Relax-urday

A relaxing day... started with an early morning drive to the market. Fresh organic bunch of red onions inspired a greek salad which I'll have with grilled lamb.

Picked a good handful of tomatoes, and thought about securing a few things in advance of Hurricane Irene. Peppers are taking forever to ripen. I'll be patient, they will be worth it!

OK, I bought the shoes last weekend.

Now I am struggling to find something to watch on Netflix.

Blog Interrupted

I miss having new episodes of LOST to watch. I was reminded of this when I 'flashed back' in time, after landing on Oak Island this summer.

not really, but it has a weird mystery/ energy from within - a history and a presence. There is no denying the strange evidence of elaborate searches, all in trying to unleash this island's secrets.

Saturday Night Nachos

Fresh and satisfying plate of nachos. A perfect Saturday night snack.

Ingredients

2 Boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 + 1 cup Mild or Medium Pace Salsa

1 Tbsp Olive oil

1/2 cup diced peppers

1/2 cup sliced jalepenos

1/2 cup diced yellow onion

1/2 cup cilantro

1/2 cup roughly chopped tomatoes

White tortilla chips
2 cups shredded cheddar

Guacamole

2 Avocados
2 Tbsp lime juice

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin powder

1 cup cilantro leaves

Recipe

Preheat skillet to med-high, add oil. Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces, season with S&P. Fry chicken in the oil until it is and becoming golden brown. Add salsa and fry until excess moisture has evaporated and chicken is well-coated (adjust salsa amount if necessary to thoroughly coat chicken). Add peppers and onions and cook for 3 minutes until everything has softened and is well-combined. Put mixure aside and allow to slightly cool.

Preheat oven to 400. Arrange tortilla chips in one even layer on a baking dish. Evenly distribute mixture on the tortillas, then add cheddar in an even layer, then bake for 10 minutes or until everything is bubbling and beginning to turn brown. Broil for 1-2 minutes to finish. Remove from oven. Add tomatoes, cilantro and green onions. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Guacamole

Clean and mash 2 avocados. Add salt , cumin and lime juice then mash until smooth. Add garlic and cilantro. gently stir then allow to flavour for 5 minutes. taste and adjust seasonings to tasta.

--> Serve nachos with guacamole and salsa for dipping - enjoy! <--

Notorious Black Tortoise Shell

Jasmine has mellowed in her 13-years. The dominant personality remains, but with fewer sneak attacks... she is most content lounging outdoors, although we've had a few cat-neighbor visitors, which causes a little stir - a cat fight through a screen door, anyone?

Something Green...

Which reminds me, I miss this summer's herb garden. Snipping some fresh cilantro top of a fiery thai meal was a treat.

Thai Ginger Beef simply sizzles

My summery favourite is quickly become an all-year favourite. Substituting lean beef for the chicken, from classic ginger chicken recipe, makes this a soothing fall meal. Spring rolls and cilantro add a little bit of fun. The disco ball just keeps things funky... A Wandee Young inspired recipe, replace chicken with beef, tofu or green vegetables - it works with all of them! This is a great time of year to munch on as much ginger, garlic and onions as possible, all of which are so good for you!

Patio Garden