luv4u said:

Well I do know I am south of you - come on down and I will have everything ready when you get here.

cocogrille said:

okaaayyyyy

Baking is my specialty. I have seduced many with my Gumbo.

ShySlantedEye1 said:

I love gumbo!!!

cocogrille said:

Where I come from gumbo is slang for fellatio.

NinoSasgakagrachi said:

If I were living alone, I'd be eating nothing but takeout, microwavable stuff, canned items, and frozen foods that just need reheating. Okay, sometimes I'd boil water so I could make macaroni and cheese.

Since I now live with two people who can and do cook, I try to help out in the kitchen and learn new things. My current level is something like "assistant food technician"... I'm much better at taking care of the dishes.

With all that said, I do have a recipe for a dish that I will make on rare occasions. It's called "Mexican lasagna," although it's really nothing like lasagna, aside from the fact that it's layered. For those of you who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, I've noted ingredient substitutes in italics. (For those of you who use metric measurements, tough luck--do your own conversions. ) I've made a completely vegan version of this dish that comes amazingly close to the original.

So, without further ado...

Mexican Lasagna

1) Brown about 1 to 1.5 pounds of ground hamburger [soy-based ground beef substitute in a liberal amount of canola oil].

2) As the hamburger is browning, add 1 medium onion, chopped up.

3) When the hamburger is all browned, drain the fat off. [If you're using soy "beef," don't drain too much of the oil off--you want the "meat" to be somewhat greasy]. Add 1 package of taco seasoning and a 16 ounce can of tomato sauce, and mix it all together.

4) Meanwhile, mix together 1 cup of cottage cheese (not Michigan Brand or any other brand that's "dry"), 1 cup of sour cream, and one 4-ounce can of diced chilies. [The cottage cheese can be replaced with a tofu-based substitute--just run a search on Google and you'll find plenty of recipes. I think it's more important to replicate the texture than the exact taste. As for "veganizing" the sour cream, Tofutti's Sour Supreme works wonderfully.]

5) Have on hand 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese and 10 ounces of tortilla chips. [If you're going to make a vegan version of this dish, there is only one acceptable substitute for the cheddar cheese: Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternative Cheddar, by Follow Your Heart. Order it online if you can't find it in a local health food store. If you won't use real cheddar and won't use Follow Your Heart's cheddar alternative, don't even bother with this recipe. Make something else instead.]

6) In a greased (or oiled) casserole dish, layer ingredients: 1/3 bag tortilla chips, crushed up; 1/2 meat mixture; 1/2 shredded cheese; 1/2 cottage cheese mixture. Repeat layers, and end with remaining crushed tortilla chips. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 35-40 minutes.

7) Enjoy! If anyone actually makes this, I'd love to have your feedback.

doctormcmeekle said:

Then I really love Gumbo!!!!!

I have been told i am an excellent cook...

I made a number of things very well...
Pasta with my own sauce, Upside down pizza, Chicken Parmigana...

I make a killer chocolate cake filled with brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts.. TO DIE FOR!

Now i am hungry...

BabyCakes said:

Yummy!!!! now I am hungry - love you Nin quote - she is one of my favs!!!!

sheesh, I set fire to 3 microwaves, kill a bird with teflon poisning, and almost burn down my mum's new model house trying to boil a hot dog, and no one will let me in their kitchen...

2the9s said:

Every home should have a wok!

cocogrille said:

Mine too.. I just love her!

Paradisekiss03 said:

Have you ever considered night classes at your local community college perhaps? If all else fails hire a chef.

Anxiety said:

a spicy number I take it..

JaneyPoos said:

I heard 2the9's once made quiche from eggs, macaroni, and bird seed..

mochalox said:

Maybe you should try going vegetarian?

doctormcmeekle said:

where I come from gumby is not edible but quite flexible

JDINTERACTIVE said:

But it's probably the next best thing to Viagra!

Byron said:

here, you deserve this!

I dont cook.....

doctormcmeekle said:

in vegetable oil?

nesseone said:

you could learn!

NinoSasgakagrachi said:

no,

NinoSasgakagrachi said:

but I cut my hand slicing broccoli....

I think I am a pretty good cook when I do cook, I live by myself. and my daughter and she really doesnt eat much of a variety, I cook when I have company which isnt very often. I don't usually follow recipes, I just go with the flow

I've got GCSE home ec!! (I got an A too!!) So I know all the basic skills - after that it's all down to flair, imagination and experimentation! (isn't everything !!)

I'd say I'm a pretty decent cook. The only problem is, my fiancee is too fussy! She doesn't really like eastern food, which I love. So it's only me who gets to appreciate my own cooking.

She likes traditional western foods - which she mainly cooks, and they are always delicious! But she's really missing out by not eating my food!

NinoSasgakagrachi said:

What is?