Nowhere near perfection....

It's been brought to my attention that there has been quite a debate going on about lil' ol' me.
It's been said that I act like a perfect wife and mother on this site.
It's been said that I am trying to emulate Martha Stewart or some other "perfect" person out there.

Once I regained my composure from laughing my fool head off, I got to thinking...
I think I spend more time making fun of my imperfectness on this site than I do spreading the Gospel of the all knowing Dana.

I am a wife.
I am a mom.
I am a daughter.
I am a sister.
I am a friend.
I am a blogger.

On this site I do try to spread some of my experiences in parenting, cooking, homesteading, marriage and frugality.

But there is indeed more to me than meets the eye here.
I get mad.
I get stupid.
I get raunchy.
In other words...
I am a real person!

Deal with it!

Oh and...
I do have another little unknown site that is a little bit more uncensored, if you're looking for it.
www.MomInTimeOut.com

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My Life is OVER!

Well... My life as I knew it is over.

Starting today, worker #4 and the Little-Foreman-in-Pink BOTH start Baseball/T-ball.

My evenings that have been filled with cooking & spending time with the my young folk will now be filled with rushing around looking for a lost baseball mitt, digging caked mud out of baseball cleats, spraying sunscreen on a red-headed 5-yr old, filling water bottles, BUG SPRAY, & racing around to get to two different practice fields, starting at two different times.
Don't even get me started about weekends.... ugh!

Now... I am not really that bitter.
I'm glad my kids are interested in playing some sports.
But the man-of-my-dreams is still working out of state, 5 kids at home are enough for me to deal with. Now I have to toss in this extra stuff??
Have I lost my mind??

Wait, don't answer that.
I already know the answer.

Pray for me...

or send cheesecake!

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Sorry Grandma... "Better Than Grandma's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies"

Grandmothers all over the world will shed a sweet tear today.
Today we will ALL (well.. everyone who reads this post) learn how to make those fabulous, comforting, sweet, chewy, oatmeal cookies that they made for us when were children.
The thing is....
I bet you these will taste even BETTER than theirs!

No... They won't come with her warm smile,
The soft, rose-water scented, hugs,
They won't be served on her pretty china,
You won't get the crumbs wiped off of your cheeks with her thread-bare apron...
You won't see that familiar twinkle in her eye as she sneaks you an extra one after your mother said "Not ONE More Cookie!".

But I promise!
The taste is there!!
And now YOU can make your own traditions around the most comfort-filled cookies of all comfort foods!

Tie on an apron for Grandmas sake and lets get down to business!!


Dana's
"Better than Grandma's Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies"

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 2 Cups all-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  

Wet Ingredients

• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter (I have used "regular" butter with great results too!)
  
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar (firmly packed)
• 2 Large Eggs
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla

Then Add

• 3 cups oats (NOT instant)
• 1 & 1/2 cups raisins

Directions

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
2. whisk dry ingredients together, set aside.
3. combine wet ingredients with mixer on low speed to combine; Turn mixer speed to HIGH and cream together until color lightens and the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture until no flour is visible (DO NOT OVER MIX!!)
5. Add Oats and raisins and stir to combine.
6. Drop Approx 2 tablespoons of dough onto a greased cookie sheet spaced about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake 11-13 min (on center rack of oven) until golden, but still moist in the cracks.
8. cool on cookie sheet for approx 2 min before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. ENJOY!!
   

I'm off to find Rose Water...

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Keep me away from sharp objects!

I am not a really frou-frou kinda girl.
You are more likely to catch me without makeup and my hair pulled up into a ponytail than you are to find my face and hair perfectly done.
When I go out to eat, You can bet that I will spill more food on my shirt than my 5 year old.
Yesterday solidified my awkward, dorky, unrefined status.

I managed to sprain my hand picking up a hammer.
Just picking it up!
Not whacking away on something hard with it.
Not pounding in several hundred nails into hard wood.
Nope... Just picking it up.

We went to pick up the Man-of-My-Dreams' new truck.
We had to sit and wait for what seemed like hours for them to inspect and detail the Macho-Truck.

You know those BRIGHT yellow cement posts that they put around buildings to dumb people won't run into the wall with their cars?
Those 4-foot-tall BRIGHT yellow posts?
Yeah, well... First I ran smack dab into one!
Head on! No, not in my car... But with my body!
Brilliant! I played it off and hoped than no one noticed as I limped inside.

