Visceraman1 - Joshua Lopez

Mother always told me that "everything tastes good in puff pastry". So, I took a bit of leftover porterhouse from Sullivan's (Thank you Bill!), and wrapped it up. Mother did not lie!

But before I got fully distracted and started wrapping pickles, olives, bacon and Crisco in the pastry, I had to finish peeling and cooking my apples. Because, somethings are even better in pastry:

I also made a unctuous banana bread, the kids at Sonora Quest (note: New Location!) were the lucky recipients of that.

Posted by Joshua at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I'm not sure why there's no "final" picture for this, had I not been so lazy, I'd have explored that possibility and taken a picture just before polishing off the last of them for lunch.

Mini-Chichen Pot Pie!.

Borrowing from the Peterson Family Recipe, and pulling a few other things out of various places, I made these little guys:

Enjoy!

Posted by Joshua at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Apple, apricot and 1 lonely pumpkin empanadas graced the lips of Doodle this weekend. For some reason, no photos were taken, so you'll have to imagine the Mole Verde con puerco, frijoles con queso y tortillas that followed. Also, there's no photo of the Sour Cream Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and glaze. (Sounds like a lot, but it was pretty easy on the lips.)

Posted by Joshua at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Ok, so I used someone else's salsa. But christ, I made everything else. Tortillas, frijoles, guacamole, bistec, y tambien, jamaica para mi amor. Mire...

Oh, and if that wasn't enough to keep me busy, did I mention the Creme Brulee?

Posted by Joshua at 01:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Many thanks for the Lumpia!

Posted by Joshua at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Soup in the summer seems pretty unthinkable, especially here in the god forsaken, hateful Sonoran Desert. Ah, but then you realize "Gazpacho!" (no K-Dog, that's Gabacho), and watch me waddle up to the counter for numerous bowls. {-My parents used to take me to The Blue Willow in the summer, just for the gazpacho. Apparently I embarrassed them with my need for 3 or 4 bowls, so we don't go anymore....}

But enough of that poor me nonsense. It was unnecessarily hot, so I made gazpacho. And it was very cooling, very tasty, very crunchy.

Posted by Joshua at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

"Could I not just have some fudge?" cried Jeri.



Fine.

Posted by Joshua at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I had a recipe lying around that I was curious about. It was for a Smore Cheesecake, but looking at the ingredients, I didn't believe it would be sickenly sweet like a true Smore. So, I embarked. I figured, worst case scenario, Jeri's coworkers would eat it.

It turned out extremely well. Not quite like a cheesecake though, I attribute that to the, well, less than normal amount of cream cheese that was used. The deep deep bitter chocolate was nicely balance by the topping and here you have it:

Now, if you've ever wondered what behaviour is usually exhibited by Baby Jeri when I prepare these feasts for here, I managed to sneak a few shots of her in anticipation. (And she doesn't hide behind her hands!)

Posted by Joshua at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For something like 30 years, in deli cases, I've always seen the most peculiar offering imaginable....headcheese. Not unlike pickle-loaf, olive-loaf or pimento-loaf in appearance. Although, instead of familiar and palatable options present, the gelatinous loaf is embedded with rather devious goods. In the back of my mind though, I've always wanted to give it a try. Just to see.

Looking at the ingredients, I'm actually surprised my parents didn't force this on us as kids. My dad and brother (grandmother, aunts) all had penchants for crunching away at hideous pickled pig ears, and I learned early that (not only were pig ears disgusting), that I really enjoyed a nice slab of tongue.

Headcheese has no ears (that it claims), but it does have a familiar crunch, that of pig snout. To balance that, large amounts of pork tongue is visible in every slice.

This weekend, the mystery finally came to an end for this guy, and this is how it went down:



I bought a package of Head Cheese....I tried photographing the ingredients, but couldn't get the text to come out in a non blurry form:




I made a nice little sandwich out out of it....note how the sheen of the the gelatin mixed with grease!:




And took bite after bite.




