What are you eating?

[Luke]

Made a tortilla soup last night that set me back maybe five bucks, was delicious, and fed four. Granted I had some of the ingredients on hand, but the soup consists of:

1 Onion, diced
2 Zucchinis, diced
1 tomato, diced
1 clove garlic, you guessed it, diced
1 TBSP chili powder
Quart of chicken or vegetable stock
4 corn tortillas, baked at 400 degrees until crisp (a few minutes)

I think that about covers all the ingredients.

[Luke]

I bought some Rice A Roni before the Super Bowl just in case the 49's won.

I made chile relleno's last night and my wife suggested to serve our Spanish Rice A Roni along with the meal. To my surprise, there wasn't a single grain of rice in it; it was all cheap macaroni product. Rice A Wrongy

[fastbilly1]

We are doing lemon pepper chicken breasts tonight. My wife is doing a flat belly diet, mostly nuts and fruits with smaller portions, and can eat limited meat meals. So Lemon Pepper Chicken, where the breast has been scored and soaked in lemon juice for alittle while then gets hit with cracked black pepper as it goes into the oven. We will have it with spinach salad, and Ill be having some garlic bread (since she bought a loaf from Kroger yesterday - gogo day old bread for 1/4th the price).

[Luke]

We are doing lemon pepper chicken breasts tonight.

I'm not a fan of cutting corners, but this lemon pepper seasoning is pretty phenomenal:

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/ ... epper.html

That said, every Penzey's spice, herb, and spice blends have always been top notch.

[fastbilly1]

Penzys is good but Id have to mail order it. Personally I like to just use McCormick, but my wife seems to prefer Kroger or Clover Valley (Dollar General) - since there is a dollar difference on some.

Ive been trying to bake sweet potatoe fries recently and just havent gotten it just right. They have not been drying out enough so I am playing with the temperature and time the last few times. I imagine that it is because I have a gas stove.

[Luke]

Ive been trying to bake sweet potatoe fries recently and just havent gotten it just right.

Could be the way you are cutting them too.

I wouldn't cook them under anything less than 400 degrees. And roasted sliced red potatoes dusted with cumin and skeeted with olive oil are also tasty.

Here's something you should give a shot:

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011 ... ecipe.html

As a chili enthusiast, I can say it doesn't taste like any other veggie-only "chili" I've ever put in my mouth. Very. very tasty (and cheapskates to boot).

[prfsnl_gmr]

Penzys is good but Id have to mail order it. Personally I like to just use McCormick, but my wife seems to prefer Kroger or Clover Valley (Dollar General) - since there is a dollar difference on some.

Ive been trying to bake sweet potatoe fries recently and just havent gotten it just right. They have not been drying out enough so I am playing with the temperature and time the last few times. I imagine that it is because I have a gas stove.

Cut potatoes in 1/4" to 1/2" matchsticks. Toss in vegetable oil (or olive oil is you want them a little crispier). Bake at 500 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and anything else you want on them. (I recommend fennel seed and chili powder.)

Good luck!

[Luke]

(I recommend fennel seed and chili powder.)

Sounds like a solid recipe to me.

I don't think I could do fennel seeds though. When a fennel seed cracks in my mouth I am instantly reminded of roasted pork or Italian sausage. The strong anise like flavor has a lot to do with that, even more than the aroma from the seed.

[fastbilly1]

Ive been doing it at 400 and they still come out slightly soggy. So I am cranking it up 25 degrees a go. Eventually it will come out right.

[Ack]

As a chili enthusiast, I can say it doesn't taste like any other veggie-only "chili" I've ever put in my mouth. Very. very tasty (and cheapskates to boot).

I am also a chili enthusiast, and I will have to give this a try.

Hey Luke, do you favor using molasses in your chili to give it a slightly sweet edge?