Let´s try this again.

To celebrate my new internet connection and my ability to now update my blogs on a daily basis, I have decided to resurrect this blog that never really got going. It took me 18 years living in Mexico to become a citizen, buy a home and now this last achievement – WIFI. This will be the third blog that I´m working on and is likely to be a hodgepodge of everything from my culinary experiments, my political views, my sputtering music career, social commentary, rants and anything else that crosses my troubled mind. My other blogs are both related to my attempt to break into the world of self-publishing. Here are all the links in case you happen to stumble onto this blog and feel the urge to check out some of my other endeavors. My blog to Promote my English Language books: http://davidgordonburkeebooks.blog.com/ My blog for Spanish speakers and for Promos for my English as a Second language books: https://inglesalpoderdetres.wordpress.com/ My facebook page for promoting all my Ebooks: https://www.facebook.com/DuchessDesertRose?ref=bookmarks My Personal Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/david.burke.94214 My Professional Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/davidburkemaestro?ref=bookmarks My Youtube page which is a mixture of any and all of the previously mentioned themes – mostly videos for English students and promos for my books: https://www.youtube.com/user/dgb111 My twitter account is @dbwriterteacher And now a bit about me. I am a Canadian ex-pat, naturalized and patriotic Mexican living in Monterrey, Mexico where I make my living as an English teacher. Wish I could say I made my living as a writer or even better as a musician in some rockin´ blues band but it seems for the moment that is not to be. I´m a bit of a nut in the kitchen – love to cook and try new things. Aside from the blogging and writing gig I am also passionate about the blues. I play acoustic blues exclusively although I have rocked out on the electric in the past. Right now I´m in the process of getting the parts together for my first cigar box guitar build. Also starting a bunch of new book projects including a new NOVEL. Look forward to meeting people here and exchanging ideas. All are welcome. David Gordon Burke

Update - Here's what's going on

I keep promising to get this page up and running again with support material for my other projects but it never seems to happen. I have a mountain of daily material to update - Monday to Friday I add blog posts to two blogs: My Ebook Blog and My English Language tutorial blog So you can see it's a ton of work. Drop by the blogs. Keep an eye open. In the next few months I intend to do a few interesting things. 1. Get my books onto the Createspace site so they can be purchased in Paper form. 2. Finish at least 2 more English books and 2 more Spanish books. 3. PROMO BLAST. Freebees all across the board. 4. Give aways for Reviews. And finally I hope to start writing a new novel. Keep in touch. David Gordon Burke (Stoney)

An Update / Good Things Coming Soon!

I keep promising to revamp this blog but then never get around to it. I have been having internet issues at work. Once I am into my new house and have daily, unrestricted internet, this site will get my priority. Look for some new recipes and some English classes and other material to support my ebooks. For now, a reminder that my Novel 'Lobo' is now for sale at Amazon and Smashwords.

I'm Back!!!

It seems there is some kind of mix-up with my work computer. The new protocol won't allow me to post on my blog. Whatever. So I've come over here since I have had a plan simmering on the back-burner forever to get this blog up and running again. This blog will not be the same as my http://davidgordonburkeebooks.blog.com/ although I will post some info about my Ebooks. This blog will mostly deal with material to back up my other projects. Recipes English Lessons Rants Anything else that crosses my mind. That's all for now. I will be back ASAP. David Burke

The Sputtering Music Career

These days my main focus is on learning to play Delta blues / Acoustic blues and Slide Guitar.  I'm getting there.  My repetoire is about 20 tunes.  I hope to be able to go it 100% solo in the very near future.
Here's some nostalgia stuff. 

My first band - Tortoise Blue and the Gravediggers.  Where's Waldo?

Here's one of my days playing Flamenco Guitar.

Here are my babies.

Ranch Style Shrimp / Cilantro Pesto Soup with Meatballs

 Ranch Style Shrimp
Note: These are both Mexican style dishes.

Ingredients in this recipe:
Shrimp: 1 1 / 2 kg
Tomatoes: 4 medium
Chile Poblano: 1
Onion: 1
Oil: enough to fry
Salt: to taste
Black Pepper, to taste
Water: 1 cup

DirectionsPeel the shrimp and season to taste. Fry in a little oil and add onion and sliced ​​chile. Stir in tomato, finely chopped and when cooked, add water, season with pepper and cook 3 minutes.

Serve over pasta. 

Olive oil and garlic pasta.

