Happy Leap Year! Make it Count.

I want to do something CRAZY FUN today, but I don't know what! If you have been reading my blog for awhile, or you know me in real life, then you know that I am far from crazy fun. I am a homebody at heart and rarely like to party it up with or be a part of the hip LA crowd. I am uncool by nature.

So, I opted to join NIKE + for their #makeitcount campaign and do something good for my body. This is an extra day to run and that's pretty much all you do! Done and Done. See how uncrazy fun I am?



If I read it correctly, their website says to run one mile. I think I might tack on a few more and make it really count. My thighs will thank me later. 

What other crazy shenanigans can I get myself into today?

Homemade Flour Tortillas

This recipe blows my mind. I can't believe how easy it is! For some reason, I thought tortillas were made from  magical ingredients that only Abuelas (grandmas) knew how to get. Sorry to break it to you Mija, but the secret is out! Vamanos!

First off, I need to give a shoutout to one of my new favorite bloggers. She is the reason for this post because her blog is where I pretty much jacked this rad recipe from. Thank you, FearlessHomemaker for being a source of so many great recipes. And BONUS, she is super down to earth and writes in a way that makes you want to be her friend. Go check her blog out. You can thank me later.

Project Wifey Wife: The Savory
Homemade Flour Tortillas
from The Fearless Homemaker

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
3/4 cup of vegetable shortening
2 tsp of salt
1 cup of lukewarm water

1. In a large bowl, blend the flour and shortening together so that it resembles fine meal.

2. In another bowl, dissolve the salt in the water. I used my mixer with the dough hook attachment to incorporate the salt water with the flour mixture.

3. The Fearless Homemaker suggests dividing the dough into 12 equally sized pieces and then rolling them into a ball. Because I am so impatient, I just ripped chunks, flattened with my hand, and used a rolling pin for extra flattening powers. My way worked fine. Just make sure you get them as thin as you can.

4. Again, the patient Fearless Homemaker made hers into circles by using a plate as a cookie cutter and trimming off the access. I, on the other hand, just threw it in the pan. Both works. I should try to be more patient.

5. Cook each tortilla in a nonstick pan for about 2-4 minutes on each side on a medium-high heat. They will brown and puff, you will flip, then you will see the magic that is tortilla making. It's really that simple.

Then use this carne asada recipe and prepare to be transported to Meh-heeko.

My hubby absolutely loves these tacos and begs me each week to make them. I tell him "What do I look like? An Abuela?" Then he says Yes and we argue and thumb wrestle or tickle fight until it's ok again. That's what normal married couples do, right? Yeah, I didn't think so.

Asian Supermarket Sweep

Did anyone else watch that show, Supermarket Sweep? (Not Asian Supermarket Sweep) Seriously, the best show ever! Don't act like you don't remember those gold wrapped hams.

A few weeks ago, my parents went on vacation to the Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea. I was very jealous. They went to the Philippines because that's their homeland, Vietnam because my Uncle works there, and Korea because that's where my brother was born and they haven't been back since. Ahh, the life of an Army family. Even though I couldn't go, my mom and dad promised to bring me lots of goodies! They DID NOT disappoint!

First up in my bag o' goodies were some real deal chopsticks from Vietnam, these adorable chocolate lollipops, and the coolest toolsknown to man! I will be showing this off in a future post. You won't want to miss it! It makes something that is awesome!

And of course, my parents couldn't forget all the cooking presents!

My mom couldn't find a Korean cookbook that was in English, so she brought me these recipe cards she found at the market. Now all I need is a Korean friend who will traslate. Anyone?

She did find a Filipino and Vietnamese cookbook. I will be making and eating lots of Vietnamese spring rolls this year.

And last but not least, they bought me this BEAUTIFUL apron from Korea to add to my apron collection. It is made to look like a Traditional Korean Wedding Dress. Isn't it gorgeous? I don't even want to cook in it.

..via..

My parents also took a massive amount of food pictures for me! I will be posting those soon,  so we can all take an imaginary trip to Asia.

In the meantime, you can take your own trip to Asia by visiting your local Asian market. Now, don't be shy or bashful. I know it can be quite intimidating to roam around a market that is literally quite foreign to some you, but be brave and see what's in there!

There are aisles and aisles of new and exciting things to try...

Dumplings and tofu? CHECK.

Delicious sweets? CHECK.

