Tango Mango

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Buffalo chicken bites Hold the presses. Just when I thought I had my Super Bowl food line-up ready I found these. We test drove them last night and they got enthusiast thumbs-up all around. They have a super crunchy crust surrounding a spicy, cheesy, chicken interior. The hot sauce gives them a kick in the pants! Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/2 cups corn flakes cereal, crushed 1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped to 1/4-inch dice 1/4 cup hot sauce (such as Tabasco) 3 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 3/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 3 tablespoons cup chopped green onions Directions: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Prepare work area for bound breading:  Place flour in a shallow bowl. In second shallow bowl pour beaten eggs.  Combine crushed corn flakes and Panko crumbs in third shallow bowl. In a large bowl, combine chicken, cream cheese and hot sauce, cheddar cheese and green onions. (You can use a wooden spoon for mixing, but I found my hands worked better.) Roll chicken mixture into 1 1/4-inch balls, approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons. Tip: If you have a mini ice cream scoop, it makes portioning easier. Dip each chicken ball first into the flour, and shake excess flour off. Then dip in the egg and roll in the crumbs. Place on a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm with ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

Buffalo chicken bites

Hold the presses. Just when I thought I had my Super Bowl food line-up ready I found these. We test drove them last night and they got enthusiast thumbs-up all around. They have a super crunchy crust surrounding a spicy, cheesy, chicken interior. The hot sauce gives them a kick in the pants!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups corn flakes cereal, crushed
  • 1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped to 1/4-inch dice
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
  • 3 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 tablespoons cup chopped green onions

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350˚F.

Prepare work area for bound breading:  Place flour in a shallow bowl. In second shallow bowl pour beaten eggs.  Combine crushed corn flakes and Panko crumbs in third shallow bowl.

In a large bowl, combine chicken, cream cheese and hot sauce, cheddar cheese and green onions. (You can use a wooden spoon for mixing, but I found my hands worked better.)

Roll chicken mixture into 1 1/4-inch balls, approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons. Tip: If you have a mini ice cream scoop, it makes portioning easier.

Dip each chicken ball first into the flour, and shake excess flour off. Then dip in the egg and roll in the crumbs. Place on a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm with ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

Thoughts from a blogger

When I started tango mango I didn’t really know much about blogs, even though I frequently stumbled across them.  Then one of my daughters started a tumblr blog and the idea of creating my own sounded appealing.  I figured it would be an interesting way to channel my creativity while chronicling my life adventures and talents. Now almost seven months later I can say that’s been true on both counts.

Food and recipes are a big part of tango mango (especially in the winter when it’s tough to get outside), but I felt early on I couldn’t exclude the other stuff that is a part of my daily life. Seeing my vintage tablecloths drying in the early morning sunshine begged for a photo. And I just happened to have my camera with me when I took the pictures, Purple flowers on an early morning walk in September.  In the summer I enjoy posting my garden and the things we grow.  

My oldest daughter was my first follower. After a month or two I gained a few more. I don’t know how anyone else found me or what they saw that they liked, but having a little audience helped motivate me.

It quickly became apparent that to continue as a blogger I needed to absolutely love doing it. And I do. This is important because it can feel pretty lonely from time to time.

I’ve given up trying to figure out which posts will be well-liked. One day when I was cleaning the garage I took a quick snapshot of my lunch of Brie cheese and pear on a cracker. I posted it and was shocked by its popularity. Conversely, I’ve worked really hard on some posts that evidently have very little appeal to my tumblr followers. I’ve found that pictures of foods, desserts in particular (especially if they have sprinkles), seem to get attention. Other than desserts, it’s completely hit and miss.

Becoming part of the tumblr community has connected me with some wonderful people and opened my eyes and heart to amazing things. I’ve read posts that have made me cry, and I’ve read some that have made me laugh. I’ve seen pictures that have made me think about the world differently. It’s been one of most rewarding experiences I’ve ever been a part of.

