Meat Free-A Tortillas!

Greetings food lovers!

As I continue my journey of eliminating meat from my diet, increasing my vegetable intake, and introducing alternatives into my diet, I have created a new must-have dish that everyone will enjoy!

My Meat Free-a Tortillas are easily adaptable for the non vegetarian however I think once you try this dish you will find you don't need meat for a fulfilling meal!

I initially made this dish as I was having a strong craving for food similar to what I ate on my trip to El Salvador (check out my next entry for a look at a few dishes I enjoyed on my journeys). The cuisine in El Salvador incorporates lots of beans, tomatoes, and queso blanco or queso fresco. Enjoy the following recipe and I hope it triggers a desire to visit Latin America as much as it triggers your taste buds!

Ingredients
Queso blanco or Queso Fresco
Refried beans
Pico de Gallo (I used my Salsa de Nuno which you can find here)
Corn tortillas
Sour Cream
Lots of lime!

1. Take a corn tortilla and wrap it in a moist towel then microwave for a few seconds to soften (I wish I had another way of doing this!)

2. Heat the refried beans on the stove and stir until softened - usually you will see them boil a bit in case you cannot tell if they are ready

3. Place the refried beans on the tortilla and smear to cover as if making a pizza

4. Add the sour cream on top of the refried beans in the center, this will aid in holding the salsa in and is a great combination of hot and cold on top of the beans!

5. Place a small spoonful of the Salsa de Nuno on the layer of sour cream. I suggest using a straining spoon as I find the salsa will begin to run due to the lime and make for a very messy but fun meal!

6. Sprinkle the queso blanco on top

Espero que disfrute su comida!

Green Papaya

One of my favorite restaurants is Green Papaya, a Thai restaurant located in Hyde Park, Cincinnati, Ohio.

I can start with the good as it far outweighs the bad with this hidden gem. The main room of the restaurant has a sushi bar with a fantastically colorful array of rolls. The decor is very fascinating and everywhere you look you will see a piece of art, a fountain, or a hidden Koi fish statue tucked away. The second you receive your menu, you will recognize the long list of fantastic options, each sounding more flavorful than the last. You will find the "lunch box" will allow you to get an affordable set of options (think "Pick 2 from Panera").

The sushi is fantastic, fresh, and unique - it is hard to be disappointed with anything at this restaurant. If you are a soup lover, or frankly even if you are not, try the Green Papaya soup. This soup, loaded with Holy Basil, prawns, mushrooms, coconut milk, and lemongrass is not only sweet and spicy, but fantastically flavorful and will touch taste buds you didn't know existed.

I will share my review of two of my favorite dishes on the menu, Crispy Pad Thai and the Panang Curry. The pad thai is a crispy mix of your favorite dish full of green onions, crunchy noodles, and loaded with sauce. I have attempted to made this dish numerous times and it's difficult to replicate the perfect amount of crisp without under or overcooking the noodles.

The Panang Curry is full of vegetables, rice, and an amazing coconut based sauce that is extremely sweet. It is very different from Indian curry so do not get confused however Panang is a must try for sure.

As this restaurant is affordable, local, and has fantastic service I can say few negative things about Green Papaya but I will try as to create a balance in the amazing experience I have described. The lot for Green Papaya is small so parking can often be an issue however the walk back to your car will help you burn the very few calories consumed in your meal. When the restaurant is full there may be very little elbow room at your table as without a booth seat you will find yourself in close quarters with your neighbor. Look on the brightside, for eavesdroppers it will make it easy to listen in on the couple next to you chatting about their date night plans! Finally you will find that the single bathrooms are in a narrow hallway and it may be a cramped wait.

All in all Green Papaya is an amazing choice for a night out, a sweet date, or a lone munch for lunch.