Fiesta anytime

Mexican food is my absolute favorite! I could eat it all day every day. Anytime is the perfect time for chips and salsa! Throw in any other mexican delight--tacos, burritos, fajitas, quesadillas--and you make Karly a very happy girl! And to top it all off, none other than a margarita will do! :)

My love affair with mexican food started with Taco Bell years ago and since I've been old enough to drive, I've made it my personal goal to try as many mexican places as possible in search of the best!

That being said, here are some of my reviews in case you're interested...

Best burritos: Felipe's Taqueria (Uptown/Downtown NOLA)
Felipe's is a counter-service mexican joint where you place your order and choose your toppings as you go down the line. I don't know how they do it, but I've never had a better burrito in my entire life! They have a variety of traditional mexican menu items and you can add on chips, salsa, and a drink with a combo. The salsa is different than standard red salsa (it has more cilantro and it's like a more blended version of pico de gallo). The chips are always fresh, crisp and perfect and there is a salsa bar with a half-dozen different signature sauces. The nachos are top notch and the margaritas are strong! Perhaps the best part is that it's quick and cheap in addition to being delicious!

Best Fajitas: Superior Grill (Uptown NOLA)
We order Superior fajitas often for work functions, but it's also a great place to go for dinner and fun. The atmosphere is great, with indoor and outdoor seating, and they are known for their strong house margaritas! The menu is extensive with everything from burgers to seafood to mexican. The salsa is one of the best I've had and the chips and queso are also great. I don't eat meat, but the burgers are huge and people rave about them. We always share the shrimp, chicken, and steak fajitas because I'm a toppings kind of girl and they bring out all the fixins'! This one is, however, on the more pricey end of mexican fare.

Best Tacos:

Taqueria Corona (Uptown NOLA, Metairie, Harahan)
Taqueria Corona is known as the King of Tacos and claims to have the best taco in town. They live up to these words offering tacos with just about every filling you can think of! They have a variety of different dips and salsas for starters and also feature delicious mexican pizzas. It's a traditional taqueria with a genuine Spanish feel, rather than the Americanized joints we are accustomed to. The food is fresh, inexpensive, and delicious!

Rum House (Uptown NOLA)
Rum House is not your typical mexican joint. It's an eclectic mix of Carribean, Latin American, and Cajun fare. The menu offers a gourmet selection of three-bite tacos with fillings such as jerk chicken, brisket, chili-glazed shrimp, cuban pork, grilled fish and more. They also feature sandwiches and entrees of steak and fish. Their avocado-mango guacamole and their unique roasted veggie salsa are both amazing. They also have nightly specials such as $2 tacos and a great drink menu with great margaritas!

Best Margaritas: El Gato Negro (French Market NOLA)
El Gato Negro offers fresh squeezed citrus margaritas, and a variety of other flavors. They use no mixes here and they are only served on the rocks. Their house margarita is the most delicious margarita I have ever had... EVER! This is a bold statement from me, as I consider myself quite the margarita connoisseur. The menu offers some great chips and salsa and delicious gourmet mexican cuisine. Everything I've ever eaten there has been outstanding, but nothing compares to their world class 'ritas.

Other Favorites:

Carretta's (Veterans Blvd, Metairie)
Carretta's is a great mexican restaurant with a large menu and huge margaritas! The salsa is great; the food is delicious; the service is friendly and fast; there are many dessert options; and the strong margaritas are served in fishbowl sized glasses!

Los Tres Amigos (Harvey, LA)
The chips and salsa are delicious and the food is great. It's fast and cheap and close to home since we're on the westbank! However, the margaritas suck! Not much of a nod I know, but seriously, they are green like a green apple martini and remind me of a lime slush puppy--one of the worst I've ever had. The food is good enough for me to still go there and just forgo having a drink though!

