Traveling is always a job and prep work is a must in my world.
This trip, I am flying Southwest and thus, got 2 free checked bags. Being the scrupulously tidy packer, I, of course, needed 2 large suitcases for a week long trip. One, to haul Christmas gifts to my destination (to save on shipping later, of course) and the other suitcase to pack my own items (clothing, shoes, makeup, the usual) and the treats for family and friends.
Planning ahead also allows me to pick up some coffee along the way to the airport and more! Travel fun, plan ahead!
The taco salad in the photo was enjoyed at La Casita at the Denver Airport, and it was soooooo good! Allowing for a meal at the airport, especailly when traveling all day is an essentail in my book as snacks always don’t suffice.
A friend shared some lovely garden produce, including bell peppers, jalepenos, tomatillos, tomatoes and more, so what is a girl to do? Make Fajitas with fresh made salsa!
Roughly 1 pound of Bell Peppers, assorted color, sliced up
3 small white onions chopped, split-2 for fajitas 1 for salsa
7 various size fresh jalepenos
6 small/long serano peppers1
6 large tomatoes
6 tomatillos
1/2 pint of fresh baby mushrooms
2 tablespoons of minced garlic (fresh or jarred)
1 pound of ground turkey (I got this at Aldi as it’s super tasty and inexpensive)
1/4 of beef tips or skirt steak (or any manager’s special beef cut)
1-10 ct bag of flour tortillas
Salt and Pepper (I like the self grinding bottles of black peppercorns and Himalayn salt, packs a punch!)
1 tablespoon of Garlic and Herb Mixed season
1 tablespoon of Smoked Peach Rub season (seen in photo below, I don’t know if other brands are made of this!)
Saute/Fry the Beef and ground turkey with salt and pepper in a deep skillet with a dash of oil
Chop up all the veggies, add to meat skillet when meat is 90% done, adding the Smoked peach rub, 1 tablespoon of garlic and Smoked peach rub. Simmer/Saute on medium low heat until the veggies are soft but crips and meat is fully cooked.
While the meat is cooking, get a medium sized pot and add the jalepenos, tomatoes, tomatillos, serranos and 1 tablespoon of garlic, simmer on medium until all the mix is soft but don’t let boil. Put the mix, once cooked, including water, into a blender and mix/blend until smooth (it will be a little runny).
Serve the fajita mix in a large service bowl with the tortillas warmed up on the flat top and the salsa in a bowl with a spoon (or a small pitcher for pourin). The fajita mixed is wonderful stuffed in warm tortillas and topped with homemade salsa.
If there is extra salsa, it’s great with chips or served over egges.
Collect and chop veggiesPan Fry MeatSimmer Tomatoes, pappers, tomatillos, onions and garlic with salt for the salsaHave all the chopped fajita veggies ready and set asideSeason the meat when it’s about doneWhen the meat is 90% cooked, add all the veggiesSimmer Veggies and Meat together, add a squirt or two of lime juiceSImmer all together, stir periodcially Blend the pot of salsa pot, incuding water, to make a lovely smooth salsa Serve Fajita mix in a large pool with tongs, served with Salsa on the side and warm tortillas and sour cream
The heat and humidity have been super high in the Upstate and boy, are we all feeling it! The winds have picked up, hopefully to help curb this heat spell (it’s summer in the South, afterall.)
The clouds have rolled in and woosh, look at that rain and hear that thunder clap!
Clemson, S.C. thunderstorms
Don’t forget to visit my eBay shop and support this local artist and craftsman!
American Latino Bail Bonds is an open choice for everyone in the emergency of getting loved ones out of jail. Hablamos Espanol.We are always open and ready to assist.
A beautiful, cleary, perfect day filled with sunshine and great weather! My Sweetness (aka my boyfriend) heard about Lake Jocasse from a a local South Carolina native (he is originally from Rhode Island, myself from the mid-west). A new adventure and location awaited us as we used the GPS to get us there! About an hour from Clemson, South Carolina, Devil’s Fork State Park is located in Oconee County, near the tiny town of Salem, South Carolina.