Tea choices galore? CHECK.

Instant Curry for when you're in a hurry? Yuppers!

Loads of cute snacks? HELLOOOOO Kitty!

But take heed because there are some unusual items that you might not see at your local Trader Joe's.

But, other than the hanging ducks and rather unique butcher and seafood section, you're good to go! And if all else fails, ask one of your asian friends to take you! I will gladly go with anyone who asks, but only if you buy me some Hello Kitty Crackers.

On my last trip, I loaded up with all these goodies for under $40. That's a steal if you ask me!

Delicious Filipino bakery items.

Some sauces, seaweed snack, ramen, falafel mix, and a $5 steamer!

Dried mango, green tea, and macadamia nuts.

If you ever go to an Asian market, you wont regret it. You will find lots of yummy treats and interesting knicknacks. And for all your girly girls out there, their makeup is top notch! Take a chance and go to one. Trust me, I'm Asian.

Some of my Asian recipes

Pad Thai and Pineapple Fried Rice

In a hurry Chicken Curry

Lemon Herbed Chicken Curry

Soy Glazed Salmon

Dim Sum Dumplings

Filipino Lumpia (Eggrolls) and Pancit (chow mein)

Happy Birthday Hubby Hub!

To my wonderful Hubs,

Happy 30th birthday, my love!

You are everything to me hunny. You're like the frosting to my cupcake, the ketchup to my french fries, the salt to my pepper. You are my partner in crime.

Everytime you celebrate a birthday, I thank The Man upstairs for blessing my life with such a kind soul. I'm so lucky that I get to celebrate the rest of your birthdays with you. I will be making you a cake until you're 100, ok? Get used to it Hubs! But, time flies when you're having fun, no?

My wish for you is that you get to live out all of your dreams and I want nothing more than to support you on your wonderful journey. You want to go to law school? I will make you snacks when you study. You want to play guitar in a band? I will be front and center throwing my bra at you. You want to run a marathon? I will be there, running in front of you because we all know I'm the faster runner in the family. I keed. I will be in front of you like a carrot on a string, motivating you until the end.

Your friends know how amazingly sweet and helpful you are, your family knows how incredibly funny and kind you are, and yes, your puppy even knows how wonderfully delicious your goatee is. You are perfect to all of us.

But to me, you are more than perfect. You are more than kind and sweet and delicious. You always give me so much more and that's my prize for marrying you. I love you, babe. Happy 30th birthday! Enjoy your special day!

Love,  Your crazy wife.

Cutie Churro Muffins

Hello, Friends! ::warm embrace:: I have missed you all so much. I've been busy with life, with work, and with this lingering cold. I wish there was a way to connect my brain noodles to the internets and blog that way because I promise you, I think in blogspeak. You Bloggers know what I mean! My brain constantly thinks about what I want to write about, what I want to cook, and most importantly, what I want to eat! However, my lazy busy ass just can't find the time to get these fingers atypin'.

I'm here now and ready for some foodlovin'. I assure you that I have been cooking some awesomely good food. Just check out my love handles. They are more "handlier" nowadays. First up, these bad boys.

Of course I found this recipe on Pinterest. That website is truly revolutionary and I applaud the person who created that marvelous site. Anywho, this recipe is from Velvet Lava and she called them French Toast Muffins. Now call me shady, but I am going to have to change that name. I consider myself a French Toast fan through and through, and these do not taste like french toast triangles to me. To me, they taste like Mexican churros and that is what I will be calling them over here. Kapeesh?

Project Wifey Wife-The Sweet
Churro Muffins

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter; melted
1/2 cup of sugar
1 room temperature egg
1-1/2 cup all purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup of milk

Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift  together all of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet and stir together. The batter will be lumpy.
3. Scoop  them into your pre-sprayed muffin tins. I used teeny ones because everything is cuter when they are teeny.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes. If you use the regular sized tins, up the time to 20-25 minutes.
5. Right out of the oven, dip the little guys into the melted butter, then roll them into a mixture of the sugar and cinnamon.

Anything that is dipped in cinnamon and sugar wins my vote! These little gems are so cute and delicious. I served them for my friends at one of our Sunday brunches.

It was a cute addition to my lovely table scape. I could've decorated with dirt and target bags for place mats and these muffins would still make the table cute. They are just so cute I want to bite them, over and over and over.