Nacho Mama's (Uptown NOLA and Elmwood)
Great house frozen margaritas with Monday half-price ($10) pitchers and 2 for 1 drink specials daily 4-6pm. Also home to my favorite appetizer: MAMACHITAS! These are chopped up jalapeno and habanero peppers with cheese and tomatoes fried in a flour tortilla served with sour cream! Hot and spicy just the way I like it! If you can't handle the heat, these are not for you my friend. The menu is a twist on traditional mexican cuisine with unexpected ingredients and flavor combinations that are both surprising and delicious!

Izzo's Illegal Burrito (Metairie)
Similar concept to Felipe's with the burrito bar feel. They feature a variety of mexican options, offering standard to airplane sized burritos. You add your fillings down the line and they also offer their own signature sauces. In comes in behind Felipe's, but still quick, cheap, and good.

I'm not huge on places with mixed specialties. I mean, I find the boiled crawfish at the chinese buffet pretty sketchy and normally crabmeat pasta isn't the best menu item at the pizza place. So normally, I try to stick to the niche of the place. However, sometimes places are successful at melding together a variety of themes and it somehow all just works. That is the case with one of my favorite "mexican" restaurants:

Coyote Blues (Lafayette)
Worth traveling to from NOLA, Coyote Blues features steak, seafood, and mexican... and is surprisingly equally successful at them all. They have an extensive menu that makes it very hard to decide because everything sounds so delicious--and it is! The chips and variety of salsas are a great start and you will surely be pleased with whatever else you choose. They also have a great drink menu featuring great margaritas and other frozen concoctions. Best news yet--I heard they are planning a New Orleans location in the coming months! I can't wait!!

I'm excited to go out for mexican anytime, but I also like to try my hand at mexican at home. I ended up with leftover sauce from my shrimp creole so I decided to turn it into shrimp enchilladas. I simply put some olive oil and butter in a baking dish, filled two flour tortillas with the shrimp and sauce, added shredded mexican blend cheese, closed them up and added sauce and sliced velveta on top. Then, I baked it for about 20 mins until crispy. I also cooked spanish rice, made some cheese dip with rotel and velveta, grabbed some chips and salsa, and we were all set. All that was missing was... the margaritas! Next time, my friends... next time!

Shrimp Creole warms the soul

After two days of working with my sunburn, I had a migraine I couldn't shake and I started feeling really bad. Aloe and advil were not helping. I finally went to the doctor and found out I had second degree burns on my face. I'd had an allergic reaction to the face sunscreen I used causing it to not be effective at blocking the sun. Since I was at home recovering, taking meds and watching the food network, I decided to cook. I looked around at what food I had to work with and landed on the perfect ingredients for shrimp creole.

I used a variation between Paula Deen's recipe and one I found on www.cooks.com.

Shrimp Creole

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 lg. bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed or 1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoons chili powder
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 cup water
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 bay leaves, crushed
2 teaspoons parsley or Italian Seasoning
Fresh herbs/cilantro (optional)
1 teaspoons salt and pepper (to taste)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
1 1/2 pounds cleaned, peeled & deveined raw shrimp
3-4 cups hot, cooked rice

Directions:
Heat olive oil and butter in stock pot. Add, peppers, garlic, and onions. Cook until softened. Add chili powder and saute until caramelized. Add canned tomatoes and simmer. Add water, sugar, herbs, seasoning. Add sauces (tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce). Stir in shrimp. Cover and cook over medium heat 15-20 minutes until shrimp are pink and tender. Serve over rice.

This was my first attempt at shrimp creole, but it was a pretty simple process and it tasted amazing! My family eats alot of spicy food, so I'm a little heavy handed on the pepper... it had quite a kick! I will hold back on spicing it up next time, but I'll definitely make this again. I called mom & dad over for dinner and we were all pleasantly surprised!

Life's a beach

All Jacie wanted for her birthday was a trip to the beach, so we headed off to enjoy some fun in the sun for a few days. We normally make multiple trips each summer, but buying a house took the place of multiple vacations this year. :) This time, we had Jacie's cousin Dara along for the trip and they were super excited!



