Tortilla Crusted Chicken & Mexican Rice

This was Sunday's dinner compliments of Chef Mark who loves to search the internet for fun and interesting food. That's what I love about my husband, he's not afraid to cook and has become quite a good chef. Infact, some of our favorite shows are Hell's Kitchen, Iron Chef, Kitchen Nightmares and the Next Food Network Star.

I'm pretty sure that the Iron Chef Judges would give Chef Mark the highest points for plating, flavor, and originality. The mexican rice was the best I've ever had and it had remarkable flavor. I loved it!!! So did the kids!!! The Tortilla Crusted Chicken was moist and tasty!! Chef Mark also made homemade guacamole to go with it along with sour cream and salsa, too. Excellent meal!!!

My kids like to tease me when I take pictures of the food but it just looked so great when Mark set it down on the table to start eating. He was very patient as I took three pictures just to make sure I got the best one. I'm sure you'll all appreciate my efforts!! Right?

Here's the website he got the recipes from: www.cooking.com

Mexican Rice

Ingredients:
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white rice, rinsed and drained
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled
2 1/2 cups water or chicken stock
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 jalapeno chiles, chopped
Fresh cilantro sprigs

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan until hot. Add the rice, stirring constantly, until slightly browned, or, as old Mexican cooks like to say, it sounds like tissue being crushed. Strain the rice and return it to the saucepan.

Combine the tomatoes, onion, and garlic in a blender until smooth. Pour the mixture over the rice and cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spatula, for about 5 minutes. Add the water and salt, stir, then put the chiles and cilantro on top. Lower the heat, Cover, and simmer for approximately 25 minutes or until the rice is tender but firm.

For a popular variation to this recipe, add 1/3 cup each cubed potatoes, carrots, and peas with the water.

Recipe reprinted by permission of Weldon Russell. All rights reserved.


Ortega Tortilla Crusted Chicken

Ingredients:
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 ounces tortilla chips, finely crumbled
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup Ortega Salsa - Roasted Garlic (Medium)
1/2 cup guacamole, (optional)
1/2 cup sour cream, (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Whisk together eggs and milk in a shallow dish. Dip chicken into egg mixture, then into crumbled tortilla chips. Place in prepared baking pan.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center and chips are golden brown. Top with cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

Recipe reprinted by permission of Ortega®. All rights reserved.

What Kind of Sewing Machine Do You OWN?

I was visiting Freda's Hive the other day and she was talking about her Bernina so, I thought it would be fun to do a survey amongst the quilters that visit my blog. Take the survey on my sidebar and vote for which machine you have and leave a comment. You can mark ANY or ALL of the machines that apply to you.

I'll start off by telling you I own three different Viking Husqavarna Sewing Machines, a White Portable Sewing Machine and a Babylock Pro-line Serger. I've had a few other machines over the years but, none have worked as well and as consistently as my Vikings. My first sewing machine was a Sears Kenmore that I bought from a neighbor and the next sewing machine was also a Kenmore with lots of different cams that you would insert into a designated spot and that would generate your different sewing stitches. It was way too cumbersome of a method to change from one decorative stitch to another especially with how easy it is on today's sewing machines.

This is my newest baby and is the 5th sewing machine I've owned. It's a Viking Sapphire 850 and has lots of great features and an extra large sewing area which also has an added light. It's great having all of that extra area to sew when I'm machine quilting. My dear husband bought me this sewing machine a year ago Mother's Day when I was having trouble with my Viking Rose that was 11 years old at the time.

My Rose was my 4th and my very first brand new sewing machine. It hadn't given me any trouble in all the years I've had her until one day it just wouldn't turn over when you turned on the switch. My first thought was it had to be related to the computer and I saw dollar signs in my head. I took it in to the repairman and waited for an estimate. While we were at the store we looked around at the latest greatest sewing machines. It was so fun. I was really excited about a new sewing machine knowing that my Rose might cost a lot of money to fix and then I could just get a new one. I had it all figured out in my head ; )

Well, it turns out that my Rose was just fine, all it needed was a new fuse, a loose wire that needed tightening and a regular service cleaning. I was happy and sad that it only cost $79 to fix it. I thought I wouldn't be able to get a new machine but my husband spoiled me and got the Sapphire anyway. My daughter Natalie was especially happy because she knew that I would let her have my Rose. So, we both got a new sewing machine.

Here's a close-up of some of the stitches and the bobbin winder.

Here's a close-up of the foot that Nanette mentioned on her post that has the metal guide attached to the foot that helps keep your 1/4" seams more accurate. I'm not sure about Bernina but I've had this foot for over 12 years now on my Vikings and I wouldn't use any other method unless I had too. If you don't have this kind of foot for your machine I would check to see if it's available for your sewing machine. You'll love it!!!

This was my 3rd sewing machine that I acquired from my mother when she passed away. I remember the day my dad bought her that machine from ZCMI. I was married by then so I never got to use it. I learned to sew when I was 14 years old. My best friend Andrea loved to sew and together we made lots of clothes and I remember the time we made teddy bears together. As you can see from the pictures I still love teddy bears and have too many of them. They live in my sewing room because they don't fit anywhere else in my house, according to my husband (smile) especially since our remodel.

This is a White "Quilter's Machine" that I bought for my youngest daughter to sew on (since I didn't want her sewing on mine) and I thought it would be handy to take to classes, etc. It's small, portable, and has some really good features. I especially love the table extension. Kenna loves to sew blocks together and has even made her own little quilt.


