2011-09-29T17:19:00.001-07:00

MEXICAN PIZZA

INGREDIENTS

-(2) 8 inch tortillas
-1 can refried beans
-Salsa ( I will post my salsa recipe in tomorrows daily recipe)
-Large sliced onion
-1 sliced mushroom ( baby bella ) is what I use
-diced tomatoes
-shredded cheese
-parsley
-Basil

PREPARATION      Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C ).  An hour before making the pizza , dice the tomatoes and place them in a container with a lid. Sprinkle the dried basil (to taste) over the tomatoes and secure the lid tightly. Shake until the basil covers all of the tomatoes evenly. Place the container in the fridge and let it sit until you're ready to make the pizza.

DIRECTIONS

      Place one tortilla on top of a small sheet of aluminum foil (use a baking sheet if you don't wish to use the foil), spread some of the refried beans evenly over top of the tortilla and cover that with the second tortilla and pop them in the oven for 5-7 minutes untill the tortillas start to crisp on the outside edge. Remove from the oven and spread salsa over the top tortilla almost to the edge ( if you are asking how much salsa always do it to your taste ) then, place onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and shreeded cheese evenly over the top. Return to oven for 15 min then ,0  remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley. Slice into wedges as you would in any pizza.

TIPS

1) You can add bell peppers to this recipe as well.
2) Try useing whole wheat tortillas if you want to be a little more health consience
3) Anytime you are useing dried herbs rub the herb between your fingers this will release the oil and will enhance the flavor of the dish.
4) Take the extra minutes to place the toppings evenly. This will make a better over all pizza.

MY 2 CENTS

      This has got to be a favorite recipe of mine, it is so easy to make and so yummy!.
Now of course if you want to add chicken or beef to this recipe and take out the onions or whatever you should always feel free to make every recipe you cook the way you like it! After all you are the one eating it, right? I consider this to be a fairly healthy dish even though it may be a bit high in carbs there is more than enough fiber to make up for it.

Finding The Right Cookware

2011-09-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

Finding the right cookware can be a challenge. There are so many different kinds to choose from and most people don't know the pros and cons of the different types which is what I will outline for you to make it easy to get the basics of 5 of the more popular types on the market today. In the end it is really up to personal preference and budget, I will do my best to give you some basic knowledge. Regardless of what cookware you decide to buy always follow the manufatures directions for cleaning and care from day one so that your investment will last longer and stay non stick year after year.

Don't miss the cupons at the bottom of this post!

Aluminum Cookware has great conductive properties which means your food will heat up quickly and evenly making an all around enjoyable cooking experience. Now if you watch the news at all I'm sure you have heard of the controversy surrounding the safety of aluminum cookware. On one hand people are saying it is a contributing factor in Alzheimer’s disease and others are saying that the amounts of aluminum from cookware is to small to effect us. What I do know for sure is that aluminum is reactive with the foods we cook in it especially if the foods are acidic. This means that aluminum can change the taste and even the color of your foods. I will not recommend any product that I feel might be unsafe but this set is stainless with aluminum and copper clad bottom which means your food will not come in contact with any aluminum but you still get the benefit of it's fast and even cooking properties.

Emerilware from All-Clad 10-pc. Stainless Cookware Set
Count on this set to do all the basics. The essentials are all included to get you started. Easy care stainless and a fast heating aluminum and copper base ensure a lifetime of terrific meals. Set includes: 8-in. Fry Pan 10-in. Fry Pan 1.5-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 3-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 3-qt. Covered Saute Pan 6-qt. Covered Stockpot Features: Heavy gauge 18/10 stainless steel with stainless/copper/aluminum bottom for exceptional heat conductivity and adaptability. Emeril designed flared lip for drip-free pouring. New precision pouring spouts and straining lids on all sauce pans. Internal measurement marks on all sauce pans & stock pots. Self-basting, tempered glass, domed lids. Easy to clean stainless steel won't react with food. Ergonomic stainless handles and rivets for a lifetime of comfortable and carefree use.

Cast Iron has got to be one of the best pans for fried chicken, bacon, and cornbread. Cast iron heats slowly but don't get impatient with it because once it does get hot it holds the heat and has an amazing ability to brown meat and crisp bacon. It also makes cornbread to die for. The only real downside is the cost. It is a bit of an investment but you get what you pay for. Cast iron will last forever! this set comes in 4 colors!

