Taco Cupcakes

Yesterday was a busy day and never got a chance to post what I made for lunch. I made this simple lunch that takes about 30 minutes or less to make. 

Like I said super easy to make and the taste amazing- my family said the taste like a traditional meal you would get at your favorite Mexican restaurant! Big complement! :) Not to mention easy clean up.

Here's your ingredients:

24 Wonton Wrappers 

3/4 cup of can ranch style beans 

1 pound ground beef

1 tbsp oil 

1 1/2 tsp salt and ground pepper

1 1/2 tsp chili powder

1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 

1 1/2 tsp red chili flakes 

1 1/2 tsp cumin 

1 1/2 tsp Mexican oregano  

1 cup salsa 

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese  

1/2 box of Velveeta

1 can of rotel tomatoes ( any can of diced tomatoes will work)   

1. Pre- heat oven 350' spray cupcake tin 
2. Pan- oil and cook beef 
3. add the spices and continue cooking for about 5 minutes 
4.  While beef is cooking, put the wonton wrappers in the bottom of the tin 
5. Place a spoonful of the beans in the wrappers, then add the beef, salsa, and cheese
6. Place another wonton wrapper on top and repeat 
7. Place in oven for about 10 minutes or until the wonton wrappers are brown and cheese is melted 
8. While the tacos are in the oven in a microwave safe bowl- combine the Velveeta and can tomatoes and microwave for 2 minutes 30 seconds until it is all melted 

*I served the taco cupcakes along with the queso with chips and tortillas 

-Enjoy 

Sam 

Fish & Chips

Hey y'all, so continuing with my last post about  being British I decided last night to cook dinner for the family and made Fish & Chips. It's such a simple recipe that literary takes about no time at all to make!  

Here is the Ingredients: 

1 pound Cod - cut in strips about 8 or 9  (depends on how big the slices of Cod are)
1/3 Cup + 1 tbsp Vegetable oil
1/2 Cup Panko
2tsp salt
2 tsp ground pepper
1tsp sage
2 eggs
5 potatoes


Cooking Fish: 

1. Heat pan with 1/3 cup of oil ( have a pan large enough to shallow fry the cod) 
2. medium bowl combine Panko, sage, 1 tsp of salt and pepper 
3. medium bowl- add eggs 
4. dip cod in eggs then coat it in the Panko mixture place in pan and cook for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown 

Cooking Chips: 

1. Cookie tray with parchment paper 
2. wash the potatoes and cut them length rise 
3. place on tray and coat them with 1 tsp of salt and pepper and 1 tbsp of oil 
4. Cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees 

-Enjoy 

Sam 

British at Heart

So, I love everything British!  My family is British so its ok for me to love England.. right?!?! yeah for sure.  I would move over there in a heart beat!  Recently, during the Diamond Jubilee, it got pretty crazy. Here's what Love about it- the Boys, the humor,TV, Music, the society, the whole country, the Chefs!

A couple things happened during and after the celebration was over: 
1. I watch everything that was about the celebration.  
2. I got pretty offended when the magazine reported about Prince Phillip being in the hospital and calling him Phillip. ( Side note- I dont get offended about the US politicians and I dont really pay attention whats going on with them)
3. I keep tabs on whats happening over there.  
4. Most of the musicians I listen to comes from England: Adele, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding, Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine Ed Sheeran and so many more! 
5. 9 times out of 10 my tv is always on BBC America
6. I'm obsessed with The Duchess of Cambridge- Kate Middleton

   

-Enjoy

Sam 

Happy Fathers Day

So today is actually a really hard day for me. You see 5 years ago in May my dad passed away, and I had to be the strong one for my family. My mom and sister were nervous wrecks and someone had to step up and take care of the family. If you saw me today- you wouldn't know anything was wrong because I'm a pro at hiding my emotions. I know its not good to do but that's what I do have a wall built around me were no one came get close. I've been this way even before my dad passed away.  Its how I cope with things.
So here's a little letter that for my dad.
 Daddy,
        You taught me how to walk and how to ride a bike. You taught me how to play baseball. You would watch cartoons with me even though you didn't like them. You would let me get away with being "sick" just so I didn't have to go to school and we would watch tv together.

       Some of my favorite memories will always being with you outside while you BBQ and started to teach me how to and swinging back and forth on the porch swing. Watching all of our favorite tv shows, and driving along listening to the oldies station and getting a happy hour drink at sonic.

      I know we had our ups and downs when I became a teenager, and I wish I could go back in time and spend more time with you instead of in my room. I should of listen to you when told me to be careful about my "friends". I know during this time I wasn't the best person to be around and didn't care what you or mamma had to say.   You taught me a lot -how to be accountable, respectful, driven, successful, never giving up. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it was for you and mamma. The fact though all the tough times in school you would never let me give up means a lot and the fact you were right by me each step of the way- I can't tell how much that meant to me, especially with everything you went though as a child.

        I know it was hard for you when I started elementary school and it was really difficult for to teach me how to drive. I know our time together was short and even though you weren't there in person to see me get my license or to graduate from high school and get my associates degree I know you were their in spirit.
     

       I may be growing up and starting my own life and about to live in my first apartment and starting to pay bills and all the other adult things. Two things will never change 1. you'll always be my dad and someone I look up to and 2.  I'll always be your little baby.  