This is my other WORK HORSE that my husband bought me over 20 years ago when my kids were just little. I made a lot of my kids clothes and Halloween costumes over the years and I have lots of great memories of the times spent sewing for my kids. Now let me tell you about this serger. It's been the best and most reliable serger I've ever had and it's been the only one I've ever had and I use it quite a bit. I had to have it fixed once because a friend that I loaned it too somehow broke it! I got it fixed and serviced and it still works great. I wish it would break so I could get one of these new Babylock Evolves that have jet air threading. That's my next investment.

Shop Hop Mystery Prize Revealed

So, here's the BIG Mystery Prize from the Quilt Shop Hop Give Away that was mailed off today to Anita, I hope you enjoy the "Stash & Dash Bag" I made you and the little goodies inside. You should receive it by the end of the week. I mailed it by USPS Priority Mail and for those that won the patterns I mailed them out yesterday by first class mail.

Stash & Dash Bag by Amy Butler
You can find the pattern at most any quilt shop or at the link above. The bag can be used to hold your make-up, jewelry, personal items, hand sewing items, or maybe even as a small purse, you decide.
The Ric Rac is attached to the zipper as a zipper pull.

This is a picture of what's inside the "Stash & Dash Bag"

Two Fat Quarter's
Shop Hop Pencil
Pattern
YoYo Maker
Needle Case
4" Square Omnigrid Ruler

Happy Fourth of July

Every year we celebrate the 4th of July with a neighborhood parade and breakfast. It's been a lot of fun over the years with lots of great memories. This year was bigger and better than last year with lots of family and extended family. I can't believe how all the neighborhood kids have grown up, married, and have their own children now.

This year for breakfast we had scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes, fruit, pastries, cinnamon rolls, and orange juice, along with water. I loved all of the fruit but never got back for seconds. Oh well, it was yummy!

I enjoyed having all of my kids and grandkids together. A Grandma lives for days like these when everyone gathers and celebrates the holidays. After the big neighborhood party everyone scattered. Nick & Natalie took the kids home for a nap. Mark and Mark Jr. went to play tennis. Ariel and Kenna went swimming at the neighbors and I was left to blog. Hope you enjoy my efforts!

Have a Wonderful 4th of July Celebration with Friends and Family!!!

Red, White, & Blue Quilts

Happy Independence Day!!!






This first picture is one taken July 4th in 2007. It's me with 3 of my 4 children and my SIL Nick. Baby Ben was sleeping in the stroller. Notice the quilt we're sitting on. It's the Buggy Barn Heart Quilt that was originally done in Red, Black, and Gold. I think the Red, White, and Blue is a FUN combination and makes this quilt so much brighter than the original.

In this post I've included some of the other 4th of July Quilts I've made over the years. I'm not sure which fabrics I have the most of but Red, White, and Blue, are right up there with Christmas, Halloween, Valentines, Spring, Civil War, Shirtings, Aunt Grace, Brights, Novelties, and Fall Fabric.

This is the most recently completed 4th of July Quilt although I haven't done the binding yet, maybe I ought'a do that today so I can use it at the neighborhood parade and breakfast tomorrow. I will also post pictures of our Neighborhood 4th of July Celebration tomorrow.
It should be lots of FUN!! I know the kids look forward to it every year!!!

I made this quilt like maybe 7-8 years ago and my daughter Natalie is now the proud owner of this Patriotic Quilt. It was one of her favorites at the time.

I used the leftover blocks and made this table runner to go with the quilt above.

This Patriotic Star wall hanging I made using the freezer paper method that we've been recently using to make our Dear Jane Blocks. I really enjoyed making this quilt.

The Winner's ARE?

I've been busy this morning getting things put together for the Shop Hop Give Away and I finally caught my husband off the phone so I could have him pick the winner's names. I decided that I would give one big prize and six patterns of the quilt you see on my Sidebar and in the Blog Header. I originally taught this class in September 2007 and it's a reproduction of a quilt I bought at an antique store years and years ago now.

I'm having trouble posting pictures today so I'll try to get a picture uploaded of the prize as soon as I can. Thanks for your understanding.


So, On to the drawing. . .


Drum Roll Please. . .


The Suspense is as thick as the humidity on a hot day. . .


Ha! Ha! Ha! (just providing some tension and excitement)


Well, here goes. . .


And the BIG WINNER is. . . Anita


AND the other 6 lucky winners will recieve . .



The Vintage Patchwork Quilt Patterns:

1. Infinity Quilter

2. Tarab

3. Rhonda

4. JoAnne

5. Sox

6. Jana









If you would all send me your home address at my email listed on the sidebar I will get your prizes sent to you. Remember, the sooner you send me your address the sooner I can send off your prize. ;)

I hope you all had as much fun as I did and I'm sure I'll be doing this again so check back from time to time and I'll keep blurking around everyone's quilt blogs too!

Congratulations to EVERYONE!!!

One Day Left

Tomorrow's the day I'll be picking the winner of the "Shop Hop Give Away" so check back to see if you've won. I'll also post a picture of what you've won. Then I will need you to email me your home address so I can mail you your prize!!

Thanks to everyone who left comments, I loved all of the attention too! It's been so fun for me to be involved in the blogging world and see all of the great things each of you are doing!! Keep Quilting, Sewing, Crocheting, Knitting, Scrapbooking, Stamping, Cooking and Creating of any kind!!! I'll be surfing the blog world for the inspiration you each provide!!

Good Luck Everyone!