2 tbsp. salt

1 lb. spaghetti, capellini or linguini

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tbsp. minced garlic

2 tbsp. red pepper

1 tbsp. basil leaves

Pepper

2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Heat 1/2 cup of olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-low heat. Add 2 tbsp. of minced garlic and 2 tbsp. of red pepper flakes and saute for one minute.
Add precooked ingredients including chicken, shrimp, clams or vegetables such as onions, zucchini and eggplant. Stir the mixture with a spatula for one minute.
Drain the pasta in a colander and pour it into the skillet. Add 1/3 cup of pine nuts and 1 tbsp. of chopped basil leaves. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Toss and saute the ingredients with tongs for one minute. Remove the olive oil and garlic pasta dish from the heat and toss it with 2 tbsp. of grated Parmesan cheese.

Cilantro Pesto Spoon with Meatballs

RECIPE INGREDIENTS
3 / 4 cup short-grain white rice (half cooked)
1 1 / 2 cups water4 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 white onions, diced
1 / 2 lb ground pork
1 / 2 lb. ground beef
1 egg
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1 / 2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 zucchini, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
6 cups chicken broth

Cilantro Pesto
1 / 2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1 sprig fresh mint, stemmed and chopped
Juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1 / 2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

In a saute pan over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil. Add onions and 1 of the saute Until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.Combine the pork, beef, cooled onion, soaked rice, egg, cumin, oregano, 3 / 4 teaspoon of the salt and 1 / 2 teaspoon of the pepper. Using your hands, mix well and form 1-inch balls Into.In a large soup pot over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons vegetable The Remaining oil. Add onion and saute the Remaining Until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, zucchini, carrots and tomatoes and cook, stirring, until, fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock, stir well and bring to a boil. Carefully slip the meatballs Into the pot, reduce the heat to low and simmer the meatballs are Uncovered Until Fully cooked, About 45 minutes. Stir in the Remaining 3 / 4 teaspoon salt and 1 / 2 teaspoon pepper.While soup simmers the, make the pesto cilantro: In a mini food processor or blender to, combine the cilantro, mint, lime juice, olive oil, water and salt. Process to a paste.

French Style Meatloaf and Garlic Cheese Mashed Potatoes

French style meatloaf with 5 meats and 2 cheeses
Ingredients
Tomato sauce
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 egg
Cottage cheese
Any other cheese (We use Mexican Queso Panela)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 / 4 cup cracker crumbs or bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1 / 4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 pounds ground meat 50% Beef / 50% Pork 
1 chicken breast

1 thin sausage Bratwurst or similar style.
Whorcestershire Sauce
Fresh mushrooms into pieces.
1 large tomato

Directions

Boil half pot of water with a peeled carrot, a piece of celery, chicken breast and sausage. (You have to remove the sausage wrapping)
In a bowl, combine the raw meat, ketchup, mustard, egg, onion, cracker crumbs, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce. Mix all ingredients well.

Remove the chicken, sausage, celery and carrot water. Let the boiling water to reduce. Chop the meat and add to mixture.

Put olive oil in a Pyrex casserole dish and covers the bottom and sides. Sprinkle breadcrumbs to coat the bottom and sides. Spread half the mixture and level it. Adds a layer of cottage cheese and mushrooms. (You can substitute zucchini for mushrooms) Finish filling with batter.

Put a light coat of panela cheese over all.Can be cooked in microwave or oven for 30 minutes. Use a toothpick to check the firmness of the cake.While it is cooking, put the carrots and celery in a blender with a tomato. Reduced water and add a little butter and mashed vegetables to make a sauce for the pie.

While it is cooking, put the carrots and celery in a blender with a tomato. Reduced water and add a little butter and blended vegetables to make a sauce for the loaf.

Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Cheese
To serve with meat loaf, you can prepare the mashed potatoes the day before and store in the fridge for later reheating in the microwave.This recipe is typical of most garlic mashed potatoes and cheese.2 pounds potatoes
1 tablespoon salt, or more to taste
1 cup milk or cream4 tablespoons unsalted butterGarlic
Gouda

The cooking of potatoes has two possible methods.1. Put the potatoes to boil in water with two cloves of garlic. or 2. Put the potatoes to boil and later, after peeling and mashing, fry a mixture of finely chopped garlic butter in a skillet and add the mixture to potatoes.Mix all ingredients, adding cheese last. By putting in a bowl, put a light layer of cheese at the end.You can use any cheese you have on hand to achieve the taste you love. We used cheddar, parmesan, blue cheese, cream cheese and many others. or Mozzarella