Spices, Spices and more Spices!

Sadly to say I'm just now getting into spices, I need to start developing my pallet so that when I eat something I can I taste all of the the different flavors. In the next few weeks I will be taking a field trip to Lee Lee's market, it is one of my favorite places to go. It is a huge international market (check my earlier posts there are pics) I never used coriander and everyone is using cardamom pods. I will set aside 100 bucks and and go on adventure and the best thing about Lee Lee's is that their meat prices are so low!

I could spend all day there. I love ethnic foods I'm so dying to to try Caribbean, Greek and other ethnicity's. There is a section in Lee Lee's that sell whole cooked duck (with the faces on) and roasted pork and i have to say that was the most delicious pork I have ever tasted, it was moist, tender and so succulent I'm looking forward to getting more.

My neighbor gave me some dried peppers if anyone can give me any ideas on what to with them, they are large and reddish black. I have a question, can a person really get into ethnic foods and have a dislike to really spicy food? I went to Indian restaurant and the food was really spicy and I really want to try Thai food and I want to enjoy the flavors and not have my mouth on fire.

Any words of advice are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi again!

It took me while to get my groove back. I am ashamed to call myself a foodie since there is so much I haven't tried. I live in Tempe and I really do not have any friends it is quite sad, I have arthritis in my knees and shoulders and lupus and I am in pain about 87 percent of my day. My income is limited but I do what I can every time I go to the store I always pick up something special just for me like vanilla beans, anchovies etc.. My dream is to start some kind of foodie club where we can meet and have a theme like one month exotic fruits, cheeses, Greek etc and everyone brings a authentic dish or once a month go to a different restaurant like a authentic middle eastern restaurant and such. I would just settle with a good pal that has the same interest as me, no one I know wants to experience new things. I am looking forward to use different spices. I am really embarrassed to call myself a foodie because of so little things I've cooked or try but I rather spend my Sunday in a international market than in a shoe store ( Don't be shocked!!) I never even tried a jicama, I am so ashamed! You don't even want to see the pots and pans I cook with let's just say I got the used. I am saving up for one pan a month. I promise I will not disappear again I'm hoping to make life long friends here. I am 42 and I hope it is not to late for me to start over! Plus I a ton of weight to lose and next month I can rejoin my contest cooking central family again (I had to quit due to lack of funds) I will be asking for advice of recipes cooking and hopefully get words of encouragement. Thank you for listening

Cooking

Now that I am back into doing what I love, I want to try two different ethnic dishes every month. Here in Arizona we have a great international market called LeeLee's so I can get what ever I need. So I'm thinking once a month i will try to authentically ( as best I can) make a dish from the following countries.

FEB- Greece, Spain
MAR- Africa, Brazil
APR- Poland, Jamaica
MAY- France, China

Wish me luck and I would appreciate any suggestions!

I'm backkkkk!

Hi everyone I took sometime off because two years ago I asked my 22 daughter to move from Boston to Arizona thinking we could become great friends and she can start a new life get a job go to school etc. What happens next was something I never thought would happen, My daughter spent the next
two years of sleeping all day and staying out all night, losing my keys in and out all scaring me leaving my house in such a mess that I was embarrassed for me to have company, constant disrespect, taking things that don't belong to her , always borrowing money and hasn't worked or gone to school since coming here. I have arthritis in my knees and shoulders and all this stress caused me to be in pain 90 percent of my day which also put me in such a depression that I lost interest in everything cooking, recipe contests, going out. But i finally kicked her out on november 30th, cleaned my house and now I feel good. I cleaned the whole house after she left this is a picture of under the couch! What do you guys think?

Cheeburger Cheeburger

Saturday night I allowed myself a treat which is very rare, I treated myself to a meal out and 2 movies! That's right 2 movies I saw Obsessed and Wolverine movies but first I treated myself to a dinner. I waled by several restaurants till this one caught my eye, I have never heard of it before.

The diner had a 50's motif with the green and chrome chairs, rolls of paper towel on the tables. I sat myself down and waited at least 10 minutes before my presence was acknowledged. I ordered the "Serious" burger and the half and half basket which gives you half french fries and half onion rings. I struck up a conversation with 2 ladies sitting at the table next to me, they were very excited that this was my first time here and how much I was going to love the food.

After about 15 minutes my food came out, you can tell the burger was hand shaped not those frozen flat burgers they were thick and juicy, the meat was fresh, very fresh. The onion rings were light and crispy but the fries were darker than I like but still good. They will not serve a regular burger they only serve cheese burgers but the have a variety of cheeses from feta to just plain ole American. They also have a number of dipping sauces for your fries and over 25 variety of milkshakes. I could only eat half of the burger and some onion ring and I took the rest home.

It took me 15 minutes to get the attention of the waitress to get the check, but besides that the burger was well worth the wait. Also if you eat their 1 pound burger they will take your picture with a huge stuffed burger and place you on the wall of fame, luckily the table in front of me a guy accomplished it and we all gave him a round of applause. I had a great time!

Cheeburger Cheeburger
2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, Arizona

My First Key Lime Pie

I have never baked or even tasted a key lime pie before, but while I was shopping I saw 10 key limes for a bck so I though thought "What the heck". I got the recipe from Bubba's key lime pie. Now I have tried several times to make meringue all with failure so I was quite nervous. After studying all of the tips to make a great meringue I felt comfortable. I did cheat and bought the store bought prepared graham cracker crust already in the pie pan. Not to bad for my first time it was tangy and sweet but not overly sweet and the meringue came out great! (I knew that cream of tarter would come in use one day) I'm not so afraid of pies anymore!



















5 tablespoons butter, melted
1-1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup key lime juice
2 teaspoons grated lime zest
2 eggs, separated
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the milk, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon zest; blend in the egg yolks. Pour the filling into the crust.

For the meringue, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar and remaining teaspoon zest until the mixture is stiff. Spread the meringue over the filling; spread it to touch the edge of the crust all around. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown.

Fried Biscuits with Sweet Potato Cream

1 can of the grand size refrigerated biscuits
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup of heavy cream
1 1/2 cups of mashed sweet potatoes
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
vegetable oil for frying
powdered sugar for dusting

Using a mixer beat together the sweet potatoes, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon, mix until ingredients are light and creamy place in a bowl and set aside. Using a clean bowl and the whisk attachment whisk cream until forms stiff peaks then carefully fold cream into the sweet potato mixture, place into the refrigerator until it is ready to be used.

Using a large frying pan pour the oil into the pan it reaches about 2 inches in depth. Using a thermometer heat oil under a medium high until the temperature reaches 375 degrees, open the can biscuits fry only 4 at a time about 1 minute on each side then place on a paper towel to soak up excess oil.

Slice biscuits in half and fill with about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the sweet potato filling then dust the top of each biscuit with powdered sugar. Enjoy!