It should come as no surprise to some, that I enjoyed it. Yes, there was a bit of a crunch from the snout, but it tasted just fine. I had another one on Sunday to finish off the package.

Posted by Joshua at 08:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Using a recipe of Curly's, I fashioned a nice two tier rum cake. Damn it was good. Seriously!

Posted by Joshua at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

To celebrate the end of a week, I forced Jeri to start work on a carrot cake....

And when she was done with that, a few pomme frittes to accompany her grilled chicken and crunchworthy salad.

Posted by Joshua at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

While it may not necesarily look like the most beautiful thing, it tasted pretty damn good.

Mole Rojo, Green Rice, and Fresh beans & tortillas.

Not only that, but I got an action shot of Jeri for those who haven't seen her in person...!

Posted by Joshua at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

...Thy Doodle Ann.

So, because Sonora Quest Stupora Quorum felt compelled to abuse Jeri , AND because there was some sort of measles incident (which closed the building, which meant I had to listen to people come up, read the sign that was pretty clear about the closure, and then ask me (as if I work for that salt mine of a racket!), "But are they open?", "Why're they closed, the sign/paper/ says they're open"), AND because I made Jeri eat at Chiba Hut (which proudly boasts the "Home of the most worthless cunt of a sandwich clerk!"), AND because she was a good girl this week (mostly), I made not only a few dozen tortillas to fill her pockets with, but also.....(check this out...):

Blueberry & Strawbery filled doughnuts.

Posted by Joshua at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

......threw her head back and began cackling towards the sky.

The day started off with a bang. Breakfast at *****'s: (Chilaquiles/Black Beans/Eggs!)

And then we hit the road in search of some framing work for one of Jeri's pictures.

On the way, we encountered a native towing device:

Here I am offering advice to the towman:

You should have seen how proud Jeri was sitting up in the tow truck cab! I was hoping she'd score us some cigarettes from the driver, but no.....I had to handle this without cigarettes, and without my clonazepam.

So what's a poor girl to do you ask? Well, like mother always said, "There's no amount of sorrow that a good truffle can't fix!" And so I strapped Jeri into her car seat and set about gathering only the finest cacao:

And then I made some staggeringly delicious truffles. Sure, each one equals 6 servings, but really, could you really complain about too much decadence?

Posted by Joshua at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Unfortunately, the residents of Tucson (I blame the East ones), have banded together like petty police officers to force the closure of one of my favourite dining locales. My favourite not only because the food is always good, but it's made by me and whoever else happens to be there. On this night, it happened to be my Madre y Padrito, and we were exploring the delights of Africa:





Led By the fearless Howard:

And flanked by the Padre:

I made a fish stew (there's ingredients for a cucumber salad on the right):

I seriously regret not taking classes there 5 years ago or so. Just think how my baking would be.

Posted by Joshua at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

You WILL eat cinnamon rolls before going to bed if it's the last thing I....oh....you already ate it?

Posted by Joshua at 02:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My butcher had the most delightful Green Chile & Blue Cheese sausage, which just begged to be topped off with an even more sinful Blue Penne. I popped one of Jeri's Lipitor's just to make help balance things out.

Oh, and the sandwich he made me, brought tears to my eyes with every disappearing bite.

Posted by Joshua at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm almost embarrassed to say....but last Sunday when Jeri was shaken out of bed....she had to face a small platter of fresh, hot, homemake buttermilk doughnuts. But then....didn't everyone?

Posted by Joshua at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ok...I don't really know what happens to bad girls on weekends such as this. Good ones however, are seated early in the morning (or when they finally stroll out of bed) and given a small assortment of nonsense.

But more importantly, they later find themselves scooping warm cafloutis into their pieholes.

Posted by Joshua at 01:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Since we ate at Corleone's on Friday, (new Italian place for us....magnificent sausage, but be prepared to wait for a very...very long time. Also, it's a bit disturbing that all hostesses are required to vomit every 15 minutes. Seriously.) Anyway there was the curry,

but in Jeri's eyes the most important feature was the Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes....