Then, as we were standing in the office waiting for our shiny new keys,
I fell off of the side of my shoe and sprained my ankle.
I was wearing flat shoes!
I didn't have on hoochie-mamma 7-inch high heels.
I was wearing perfectly safe flat shoes!
I wasn't rushing down a flight of stairs.
I was standing in place on a flat, carpeted surface!

Yes, the Man-of-My-Dreams was home and with me to witness me in all of my sophisticated glory. I wonder why he wouldn't let me drive the new truck home...

More soon... if I don't kill myself first!

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I come by it honestly.... And I need your help.

The fact that I am a little bit "off" has been made abundantly clear on this Lil Blog 'O Mine.
I prefer the term "Quirky" or "Unique" but whatever!

Anyway...
I come by it honestly.
Many many family members before me are down right CRAZY!
No, not padded-cell crazy, but they are a strange bunch.

My Grandfather had an unwavering belief in Listerine Anapestic Mouth wash. It could heal all things. (Think My Big Greek Wedding and the Windex. Yep it was THAT bad!)

My Grandmother swears to this day that I make my eyes Hazel/green just to bug her! (she wanted brown eyes)
She irons her bras!

Then there is my spoiled-rotten sister.
She is now 27 years old and STILL has a security blanket. That she STOLE from our dear sweet mother!
She has a steadfast rule that no one may order the same dish as her at any restaurant.
She is deathly afraid of those small bag worm caterpillars, she knows they will swarm and bite her toes off.
I could go on and on... she really needs to be medicated.

Speaking of my dear sweet mother.
You know, the one who doesn't remember the worlds worst black eye?
The one who made her 16 year old daughter (me) drive all the way to a neighboring town to buy a single can of beer that she needed for her biscuit recipe, because she didn't want to chance bumping into someone from church while securing her booze?
Yeah.. That one!

Well.. she has a strange little need to name her cars.
She can't just pick a name out of the blue either, the car has to "tell her" it's personality.
She has had boy cars, girl cars, and even one who turned out to be gay.

Not only must she name HER cars, but she thinks we must name ours too.
So, to humor her and make her happy, I oblige and name my cars.

I name my vehicles based on looks.

I've had Oscar,

and Beulah aka "Big Mamma".
This brings me to my newest predicament.

Look at this "face"

What do YOU think it's name is?

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Oops... I Did it again!

Remember about 2 weeks ago when I confessed to selling the Man-of-My-Dreams truck without telling him? (if not, you can read it by clicking -->here)

Then remember the way we totally messed with the young men folks heads when he found out? (click HERE if ya missed it)

Well I kinda-sorta did it again.
Something without really telling him.
Can You keep a secret?

Shhhhhhhhh!


Remember the time I danced with John Travolta??
My own mother doesn't!
You can read about it by clicking HERE.

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Taking a moment for pure corney Love-Stuff.

Maybe it's the gray weather.
Maybe it's the fact that we were apart on Valentines Day.
Maybe it's the long cold nights.
Maybe it's my sore achy muscles because I'm doing the heavy labor around here.
But I have been missing the Man-of-My-Dreams more than usual this week.

This working out of state thing, is getting suckier and suckier every day.
But, I know I am not alone in my loneliness.. (does that even make sense?)
I know he misses me too.

Thats why I couldn't resist posting this song when I found it.
If nothing else, It'll make anyone missing Texas smile! :)

This one goes out to the Hunk-a Hunk-a Burnin Love
I like to call
"The Man-of-My-Dreams."

Just push play.

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Our Critters.

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"Homemade Wine 101" or.. my contribution to the downfall of cheap wine lovers everywhere!

I have never claimed to be a very sophisticated kinda gal....
Gourmet, I am not.....
When it comes to food I like good ol' homemade stick-to-your-ribs comfort food.
When it comes to drink I like good old-fashioned sweet tea, coffee, Chai Tea and Diet Coke.
(whenever I can make it into the city of course it's Starbucks, Mocha Frappuccino, caramel macchiato, pumpkin spice Latte, sooo many yummy fattening drinks from there!)

And wine? well .. lets just say I'm a cheap wino. Now, don't get me wrong, I drink alcohol occasionally, like maybe once a month or so. I don't like beer, Mixed drinks are ok, but give me a glass of wine and I'm happy. Try as I might, I just don't like the "good stuff" The extra-dry expensive wines are wasted on me. Give me a good ol' $6 bottle of sweet wine with a twist-off top and I'm good to go!

