#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Food and Life

Chicken Flautas

June 23, 2009 · Narrative

Chicken Flautas

Tonight I had planned to tell you about a delicious Cinnamon Roll Cake.  A cake so good that it has been made twice in the past few weeks, and both times, it has disappeared before I could even grab a picture of it.  If I didn’t talk about the cake, it was going to be about these really unique paninis that we had last night.  Paninis with an unusual mix of ingredients that you would never think to put together.  But like Strawberries Pazzo, they just work.  But then Chicken Flautas hit the table for dinner tonight and all thoughts of cinnamon cake and paninis went out the window.

I was catching up on my Tivo’d shows the other night, and happened to watch a rerun of Sunny Anderson’s Cooking for Real.  The focus was Mexican-inspired food, and the Chicken Flautas were the star of the show.  Knowing I had half a package of tortillas in the fridge, I made a mental note to grab the recipe.  All in the interest of using ingredients that are on hand.  And the cilantro the recipe called for?  Fresh from our garden.  Love that.

Using rotisserie chicken and other simple ingredients that you probably have on hand already, the dish comes together really fast.  Even better, it only uses two pans, and I’m all for that these days.  Knowing Nick would want no part of this, I kept some rotisserie chicken on the side for him and his sister to eat, and they were quite content with that.

But the flautas?  Oh man, the flautas.  Perfectly crispy, but crazy flaky.  I wanted to scarf the whole pile down, but managed to restrain myself at two, figuring I’d save some for the babysitter’s lunch tomorrow (oh and mine too!).  These would be perfect as an appetizer for a weekend of entertaining, or a Mexican dinner.  Because they come together so quickly, they’ll even work well on those crazy weeknights where you’re jetting from one sports practice to another.

The thing that I love about Sunny’s recipes is that they are decidedly unfussy, but with that, you’re not giving up taste.  Using ingredients that you usually have on hand, her dishes come together quickly, easily and we haven’t had a dud yet.

Ole!

P.S.  I didn’t use her Avocado Cream recipe, but instead used my own Guacamole Cream recipe.  Similar but slightly different.  Either one is the perfect foil for dipping the flautas.

Chicken Flautas
Recipe courtesy of Sunny Anderson, Food Network

For the Flautas:

  • Vegetable or canola oil, for frying
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 small red onion, diced (I used yellow onion)
  • 1 jalapeno, diced (I skipped)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I skipped)
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed and meat finely shredded
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar/Monterey Jack blend
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • Salt
  • 16 (5 to 6-inch) flour tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce, for serving

For the Avocado Cream:

  • 1 very ripe avocado, halved, pitted and flesh removed
  • 1 (4-ounce) container sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • Salt

Fill a large pot with enough oil to reach 2 inches up the side of the pan. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reads 375 degrees F. To make the flautas: In a pan over medium heat melt butter and saute onions and jalapenos until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper and cook until fragrant, another 2 minutes. Add chicken and salsa; stir to combine. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro, cheese and lime juice. Let cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

Working with 4 tortillas at a time, spread a heaping spoonful along the middle of each tortilla. Roll tortilla tightly around the filling and secure with a toothpick. Using tongs, hold each flauta in hot oil until firm, then release to continue cooking. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes, then remove to a paper towel-lined plate and immediately season with salt. Keep flautas warm in the oven on a sheet tray while assembling and cooking the remaining tortillas.

To make the Avocado Cream: In a serving bowl, mash avocado, sour cream and lime juice until smooth. Season with salt, to taste.

To serve, arrange flautas on a platter of shredded lettuce and serve with Avocado Cream on the side.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. donna says

    June 24, 2009 at 7:30 am

    These look absolutely mouth watering. I have never made this before. This recipe and photo has me inspired to try and SOON! Delicious!

    Reply
  2. Joanne says

    June 24, 2009 at 8:46 am

    I am so in the mood for Mexican right now and you are totally fueling that craving. These look delicious.

    Reply
  3. Starnesfam says

    June 24, 2009 at 8:50 am

    These look heavenly. I was raised in the south and am now in the Midwest and miss good Mexican food. I miss it so much. Probably too much. Without it, I should be 10 pounds lighter. Must be substituting that craving with something else.

    Reply
  4. Cathy says

    June 24, 2009 at 8:51 am

    These look great – I love flautas. There is no decent mexican food places anywhere here, so if I want it, I have to make it. I’m looking forward to the cinnamon roll cake post – love cinnamon desserts

    Reply
  5. leslie says

    June 24, 2009 at 10:24 am

    ohhhh perfect. I would love a few of these on my plate

    Reply
  6. Patsy says

    June 24, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    I love flautas! If these are that easy, I may have to try making them myself.

    Reply
  7. ttfn300 says

    June 24, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    they do sound delicious… but i might want cake a little bit more ;)

    Reply
  8. Lisa Best says

    June 24, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    Mmmmm…I LOVE Flautas! I’m definitely making these.

    Reply
  9. Heather says

    June 24, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    i’ve never had a flauta, but i’ve seen them on menus. i always get fajitas. but i might have to try these, they look yummy!

    Reply
  10. Sarah Caron says

    June 24, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    Those look mouthwatering! WOW. The oil frightens me a bit, but I still really want to try them….They are on the list

    Reply
  11. Sophie says

    June 27, 2009 at 2:44 am

    The flautas look tremendous. 1 st time visitor, but I will definitely be back – your pictures are amazing!

    Reply
  12. Coley says

    August 1, 2009 at 2:48 am

    I saw that episode too and made the flautas a few days later. LOVED them, as did my family! My husband commented that they would be a good munchie food when football season starts.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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