and saw bits and pieces of vegetables scraps strewn across the backyard - broccoli stem here, carrot over there...you get where this is going. But, she also just likes to chew things. It's more than just being a puppy, it's something her breed is known to do when she gets bored and it doesn't take much for her to get bored. Her DNA has the dog version of ADHD. About a week ago, however, when I dumped a good amount of kitchen scraps onto the compost I watched as she dove into it. The next morning, after feeding her I took a good look at her - she's getting plump; happily wearing her winter bod. (We haven't been walking lately because she somehow pulled off the metal ring her lease clips onto. I'm thinking it got snagged and she ripped it off. So I didn't notice how much weight she has gained recently.)  That night I took to the Inte

So let's just jump right into this because we definitely waited long enough. First thing, this recipe makes A LOT of chili. I even scaled it back by a can of black beans (by accident) and I still probably have enough to last me two days. It's also filling. One bowl into it and I tapped out. The recipe called for 2 cups of chopped onion. I just chopped up one medium sized onion and used that. I feel like I'm slowly graduating beyond the point of having to measure everything. I am starting to be able to eye ball it. It also called for 1 2/3 cup of red bell better. Again, I eye balled it and chopped up two bell peppers. Side note: I literally just veered off track for about 15 minutes looking for a video on how to cut bell peppers only to realize, I still don't know how to cut bell peppers. To further elaborate, if you care, so about a week ago one of the groups I'm in or pages I liked on Facebook showed me this video on my newsfeed "How to Cut a Bell Pepp

I understand that my excitement within having a complete vegetarian friendly day might get lost in translation. It's just vegetables, right? Right. As I am sure many of you can understand, I love meat. It sounds weird, I know, that I'm in such rigorous pursuit for a diet of mainly vegetables, fruit and starches. I love sandwiches, supreme and pepperoni pizza, pork chops, cheeseburgers, steak, fried chicken - I could go on and on. I really do love eating meat. When I report that I'm doing good on the vegetable streak, I really am excited because this is a journey! Now that we're all on the same page. Lately I have been doing rather excellent on the all veggie mission. I'll admit that every so often I might dig into the bag of deer jerky that's sitting on the counter. It's not the same as we make it back on the reservation, but it's jerky. Who doesn't love jerky? But just a nibble here and there. And last night I did pop three small pigs-in-a-blanke

As any of you know who follow me on Snapchat, you know that I was so excited about this dish that I actually broke my promise of not talking about food related to this blog on Snapchat. Not only that, but I walked everyone through it, step by step. Well, you didn't even have to be on Snapchat to know this, I've only ranted about it throughout the last two or three posts. Well the time had come to actually whip up this most anticipated dish. If you aren't already following me, you're always welcome to!  Slowly, I'm started to get into the habit of removing vegetables from the stove BEFORE they cook all the way, especially in circumstances like this where it tells you too because you'll reintroduce it later on. I don't know why I struggle with it, I mean it after all already edible. I'm not sure why my brain insists on making sure it's cooked all the way through. I suppose residue from cooking chicken. The aromas of lime juice, garlic and