Even better than any store-bought wine is homemade wine!! And today, I'm gonna tell you how I make it! I started making wine 2 years ago. I bought all the books and all the "stuff" you need to make homemade wine and homemade Mead. But I still found the whole thing pretty complicated: you had to add yeasts, rennet tablets, etc....

Then I stumbled upon what they call "prison wine". Prison wine... that sounds easy enough! It sounded cheap - I knew it had great potential. There are only three ingredients in prison wine.

Fruit
Sugar
Water

That's it!
Anybody can do that!!!
Here we go.

Homemade Wine 101...

Take a large (holds MORE than a gallon) container (I prefer Glass) with a snug lid (doesn't have to be air-tight as a matter of fact I like it NOT to be air-tight, more on why later)

1 gallon water (I like to use 1 gallon cheap bottled drinking water)
6 Cups sugar
6 heaping cups prepared fruit
(prepared = picked through, washed and cut into chunks; berries can be left whole)

***IMPORTANT!!*** You MUST make sure your container is clean!! I wash it thoroughly then pour in one teaspoon of bleach... fill it up with hot water and drain.

• Dump 6 cups of sugar into your container.
• Pour almost all of the gallon of water into the container.
• Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Dump in your fruit chunks.
• Wrap your lid/container in plastic wrap to keep out those pesky fruit flies!
• Set your container on the counter or wherever you won't forget about it. (NOT in direct sunlight or it'll wash out any color and get it too hot)
• Stir and/or swirl every day for 3o days (a little longer is fine - it's very forgiving. Just NO less than 30 days)
• discard your fruit pulp and strain your wine (I use several layers of cheesecloth or a jelly bag).
• Bottle or "rack" your wine into CLEAN bottles, and let it set for at least 6 months in a cool dark place... this will make approx 6 bottles of wine.
• Enjoy your homemade wine!!

***TIPS***

The reason I don't use air-tight lids is the fact that your wine-in-the-making will be fizzy while it "cooks" and build up pressure. But the plastic wrap is very important!! Or you'll have to throw away your batch when fruit flies invade! (don't ask me how I know this)

There will come a time during the fermentation process when you stir/swirl it it will be fizzy and bubble up quite a bit.. this is why you want your container to be bigger than you think you need or it might make a BIG sticky mess (don't ask me how I know this!).

If you rack it too soon you'll have "sparkling" wine. I like sparkling wine.. but sometimes it makes your corks pop out and fly across the room. So, if it's too bubbly, let it go a little bit longer and store those filled bottles sitting upright and NOT on their side or you could have a mess! (don't ask me how I know this)

Do NOT - I mean do NOT - mess with the ratio of fruit/sugar, thinking you'll make it better/dryer/sweeter. It won't work. (don't ask me how I know this)

You do NOT want to eat the fruit that comes out of the wine. It does NOT taste good..... All the good stuff is now in the wine. BUT if you have pigs, give it to them... Ever seen a drunk pig?? Its worth making the wine just to see that!! (don't ask me how I know this)

I have used quart canning jars when I ran out of bottles... works great and adds to the redneck-ish properties of homemade wine

You do NOT have to be picky cutting your fruit. It breaks down during the process anyway. I cut my big strawberries in half, apples and peaches & watermelon into large chunks, and blueberries were left whole. (in the pic I am ready to rack my new batch of Strawberry wine)

I bought my purdy blue and green bottles on Ebay!

I have use this recipe/technique with several fruits....

Apple = first batch was WAY sour. don't know what I did to it. 2nd time was very very yummy!

Peach = yummm! even better after it aged a year!!

Watermelon = made a very pretty pale pink wine!

Blueberry= Amazing!! (that's what is in the glass in the picture)

and the all-time winner of my poll of friends/family is....
Strawberry!! it was a little fizzy/sparkling, sweet but not way too sweet, perfect!!

any questions? feel free to ask!!

Go Forth And Make Wine!!
Your friends will thank you!!

**Hiccup**

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A Bottle of Wine + Kitchen Torch + Lonely Pyromaniac on Valentines Day = ?

Yesterday was the Day of Love. Valentine's Day.
A day to spend time with your sweetheart.
Well... the Man-of-My-Dreams is still working out of state and I didn't get the chance to see him.

