Blast from the “big hair days” past!
Thought you might get a kick from seeing us 20 years ago. Carrie with big hair and Mark..well "with hair". And our (pre Margi) Black Lab "Pauli".
Archive for August, 2009
Yes, Arizona can be green (one of several sitting areas on the patio)
Sedona in May...green and in bloom. Caryn and Dean - thank you for all the pictures.
Bi-Plane adventurers (and a high-sky view of the Cozy Cactus)
Father & son (Steve and Todd) getting ready for flight.
Cozy Cactus backyard (we're in the lower left-hand corner). Thank you Steve for sharing this with us.
Alex & Meghan – Cozy Cactus Honeymoon Pictures
Evening on the Cozy Cactus patio. Meg and Alex thank you for sharing this with us!
The lovely couple - Congratulations!
Spending Sedona with friends (old and new)
Sue & Amy (long-time friends) with us (new friends)..Mark, Carrie and Margi - hey they said they would return with their husbands, it's been 4 months...hello ladies, we have room at the inn.
1st Cozy Cactus Wedding
Dan & Vivian - such a special day!
Guests from around the World!
As of 8/1/09-guests from: Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Japan, UK , Hong Kong, France, Denmark, Czechoslovakia and the USA, we love this life!
Muffin Czar
Although I use to prefer being called the “muffin maven” or the “god of gluten.” Since millions of you have requested muffin recipes (okay… there were actually about 25 of you) your desire is now your reality.
COZY~FRUITY MUFFINS—- recipe will make 10-12
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar ~~~ I include some brown sugar as part of the half cup
- cinnamon ~~~ I don’t measure it ~~~ probably comes out to a quarter tsp
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup plus your choice of nut (wall, almond or pecan) or perhaps currents or raisins ~~~ perhaps nothing
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup veg. oil ~~~ for what it’s worth, I prefer canola and I cut back a little on the oil and add a little melted butter
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 heaping cup dried fruit ~~~ (little itsy bitsy pieces) I’ve used blueberries, apricots, peach, mango, cranberry and other stuff ~~~ saturate the fruit with some sort of juice ~~but not too much~~ just enough to cover the fruit in perhaps a small sandwich sized plastic bag ~~~ allow to soak for a while. I soak the fruit overnight
Instructions
- Mix the wet and dry together in a big bowl—- If the mix appears too dry add a little more juice~~~ but not too much
- Pamelize your muffin tins (spray them with Pam or some other non-stick stuff of your choosing) I love the silicone tins but then we can’t call them tins can we? Let’s call them silis.
- Scoop into tins or silis ~~~ bake at 350 for 25 minutes or so… I pull them out when I think they are ready~~~ I trust you can do the same
- Remove from tins or silis and allow to cool a little so that your serving a warm muffin but not so hot that you burn your fingerprints off
Serve Cozy~Fruity Muffins with fava beans and a nice Chianti…mmmmmm
Huevos Rancheros Recipe (Cozy Style)
Ok, so there is the cheaters version and the long traditional version….each are really good. (depends on if you buy the Hatch Huevos Rancheros sauce or make it)
- Brush each side of corn tortillas with a combo of vegetable oil and melted butter – equal parts (two tortillas per person)
- In a hot pan – fry/heat tortillas (just long enough to make them soft – a few seconds on each side) – set aside on paper towels
- Heat refried beans – I usually melt in grated cheese and some Ranchero sauce – keep warm
- In a baking dish – Spread beans on each of the bottom tortillas. Each serving includes two tortillas (top and bottom) – Sometimes I add bacon and/or chorizo, onions, or peppers on top of the beans.
- Sprinkle grated cheese over the beans
- Place the second tortilla on top of the beans (for each serving)
- Top each tortilla with a little more cheese – cover with foil and place in a warm oven until you are ready for the eggs
- Cook eggs, fried or scrambled, place on top of each stacked tortillas – top with sauce and cheese. Enjoy!
Sauce:
Cheaters Version – You can order Hatch Huevos Rancheros Sauce on line …very good…nice heat to it. If it is too hot, add sour cream and/or cream cheese to cool it down.
Or …………………..The Traditional Version –
· Roast and peel fresh Hatch Green Chilies
· Sauté diced onions and garlic
· Combine chilies, onions, garlic and garlic salt and puree
· Add sour cream and/or cream cheese to taste (or use as is)
· Heat and serve