Cooking Classy

If you ask me, made from scratch Mexican food is just about as good as it gets. I've mentioned before that Mexican and Italian food are my two favorite kinds of food. One thing I love about each of them (other than the number one reason - the incredibly delicious flavors) is their use of so many fresh ingredients and how a lot of it is made from scratch. I've been to Mexico just a few times and one of my favorite things there was always the fresh tortillas. I loved stopping by the market to get a bag filled with a large stack of fresh flour tortillas from the bakery (I loved the fresh churros they have too, mmmm). I could probably eat that whole stack in one sitting. These may seem like one of those things that's not worth the time and effort but I'm telling you, it is! I just don't like the flour tortillas from the store that are pre-made and loaded with preservatives, they just taste weird to me. Once you've had fresh tortillas, you know what I mean when I say...

I will admit it, I'm a Cafe Rio/Costa Vida addict.  It's rare that I go more than a week without eating at one of the two. All their entrees are so full of exciting flavors that they keep me coming back for more. Since I eat there so frequently I thought maybe it's time to create another copycat recipe. One of my favorite things to get there is the shredded chicken salad or shredded chicken tacos, so here is my version of that chicken.  This chicken is SO easy to make! If you haven't noticed, I love my slow cooker. You simply toss in a few ingredients along with some spices, and then allow it to cook low and slow all day while the flavors meld together and wallah! It almost seems to good to be true doesn't it? It does all the hard work.  This Shredded Chicken recipe is not only to be used as a taco filling but also for burritos, enchiladas, salads, quesadillas, taquitos, etc. So, if you don't use it all the first night you make it you can use the left over chick...

If you haven't noticed yet Mexican food is my favorite.  Good Mexican food just bursts with exciting flavors that all blend so perfectly well together.  Nothing is bland, and it always keeps you craving it and coming back for more.   My latest food craze is blackened salmon.  I've been getting it at one of my favorite local Restaurants almost weekly.  When I have a new food favorite I love to come up with my own version of it at home.  These tacos are bursting with enticing flavors that will likely have you making this dish many times around.  Soft tortillas are generously filled with tender, perfectly spiced salmon, then covered with a flavorful corn salsa, then it gets a delightful crunch from Romaine lettuce and another layer of flavor from a sprinkling of cheese and last but not least one of the best parts: it's drizzled with zesty cilantro lime ranch for one intensely incredible Blackened Salmon Taco!  Yum yum YUM!  . Blackened Salmon Ta...