I still made a Beautiful Creme Brulee.
And I decided to crack open a bottle of homemade blueberry wine.

One of the best things about making Creme Brulee is the fact that you get to use FIRE!!
You may not know this, but I am a little bit of a pyromaniac.
I am known as the "Fire Lady" on our road.
There is almost always something burning somewhere on our property , and you can bet I'm the one who lit that fire!

Sure, fire is great...
But a kitchen torch?? Thats even better!!!
The instant major-hot flame! The power of the torch!
A kitchen torch is a good thing.

Now.... a pyromaniac with a bottle of homemade wine and a kitchen torch who is also a little bit upset because she is missing her man and is instead, home with 7 children on Valentine's Day??
Well, that takes it to a whole new level of stupidity.

To be safe, I explained to the children that we were trying a science experiment and learning a little bit about kitchen safety.

In other words.. I was showing them what NOT to do in the kitchen!
Lets see what happened!

Spaghetti Noodles + Fire = nothing too exciting.
It just burnt and curled up a little bit.

A Tablespoon of peanut butter + fire = a MUCH cooler thing!
It melted! And then, it actually caught on fire!!
WAY COOL, MAN!

And then I poured another glass of wine.

An egg + fire = a little egg explosion!
In less than 2 seconds, I had yolk on the refrigerator 8 feet away!
This one did NOT smell pleasant!

Sweet Potato + Fire = a new meaning to the dish called roasted sweet potatoes!
Nothing exciting about this one.
Kind of a bummer.

With a kitchen torch, you can make toast in 3 seconds flat.
Great for those mornings you are running late for work!

Who needs sun-dried tomatoes when you can have FIRE roasted tomatoes??

Got a sugar cube?
Want to melt it without having to use that pesky cup of hot tea?
Use FIRE!

Dog Biscuit Brulee?
Otis the killer Boston Terrier was not impressed either.

Now we are talking!!
Cute little Valentine's Day candy corn.
Meant to be shared with your sweetheart...
MY sweetheart was not here!!
Nope... I'm not bitter or anything!

Red Hot cinnamon candy?
I made 'em REAL HOT!
They melted into one hard block of cinnamon love.
This one smelled really yummy!

and kinda burnt our eyes. oops!

And the #1 bestest thing to torch on a lonely Valentine's Day when you are drinking a bottle of homemade wine and trying not to kill 7 kids???

Drum roll please...
Chocolate Valentine's Day candy!!
Caramel to e exact.
This sucker lit up like a bonfire!
I was pleased.

If you like stupid human tricks, don't worry....

Easter is around the corner..
I wonder what a Marshmallow Peep will do when it meets the torch??

I'm sure I'll have plenty more to share soon.

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

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Creme Brulee.. The dessert of LOVE.

It's Valentines Day!
The Man-of-My-Dreams is still working out of state,
but I'm not gonna let that stop me from having a wonderful Valentines Day treat.

Sure... chocolates are nice.
Cake is yummmy.
You can almost never go wrong with Ice cream.
There is a cookie that fits any occasion.
But the day that celebrates Love must have something special.
When I think decadent, creamy, love.. I think Creme Brulee!




Now... You all know by now that I am not a fancy-schmancy kinda cook.
But Creme Brulee is not hard!
It is down right easy if you ask me.
It does take some time.
But there is no reason you cant make it your self.
All you need is Cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla and a few tools.

I'm gonna show ya how!


Creme Brulee
SERVES 8

• 1 quart heavy cream
• 1/2 -1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sugar
  
• 10 egg yolks
• pinch salt

Burnt Sugar Crust

• 3/4 cup sugar

Directions

1. Use 6-oz. ramekins.
2. Heat the oven to 325°F.
3. Heat the cream or cream and milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat until scalded (you'll see small bubbles on the sides of the pan).
4. Split the vanilla bean in half, if using, and scrape the seeds into the cream.
5. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, slowly whisk the sugar and salt into the egg yolks.
6. Slowly temper the hot cream into the sugar/yolk mixture.
7. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a pitcher or measuring cup.
8. Stir in vanilla extract if using.
9. Arrange the ramekins in a baking dish with deep sides, pour the mixture into the ramekins, Fill the baking dish with water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins and cover the dish with foil.
10. Bake until just set, 25 to 50 min.
11. Remember to start checking early; baking time will depend on the thickness and depth of your ramekins and baking dish.
12. Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and let the ramekins cool in the water bath.
13. Remove, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
14. Topping: sprinkle a light layer of sugar over each cold creme brulee just before serving.
15. Caramelize either using a propane torch by passing over the sugar or putting under a broiler.
16. ENJOY!!!
    

