Red Velvet Cupcakes

There is nothing healthy about these cupcakes, other than the fact that they were made from scratch and maybe the raspberry on top.

Click here for the recipe from Food Network's Paula Dean (That's why I said "nothing healthy" although they are DELICIOUS!)

New Mexican Flour Tortillas

Growing up I spent a lot of time helping my grandma and great-grandma rolling out tortillas. By age 4 I had perfected the art of the Mickey Mouse and the Hot Air balloon shaped tortillas.


5 c. all purpose flour (I've tried half whole wheat and it worked well)

1 TBS baking powder

1 1/2 to 1 3/4 c hot water

2 1/2 tsp salt

3 TBS lard or solid shortening

Combine dry ingredients; cut lard or

shortening in. Add hot water

in small amount while kneading thoroughly. Dough should be stiff and not sticky. Cover and let

sit for 5-10 min.

Sprinkle flour on all surfaces. Using a rolling pin, roll about 1/2 c of dough into a very thin circle. Bake on a very hot griddle until browned.

For

Sopapillas:

Follow above directions. Cut rolled out dough into 3x3in squares and fry in oil until brown. For a sweet-treat: after frying, roll sopapillas in sugar and cinnamon, or eat plain with honey. Also great stuffed with beans and other taco fillings!

Calabacitas

Serves 6

4 medium green zucchini, cubed

3 Tablespoons shortening (or olive oil)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon onion, chopped (I use a lot more than this)

2 green chiles, chopped

1 small can whole corn, drained or 2-3 cobs

1 cup milk (optional)

salt, to taste

Melt shortening, saute squash, onion, green chile and garlic until tender. Add corn and milk and simmer for 15 min

Crash

So while having a conversation with Ann over milkshakes I expressed my curiosity to attempt the diet from Mireille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure. After indulging in far too many sour patch kids this weekend the detox of two days of leeks attracted me. Ann made mention that "for a nutrition school there really isn't enough fad dieting going on." So in sort of a Julie & Julia-esk spirit I decided I would attempt several of the fad diets out there and blog about them... Starting with my 2 days of leeks and leek water (And no Ann, there is no butter involved). I don't have a desire to lose weight nor do I believe in dieting, but I figure it'd be fun to attempt the recommendations that the popular media is throwing out there. I lack serious self-control so this should be interesting. I also will not be eating anything that is frozen (think lean-cuisine). Here is a list of some of the diets I will be choosing from http://www.webmd.com/diet/evaluate-latest-diets. Also if I get too crabby and my lack of eating starts messing up my running I will have to abandon my project. Just had my last snack: PB&J