Everytime we head out of town, if we're anywhere near passing a Cracker Barrel, we have to stop for breakfast! So, on the way, we made our traditional stop for some of the world's best biscuits and my favorite hashbrown casserole before moving on to the beach.

When we arrived in paradise (also known as Destin, Florida), we were beyond relieved to find the crystal clear waters we had hoped for and absolutely no trace of oil (as CNN was constantly reporting).







After hours at the beach, we grabbed dinner at Taco Bell (my absolute favorite)--cheap, delicious, and everyone can agree on it. Then, we headed to the hotel pools before bed. We often stay at the Comfort Inn in Destin, which is very clean, comfortable, and fairly priced... plus, they have a great complimentary breakfast buffet. The next morning, I made us some sandwiches before heading to the beach, where we stayed all day long. (I later ended up with an allergic reaction to face sunscreen and second degree burns.) We had dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise, then Fudpuckers the next day before souvineer shopping and heading home. Despite the sunburn, we had an amazing trip!

The FIRST supper

We've been in the house for two weeks tomorrow, so I've decided I'll do just a little backtracking so as not to leave anything out. I plan to try to post daily, if life allows.

We moved in on a Thursday, eating at moms before moving our bed. So Friday, after we picked up Jacie, I decided it was time for our first official meal in our new home. So Friday night, our first supper was spaghetti!




The next day, we had family over to celebrate both Jacie and Justin's Maw Maw Beym's birthdays! We were thrilled that we could host our first official family gathering, and this was the first time anyone would visit after we were all moved in. The menu for the day was centered around mom's delicious shrimp jambalaya (which I've not yet learned to make). To accompany that, I made pasta salad, corn, dinner rolls, homemade pepperoni and cheese pizzas (I bought the dough already made) and some cream cheese and pepperjelly with ritz crackers for an appetizer. We also had an amazing fresh fruit bread pudding that my dad made and a birthday cake! It turned out to be a great day and we all enjoyed ourselves very much.

Welcome...

About me: My name is Karly and I am born and raised in the South. I grew up in Belle Chasse, Louisiana--a quiet community south of New Orleans.

As luck would have it, I am truly blessed. I come from a loving family and I have the best parents in the world. Some might argue that theirs are the best, but nope, I'm sorry... it's mine! :) My mom and dad are two very hardworking people that have instilled in me a priceless value on family love, pride, and sacrifice. We aren't rich with money, but we are rich in blessings.


And then there were... five? My household consisted of my mom, my dad, my sister Jory, my brother Scott, and me. As with any family, we are all very similar and very different. My brother is the oldest and looks the most like my mom. He's always been the most independant and daring of us all, and he's also our strength. The rest of us are real softies at times. My sister and I look alike and we're close in age. We share a special bond as sisters that runs deeper than the roots of the Earth. She's always been the one I've looked up to and idolized and I did my best to be just like her (and drive her nuts) as we grew up! She looks more like my mom and her personality is more like my dad. I'm the baby and I look more like my dad and have more of my mom's attitude, but I do have a generous mix of them both--the best of both worlds! I couldn't be more proud!


A house is not a home until after you're all grown. This is something I've come to learn and appreciate over the years. I can remember when I was younger taking for granted all of the good things in my life, as children often do. I wondered why we didn't have a two story house because I always thought it would be cool to have stairs. I wondered why my parents never got a divorce because many of my friends' parents were and they got two houses and twice the gifts each holiday (or so I thought). I can also remember that just about anything I ever wanted for, my parents found a way to make it happen. We were spoiled and didn't always know it. We didn't understand the sacrifices they made; just that our prayers were somehow answered, our efforts always supported, and our dreams always fulfilled. I can remember wishing for a new house as a child because ours was so outdated; I couldn't see then the beauty between those walls. Our house was sturdy and clean. Our house was lived in and comfortable. Our house was more than just our house, it was my childhood home.