*TIP* when making your sugar topping, it's better to brown two thin layers of sugar than to use one thick one... because with a thick layer you will end up with burnt sugar (and the burnt sugar taste!) on top and the sugar underneath will not melt.

I was very excited to use my kitchen torch!!
I got a little carried away...
Tomorrow, I'll show ya what a lonely woman on Valentines Day with a bottle of wine & Torch can do in a kitchen.

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Hog in a Quilt. (kolaches, TEXAS size!)

Mmmm, doesn't this look good?

I'm sure that at some point in your life you have eaten a "pig in a blanket".
Here in Texas we eat tons of Kolaches, usually at breakfast time,

Its a soft roll-like bread baked around a sausage, maybe some cheese, jalapeno, Ham & Cheese, you name it!

We eat more kolaches for breakfast than we do donuts!

I often cheat and make dozens of kolaches using refrigerated crescent dough, wrapped around some "Little Smokies" sausages w/ half of a slice of cheese.
They bake up flaky, golden brown, cheesy, and disappear off of the baking sheet before I have a chance to set it on the counter!

Well, we all know by now that I can never leave a good thing alone.
I have to find a way to make it better!
Thats how "Hogs in a Quilt" was developed tonight.

In Texas we like things big.
The Men-folk round this farm can eat through 3 dozen normal-sized kolaches in mere minutes.

I had to find a way to make em last longer!
Sooo.

I cheated and used the same good old crescent roll dough from the store.
I filled it with our favorite green onion ring smoked sausage from our home-grown pork.
Tossed in some cheese,
a few got jalapenos,
some got BBQ sauce.
I rolled em up and baked them.

WOW did they turn out great!!
They were big enough to be a whole meal that you can hold in your hand!

These will definitely be made again to send out to the men-folk on those early mornings when they go out to work fences before dawn!
You don't have to be a great cook!
You can cheat and use some store bought ingredients.
Just take something your family already loves, and change it up to suit your needs!

Take a chance in the kitchen!
You'll be glad ya did!

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They are SO gonna need therapy!

Remember last week when I told you that I might be in trouble and moving to Mexico?
(If not, you can read about it HERE)
All because I sold the Man-of-My-Dreams truck kinda without telling him?
Well.... He was fine with my executive decision.
He is happy because this means he can buy a new motor for his "Other Woman", the Camaro.

Anyway...
Worker #1 & #2 (both 16 yrs old) gave me unimaginable grief over the past week about selling the truck,

"Dad's gonna KILL you!"

"I'm NOT gonna be home when he finds out!"

"Can I have your iPod when Dad kills you?"

"Can you be sure to be outside when you tell him? Easier to hose blood out of the grass than the carpet."

"Maybe our new mom will let us stay out later."

"I get your laptop when you die right?"

"What kind of flowers do you want at your funeral?"

"Do you want to be buried in your dress or apron?"

Those kind of loving things.

So, I think it was time for a little payback.

When the Man-of-My-Dreams came home, I took him into the bedroom to tell him about the truck and hand over the cash.
The boys were quite upset when I shut the door, because this meant they would miss what they were sure would be a great show.

As we talked in the bedroom, the boys nervously paced around the living room.
The conversation between the Man-of-My-Dreams and went something like this...
"Honey... yell at me really loud! Then throw a shoe at the door."
"I don't yell at you."
"I know.. I know.. it's just to mess with their heads... Let me have it! You can be mean! lay it on me!"
"No"
"please?? I just HAVE to get em!"
"No"
"Sissy!"
"I guess I'm a sissy then, I am NOT gonna yell at you."
"You're scared of the boys!! That's it! You are SCARED!"

Insulted, he flung open the bedroom door, almost hitting the boys in the head because they were straining to listen.
"Where is my gun??" he demanded.
He went and got it and slammed the door shut.
I was so proud! I kissed him full on the lips while trying to muffle my laughter.

We waited a few minutes, then I opened the door.
I quietly walked past the two 16 yr old boys who were now sitting on the couch wide eyed and silent.
I was carrying my duffel bag.
I grabbed Otis the killer Boston Terrier puppy, got in my car, and left.

