Any Kitchen Will Do

Blogiversary with Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos

A year ago today I started this blog. Before doing so I thought about it a lot. I wondered how I would feel if it exploded with popularity, or if most interest would be from spammers. Would I want to continue it if either happened? Well, now I know. Spammers love me and I have a rather quiet following. My reaction is that I love doing it. Another thing I discovered over the past year is that I got a lot more out of blogging than I expected. I looked forward to discovering new recipes, documenting old ones and giving Little B experiences in the kitchen, like my parents did for me. The past 12 months were full of changes – I ended one job, started another, moved across the country, lived in four different abodes, said good-bye to family and friends in a number of different ways, then sought out meeting and getting to know new ones. I like my day job, but it lacks the creative outlet I crave, just as my previous full time work did. I don’t have a problem with the absence. My job fills a need for me to be challenged to solve big problems, while protecting separately the things I love. It may be wimpy of me, but I have always hesitated to rely on my passions to support a living. I think I fear it being taken away from me. The last time I tried to do so we got a new addition to our family – Little B – who influenced a change in the direction I was going and who has given me a new passion. My interest in a little, bustling catering business was not a good fit with a newborn. I don’t regret putting it to the side, for Little B is turning into quite the sous chef, the future looks bright for her and with her. Concentrating on my weekday job, knowing that Little B and Big D and cooking comes before and after it is working really well for now. Big D and I go with the flow in life, as always. Cruising the world on a sailboat full time is a ways off, but we are moving in that direction. Until then, I plan to embrace life, watch Little B grow and hold hands with Big D. I could not ask for more right now. When I looked back in the 123 blogs I did over the past year I was surprised to discover I did not start blogging sooner. I am actually an introvert, so doing the blog is stepping outside of my shell and it feels good. A whole year of yumminess. I see how my eating habits have evolved and how much better I feel without the sluggishness I get from high carbohydrate food. I also see how life experience, even over such a short period of time, changed how I approach things and find joy in small routine stuff that is easy to overlook. Oh, wait, this thing is supposed to be about food, too! I pondered for a while about what to make for this blogiversary. I considered doing something fancy and complicated, but that is not where I am right now. What I came up with is quite a gem. Today’s recipe is consistent with our low carbohydrate, wheat free leanings, and made with no concern whatsoever to what Little B likes. This is for me and Big D, who has been so supportive of my creative outlet, especially with tweak suggestions and acting as guinea pig. Spicy and cheesy and addictive these are. Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoyed your visit as much as I enjoyed preparing it for you, and please return soon!

Blogiversary Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos

6 large jalapenos, halved lengthwise and seeded
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
4 ounces ham, finely diced
1 tsp garlic powder
½ cup finely shredded Mexican cheese blend

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine cream cheese, garlic and ham together. Fill the jalapeno halves with the mixture. Sprinkle with the Mexican cheese blend, gently pressing it into the filled halves. In a baking sheet or dish arrange the jalapenos so there is some space between them. Bake for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted and browning, possibly drizzling down the sides of the jalapenos.