Mexi-Pasta

I finally got to cook again. This recipe developed pretty much from my mind and wanting to have something spicy for supper (we had pomegranates for dessert). The boyfriend loved it. He said it was the perfect amount of heat for him. Me? Let’s just say that the biscuits were a good idea to serve on the side to cut the heat. I love spicy foods though, don’t get me wrong.

To reduce some of the spiciness, you can use a milder salsa, tomatoes without chiles, or maybe just a 4 cheese Mexican blend. The only thing I`d change next time would to use a medium salsa. Or maybe just split it into two batches, medium and hot. Try it and let me know what you think!

Mexi-pasta

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 box Mini Penne, cooked & drained
1 jar Salsa (I used hot)
1 can Pinto Beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 can diced tomatoes with chiles, drained
1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 cup pepper jack cheese
Sour cream (opt.)

1. Brown the beef and garlic salt. Drain grease
2. Combine the penne, salsa, beans, corn and tomatoes in a skillet over medium heat, cook 8-10 minutes
3. Sprinkle the cheese and cover for about 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
4. Serve, adding sour cream if desired.

No McDonald’s Tonight

Amy over at “What’s Cookin’ Good Lookin’?” recently wrote a post about people who don’t cook. She wondered if they ever had a craving for real food. That led me thinking about something that really irks me about cooking.

There are a lot of times, as I am down in the basement of my dormitory, cooking up Friday night supper for the boyfriend and I, someone will come up to me and sigh, saying, “Man, I wish I could cook like you.” Gazing around, I look for some sign that I am cooking with something more than a frying pan and a spatula. Maybe there is a plate of foi gras or a filet mignon somewhere that gives way to the idea that this person cannot cook like me. With a shrug, I respond, “If you can read, you can cook*. All you have to do is follow the directions.” The poor starving soul looks amused for a second, then goes to dress for tonight’s huge raver, where they will later be vomiting up the horrendous dining hall food.

That’s when it hits me.

Most Americas would rather reach into their drawer full of take-out menus and order up some quick delivery, often bland in taste and high in fat, than spend 30 minutes or so cooking up an easy dish in the kitchen. Rachel Ray cooks up a something every episode of 30 Minute Meals. Sandra Lee’s show features mostly store bought ingredients. So why is it so hard for people to take a few measly minutes out of their day to fix something delicious?

My lengthest recipe was a 2 hour Turkey Pot Pie, which only took so long because I didn’t cook the ingredients beforehand (a minor blunder that I later asked my mom about). But during that time, I got to hang out with my friends, watch tv and do a bit of homework. My quickest recipe? Most have had a 5-10 minute prep time, then chill in the oven for about 20 minutes.

When have we gotten so lazy? I admit, sometimes I do prepare those taco dinner kits because they are cheaper than buying each ingredient seperately and save me some time, but I enjoy those. I will never fall back onto any frozen dish other than frozen chicken tenders or ice cream. Which I have been known to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner before.

My advice to you is go cook. Here in this day and age, you can find a recipe featuring whatever ingredient you want in less than 30 seconds. I`m not a gourmet chef, I usually just follow the directions on a recipe until I get the basics of cooking down. If you don’t know how to do something a recipe says, Google it! I guarentee there will be at least 100,000 websites out there to help you. Give your taste buds a break and let them indulge themselves in something worthwhile.

Please folks, no McDonald’s tonight.

*My mother has told me this since I could walk.