To those of you who follow me, I thank you.

tm

Sunday morning at around 7:00 I looked towards the living room and saw a bright orange light squeezing through the cracks in our blinds. It was such an unusual color; I went into the room and looked outside. The entire sky was bright orange. Knowing that I was experiencing something fleeting and extraordinary, I grabbed my camera and went outdoors. I was barefoot and only wearing a robe, so I was sort of trapped. Looking frantically for something to photograph, I turned my attention to the wreath hanging by our front door. I guess it was one of those “you had to be there” kinds of occasions. This picture doesn’t do the lighting justice, but it certainly enhanced the color in these hearts. 

Sunday morning at around 7:00 I looked towards the living room and saw a bright orange light squeezing through the cracks in our blinds. It was such an unusual color; I went into the room and looked outside. The entire sky was bright orange. Knowing that I was experiencing something fleeting and extraordinary, I grabbed my camera and went outdoors. I was barefoot and only wearing a robe, so I was sort of trapped. Looking frantically for something to photograph, I turned my attention to the wreath hanging by our front door.

I guess it was one of those “you had to be there” kinds of occasions. This picture doesn’t do the lighting justice, but it certainly enhanced the color in these hearts. 

Moonstruck Chocolates

Portland, Oregon is famous for lots of reasons; Moonstruck Chocolates just happens to be one of them. In 1993 the founders came up with a concept to hand-create superior chocolates using only the finest ingredients; chocolates that would not only taste exquisite, but be gorgeous to look at, as well. They excelled in both categories. These chocolates have won numerous awards and have caught the eye of some of Hollywood’s leading entertainers.

Moonstruck Chocolates can be found in plenty of upscale Portland shops and boutiques. The real temptation is to visit their Moonstruck Chocolate Cafés sprinkled around our Rose City, where you can enjoy gourmet beverages, chocolates, desserts and a cool place to relax. I found myself shopping next door to one of these cafés this morning and was, as always, lured inside. 

Here’s a list of other things that make Portland, Oregon famous:

  • Coffee
  • Microbreweries
  • Roses
  • Food carts
  • Powell’s Bookstore
  • 9 months of rain
  • The Timbers (Major League Soccer) and The Portland Trailblazers
  • Great public transportation
  • Bridges
  • Home of Nike, Columbia Sportswear, and Intel
  • Delicious breakfast spots
  • Weirdness 

Homemade marshmallows - it’s about time Just when I thought it was safe and all of the sugary stuff was finally out of the house, (see post, chocolate in our house right now) my mother innocently asked if I’ve ever thought about making marshmallows. Of course I have thought about it, but I’ve resisted because I know the danger of having tens of bouncy, sweet, puffy marshmallows in my house and what they could potentially do to my girlish figure. But then I meekly mentioned to my daughter that her grandmother was inquiring about homemade marshmallows, and she said my reasoning for not making them was the most-lame excuse she had ever heard. Well, that did it. So now of course now I absolutely must make them. Immediately. Fast forward 6 hours I don’t mean to torment you right now, but I am eating one of these soft, pillowy cubes of deliciousness at this very moment. I dipped them in semisweet chocolate and then into crunchy, crushed graham crackers. They are beyond decadent, and better than s’mores. I dipped a few of them in sprinkles, because it didn’t make sense not to.  I felt like this little darling deserved its own space, but if you want to see the one with sprinkles go here. A long walk this afternoon is definitely in order.

Homemade marshmallows - it’s about time

Just when I thought it was safe and all of the sugary stuff was finally out of the house, (see post, chocolate in our house right now) my mother innocently asked if I’ve ever thought about making marshmallows. Of course I have thought about it, but I’ve resisted because I know the danger of having tens of bouncy, sweet, puffy marshmallows in my house and what they could potentially do to my girlish figure. But then I meekly mentioned to my daughter that her grandmother was inquiring about homemade marshmallows, and she said my reasoning for not making them was the most-lame excuse she had ever heard. Well, that did it. So now of course now I absolutely must make them. Immediately.

Fast forward 6 hours

I don’t mean to torment you right now, but I am eating one of these soft, pillowy cubes of deliciousness at this very moment. I dipped them in semisweet chocolate and then into crunchy, crushed graham crackers. They are beyond decadent, and better than s’mores. I dipped a few of them in sprinkles, because it didn’t make sense not to.  I felt like this little darling deserved its own space, but if you want to see the one with sprinkles go here.

A long walk this afternoon is definitely in order.