{Monday Afternoon Food Post} Disclaimer Included

Disclaimer: { I am not a professional cook or a chef. And, I have no intention of becoming one. I have simply learned to "cook" because I am a Wife & Momma and Thankfully my family eats it all! Ha.}


A brave friend asked me for food advice, suggestions and reciepes... so this came about. I now think about everything I cook and take lots of pictures. But, this is totally not what I do..so forgive me if I miss something.

Here we go. Ha. {BTW, My Hubby is in no way to find out that I give cooking advice..he is an awesome cook...HA.}

When I became a Momma I didn't think that EVERYTHING would become so complicated and thought filled...but it did. A lot more than I thought it would be. I thought, my kids will ONLY eat organic, home cooked meals! Ha. {Then I went back to my full-time outside the home job and that went...well south really quick! ::no pun intended::}

My meals are quick and easy. Sometimes last minute meals, that are sometimes not super healthy but I try kind of things. And, most my recipes are either from my Momma, my Hubby, my Mother-in-Law or the internet with a little twist of me and the ingredients that I have available.

How to make Picadillo:

Ingredients: 1 lbs of ground beef
                   1/4 of a large onion
                    1 to 2 small cloves of garlic
                    1/2 a bag of baby carrots
                    1 small red tomato
                    2 small calabcitas
                    2 to 3 small red potatoes
                    1/4 cup of water
                    3 to 4 bay leaves
My 3 favorite food seasonings: 
                    Garlic Salt
                    Black Pepper
                    Knorr- de Caldo de pollo

Substitution:

{I sometimes add a bag of frozen veggies if I don't have fresh ones...any is good. I  do the one with corn, green beans and peas. }

                 
First, I dice and chop all of my veggies including the onion; I usually leave the baby carrots and garlic whole.

I set them aside and cook  my meat before adding the veggies. {I don't pre-cook or boil any of the veggies they cook well with the meat after I put them in the pot.}

I then season my meat with about a table spoon of garlic salt {or to taste}, 1/2 a table spoon of black pepper {or to taste}and add it to a pan with about 3 to 4 table spoons of oil { I try to use Olive Oil but regular oil does the trick just fine}.

I add to it the chopped onion and whole cloves of garlic and cook it on medium heat until all the meat is nice and brown....once the meat is completely cooked. I  add all the veggies. {diced tomatoes, calabaza, potatoes and the baby carrots.}

Then I add 1/4 cup of water, the bay leaves and 1 table spoon of Knorr de Caldo de pollo for added flavor and seasoning.

I usually let it boil on high heat for about 10 minutes and then lower the heat, cover it and let it simmer on low for about 25 minutes or until all my veggies are tender.

And, here is how much of a first timer I am...I didn't take a picture of my finished product. 

Thankfully, I do this dish often, it's quick and easy. I usually make some rice or frijoes de olla to go along with it. Or refried canned beans ::insert gasp here:: I know the horrors...but there are actually some good canned refried beans that we eat... will talk about those later.

This is Cami eating her picadillo...this is one of the ones where I added the bag of frozen veggies because I can see the peas...

Let me know if you try this... and if this post helped you!!!! I would love to hear from you and see your pictures if you make this dish!