Asopao

This is a soup my MIL makes when she visits.


My husband now cooks it.

(this feeds our family of 6)

You need:
Big pot w/ lid
Ladle

Ingredients:
8 drumsticks/thighs (your choice, mix them if you'd like), skin pulled off
1C rice
2tbls Sofrito
2tbls Recaito
1 pk Sazon
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1tsp Oregano
1 small can tomato sauce
Adobo
pepper
Olive Oil


Let's get started:

After rinsing and skinning the chicken rub it all down with Adobo (We sprinkle sprinkle sprinkle, if that helps any)

Pour Olive Oil into pot (enough to just cover the bottom)

Heat about med-high (on my electric stove maybe a 7)

Place Chicken in, cook until a golden brown

Add in everything else and fill the pot with water, leaving a few inches at the top

Bring to boil and then drop to simmer on low (2-3) partially covered for a couple hours

That's it!

Super yummy, perfect for a hang over, or on a cold day, all who've tried this at our home have always enjoyed it.

my reasoning

For not getting any work done these past two months.
So moving sucks, I admit I dislike it very much.
I like new places and moving furniture around but actual moving ....
I wish I could blink my eyes or snap my fingers and its just done for me.
This move was a bit different then our normal pcs move.
We got packed up last June, 6 people and a dog, 2200 sqft, 4 bdrms, office, dining rm, laundry rm, 2 story, hardwood and tile only, the works, our perfect home.
We get here and are in a temp duplex-3 bdrm, 1100 sqft, cream colored carpet, parking spot that we have to walk in the rain to get to the door.
2 people to a room, no one is too thrilled, the laundry room is a closet in the hall.
So the movers bring the trucks-yes trucks-2, the drivers look at us like we are crazy and say "all this isn't going to fit", really we knew this already.
We get our couches, dining table, beds, tv's, and pick through clothes and kitchen boxes. Everything else gets put under the covered back porch. The movers come to pick up everything again, 4 crates stuffed full.
6 months and a few days later hubby gets orders. Um... "I'm not moving by myself hun"
So he goes in and gets us pushed to the top of the list due to him leaving, yay a 4bdrm! Ok but still small, 1400 sqft, well small for all our crap, cream carpet again, hence why you see vinyl runners everywhere, yes I put vinyl down, 4 kids and a dog in Rainy Town WA.
Jan 18 we got our truck-Feb 15 I finally feel done enough to take pics.
So here you go, after 3 full van loads to the thrift shop, plenty of trash boxes, and multiple trips to the recycling center.
From the front door

Our odd shaped livingroom

My down sized collection of niknaks and books

From the back door

The undecorated dining room

Super messy kitchen


Hall from main entrance, yes thats the laundry on the left

General hall connecting all bedrooms and 1 bath

Super messy boys room, A & J share

L's room, my favorite, and the cleanest most organized


C's room, yes he's sleeping at 11, ugg teens

Kids bathroom, the smallest ever

Oh no nevermind, mine is!

And last but not least, the office,




The new desk

Now to start on the office and then get back into sewing.
And no you didn't miss it, theres no master bedroom,
ok ok there is but its not done yet either so no pics yet.

Feb.3,1995

12:19pm Christopher Robert was born

weighing in at 8lb 1oz

So handsome with his dark hair and blue eyes.

Here is my oldest.

Time sure does fly by when we are all

growing and changing and becoming better.

I'm so proud of this guy.

moving day

I can't believe we are 2 weeks into the New Year.

Time seems to be flying by.

We got the keys to our new place today so it's moving day!!!

Well self moving the few things we have here,

the movers come with our truck Monday,

I'm kinda scared of what all is in those boxes,

it's been 7 months!

Work has been crazy,

I'm trying to get used to my new schedule,

the two little ones are adjusting well to having a sitter now,

hubby leaves in 2 weeks,

the big boys are starting spring sports within the next few weeks.

~Brain Overload~

Well once all is settled at the new house I'll be back to sewing,

I'm excited to show a few things I've been making in my head,

I can't wait for them to be finished for real.

Christmas '09

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Empanadillas de .........

Carne, Queso, Guayaba, anything/everything you can think of.
These are a hit in our house, I've been making them since I was about 18, my hubby has been eating them all his life, combine the two of us and they are perfect (if you ask anyone here).

What you need to prepare them:
*pot to deep fry in
*about 1L of your favorite veggie/canola oil
*any type of spider skimmer (btw hubby, I want this one pictured)
*paper towels for draining
*a few oven safe plates
*small bowl of water
*fork
*Goya discos (usually 10 to a pack so your choice on how many packs)
*pan to cook meat in

Ingredients for meat filled ones:
*1lb or more ground beef (pork, turkey, chicken if you choose)
*1/2 onion diced
*2-3 garlic cloves diced
*tsp dried oregano
*1 package Sazon (any your choice)
*1 tbsp Adobo (any your choice)
*2 tbsp each Reciato & Sofrito ( I get the tall skinny jars that can be refrigerated-pictured in the caribbean section)
The above if very family friendly, but if all agree, you can add in
*a few green olives diced(yummy)
*a few mushrooms diced

Get your oil started in your big pot (I heat mine up at 5-6 on my electric stove)
In your pan brown & mix all the above ingredients until done. Once done turn it off and let it sit.
As the meat is cooking get your other stuff out and ready,
I use up a counter top for this,
I get my now defrosted discos out of the package and separated,
I get my small bowl of water ready with fork nearby.
Don't forget your plate with paper towel for draining.
All this should preferably be near the pot of oil.
Set oven at its lowest/keep warm temp (170f I believe).

Now your ready to get started.
Lay out a disc, spoon about 2tbsp meat mixture on to the center top half, wipe water all around the inner edge with your finger, fold the bottom half of disc up, slightly press and seal with your finger, then gently press with fork around the outer edges where water is now touching, flip and press with fork on the other side, (make sure your oil is hot-should be by now) drop in the first empanadilla, it will rise once the first side is done, your looking for golden brown in color, once it rises flip and brown the other side, take your lovely spider skimmer and set on plate to drain, repeat repeat repeat, once your plate has about 6 you can place in oven to keep warm while you do the others.

Possibilities are endless really,
quick and easy ones are cheese (any kind- just lay inside, fold, seal, fry and your done)
pizza ones are fun, dab of sauce, bit of cheese, slice or two of pepperoni or veggie
My favorite mozzarella, tomato, green olive, prosciutto

Now if you've actually bought all these ingredients to make this recipe I know you have plently left over, keep them, I'll share more recipes to use them in.

Please note we call these empanadillas-most call them empanadas

camouflage

Oh too funny, I had to share.
Don't show your hubby if he's anything like mine, "Hey where can I get that couch?" would be the first thing out of his mouth.