Indian Guacamole

by Irene Lindvall

We were on the go all day today and I needed something that was portable. I was intrigued by this recipe but now having used several of the spices included in other dishes I had put it on the back burner because I didn't think I'd like it very much. It just so happened that Whole Foods had $1 avocados today so I felt justified in potentially "wasting" two avocados on this recipe. I also didn't quite mix the seasoning in all over just in case I wanted some of the avocado untouched by the spice. Sounds like I was setting the dish up to fail, doesn't it? Well, I wouldn't say it failed, but it was the taste I thought it it would be and it was not my favorite. 

Things I learned from this recipe:

My other recipe for guacamole is still superior.

An ice cream scoop and a cutting board make an okay mortar and pestle. 

Would I make this recipe again?

No

The recipe

En-cheesy-ladas

by Irene Lindvall

Cooler weather and hints of rain means even more comfort food. I went with these very cheesy enchiladas. Eric was a fan, but I was left feeling a little unimpressed. I liked the mixture of mild and hot sauce to add a little kick, and I liked actually making enchiladas because I never had, but I'll probably be looking for a different recipe next time.

Things I learned from this recipe:

I feel like I could've used just one more ingredient. I'm not sure what it is, but I feel like it was missing something. 

Shredded chicken may be better than chunky strips.

Would I make this recipe again?:

Maybe.

The recipe

Bacon and Herbs Mac 'n' Cheese

by Irene Lindvall

The weather is starting to turn and I immediately thought comfort food sounded good. I have had this recipe for five years and have never tried it. I picked a great night and it really hit the spot. I splurged on fancy pasta imported from Italy and it was delicious. I have to admit, the fresh cut herbs (parsley & chives) were amazing and I probably could've used even more than recommended. I also picked the onions straight from the pot on the deck and used them - so great. 

Things I learned from this recipe:

Read the directions a little more carefully. I didn't pre-melt the butter and it probably would've made the top a little more delicious.

In the comments about the recipe (online) there was an interesting point about this dish being incredibly unhealthy. While I did use turkey bacon instead of pork there was a lot of cheese used, and I liked the note about using olive oil instead of butter.

Would I make this recipe again?

Definitely

The recipe 

Succotash Salad with Buttermilk Avocado Dressing

by Irene Lindvall

This seemed like the perfect summer time dish and I was right! We grilled the chicken again and it came out great (again). Eric and I both have a strong aversion to lima beans so I substituted them with edamame. Pretty brilliant if you ask me - they almost look the same and taste a lot better. The highlight of this dish, besides the crispy turkey bacon, is definitely the dressing. It's quite tasty and goes great with a thick lettuce and feta cheese. 

Things I learned from this recipe:

You can never have too much lettuce in a salad.

Would I make this recipe again?:

Yes

The recipe

5-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad

by Irene Lindvall

I am a huge fan of Vietnamese food so I had really high hopes for this dish. I realized at the last minute we needed the required noodles so Eric and I biked to the grocery store and as a result worked up quite an appetite. The chicken smelled delicious cooking on the grill and we were starving by the time I plated. I was really happy with the way the chicken turned out from the grill. It was extremely moist and juicy, and I think we've finally mastered the temperature weirdness of our grill. Everything turned out great, but I'll be honest, the flavor of the sauce was just not what I wanted. I think it required a little too much rice vinegar and not enough fish sauce. I ended up adding extra fish sauce on my dish and that helped slightly, but I think the combination of the sauce and the 5-spice blend is not exactly complimentary. My favorite part? The fresh herbs.

Things I learned from this recipe:

I don't really like Chinese 5-spice blend.

Would I make this recipe again?

Probably not.

The recipe