You can call me Betty, Betty Crocker

It seems as though I am always getting a hard time from my family and Mikey... soooo surprised that I am all of the sudden a super good cook. I mean, I never really tried before. Why would I? My Mom makes like, thee best food ever! And this explains why I have a natural knack in the kitchen. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but toot toot biatch.

So, like many stories I tell on here, it began with my Mom... apparently a lot of people think that their Mom is the best cook, but mine really is, no really. I was the little kid who could not eat over at people's houses because "that's not how my Mom's tastes," and I made my Dad's girlfriends mad, "that's not how my Mom does it." So many people cook their food bland, lacking serious flavor- gross! There are certain things I will not even order out because my Mom can totally do it better. If you are willing to challenge this, just try my Mom's spaghetti, chili verde or sugar cookies to name a few simple delights. Who else rocks in the kitchen? My Grandma. So, obviously it is in my blood to be a total Betty Crocker. I am not even sure if Betty is accurate, I can't really bake, but I can cook. Maybe Rachel Ray or even Martha Stewart is more on-target because I am a hell of a crafter now too!

We do a lot of simple dinners in our home. We are both off around the same time, 6 p.m., and by the time we get home it is late and we are starving. So much for the important diet tip of "not eating after six." We love anything Mexican 'ish, probably because it is a heritage kind of thing, LOL. We do lots of tacos, fajitas, beans, salsa, etc. My new favorite, "Machel's Mexican Casserole." I learned of this idea from a girl I work with, Lauren*. I put my own little spin on things and this is how we do it...

Arrrriiibbbaaaaa:

those uncooked tortillas from Costco (one of the best things that has ever happened to me)

beans (choose from refried, black or pinto; we love them all)

shredded cheese

frozen corn (I warm in pan with a tiny bit of olive oil and of course Tapatio)

cilantro

salsa

and top with avocado

I cube chicken and put it in a pan with a tiny bit of olive oil, fresh garlic and onion with lots of taco seasoning and OF course red pepper flakes (red pepper flakes rock my world)

I make a little casserole layering all of these yummy items

That is my first tasty share... super easy and fast and seriously delicious!