It's a southern thing: Whether it's meeting new people or discussing a friend's recent trip, one of my first questions is always, "What did you eat?" From visitors, I suppose I'm looking for validation that they too agree there is some great food around here (and I secretly hope they are even half as passionate about it as I am). From travelers, I suppose I'm looking for some great tips in case I visit where they've recently gone. In the South, asking what you ate is probably as common as "How's ya mom and em?" It defines our culture and priorities on the important things in life. The table is the ultimate gathering place. It's where you come together as a family at the end of the day and get to discuss the days' events. It's where you talk over your problems and listen to each other. It's where you celebrate simply being together and enjoying each others' company. It's where you gather to find out what's going on in each other's lives... metaphorically speaking, "what's on each others' plate."

What's on My plate? I've thought for a while about starting a blog, which I knew would be food-oriented since I'm such a huge fan! My fiance Justin and I bought our first home in May so I've decided that, with this milestone, it's the perfect time to get started. New to my own kitchen for the first time, I've been trying out some recipes and I always find myself wondering how my mom has done it all these years! Luckily, she's just on the next street and there's plenty of time for her to teach me plenty recipes and kitchen tricks that I desperately need to know.

My inspiration: My mom is an amazing cook, so food has always been valued in our home. Our favorite gatherings always happen around the table, where we visit with family and friends and count our many blessings. Growing up, friends knew they were in for a good meal when they walked in the door and my mom has always been the one to make sure everyone eats... and eats well! My parents also took us out to dinner fairly often and we were able to develop a passion for good food.

Where it all began: From what I can remember, my Granny (my mom's mom) was an excellent cook. She ran a restaurant and my mom learned a good deal about cooking from her. Our holiday meals were always celebrated with family around the tables at my grandparents' houses. Stories tell that my Maw Maw (my dad's mom) wasn't known for her cooking, but they say she cooked the best jambalaya and roast anyone ever had. I just remember always loving her spaghetti (which apparantly came from a box and I was the only one who liked it). Anyhow, I'd give anything to have those dishes with my grandparents again. It was a tradition that after a great meal, my Pa Pa would always say, "I wonder how the po' folks are living." We always smiled as we looked around stuffed, "Pretty good, Pa Pa...pretty good." I hope they are all proud as they watch over us now.



Two worlds collide: Nine years ago, on June 6, 2001, I met the love of my life, my fiance and best friend, Justin. About a week later, I was introduced to his beautiful princess Jacie Lynn, my step-daughter (to-be). Their entrance to my life was without a doubt the best thing that ever happened to me. However, it is also when two super picky eaters joined our food-loving family. Justin's food diary at the time consisted basically of hamburgers, turkey sandwiches, and spaghettios and Jacie didn't branch out too far beyond that--pizza rolls and spaghettios please! This was going to be a learning process for all of us! In time, they both learned a great deal about good food and began trying new things. Now, they are still slightly more picky than the rest of us at the table, but they do eat a great deal more than we ever expected. And, we're still working on them!


I'm a big girl now: Imagine that! Twenty-six years have come and gone. I have a house and a family to feed. I also love to entertain and, of course, no gathering I'm used to is complete without... food! I think about all the delicious meals my mom has made over these years that we've all grown to love. But, where are all these recipes when I need them? In her head! My mom, the amazing cook, makes everything from scratch. She doesn't go by recipes and even if she starts with a recipe, her own deviations and substitutions make it better than we could have ever imagined! There's no book to tell me what to do or how. And, even if I shadow mom from now on, there are so many past meals we will never recall. So, why haven't I been following her around with a notepad all this time?? I'm sure I knew that at some point I'd have to try to recreate some of these, but I guess it never actually occurred to me that I wouldn't have the slightest clue how. That, and you never realize how quickly time passes until you're grown up and so much is behind you.

So here I am, embarking on a journey to share dishes, memories, and experiences in hope that one day my own children will have an account to look back on--some of mom's traditional recipes that will hopefully continually be passed on and enjoyed.

Some of life's greatest moments are shared around the table... where the main ingredient is love.
~Karly