California Dreamin'

Last month we flew to California to see my friend, Caroline.  Caroline and I have been friends since we were age 9 (pen pals)   The only hitch is we live on different continents.  She lives in Sweden.  But for 25 years, she has either traveled here to Texas to visit me, or I have traveled to Sweden to see her.  Last month she happened to be doing some vacationing in California for a month, so Brent and I decided to take a weekend to go see her there.  And what a fun trip it was!

We stayed in Santa Monica right next to the Pier.  If you've ever visited the Santa Monica Pier before, it is loaded with fun!  Games, shops, restaurants, a ferris wheel, roller coasters, etc... We loved it!

Ashlan and Brent stopping for a snack on the Pier

One of the places I wanted to see while we were there was The Grove. It didn't disappoint.

Ashlan was determined to find Lassie's star on the Walk of Fame.  Caroline was just as excited about finding Lassie's star as Ashlan was!

We decided to rent bikes at the Santa Monica Beach and ride down to Venice Beach and back.  Wow! What a difference in the population of people as you make that ride.  I'm just going to say it - Venice Beach has a lot of weirdos!

Beach Time

Me and Caroline

We did make it to Universal Studios while we were there.  We happened to be there on opening day of the new Transformers ride.  Caroline watched Ashlan while Brent and I went on the ride.  It was worth the wait in line!  Great ride!

We made the drive one day to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  I've been to three Presidential Libraries and this one, by far, was the most beautiful as far as location and view!  It was up on a hill overlooking the valley.  

Inside the Library was Reagan's Air Force One.  We were able to walk through it and get a tour.  

The cafe on site.  See what I mean about the views....Stunning!

I had to post some pictures of Paradise Cove.  We ate dinner here twice.  It's in Malibu and our hotel manager suggested it.  What a treat!  They do not take reservations and when you arrive it's generally an hour wait (no matter the day).  But what makes it such a treat is that while you wait, they give you wine and drinks and a chair on the beach.  Heaven!!!!

And of course we had a make a quick stop to the Farmers Market in Los Angeles.  I think Brent could have spent a whole day there.  He loved it!

What a fun trip this was!  And the cherry on top was, of course, spending my days with Caroline!!!

Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas

Last night I was craving mexican food, so I thought I would make a recipe that I had pinned on Pinterest a few weeks ago.  Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas - sounds yummy right!  And it was.  Let me share it with you.

Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas

Yields 10 flautas
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes

Baked flautas stuffed with seasoned, shredded chicken, spinach, and cheese are crispy, but don’t have the greasiness of fried versions. 

To shred poached chicken easily, put it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium for 45 seconds. Store-bought rotisserie chicken can be substituted for the poached chicken to save time. 

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs (about 4)  *I think next time I will use rotisserie chicken*
• 16 ounces Beer *I used Bud Lite but any beer will work
• 2 cups Water
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon ground Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
• 1 Jalapeno Pepper, minced
• 3 cups Baby Spinach, chopped
• 5 burrito-size Flour Tortillas (9 inches)
• 6 ounces Queso Quesadilla or other melting cheese, shredded *I used shredded cheddar*
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, or cooking spray
• Salsa, for serving

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 450*F.
2. Put the chicken thighs in a deep sided saute pan and cover with the beer and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the liquid and shred it. Mix together the chicken and seasonings.  *Okay, this was my first time cooking chicken thighs.  The recipe called for skinless, boneless thighs.  I somehow came home with thighs that had skin and bones.  Go figure.  But I had to make do, so I pulled the skin off as much as I could and then cooked them, as stated, with the bones in.  I like chicken but I am NOT a fan of working with raw chicken.  The skin and bones creeped me out.  Next time, honestly, I'll just shred some rotisserie chicken and let it soak in the saute pan with the beer and water for awhile.

Cut the tortillas in half. 

1. Pour out all but 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the jalapeno and spinach and cook over low heat until for 2-3 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.

Before

After

Spoon 1/10th of the chicken (about 1 tablespoon) along the long edge of a tortilla. Repeat with the spinach and cheese. Roll the tortilla up, starting with the straight edge. Place seam-side down on an oiled baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

Brush the flautas with olive oil or spray with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes, then turn them over and bake for until 10 minutes, or until crispy. Serve with salsa.

I did what the recipe said.  Cook for 10 minutes, then turn over and cook for another 10 minutes.  After that first 10 minutes, they looked closer to being done than I expected, so I knocked that second 10 minutes of cook time down to about 6-7minutes.  STILL TOO LONG!  Just watch your flautas during that last 10 minutes of cook time.  In the end, once you turn them over, they probably only need to cook 5 more minutes max.  See below...mine came out a little crispy..Ugh.

I cut each flauta in half.  Served with some homemade guacamole and salsa and some sour cream.  Despite buying the wrong chicken and overcooking them, I will certainly make them again.  Yes, they were that good!  And it definitely fulfilled my mexican food craving!