Cravings for Cubans

I get mad cravings.  Some of my days are entirely ruined because I can't satisfy a craving I have.  I mean seriously, what's a girl got to do to get an extra toasted Everything bagel with a little butter?? And by Everything I mean salt, poppy seeds, caraway seeds, sesame seeds, garlic and onion.  Don't try to give me a bagel with sesame and poppy seeds and call it an Everything bagel...now them's are fightin' words.  And by toasted, I mean browned and crunchy.  Not white and dried out.  And by a little butter, I mean spread a light coating of butter on.  Don't get out your boat oar to schmear so much butter on that I have to get my canoe and put on my life jacket to take a single bite.

See, I get cravings.  And they are specific.  And I want them to be made the exact way I dream them up.  So the other day I was craving a Cuban sandwich.  I've only taken a bite of someone's Cuban before.  I have never actually ordered one.  So I figured that I would just make my own, because that's the only way I was going to get it like I wanted it.  And here's how I did it.

I took a pork tenderloin and poked a million holes in it and marinated it in orange juice, garlic, salt & pepper and lime juice for about 4 hours.  Then I roasted it at 325 for about 30 minutes.  Then I sliced it paper thin.  Then I got some french bread, the soft kind, not the kind that breaks your teeth (though I love that kind) and I cut it in half and put yellow mustard on both sides.  Then I put the thinly sliced pork on the bottom, topped that with Virginia baked ham from the deli.  Then I topped the ham with dill pickles and then Swiss cheese.  Then I topped it with the other half of the bread and panini pressed the whole thing.  It was toasted perfectly, melty, mustardy, porky, hammy and cheesy!  And I couldn't have bought it anywhere and had it taste as good.  Try it!

A Garden of Eatin'

A Facebook friend of mine started posting pictures of her daily lunches consisting of all raw fruits and vegetables.  I would drool at the image of bananas, beets and cherries on her plate.  But I never did anything about it.  Until now bitches...

Meet my delicious, guilt free lunch consisting of avocado, red pepper, peaches, plums, grapes, cucumber, tomato and Gouda cheese (cheese causes me no guilt - it's Gouda for you!) Yes, I went there.  Thanks for the inspiration Shelby!

Souper Black Bean Recipe

Here's my quick and easy recipe for Black Bean Soup. This recipe will make about 4 normal sized bowls of soup. If your Craig and I, it will make 2 bowls. But who ever said we were normal?

5 strips of bacon, cubed
1 1/4 cup of onion, I prefer Spanish because I like their accent.
3 cloves of garlic
3/4 cup chicken stock
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 cans of black beans, strained, but not rinsed (make sure you will be alone after you eat this soup, or at least eat it with someone you feel comfortable ripping hideous farts in front of! ~ I'm just being honest).
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon of cayenne (we like it hot around these parts)
1 tablespoon of Sriracha (get this stuff if you've never tasted it, it's in the Asian section of your grocery store)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, cook bacon to your desired crispness. I like mine a little more on the crisp side. Add in onion, and cook until you can see through the little buggers or until translucent. Add in garlic until you can start to smell its deliciousness. Add in chicken stock and scrape all the bits of flavor off the bottom of the pan. Add in can of tomatoes and the 2 cans of beans. Then throw the rest of the stuff in and stir. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes.

At this point, you can eat the soup as is. I personally like to throw it all in a blender (BE CAREFUL PEOPLE, I've had black bean soup burn the hell out of my hand and spray my entire kitchen because I overfilled the blender with hot soup. So only blend a few ladles at a time, do not learn the hard way). After you get it all blended, put it in a bowl and top with cheese, sour cream, green onion and cilantro.  Eat with tortillas.

Fastest, Fiberlicious, most Delicious, Fartiest meal you'll have!