Some Like It Hot!

One of the first things that I learned about Jake after we moved in together was that he loves spicy food and hot sauce almost as much as he loves me! For instances, if we run out of hot sauce we need to make an emergency run to the grocery store, but if we run out of milk, bread, the basics, it can wait.  This is what we have on hand in our house right now (this is on the low side).

Ridiculous Hot Sauce Collection

There is rarely a meal we sit down to that Jake doesn’t accompany with hot sauce!  At first I was offended by this, often wondering, “Is my cooking really that bad?” But after a few months I quickly learned that Jake has a unique tolerance for spicy food.  The kind of tolerance that when you go to Buffalo Wild Wings or similar places and they have their BBQ sauces listed on a scale of mild to blazing hot – Jake always opts for the hottest of the hot.   Yes, it never fails that he selects the sauce that makes him sweat while he eats.  Some of us like to taste our food – I guess to each their own!

Knowing how much Jake likes spice, I am sure you will not be surprised when I tell you that Mexican meals are a staple in our house.  Our menu usually consists of one spicy dish a week.  I was not raised with a lot of spicy foods so I have had to learn to not only like spicy foods, but also how to cook them.  One of the easiest meals I have learned how to make is burritos.  I have not mastered how to roll them yet (a husband duty) but I am getting better.

Tonight I made easy Taco Burritos for dinner and tried my hand at making homemade Spanish rice as a side.  We loved the rice and Jake commented that he thought it was better than the “cheap crap you can buy in a box.”  Again this recipe made more than either of us could ever finish in a sitting so I froze the leftovers!

Taco Burritos on a
bed of Spanish Rice

Taco Burritos

Ingredients

1 lb. burger

1-cup water

1 packet taco seasoning

½ green pepper chopped

½ onion chopped

1tbsp. fresh cilantro

½ cup shredded Mexican cheese

4 flour tortillas

Preparation

In saucepan combine water, seasoning, and burger.

Bring water to bowl and chop burger. Simmer until water is dissolved.

In skillet sauté pepper, onion and cilantro.

Add to meat mixture.

Warm tortilla for 15 seconds in microwave then layer cheese in center and meat.

Roll and enjoy!

Spanish Rice   

Ingredients

1 ½ c. long grain or brown rice (I use Trader Joes)

½ c. onion

1 tsp. olive oil

2-½ c. chicken broth

1 heaping spoonful of tomato paste (I freeze the left over paste)

Pinch of oregano

Preparation

In skillet heat oil and sauté onion and rice for 4 minutes.

Bring chick broth to boil and add tomato paste and oregano.

Add Onion and rice mixture and simmer for 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

On a scale of 1 to 5 how spicy do you like your food?  

(1 = no spice at all, 2 = mild, 3 = just enough flavor , 4 = warming up, 5 = mouth on fire)

I think I am at a 3 but slowly working my way to a 4.  I will NEVER be a 5!