Vee's Signature Recipes Vol. I

Hot Dog Tacos



Okay, I know this sounds like the sort of thing one would eat while holed up in one's apartment-with little to no food...And it is.



But trust me. They are delicious!
Great when you are on a tight budget.

Here's what you will need to serve one:

• tortillas
  
• cooking oil-any will do
  
• a few (2-3) hot dogs-I prefer turkey dogs
  
• 3 slices of cheese-any cheddar variety or jack
  
• dried parsley
  
• garlic powder or garlic salt
  
• black pepper
  
• chili powder
  
• onion-chopped fresh or dried is fine
  
• taragon
  
• red pepper-crushed or ground

In a medium saucepan on medium heat, pour a few tablespoons of oil into the pan. Slice your hot dogs into 1/4 inch disks and toss them in the pan. Sprinkle a light amount of the garlic stuff evenly over the disks; do the same with the pepper, onion, and taragon.

Dump about 1/4 cup of the parsely right in and stir the mass until it is evenly coated.

Add 1 tsp each of the chili powder and ground red pepper. Cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring often until golden brown all over.

*Don't dump the grease!!! You are going to need it to make your taco shells (none of those already made, crispy tacos shells you buy from the store; don't get too fancy).

Remove the cooked little lovelies from the pan, and set aside.

Pour 3 more tablespoons of oil into the hot pan, and lay your first tortilla flat in the sizzling oil. Using a fork, pierce the tortilla several times to keep it from developing "warts" (yuk), then flip the tortilla over, folding it in half. Cook 2-3 minutes, flip over, and cook for 2 minutes more. Do this for all of the tortillas.

Drain the grease from the taco shells by pressing them into a pile of folded paper towels.

Line the shells with one slice of cheese each, while the shells are still warm and draining in their cushy little towels. Fill taco shells with your hot dog disks and enjoy!

Don't forget to say "grace"!

Raw fish and conversation

So, tonight was my first attempt at showing up to one of those social groups you've been seeing pop up on the net lately.

You know what I'm referring to; sites like YahooGroups, Meetup.com, and MyspaceGroups. Like-minded people get together and discuss their political views, their favorite TV shows, and everything in between.

I went out to Pasadena to this wonderful little Japanese bistro, aptly named Japon Bistro on the world-famous Colorado Boulevard.

I was not sure what to expect upon my arrival, but the hostess greeted me immediately.

I dug that. I'm all about prompt customer service.

I let her know that I was there for the Artist Group, and she sat me right away at a lovely table set for 12. The venue itself is part restaurant, part sushi bar, with all the typical decor and ambience one would expect from a Japanese restaurant; all the Eastern flair was in full effect and the dimmer lights were set to a warm glow. It's quite a cozy little nook...

After I had introduced myself to the strangers seated before me, the organizer and another attendee, I took my seat and hung my tote on the back of my chair. We shared some common details with one another, just to break the ice a bit, and patiently waited for the others to trickle in, which they did shortly after my arrival. With a total of 7 brave souls at the table, it was intimate and friendly. And being that this was strictly an "Artists" group, you can imagine that we made for an eclectic bunch of folks.

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the mood turned to "cozy" after a few trips around the table, each of us unfolding our personal background stories in turn. I must say, too, that the sushi was phenomenal. I ordered my staple sushi items, starting with the Hamachi (yellowtail tuna), Maguro (ahi tuna), and Unagi(fresh water eel). The fish was delicate, fresh, and very clean.

It should come as no surprise, then, when I say that I highly recommend checking out a few social groups for yourself!

You can choose from all kinds of interests and activities from Tennis to Tango, and most groups are free! Have at it, and tell your friends about your experience! You never know who you could meet, and what you could learn about them, and maybe even yourself...