(Although the meatloaf/mashed potato combination truly won her heart over....works every time.)

Posted by Joshua at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Thanks to a Sweet Jeri, I learned how to properly make

Jambalaya

and Flambe

so I could test her sweet tooth with Bananas Foster

Posted by Joshua at 04:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Nearly let this one slip by.

(Salmon with lime and honey glaze, asparagus with a some reggiano slivers, and grapes to taunt Jeri.)

Posted by Joshua at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I thought the soup I made (Chorizo & Butternut) was delightful (even though it was a balmy 90 degrees outside already), but it just wasn't very photogenic. So instead, you get the bread I made to accompany it.

Posted by Joshua at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It's never been any secret about Jeri's webbed fingers, and anyone who's met her would most likely agree with that.

So much like the fact that I have to wear diapers to bed at night, there are are certain concessions that I make especially for Jeri. Like perhaps making small tortillas that will fit her hand better:

{Yes, I made the real deal beans to go with them! Just like home!}

Posted by Joshua at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Besides her little blintzes, Jeri is often muted by the presence of something called a Bizmarck. Looking around, I suppose it's pretty similar to a German Oven Pancake only better. Shown here with mango and kiwi, mine looked similar but had added maple syrup. Hey, it aint easy bustin' the seams!

Posted by Joshua at 08:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

When you've been a good girl all week, and the worst your employer can say about you is "Jeri only brings in baked goods for the people on her shift, and not the other paltry, lazy personnel", then go ahead, eat your god damn cinnamon rolls:

With just a hint of that maple walnut goodness that Jeri enjoys:

Normally I don't find myself indulging in this sort of goodie, but I did eat a healthy amount of raw cinnamon roll, and I think they turned out oh so tasty. Which of course means, there's only enough for your shift.

Sorry if I get you in trouble again.

Posted by Joshua at 09:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Without a doubt, the cheesecake has to be one of my favourite desserts to make, and perhaps the only that I don't get to sample either. (One might say "Joshua, you are getting the short end of the sharp stick...").

Be that as it may, I can sit back and smile, knowing that I am doing the Lord's bidding by preparing plates for the "Chicks O' Sonora Q" (Um...Tragic? Will? Hello??)

Posted by Joshua at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Yep...Jeri had been such a good girl the night before at the Price Club, so I fixed her up a batch of calzones. A new recipe for the dough, and I was quite pleased with it. Unfortunately, (I guess?) they popped just a bit in the oven. Jeri's actually looked really nice, until I tossed the melted cheese on top - I should have waited.

We did not finish in one sitting.

(Mozzarella, Provolone, Pepperoni, mushrooms, ricotta...the usual...lo-cal filling.)

Posted by Joshua at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Once again Jeri was refusing to eat healthy, so she found herself strapped into her highchair being force fed blintzes. This time sexy peaches, with gentle hints of almond and sensuous cinnamon.

Posted by Joshua at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Jeri had been misbehaving something fierce yesterday, so I did what any other parent would do. I strapped her into her highchair, and forced her to spend the morning eating blueberry blintzes.

Posted by Joshua at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Jeri made another wise investment in her future......ta da:

Thank you Doodle!

Posted by Joshua at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

It starts with proper frying of delicate corn:

And ends with gentle stuffing of chicken, cheese, TTG, and squeals from Jeri:

Posted by Joshua at 09:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Filled simply with spinach, bacon, jarlsburg and fontina. An afterthought would have been to add pinon nuts into the mix.....next time.

Posted by Joshua at 08:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

My first home attempt at Apple Frangipane Galletes. Especially considering I had to make my almond meal from scratch, without a clue as to how to accomplish that, they turned out beautifully. (The almond meal was perfect, and now I have some for later.)

Posted by Joshua at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)