The lake itself was originally man made but it’s fed by local streams and more, keeping the water Very cool and wonderful. A tiny beach was created and a swimmer’s area is marked off with a yellow bouy line for a no-wake zone. While boating tours are offered (for a price), we decided to set up picnic in the grilling and table areas and hit the little beach for swimming!
The lake does cover up an old cemetery; gleaning from a a bit of research, the bodys were exhumed and relocated but the the village and cemetery are under the lake now. How the State park earned the named of “Devil’s Fork” is unknown to me but it sounds like something from the movie “Romancing the Stone” with Michael Douglas where he and Kathleen Turner have to use a treasure map and go past the Devil’s Fork to find the good stuff.
There were lots of families there today and at a neighboring picnic spot, the family was playing a variety of Mexican style tradiotional mariachi style music, which added to the ambiance of the day.
I swam from the beach to the no wake yellow buoy twice, which means my swimming in the pool is paying off as well (I swim several time as a week in an indoor salt water pool at a Rec Center. I used to be a lifeguard many many years ago, too). The water was cool/cold and super refreshing. While swimming around, one can watch the motor boats and kayaks, conoes and so forth, which are fun to watch.
Definitly 2 thumbs up for a great place and an lovely place to visit for a day-cation.
Lake Jacosse at Devil’s Fork State Park, Salem, South Carolina
Summer in the South is especially hot and I don’t like heating up the house in the middle of the day to cook myself a meal and make the house even hotter, so what is the solution? A salad!
A bag of salad mix ( I used a Farmers Blend as it was on manager special)
a half pint of slice cherry tomatoes
small avocado, chunked small
2 tsp of chia seed
dressing of choice
*optional to add a can of tuna or leftover chicken
Taking a drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway to cross state lines in to Hendersonville, North Carolina has been so much fun! My Sweetness (aka my Sweetheart boyfriend) and I took a little day adventure and visited Hendersonville, visiting the aldstate/downtown area.
The quaint little town is nestled perfectly among the evergreens and decidious tress of the the Blue Ridge and is amazingly fragrant with the scent of flowers, honesuckle and flowers-a real treat for the nose and the eyes, not sensory overload but a perfect blend to enjoy.
We enjoyed frozen yogurt (FROYO) from the Sweet Frog shop on the corner, a lovely treat on such a warm day; across the street was a charming new and used book shop (For the Love of Books) where I purchased some great postcards (which are getting harder to find) and why I would have loved to have purchased a few dozen books offered there, I stopped at the postcards.
This quanit place is also located very close to many trails for bikeing and walking as well as being pretty close to some really cool waterfalls, from what I read.
Okay, I admit, I was totally shocked today when my sister gave me a pan of homemade Strawberry Rhubarb crunch-she used our grandma’s recipe (which is my favorite). My grandma used to make it for me for my birthday every year, instead of having a cake; Grandma would make me a Crunch for me and one to share with others at the birthday event. It’s a very special treat/dessert and I don’t get it often.
When my sister and I met for our nail appointment today at the salon she stated she had something for me in her vehicle and to make sure I got it after we finished up-I never expected it to be a specail Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch!
I asked her where she found rhubarb so early in the season and she said she had put some in the freezer last season so she could make me a Crunch; it’s even sweeter that she thought ahead.
Things have been a bit weird for me these past few weeks, being without a job for a bit then getting a new job and just life in general, a special treat was especially nice! Wonderful sisters always seem to know what I need just when I need it!
A pan of Rhubarb crunch, I, of course, dug right in, before snapping a photo. It’s so yummy!
Lent has come to a happy end, Christ has risen from the tomb!
I watched and listened to a Easter service, live, online this morning as I was invited to an Easter Brunch with my family and Sweetheart at 12:30 pm at the Village Bakery and Cafe in Pendleton, South Carolina.
The service I watched is attached below, and yes, I am a protestant and I thoroughly enjoy the Lutheran Services and Hymns.