Copper Cookware has been popular for many years do to the high conductivity of heat. In other words it heats up rapidly and cooks very evenly, it also holds heat longer so it's nice if you don't serve the food right away it will keep it warm. However the down side to copper is that it's high maintenance. You have to wash it by hand which means a little more time cleaning but these pans clean up very easily. It is extremely good cookware, but it is expensive.

Porcelain Enamel is in my opinion great cookware it can go from the stove top to the oven to the fridge or freezer so it is very versatile plus a quality set will last forever if you take good care of it. There are just a couple things to know about it. Don't use this for extremely high heat I believe most sets are ok up to 400 degrees and be careful not to drop it because it can chip the porcelain. But for every day use this makes a great durable and easy to clean set and the price is definatly right. You can not find a better set of cookware at this price. I mean seriously $160 for the entire set. This set gets my "Best Bang for your Buck" Award . Truely a no brainer

Rachael Ray 10-pc. Nonstick Porcelain Enamel Cookware Set, Yellow
This cookware set is an exceptional value, including all of the pans needed to equip your kitchen with the most used cooking pieces. As the set contains only basic pieces, you'll really use each and every pan. It includes sauce pans for whisking a homemade sauce or cooking your morning oatmeal, a big stockpot for soups, stews or boiling pasta, and skillets (probably the most used pan in any kitchen) that will help you turn out perfect crepes or a simple grilled cheese sandwich. The set also includes a sauté pan, a wide, straight-sided pan that can perform many of the functions of a skillet but features deep sides for extra capacity, perfect for one dish meals. Start your dish in this pan by sautéing onions and browning meat, then add your liquid and other ingredients into the same pan to finish on the stovetop or in the oven. Set Includes: 1.5-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 3-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 6-qt. Covered Stockpot 2.75-qt. Covered Saute Pan 8-in. French Skillet 10-in. French Skillet Features: A nonstick interior lets you enjoy low fat cooking while allowing foods to slide out of the pan easily. Grippy Silicone Handles are comfortable in your hand and oven safe to 400°F. Glass Lids allow you to monitor foods without removing the lid. Handwash only - not dishwasher-safe. Not recommended for use on ceramic/glasstop stoves.

Stainless Steel cookware is non reactive with food and very low cost with a high durablity. The only thing really to know about stainless steel cookware is don't use abrasive material to wash it. You may rub away the finish coat they put on it to keep it non stick. In some cases that can allow chroumim and nickle into your food cuasing ill heath effect. with the low cost, high durability easy to clean properties it is easy to understand why stainless is the most common type of cookware today.

Rachael Ray 10-pc. Stainless Steel II Cookware Set
This cookware set is an exceptional value, including all of the pans needed to equip your kitchen with the most used cooking pieces. As the set contains only basic pieces, you'll really use each and every pan. It includes sauce pans for whisking a homemade sauce or cooking your morning oatmeal, a big stockpot for soups, stews or boiling pasta, and skillets (probably the most used pan in any kitchen) that will help you turn out perfect crepes or a simple grilled cheese sandwich. The set also includes a saute pan, a wide, straight-sided pan that can perform many of the functions of a skillet but features deep sides for extra capacity, perfect for one dish meals. Start your dish in this pan by sauteing onions and browning meat, then add your liquid and other ingredients into the same pan to finish on the stovetop or in the oven. Set Includes: 1.25-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 2.5-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 6.5-qt. Covered Stockpot 3-qt. Covered Saute Pan 8.5-in. Skillet 10-in. Skillet Features: Stainless Steel Construction - Professional quality stainless steel construction is extremely durable and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning convenience. Fast Even Heating - A thick base of aluminum is fully encapsulated in stainless steel, providing quick, even heating. Suitable for use on all cooktops including glass and induction. Grippy Handles - The fun, rubberized handles are double riveted for added strength and provides a comfortable grip. Oven safe to 350°F. Tempered Glass Lids - Watch your foods cook without having to remove the lid to keep moisture locked in.

I hope this has helped educate you about the basic pros and cons of the more popular types of cookware on the market. If you want to look at some other cookware sets check out cooking.com this a one of my favorite website for anything related to cooking. Thanks for reading and please leave comments or questions in the comments box I will be happy to answer any question!

Tyreen's Kitchen

Finding The Right Cookware