thankful thursday - cooking with friends.

while we were bachelorette-ing, one of my favorite things was getting to cook with my friends!  we all know - cooking is one of my favorite hobbies.  & getting to do so with my favorite people is extra special.

one morning, cari & picked out a menu from our pinterest boards & favorite blogs and actually wrote out a grocery list ON PAPER.  cari hearts paper.  it was pretty darn cute.  & a little 1990s of us :)

for the appetizers, we made some delicious guacamole with tomatoes & onions & jalapenos & cilantro, a fabulous queso blanco {the pinterest recipe is here!} with two types of white cheese & half & half {of course it was delicious}, & a super yummy roasted corn salsa...

roasted corn salsa

original recipe: food network

5 ears corn, in the husk

4 tomatoes, chopped

1/2 red onion, finely chopped
minced garlic, always

4 T evoo

4 T red wine vinegar

1 lime, zest & juice

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
salt & pepper

1. roast the corn in their husks on 400 for about 30 minutes.  let them cool until you can handle them.  remove husks.  slice down the sides to remove the kernels.  then use the back of your knife to scrape down & get all of the delicious corn sweetness.  throw all of that in a big bowl.

2. add the rest of the ingredients & taste!  if you can wait, it is so much better the next day.  but i bet you aren't going to wait that long.  so dive in!

then for our main course, cari & i each made a taco filling!  cari made a delicious vegetarian roasted poblano filling for her tacos from bon appetit with lots of extra cilantro & lime.  {poblano recipe here!}  for mine, i went with a super summery chicken lime taco filling:

super summery chicken lime tacos

original recipe: favorite family recipes

2 T evoo

lots of minced garlic, always

2 pounds chicken, cubed

1 yellow onion, chopped

1/2 red onion, sliced

4 green onions, sliced

{i really really like sauteed onions.}

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

1 lime, zest & juice

1 tsp sugar

1/4 c red wine vinegar

salt & pepper

1. heat olive oil & garlic in a big ole saute pan over medium heat.  add chicken & cook until no longer pink.  add all of those onions & cook until tender.

2. add the rest of the ingredients & simmer another 10 minutes.  taste & enjoy!  {i think this chicken lime filling is pretty awesome with the roasted corn salsa.  just sayin...}

& cari taught me a new trick!  i had honestly never heated tortillas on a stove before.  we always go the super easy route & heat them in the microwave.  but this is so much better.  just heat a saute pan over medium heat.  throw in a tortilla.  cook until it starts to brown just a little bit.  flip & cook that side just until it starts to brown.  & there you go!  so much more delicious tortillas!  thanks, cari marie!

so i'm thankful for cooking with my wonderful friends.  new tips & new food.

i hope you can think of something today for which you are thankful.

love love,
kjp.