My kind of White Rice

Ingredients:
Long grain White rice
Water ~ Agua
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 tbsp Vegetable or Olive Oil (I usually jump between Vegetable Oil and Olive Oil)
1 Garlic clove peeled (garlic powder also works, half a tsp/dash)

Steps:

• Add your desired number of cups of rice to a dutch oven style pot (deep enough for rice and water) I usually cook 2-3 cups
• Wash the RICE! Make that RICE your b*&$# at least 10 times (yes, 10 times lol)
• Drain as much water as you can, the clearer the water the better wash it has
• Once you’ve drained the water from the RICE BATH, add enough water until you can rest the tip of your finger on the bed of rice under water. Once the water reaches the first bend/line on your index finger, you have added enough water! Trust me, it works lol.
  
• ADD:
  -1 tsp. sea salt
  -1 tbsp. veg oil (i jump between veg oil and olive oil)
  -1 garlic clove peeled (garlic powder also works, half a tsp/dash)

• MIX it well
  
• COOK:
  Place pot uncovered on stove on HIGH, and let boil until water is almost gone
  Lower temp to simmer/low with the lid closed tightly once you see water is almost gone
  LEAVE IT ALONE please 🙂 no peeking!!
  Give it 10-15 minutes dependent on your stove heat level
  Open lid and fluff your rice with a fork (also turn heat to lowest temp unless your husband likes burnt rice like mine does)

• ENJOY! Please leave your review in the comments if you get to try this! 🙂

Thanks for cooking with me!

Jay’s Red Salsa

My husband and I enjoy most of our time together cooking in the kitchen. Making Salsa for us is a Saturday hangout treasure. We make drinks and we just relax while cutting up fresh ingredients and spending time together. I wanted to share this deliciousness with my followers so here you go…

First: Set oven to Broil at High/~500 degrees

Ingredients:

◦ 1 cilantro bunch

◦ 6 Garlic cloves

◦ 1 Green pepper

◦ 1/2 Red pepper

◦ 2 Jalapeños (adjust heat to your liking)

◦ 2 Red Onions 🧅

◦ 6 Tomatoes 🍅

◦ 1 tsp kosher salt 🧂

◦ Salt and pepper to taste

◦ 1/4 cup lemon 🍋 juice

Steps:

◦ Get all ingredients except Cilantro, Salt and Lemon Juice

◦ Place on a cookie sheet(s) on the top rack of your oven so they can cook until charred (7-10 minutes)

◦ Using a food processor or blender, add cilantro, lime juice, charred vegetables and blend to the consistency of your choice

◦ Add salt and pepper while blending to flavor your salsa accordingly

◦ Chill your salsa in Mason jars for a minimum of 2-4 hours so all the flavors can merry!

◦ Enjoy!

Growing up…

I have learned a lot throughout the course of this depression battle for the past few months. I learned more about myself though mostly. One particular harsh reality was how much I am like my parents. The distribution of these qualities during development was unfair for me as the middle child. I got the best qualities, which I love, but I also got the worst qualities, which I hate. Despite the reasons, I think it’s important to take it all and manifest it into what you want – so, that’s what I’ve been doing my entire adult life.

Seriously though, after experiencing 2 cross country moves in less than 6 months, the worst job experience of my career, a business deal gone bad, my children experiencing change and the ultimate pandemic coronavirus situation, and more ever since my years as a Parental child/teenager. Aside from your typical financial impacts as a result and starting from scratch again, it’s a tough pill to swallow. The level of defeat was underestimated. Dramatic rant over.

Now that I’m working again, it’s my 2nd week at my new job (excited), I’m starting to get back into old but good habits. I am using my planner again, setting alarms and getting runs in, making a to-do list and adding chore responsibilities to my boys to balance OUR soon-to-be-school/work/life schedule, the works. Hubby and I make a weekly meal plan of our favorites, and then I try to cook it with the least amount of butter and healthy fats for oils. In our attempt to kind of rebirth our family during this overcoming period, we are also trying to eat healthier.

This is all growth for me. I feel maturity has worked in my advantage during this time and now permanently. I have noticed that things I once worried and overthought about no longer exist. I feel the most empowered to spread my voice and go back to that young writer who aspired to change the world and help as many people as she can.

Even as a working mom and chairwoman for the local school district, I’ve noticed my patience level increase. Any mom or parent alike could agree that for about the first 10 years of your child’s life, your anxiety levels are through the roof – no secrets here! Let alone raising a child during today’s current events, my “hat” goes off to all parents now more than ever. I feel a sense of relief as my boys morph into their own personalities and personas.

We all must grow to see the other side, the side you only hear about on someone’s social media reel, story or LinkedIn featured. I say it because I do it myself. But it can be like that sometimes?! Manifest your own Destiny. No matter how dark the shit is you go through, remember there’s always a blank canvas waiting to be dusted off that resides in each one of us – theoretically speaking. Another chance. A new start. Fresh beginnings. Never give up.

Buenas Noches…