Patio Door Shades

The Hodges family used to live in San Antonio. Cooking for this family is easy. Their favorite meal is Pollo Tacos and Flan. I like cooking in their kitchen because the patio is right off of the dining nook. This family is very energy efficient. They have chosen various appliances for their efficiency. They are also saving energy by using solar patio door shades.

I like to make Pollo Tacos. I cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the oven covered in salsa. I shred the chicken meat after it is cooked. I serve the shredded meat with cilantro, tomato, lettuce and cheese. I usually put out both flour tortillas and corn tortillas.

I was in the Hodges kitchen, daydreaming and looking out of the solar patio door shades when I decided that Flan was the perfect dessert. The simplicity of Flan is what draws me to it time after time. I make flan with just four ingredients: egg yolks, sugar, evaporated milk and vanilla. The results are so delicious.

The Garner family spent some time stationed in Okinawa while Mr. Garner was in the military. They had a cook that lived in with them in their off base housing. I was charged with coming up with one meal that would remind them of this time they spent overseas. I admire the way that they have tried to incorporate different cultures into their home. They have very nice taste and have the prettiest levolor patio door shades.

I cook a chicken dish for the Garners that has bamboo shoots, rice wine, mushrooms and water chestnuts. There is a little bit of ginger and garlic in this dish as well. The rice I serve with this is sticky and white. I like this type or rice when the main dish is a little on the wet side. I was most proud of finding a delicious recipe for Ginger Ice Cream. My client was so impressed after I ended the meal with this dessert that I was hired to return at regular intervals.

I have another family that used to live in the Rio Grande Valley. They have a different idea of comfort food than my other clients. They just moved into a beautiful garden home and have roman patio door shades at their house. It is a pure joy to cook for this couple. They have a favorite meal of Carne Guisada with tortillas. I like to make a mango salsa for passing with this meal.

I make my carne guisada with round steak. I cut the steak up in strip and brown it in a little oil. After the steak has browned, I sprinkle the meat with flour and then add a cut up tomato and a cut up onion to the pot. I add at least a cup of beef stock before I add the peppers. I like to use between six and eight different kinds of peppers.

The roman patio door shades are nice to look at when I am preparing the homemade tortillas at the Champion family's house. Homemade tortillas are so superior to store bought.