Tag: Food

Doesn’t have to be Tuesday to enjoy TACOS!

Published on by Charlotte Cajun QueenLeave a comment

One of my favorite, quick and easy meals is TACOS. So when Tuesday rolls around, dinner is one less thing have to think about. But it doesn’t have to be Tuesday to enjoy these tacos! It’s one of the very few recipes that everyone likes and I can hide some veggies in it too. We love tacos! They’re really versatile and easy to make in less than 30 minutes. I also enjoy making them because it’s a good way to use up any leftover veggies in the fridge. Here’s my recipe, but adapt as you please!

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1lb ground beef or turkey
  • 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1/2 bell pepper, chopped (any color but we like yellow or orange)
  • 1/2 zucchini, diced
  • 1 can diced tomatoes or a few heaping tablespoons of salsa
  • Juice of half a lime
  • Packet of low sodium taco seasoning mix (or make your own: 1 Tbsp cumin and child powder and a dash of smoked paprika and garlic powder)

Optional:

  • Whole grain tortillas or opt for lettuce wraps
  • Shredded cheese
  • Avocado or guacamole
  • Salsa or fresh tomatoes
  • Cilantro

Instructions:

  1. Heat large skillet on medium high heat for a minute or so before adding in oil.
  2. Add oil and saute veggies 2-3 minutes to soften.
  3. Add in ground meat and break up with spatula/spoon. Cook until no longer pink.
  4. Add in seasoning pack and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  5. Stir in can of tomatoes or salsa and lime juice.
  6. Cover and simmer on low for 10 minutes, stirring halfway.

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    Note: this is what it looks like before it cooks down the 10 minutes.
  7. Serve taco mixture on tortillas with toppings of choice. Optional: I add in the cilantro to the skillet after it’s done simmering and then we put more on top.
  8. Enjoy!

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It’s Fall Yall.

Published on by Charlotte Cajun Queen3 Comments

Of course one of the first foodie posts has to be an ode to FALL. Above is my little pumpkin from last year.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. It used to be summer, but as I get older, I’ve learned to love the cooler temperatures, cozy leggings and scarves, and all of the yummy goodness that comes with this time of year. Although I will admit, I’m not a PSL fan. I know, I will probably lose some of you over that statement, but I just can’t get into the hype. Nevertheless, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite fall recipes. This side dish is a perfect accompaniment for your Thanksgiving feast, but can also be put together (yes, it’s more of an assembly meal than actual cooking, so any of you can do it) for a potluck or served alongside a grocery store rotisserie chicken for a scrumptious dinner.

Sweet & Salty Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash

This recipe is adopted from Julia’s Album, and linked above. I found it for Thanksgiving a few years ago and it has since become a staple every holiday. It’s a simple recipe and requires very little cooking knowledge or experience, but makes people think you spent time more than what it actually takes.  The colors are beautiful and represent the hues of fall – red, green, orange, yellow, brown – I love it!

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Photo cred: Julia’s Album

Personally, I am not a huge recipe follower, which is why I love to cook, and not bake. A little of this and that and you can’t go wrong. However, I follow this recipe fairly closely. The only minor adjustment I make (and maybe this will win back some of those PSL lovers) is the addition of BACON. Everything is better with bacon. For the brussels sprouts, sub out 1 TBSP of EVOO for 1 TBSP of the bacon drippings reserved from the cooked bacon. Then add the crumbled bacon at the end with the dried cranberries and walnuts. Yep, I prefer chopped walnuts over pecans, but you do you. Also, I do not add the extra syrup at the end as I find it makes it too sweet. Last thing, make your life easy and buy the pre-cubed butternut squash in the produce section at the grocery store. You can use the time you would have spent sawing a butternut squash drinking wine. You’re welcome! Enjoy!