"Picture If You Will" THE AVOCADO

Oh Mrs. Avocado, Is there anything you cannot Do ?

The Avocado (Persea Americana) is thought to be native to South Central Mexico with cave painting evidence of its existence to our current knowledge dating as far back as 10,000 B.C.

I just know that I Love Em'

A lovely Avocado half served with a Tostada and Spanish Onion, Arroz Amarillo (Yellow Rice), Refried Beans (with Chorizo), Iceberg Lettuce, Jalapeño, Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese (close enough for my needs as a Manchego substitute) and Alcaparrado (Manzinilla Olives with Pimiento & Capers).

Some lovely Avocado Slices served with a Flour Tortilla and Refried Beans (with Chorizo), Arroz Amarillo, Ground Beef with Sautéed Onions & Garlic, Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese, Sliced Tomato and Jalapeño.

A few more lovely Avocado Slices served with BACON, Iceberg Lettuce, Arroz Amarillo, Refried Beans, and Jalapeño atop a Tostada.

BACON plus AVOCADO might make the top of the Awesome list.

A Tostadas photo to Delight and Entice.

The calm before the Stormocado.

MSG getting in on the act.

GUACAMOLE.

This needs no introduction or comment.

A PLACE FOR MY STUFF"ING"

Sausage Stuffing,...

This comes up time and time again and year after year especially during the holidays and I always get an extra helping (if I can help it) because how can you really go wrong. 

I actually only just made my first batch ever without adding any "extras" except for Sauteed Garlic and Loved it.

Well perhaps I fib, I did add one of my latest obsessions the Jalapeño Pepper (uncooked) as a Crunchy Veggie topping that actually complimented this uncomplementable dish.

I blame my friend Caroline for pushing me over the edge after Stuffing the Bird at Thanksgiving 2016 with some Sausage Stuffing.

Who Needs Turkey ? 

Hand Over The Stuffing.

4/1/17 - 

RICE-A-RONI - Beef Fried Rice (Chop-A-Roni)

My friend Dianne asked for this easiest of Recipes since it sounded good to her and YES IT IS.

This has since been added to the RICE-A-RONI "back of the box" MAKE IT A MEAL recipe corner but "L" introduced me to this first and it has remained a bi-annual staple of my diet.

Christina calls this Chop-A-Roni.

Jalapeños give this melange a nice kick but I like to add mine uncooked and after the fact. Also if the Peppers are on the HOT side which is often hard to detect aside from a Taste test I would not want the Spiciness to permeate the entire Dish concerning those who might be sharing with a milder palate.

RECIPE -Dice Onions and Sauté over medium heat in Butter/Oil till tender (clear translucency).

Brown one pound Ground Beef (or meat of choice) in same pan (add Diced Garlic and/or Spices to taste during cooking) and drain well. If adding Diced Fresh Garlic be sure to briefly brown it but do not overcook, Garlic Powder on the other hand can be utilized at any time and needs no "cooking directions".

Remove Ground Beef mixture and place aside. Some Including myself have done it in one go (Add the Roni to an pan of Ground Meat) but undercooked Rice can happen.

Prepare Rice-A-Roni as directed on package and Combine Both Ingredients (meat/onions, Roni), Simmer briefly over heat stirring occasionally.

Seeding and Skinning the Jalapeño.

The Garlic in the photo above had been Frozen and Thawed, while this works I do recommend Fresh Garlic.

3/20/17 - A Simplest Congregation of two (4 ?) Food items together, but does it work ? 

Yes indeed it does. This is Comfort Food VS. Fancy Food. 

Comfort Wins.

And Of Course add whatever Condiment suits you. I like Trappey's Hot Sauce or Soy Sauce myself.

NOT ONLY BAGELS 8/29/12 Brooklyn, New York

The Chicken Torta ($5.50) from my newest corner Bagel store which opened on the site of Palermitana Bakery.

This sandwich took almost 10 minutes to prepare as it was made from scratch and that's not a bad thing at all. Served on a Roll topped with Lettuce, Tomato, Queso Blanco, Avocado, some type of Pickled Pepper, what can only be described as a Muffaletta style spread and 3 small thinly sliced Chicken Cutlets dry spiced on the grill and also doused in that lemonade looking agent many places use during grilling.

4/26/13 - Steak Tacos - Delicious and only $2.25 apiece with Cilantro, Onions and Tomato, could have used more Taco Sauce and some Lime but the mastication of the Minute Steak left me very impressed. Queso Fresco was absent.

12/4/13 - Come December I decide to make Chili proper as in Canned Tomatoes and Real Jalapeno's as opposed to the Pickled and Jarred type. I prepare everything majestically and slow Cook for hours. These are the months of my "splint" finger and whilst removing the Pan from the Stovetop it goes careening (in slow motion of course) out of my hand. The Very First thought is "What can I save and Salvage !!!!!!?". Well there was broken glass involved as I had burst the lid on my Olde Faithful Saucepan so I saved what I could and it was Very Delicious. Jalapeño's could have been spicier but I am still learning.

The main remembrance (aside from all of that lost Chili goodness) was that at 48 years of age I wandered into my local Mexican Bagel Shop and have NO Idea what Fresh Jalapeño cost's. I had my dollar in hand but was informed that my 2 Jalapeno's (see pic above) were. "2 for twenty five cents".

O' FLANAGANS 6/30/12 New York City

The menu states clearly "ALL burgers served with French Fries" but the Mexican Burger comes with Nacho Chips and Salsa (I wanted all of this plus Fries) instead, Luckily Jamie's Chicken Fingers came with Fries.

Last time I had a Burger here it was Delicious, this time the bread was a tad stale. The Mexican Burger comes topped with Cheddar Cheese, Salsa, Scallions and fresh Jalapeño that have a real kick.

O' Flanagan's Site