The Field Irish Eatery

Tonight I went with Rich and his boss to the Field Irish Pub & Eatery in Dania Beach. I literally felt like I had stepped into Ireland. There was live Irish music, and the inside looked 100% authentic as best I could tell. I could barely keep up with the conversation because the restaurant was sooo loud!! Even some of the waitstaff had Irish brogues! Rich's boss is from Scotland and between his accent and all the craziness of the restaurant, I felt like we had left America.

The food was good, though I'm pretty sure I undid my Power Hour workout that I did today. Rich's boss ordered some kind of sausage and pastry appetizer. It was good but I think it had a million calories per bite. Somewhere between Shepherd's Pie and Fish and Chips, I realized that a grilled chicken breast was not to be found and ordered "Irish Country Chicken Pie" It was kind of a mix between chicken pot pie and hearty chicken stew. It was served with a giant puff pastry crust on top (which is not my favorite, so I just ate the filling!) and had mushrooms, carrots, chicken, peas, and other stuff that I couldn't see because the place was so dark. It was pretty delish!

As delicious as it was, I think I would have to move onto an Irish farm and chase around at least 25 children and an entire barn and farm full of livestock and sheep or whatever Irish people do just to justify eating that many calories at one sitting.

Sláinte!!

El Salvadorian Knockoff Eggs

I'm a major proponent for blooming where you're planted in life. For me, a major way that I have enjoyed "blooming" is by embracing the cultures where I have lived. California was a mishmash of almost all types of people, and the Bay Area has a really unique feel. I still think it's an amazing place to live! 

One thing I was definitely not prepared for in South Florida was a completely different culture! I did not realize how different this end of Florida is from all the rest of the state! There are so many different cultures that I really haven't ever been too familiar with. Cubans, Jamaicans, Haitians, and Central Americans...etc. 

I've really come to embrace the culture. You might just find me arguing with Jamaicans over the price of yams, or having dinner with my husband at a total hole-in-the-wall El Salvadorian restaurant where the food is amazing and nobody speaks much English. I love the eggs that you can get in those places--Cuban restaurants have them too. 

I made them this weekend with my own twist. Hope you enjoy!!

"Breakfast" Eggs for 2

3 large eggs

1/4 cup shredded cheese (any kind you like) I used mild cheddar. 

1 tbsp heavy cream (unsweetened) 

1/4 cup salsa (any kind you like) I used Publix deli salsa--it has really chunky tomatoes and onions. yum.

Now the cupboard dance begins. I used a myriad of spices and seasonings--and I don't measure:

A dash each of garlic powder and onion powder

A couple dashes of ground cumin

A couple dashes of cayenne pepper

A quick dash of kosher salt

1/4 tsp taco seasoning

Now beat the eggs, add all the ingredients, melt 1/2-1 tbsp salted butter in a frying pan over medium heat and scramble the eggs. 

Enjoy! 

It's really yummy with plantains :)

Yum.

Chipotle Chicken Skewers with Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce...yum. For the recipe, click HERE.

Brining Turkey

I think I might try this recipe for brining a holiday turkey. Maybe for Christmas?

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/my-favorite-turkey-brine/

Christmas Time is Here!!!

We got our house pretty much decorated for Christmas over this weekend. I am so happy to have our tree up, and my Christmas village on top of of our entertainment center makes me smile. :) The Christmas season is my favorite time of year. Is it just me, or is everyone actually nicer during the holiday season? It also makes me smile to go to stores and malls or even turn on the radio and hear the true message of Christmas through Christmas music!

This is also the start of peak season for the Fort Lauderdale airport, which means I become an airplane widow. I will not see Rich too much until he emerges from under water sometime in early May. That's ok, I will have more free time to spend killing myself at the gym!

Hope you are enjoying this Christmas season!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This year was by far the easiest Thanksgiving that has ever happened in the Layson household!! With only three people to feed (the hubby, me, and my Nana), I asked Rich to decide what he would like to have on the holiday menu.

The only non-negotiable item in this house is green bean casserole. We both love it. So, on our Thanksgiving menu was: glazed ham, green bean casserole, baked mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, cranberry sauce, and vanilla-frosted sugar cookies with sprinkles. Yes, I know. This meal was truly a departure from traditional Thanksgiving fare. But that's how we do it in this house! We're fairly untraditional. :)

I already have the ham bone simmering to make a nice stock for ham and potato soup that I plan to make from the leftover ham and mashed potatoes. My leftovers are all packed up and put away and I have just one more load of dishes left. The best part is I only spent a couple of hours in the kitchen!

I just took a week's vacation from work so I will be going back to work tomorrow. Rich will be leaving this weekend to head out to Houston for a few days. So, I've already prepared the Christmas playlist, and we'll kick off the Christmas season by decorating our home tonight while we have funfetti cookies and hot cocoa.

Slightly untraditional? Absolutely. But that's just how we do 'round here!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Green Bean Casserole
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup milk
2 cans cut green beans, drained
1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper
1-1/3 cup French fried onions, plus 2/3 cup for garnish.
3 slices well done bacon, cooled and finely chopped

Mix the soup, milk, salt, and pepper. Gently stir in the beans and bacon, then stir in 1-1/3 cups of the French fried onions. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Add 2/3 cup French fried onions to the top and baked for 5 minutes more. Serves 4. Yum.

Chicken Burritos

I have been using up all the chicken in my freezer this past week. Friday night was burrito night in the Layson household! I took 2 boneless, skinless frozen chicken thighs and put them in the crock pot. In no particular order I added 1/2 cup water, 1.5 tsp of chicken bouillon granules, salt, paprika, cumin, & cayenne and let the chicken cook on low for about 4 hours. When I got home I shredded the chicken with 2 forks and then dumped out the cooking liquid. Next I added 1 can of drained black beans, 1 pouch of Spanish-style ready rice, a snack cup of Chi-Chi's nacho cheese sauce, and 2 tbsp of Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce. (Those of you who have left California...this sauce is probably the closest thing you will get to La Vic orange sauce.) I then stirred up the burrito mix and added 1/4 cup of water. I let it heat on high for about 15 minutes and then served it in burrito shells. After putting the filling into the tortillas I drizzle 1-2 tbsp of the Chipotle sauce over it before wrapping it up.This amount made 4 burritos so we had them for dinner in Friday and lunch on Saturday. I also heated tortilla chips in the oven on 350 for 5 minutes for chips and salsa! Super easy Mexican-ish food, done. Careful with this if you are counting calories, though! One burrito equals about 545 calories.