Saucy Egg on Tortilla (Huevos Rancheros) Recipe

I love eggs.

This recipe, I make for just me. It came from the "Mexican cooking made easy" book by; Diane Soliz-Martese. I did change it a little with shortcut options.

I used to make this for me and my oldest daughter, but she no longer resides with me.

You need:

Ranchero Sauce

Cook 2 cups chopped Tomatoes and 1/4 cup of water until softened.
 (You can also use a 15 oz. can of Tomato sauce or diced tomatoes for a shortcut.)
Mash tomatoes, add about 1 T. chopped onions (or 1 tsp. dry), pinch of salt and 1/4 tsp. Cumin. Stir and serve warm. This serves about 2-4, but I would double it if you like a lot of sauce like myself. This is good on tamales, enchiladas and eggs.

Take out 1-4 tortillas. (Corn or flour work fine. Use what you like)
A few T. of cooking oil
1-4 eggs depending on how many you are feeding and your appetite. I eat just one, but two would work for hungry peeps.
shredded cheese (optional)
fresh cilantro (optional)

Heat about 2 T. of oil in skillet over medium heat. Warm each tortilla in the skillet for about 15 seconds on each side until soft, drain. Fry eggs, yolk side up, in butter/or oil of choice. You may salt and or pepper your egg while frying. Pour 1/4-1/3 cup of warm sauce on each plate, place tortilla in sauce and an egg on each tortilla. Spoon more sauce on eggs and sprinkle with optional cheese and or fresh cilantro.

Can serve with beans and or fresh fruit. You know my choice of fruit would be some orange. Growing up in Orange County Ca. where you were literally surrounded by orange tree groves, (once upon a time) sliced oranges were served at most eateries as part of a meal. A must for any breakfast served with fresh squeezed orange juice.

Lotion bar recipe

This simple recipe for lotion bars is all over the Internet. Yet, they sell them online for such a high price. Now that I am using non-xeno and phyto estrogen products. This is my perfect non messy lotion replacement.

You use:

1 oz. beeswax
1 oz. non phyto-estrogen oil ( I used almond)
1 oz. hard oil like Shea, Avocado ect. ( I am cheap and used 92 melt point coconut oil, it is hydrogenated, but I am not eating it and holds well in the heat.)
High heat silicone molds that are 4 oz. or say hold 1/2 cup. (I used 1/2 cup high heat silicone pinch cups I found at Walmart in the kitchen utensil area) Think out of the box if you need to.

If you want a softer bar for like; massage, winter months or preference. Just use 1 oz. beeswax and 2 oz. oil of choice.

 Today I made some bars with virgin coconut oil with a melt point of 76 because my husband wanted a softer bar. Lets face it, he may not like this one or all oil and wax. These bars are not for everyone. My hubby has soft skin from growing up in a climate that has hard winters. Unlike me whom grew up in Southern California with a pool in the backyard and beach 30-45  minutes (depending on traffic) away. Seldom used sunscreen unless at the beach. At the age of almost 43 my skin is freckled, dry, and lets just say, "loosing it's luster." I cannot say that I would trade all my fun in the sun for more youth,  and or beauty.

How to make this lotion bar.

Take a large pot and add a few inches of water. Place that on the stove top and put a glass or stainless steel bowl on top. Heat the water on medium to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. (Double boiler style) Add beeswax and let melt. Then add other ingredients one at a time. Letting each melt in first. Mix with wood utensil.

Now have your mold ready and maybe sitting on a plate or cookie sheet. Using an oven mitt or like, take the bowl off of pot and carefully, and without getting water in the molds, pour the hot liquid mixture evenly into the mold or molds. After setting empty bowl aside. You can just let the lotion bars set up on the counter. If it is a really hot day or you are in a hurry then you can put the mold or molds in the fridge to set. When they are ready, un-mold them by turning them upside down and while hold the sides of mold, push on the top of bottom until the bar slides out.

I keep mine in a large unsealed, tea bag. Then keep that in a ziplock.

I got my oils from soapgoods.com But their are many other great places to get ingredients. I got my beeswax from Ebay. Straight from bee farmers. It smells just like honey. Yum. Good luck and have fun.

Easy Chocolate Rice Crispies Recipe

These treats are easy and so yummy. It has been a holiday sweet I have made in my house for years.

Get a big bowl and put 10 cups of Rice Crispies in it and have a utensil ready to mix.

Now get a pot and fill it with a few inches of water and place a glass or stainless steel bowl on top. Bring water to a boil on medium then lower to a simmer. Weigh out 1 1/2 lbs (24 oz.) Ghirardelli melting chocolate or other good melting chocolate.

Put the 1 1/2 lbs chocolate into the double boiler bowl to melt. Use a wooden utensil to stir occasionaly.

The pot and bowl are hot so keep an oven mitt on hand. Take one large and one medium cookie sheet out and line with wax paper. When the chocolate is melted turn off the heat, take an oven mitt and pull out the bowl from water bath. It may be a good idea to have a hand towel in the other hand to hold the bottom of the wet hot bowl with your other hand, while you other hand with the oven mitt has a grip of the side of the bowl. Do not want any spills, brakes or burns. Besides losing precious chocolate.

You can rest your chocolate bowl (for a moment if you need to) next to the bowl of Rice Crispies. Grab the wood utensil used to stir the chocolate during the melting process, pick up that bowl of hot chocolate, with oven mitt and pour it into the big bowl of Rice Crispies. Scrape as much chocolate as you can, into the cereal. Set aside your bowl of scraped chocolate and wood utensil. Take another utensil and stir the melted chocolate and Rice Crispies until they are all mixed together.

Pour onto the prepared cookie sheets with wax paper. Spread with utensil. You can let this set on the counter or put it in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes to set, firm up, solidify.

When they are set you can just break them up into chunks and pieces. Stick them in ziplock bags and they are ready. My family loves these. they are so good. One big Rice Crispies box at the grocery store will give you 2 batches worth of these nummy tweets. Hee...

Do not forget to lick the chocolate spoon and bowl or have a helper to do it for you.

Have a great holiday.