Project Food Blog Competition: Ready, Set, Blog!

The infinite question: What describes you as a food blogger? BALANCE

To understand what defines me as a food blogger is to first understand, or at least empathize, er' perhaps sympathize, with the dynamics of mother, wife, and blogger. The Great Dichotomy as it were of a child and husband taste buds: Chicken Nuggets vs. Steak Sandwiches, Homemade Mac and Cheese vs. Tamales, Carrots and Veggie Dip vs. Roasted Pepper Hummus and Pita. Doing my best to please all critics. Whether it is child, adult, or fellow blogger, delivering balance is the preferred format. That format is then transposed for all to read on the web and judge for themselves.

There are also rights-of-passage here. I want to share the passion for food with my two little girls as my mother did with me. I include my girls in most endeavours whether it is planting seeds, picking freshly grown tomatoes, making scrambled eggs for their breakfast or rolling out pasta dough. Many of my post include silly stories and quirky moments of motherhood while creating mouthwatering dishes.

My oldest helping make homemade pasta for dinner.
Homemade Chicken Tenders for kids.

My husband enjoys the more complicated and delectable dishes that my children have yet to appreciate. A few of his favorites that grace my site is Smoked Meatloaf, Juevos Rancheros, and the ever time consuming Tamales. The Manly Food. The Comfort Food. These posts screams to most hard-working men and to the women that want to feed them.


The Ultimate Omelet: 4 eggs, Monterrey Jack Cheese, Refried Beans, Taco Turkey Meat, Homemade Salsa, Lettuce, Tortilla Chips, and Jalapenos.

The Insanely Good Steak Sandwich: Slowly cooked sirloin sliced then topped french fries, Cole-slaw, and sour-dough bread! I served with the Fried Onion Rings!


Smoked Meatloaf Sandwich!!!

Then we have the sweet, tasty, satisfying and comfort food that warms your core. It will make you want to nap for hours after eating. Yes, desserts!! The delectable are also has a vast part of My Food and Life Encounters. The pies, cupcakes, cookies and homemade breads.

Bumble Berry Pie! Oh my!

Dulce Leches Cheesecake

As a food blogger I BALANCE: the healthy and the not so healthy, sweet and the savory. My Food and Life Encounters is a site where anyone could visit and find a recipe they "must have" or a dish that makes their salivary glands go crazy. Balance is what makes me different, unique, and an able Project Food Blog Winner. I will continue on my journey...

Dulce Leches Cheesecake

Sorry for the delay. Let me just tell you about August 16th. The worst day in my years of parenthood. My husband has been out of town for five days a week. It could not of came at a worse time. My oldest started Kindergarten at a school that I do not like. (Understatement: No Colors. No ABC's. No Kindergarten type decorations. It was in one of the poorest neighborhoods. We somehow was zoned for this school. Not sure how considering we do not live in that town .)We are in the process of getting her switched, but it broke my heart leaving her there. I cried when I walked out the door.

Then, I looked back at my two year old who was on day 3 of a fever of 104 and noticed her lymph nodes in her right arm were growing the size of golf balls. (I took her to Urgent Care the day before and he told me it was a Virus)I decide to take her straight to my primary doctor. The doctor took one look at her and told me, "She needs to be admitted."

Let me just say, on my way down in the elevator to my car I sobbed. I want my husband. I want my daughter not to be sick. I want my other daughter in a different school. I called my husband and literally broke down.

I live in Florida. All my family live in Ohio. I have no help. SOOOO before I could take my youngest to the Children's Hospital I needed to go pick up Alex EARLY from her first day of her new horrible school. I did not want to take her to the hospital with me because I had no idea what could happen so I made a few phone calls. My husbands co-worker, and now family, left work early to watch my (older)baby. Then, finally I headed to the hospital. After many hours and blood testes we find out that it is most likely CAT SCRATCH FEVER!

After late night baths, 105 fevers, three antibiotics, doctors offices and blood work. It is now over and it is September 11th ! Almost an entire month of mending a sick kid!

Not to mention, we had to get rid of the cat that my girls adored, but I could not risk anyone getting sick again.

Good news: It is now all working out. I got my oldest tested as gifted and she passed. YEAH! Now she will be transferred to the best school in the county. Bailey is on the mend and back to her playing self. AND MY HUSBAND IS COMING HOME....

Because my husband is coming home I had to make something special. My oldest asked for Cheesecake and this is what I came up with.

Dulce Leches Cheesecake
Adapted from diannasdesserts.com

Ingredients:
Crust:
1 1/2 cup cinnamon graham cracker crumbled
6 tbsp. butter, melted

Filling:
3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese (24 oz. total)
1 cup superfine granulated sugar
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
2/3 cup Dulce Leches Can from Nestle (You will use the rest of the can too)

1. Mix the crust and push into a 9 in springform pan. Bake on 400 for 10 minutes until browned.

2. Meanwhile, Mix the filling together.

3. Afte the crust cools drop the filling into the springform pan. Drop teaspoons of the Dulce Leches in a circler motion around the cheesecake. Bake on 325 for 45 minutes.

4. Let it cool for 25 minutes and then put in the fridge. Make sure you run a knife around the edge so it does not crack.

5. Enjoy.