I drove around the block then came back.
They were all sitting in the living room.. silent. Not a word had been said the whole 10 minutes I was gone!
I walked in the door, and told them that I forgot my prescription.
The man-of-My-Dreams summoned me to the couch.

I quietly obliged.
I couldn't take it anymore!
Plus I could see that my Husband was only seconds away from convulsing into laughter.

We told em that they were SO Punked!!
and died laughing...

It took them a few minutes to realize that we had tricked them.

Yep.. They are SO gonna need therapy!
Oh well... It's a great thing that we all have a sense of humor.
Might be a sick sense of humor...
But still...

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Bacon Cheeseburger EXPLOSION!

By Now, most of you have heard about the Bacon Explosion recipe created by The BBQ Addicts.
If you haven't, you have GOT see their incredible creation HERE.

Their genius and creativity got me thinking...
Everything is better with bacon right? We all know that!
So, why not use their idea and make a bacon cheeseburger using the Bacon Explosion technique?
Instead of cooking individual hamburger patties topped with bacon, Why not cook it all together, wrapped in a bacon weave, then just slice it to use on the bun?

So, thats just what I did!
And, I'm gonna show you how!

Bacon Explosion Cheeseburger.

• First, I made a bacon weave just like they did.
• Then I slathered it with my favorite BBQ sauce.
  

• Next, I pressed some lean ground beef out onto the bacon weave I pressed it to make sure it was an even layer (approx 1/2" thick) .
• I sprinkled my favorite spice rub over the ground beef.
• Then I sprinkled it with finely shredded Cheddar cheese & a few handfuls of crisp-cooked bacon pieces
  

• I rolled the whole thing up tightly.

Ain't it purdy???

• I tied it up with cooking twine, because I was making a larger, bun-sized roll, and I needed the twine to help hold the bacon ends in place.
• Tossed my beautiful "Log-O-Meat" into the smoker. (seam-side down)
• I smoked it at approx 250 degrees F. until the internal temperature reached 160 degrees f.
• I removed the kitchen twine.
  
• Then I coated it, one more time, with my favorite BBQ sauce.
  

This is what it looked like after smoking for a few hours.

I let it rest for a few minutes while I gathered my burger makin supplies.

• Buns
• Cheese
• Onions
• Mayo
• BBQ Sauce
• Pickles
• Anything your heart desires!

Then we sliced our Beautiful Bacon Cheeseburger Log.

I gotta say...
This was one of the BEST burgers I have ever had!
Smoking it gave it that "Can't be beat" flavor.
And the bacon?? Lord Help Me! took it over the top!

Next time, I think I'm gonna stuff it with grilled onions for me,
and some jalapeno peppers for the men-folk!!

The guys over at BBQ Addicts are Brilliant!!
There are endless possibilities to this technique!

Experiment! You'll be glad you did!

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Something's Fishy 'Round Here... "Fish Tacos"

Fish tacos??
Thats what my young'uns cried when I told them I was making fish tacos for dinner.
Yep! Fish tacos! I said.
They were scared....
Until they tried them!

Don't you be scared too!
They are YUMMY!

If all 5 of my young folk will inhale them,
they HAVE to be good!
They are NOT fishy.
They are mild, refreshing, and something new.
And, I'm gonna show ya how to make 'em!

Dana's Fish Tacos

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 package taco seasoning mix, divided (or make your own!!)
• 1 lb cod, pollock, or other white fish fillet, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3-4 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
• 1 (12 count) package flour tortillas or taco shells, warmed
  

  Toppings

  • shredded cabbage
  • tomato
  • lime juice
  • pico de gallo
  • taco sauce
  • cilantro (if you like it)
  • special sauce (recipe below)
  
  Special Sauce
  (This is what makes them sooo good! Don't skimp on it!)
  
  
  1. In small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro and 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, and 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice.
     
  2. Chill.
  
  Fish Tacos
  
  1. Combine fish, vegetable oil, lemon or lime juice, and remaining taco seasoning in medium bowl.
  2. Stir gently to coat well.
  3. Pour into large skillet.
  4. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
  5. Fill taco shells with fish mixture.
  6. Top with toppings & plenty of Special Sauce.
  7. Enjoy!!
  
  Step out of your comfort zone!
  Try something new!!
  You'll be glad ya did!
  

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