 Happy Fathers Day Daddy 

                                               Love and miss you so much

             xoxo Sam 

Chocolate Banana Bread

Hey y'all!
So today I had some ripe bananas and I might as well go ahead and use them up. I supposed that I could just throw them in the freezer for a later time, but next thing you  know 6 months will past and the bananas will be a gross black mass. So I made a Chocolate banana bread.. very chocolatey!  I guess this recipe isn't really in keeping with eating healthy but some days you just have chocolate cravings. I'll get back to creating the healthy recipes soon.. right after I have another piece of this scrumptious bread. 

Here's the Ingredients: 
1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup  light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 ripe bananas, mashed

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Pre heat oven 350 degrees and grease loft pan. In a medium bowl- Cream butter and sugars. 
2. Add eggs and bananas 
3. Swift Dry ingredients- add to sugar mixture 
4. Once incorporated add milk and chocolate chips 
5. Bake for 35 minutes  

-Enjoy 

Sam 

Dr. Pepper Cookies

So this is a recipe that my mom and I came up with. I love Dr. Pepper, its my favorite  drink- not the healthiest but oh so good! My mom was telling my about the soda cakes that her family used to make- you know the ones- cake mix with either sprite or coke or any other soft drink.
I got to thinking.. its not hard to change the amounts of ingredients and make it from a cake to a cookie.
The cookie is moist and fluffy like a cake but bakes in a short amount of time.

Here's the ingredients: 
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter- melted
5 cups of All purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder 
1 tsp. salt 
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cup Dr. Pepper 


Glaze: 
equal parts Dr. Pepper and Powder sugar

1. Pre-heat oven 375 degrees. medium bowl- combine sugar and butter until creamy 
2. medium bowl- combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt. Add to butter mixture.
3.  Add eggs and vanilla to mixture combine until all incorporated. 
4. Add Dr. pepper- texture should be a little sticky and more on the cookie dough side. ( add more flour if needed)
5. Baking sheet with parchment paper- spoon the dough onto it- leaving a couple of inches in between each cookie. 
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. 

While the cookies are baking make glaze. Whisk together powder sugar and Dr. Pepper until you reach desired glaze consistency. drizzle over cookies once they come out of the oven. 

* If you don't like Dr. Pepper you can use other Coke's- regular and diet. 

-Enjoy

Sam

Stuffed Peppers

Hey y'all!

So tonight for dinner, I made stuffed peppers. It's a little different then what my family expected since it didn't have any meat- we do live in Texas so the family thinks that every meal should have some meat. Not tonight! I filled the peppers with rice, chopped tomatoes, different spices, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Turns out the family actually liked it and wants it for dinner again!  Which is always good! >)

  Here's the ingredients: 


4 bell peppers 
1Tbsp cup olive oil
2 medium zucchini, grated 
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-oz.) can chopped tomatoes 
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 can of chicken broth
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese- grated 
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese-  grated
1/4 cup oregano 
1/4 cup cilantro 
2 1/2 cup rice
tortillas 

1. Pre-heat oven to 400F. In a skillet- oil pan, add garlic, zucchini cook until soft. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper cook for about 5 minutes.
2. Add broth, cheeses, oregano, cilantro. Cut peppers take out seeds and ribs. 
3. Cook rice-little under done. Add to tomato mixture and cook for about 10 minutes. Place a spoonful of rice on the bottom of the dish to hold the peppers- that way they dont fall over. 
4.  Spoon the tomato mixture into the peppers and place them into the dish. Cover with foil an bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil cook for 10 minutes. 
5. Wrap up tortillas in foil and place in the oven the last 5 minutes. 
6. transfer to serving dish and sprinkle cheese over the tops  

-Enjoy

Sam

Panko Crusted Pork chops

Last night I made dinner for the family- bake pork chops are delicious! Don't get me wrong grilled pork chops are great but baked chops.. it's just something about them... maybe its the fact that I dont have to stand outside by the grill in TX summer.

Here's the ingredients: 

4 boneless pork chops

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 cup  Panko breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp sage

1 Tbsp oregano 

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2.  Heat skillet medium heat- oil to coat pan. Medium bowl rub mustard over the chops. Add to pan saute for 2 minutes
3. Medium bowl- combine Panko, sage, oregano, salt & pepper. Coat chops in mixture
4. Oven safe pan- place in oven for  10 minutes or until golden brown. 

I had it with rosemary jam on top of the chop and it gave it a nice mixture of a little sweet and savory taste and a side salad with apples instead of croutons. 


Servings: 4
Serving size: 1 pork chop 
Calories: 210 

 Enjoy

-Sam 

About me

Hi everyone,

I'm Sam
-Im a foodie!! 
- grew up in south Texas 
-Senior in college- JWU Denver.  I have degree in Baking & Pastry Arts and currently working on getting a bachelor degree in food service management. 
- Love sports- baseball, football & hockey! 
-volunteer for Special Olympics

 I grew up in the kitchen, my parents used to own a donut shop- guess that's where my  love of sweets came from. I would always up my parents cook dinner and would create new recipes. Cooking & baking as always held a special place in my heart. the kitchen is were I feel safe at, its my home, my escape from reality.  being able to do what I love for a living is awesome, Im so grateful that I get to do it. I've always been a adventurous eater.

Saying that, its has had its up & down.Entering into my senior year of college, Im making a change in my mind, body and spirit. changing eating habits which is a lot harder when you work with food on a daily basis. I'm starting to eat healthier and doing this creating new recipes and living a better life. 

With this blog, I am hoping to keep a record the recipes, motivate myself more and give insight into life as a chef trying to change the way I live life. Also share with friends and family some of the craziness that happens in my day to day life. 

Talk soon
-Sam