My poor, neglected food blog! I've been away so long, doing my bit for science, I think. In the past eight months, I have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is, indeed, possible to be nauseous the entire time one is pregnant! Alas, food is no longer fun. Instead, it is something to be endured, if not tolerated.
My family, however, expects to be fed, usually three times a day!
When the heat index is 110 degrees, the kitchen faucet isn't working and one feels like an elephant, what exactly is a "fun" supper? And how make it simple so as not to further stress the kitchen sink? Here's the ultimate "go to" summertime feast in this house:
2 tubs of freshly prepared salsa (in the produce section)
2 cans black beans, rinsed
1 small bag of frozen corn, quickly defrosted under running water (yes, it requires the sink--we used the bathtub:-)
2 avocadoes, pitted and diced into cubes about the size of the tomato dices in the salsa
Mix it all together. Then, you have choices, depending on how tired you are and how much more energy you have to invest.
Option 1:
Crush some tortilla chips in a large salad bowl. Layer torn lettuce, taco-seasoned meat, the bean-salsa salad and freshly grated cheese. You have taco salad!
Option 2:
Use the bean-salsa salad with cheese as a burrito filling. Heat or not, as you like.
Option 3 (Dad's not home, no one's looking): Open a bag of sturdy tortilla chips and serve with bean-salsa salad at the picnic table.Everyone dips the chips and scoops out salad from the same big bowl. Call it a day!
Here are some great go-alongs to drink (based on recipes from Heart of the Home):
Blend ice, the juice of 5 limes, 4 Tablespoons of sugar, ice, and about 20 ounces seltzer water (or regular water, if you like) in the blender (do this slowly, so it doesn't "fizz out"). Serve with sprigs of garden mint.
Or, for the not-pregnant, grown up crowd:
2 oz Kahlua
2 oz vodka
1 cup of milk
3 scoops vanilla ice cream
crushed ice
All in the blender. A straw is must if we are to maintain any dignity at all.