Chocolate. Chicken. Pastrami. A Blog of Epic Proportions?

Ahoy, fellow adventurers! I realize that it has been months since I posted last time. I know you're tired of excuses so lets get down to the brass tacks! 

Lately, I've been really focusing more on myself than food. I have also been cut back to part-time hours at my new job. I am no longer at Noonan's because it is seasonal. I started working at Jezebel Gourmet Bistro in November as a prep chef. I just prep things as I need to. Chopping lettuce, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, etc. Plucking spinach. Slicing lemons. All the necessary preparations to keep the chefs on the line, ready. I really do like it. I also get to jump on the line sometimes and I really like that. It also helps that I like everyone I work with. Everyone works very well as a team. And in a kitchen, teamwork is everything. 

Since I have been focusing more on myself, I started a new blog called "The Path I Travel" which is  more about fitness and just my everyday life. Kind of like my diary but online. It's pretty personal but it's cool. If you want to get to know me, here is the link to my first blog entry.

Click here for:  The Path I Travel

I have been cooking but nothing too crazy or unusual. I really wanted to make a duck for either Thanksgiving or Christmas but those ducks are expensive! Almost $20 for a duck that I'm not sure if it will even turn out. I don't have the $20 to blow like I used to. I have made something that you may all like to try.

Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Fry Pan Set - Cuisinart Chef's Class (Google Affiliate Ad)

Homemade Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon

Fill whatever mug you want to use with milk. Whatever kind of milk you want. 2%, whole, skim, etc. Pour that into a saucepan to fit your milk. Turn the heat in between low and medium. You don't want scalded milk. Next add 2-3 heaping TBS of Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder. Whisk it really good to make sure that the cocoa is incorporated thoroughly. Get all of the clumps worked out of there. Next give it a nice squirt of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. Next add sugar to taste. You either like it sweet or you don't. So you be the judge of sugar. Next add a tsp. of ground cinnamon. Keep on whisking. If you want a little kick of caffeine, add a tsp. of instant espresso powder. Once everything is mixed together and you've got your ingredients all working together and nice and hot, pour your hot chocolate and enjoy it! I was pretty impressed with the result of this hot chocolate. Hints of cinnamon and rich chocolatey goodness. 

What else have I made... hmmm.. I tried making homemade chicken fried rice with brown rice. That was a mushy mess. 

You know what is really simple though? Chicken breast cooked in Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup. We also had leftover steamed broccoli so I added that to it. Put it on top of brown rice and you've got an awesome meal that is a little healthy and fills you up. Cream of Mushroom soup is awesome especially when you add it to things like casseroles. Who doesn't like a nice casserole? 

OXO Good Grips Flexible Turner, Green (Google Affiliate Ad) 

(I have one of these spatula's and I love OXO brand)

 Great stuff.

Another favorite chicken dish is 

Almond Crusted Chicken with Curry Risotto. 

To make the crust, you grind up a handful of almonds and coarsely chop them in the food processor. Put the chopped almonds on a plate and add some breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Put your chicken breast in it and press the mixture onto the chicken to give is a nice crust. Fry it up and if you want, finish it in the oven. 

Curry risotto is just like any other risotto. 1 cup of risotto to 4 cups cream, 4 cups water, OR 4 cups chicken broth. If you look up one of my blogs about risotto, you'll see what to do. Just do the basic risotto and add a couple spoons of curry paste and you have some awesome curry risotto to go with your chicken. 

NEW FOOD ALERT!

I tried shawarma for the first time a month or so ago! (I'm sorry if I spelled that wrong.) I really liked it. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. It was diced chicken in a pita pocket with tomatoes and onions with a yellowish oily sauce. It was messy to eat but it was different. I really liked it. I definitely recommend that you try it at some point. The restaurant I had it at was the Mediterranean restaurant next to the Valli Produce on E.State. 

 Another great food I had was what I thought was a mexican hot pocket. It was a roll that tasted like french bread but inside, there was ham, cream cheese, and a slice or two of jalapeño. It was REALLY good! Michaels mom picked them up at the mexican bakery in Belvidere and it was awesome. I think if you got one and warmed it up a tad in the microwave or maybe on a panini press, it would be a tasty treat when you bite into it.

You can see the ham and cream cheese but not too much jalapeño.  Perfection. 

The same night I had the bread pocket of sunshine Michaels mom made us tacos. They were pork tacos and I let Michael doctor them up the way he likes. He put chopped onion, chopped cilantro, and some fresh squeeed lime on them with avocado. Best tacos ever. I forgot what the pork is called but it's spicy and red. I loved those tacos. Finish them off with a perfectly frosted bottle or two of MGD and you've got yourself a perfect dinner.

I'm starting to realize that I love mexican food. But no mexican food can compare to Michaels moms. Everything I have had of hers has been amazing. She makes the best chicken tomatillo tamales. Great posole. Great Rozca. I've had a lot of mexican food the past couple of days and I just love it. No other mexican food can compare to hers. You have no idea.

Wusthof Classic 6 " Wide Cook - 4584-16 (Google Affiliate Ad)
(One of the best knives I have ever used. Pricey but worth every penny.)

A few nights ago on a Saturday, Michael and I decided to have a Fry Night. Usually we have them on Fridays but it was Saturday. A fry night is where we fry whatever we want. We had one months ago when we lived at our apartment. That time we fried fresh chicken strips, mushrooms, pickles, olives, cheese, jalapeño poppers. Everything that was fryable in our fridge. This last time, we fried catfish nuggets, chicken drumlets, our homemade jalapeño poppers, and even oreos! Everything was good except we didn't really like the catfish. We make the best jalapeño poppers. Get a can of jalapeño's and  cream cheese. Slice a jalapeño down the middle and stuff it with cream cheese. Dunk it in your batter (we made beer batter) and fry it up. They don't take long and they taste phenomenal! We love them.

And last but not least, on this past Friday, we wanted a Pastrami sandwich. We almost went to Chicago in search of a pastrami sandwich. Turns out, we didn't have to go far. In Rockford, there is a deli that has pastrami. It is called Brooklyn Deli and they are located on E. Riverside in between Alpine and Mulford. By Charter Fitness and Cookies by Design. 

Their french fries are awesome and crunchy. We had the Rockefeller. It is Pastrami, Corned Beef, Onions, and Spicy Mustard on a Toasted Bun. SUPER GOOD! We went two days in a row. Our second day we had the Hot Pastrami. I liked the Rockefeller better. I definitely recommend this place though. Here's a nice picture to ease your thoughts. 

 Thanks for reading. I can see that people are reading every day and I do appreciate it!