Chachaco

[Chuh-CHA-co, also has been pronounced Cha-CHACH-co]

This is the Penna contribution to Mexican cuisine. It's a hit with the kids.

Take leftover cooked chicken (from rotisserie or crock pot, leftover fajitas, whatever), chop it in the food processor then saute it with taco seasoning, chopped onions, and peppers.
Layer it on a tostada or tortilla chips with beans and cheese. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

Yum!

I originally made up the name because I wanted to give the kids nachos with chicken, peppers, and onions, but I didn't want to call them nachos and set up the expectation for something they already knew. What we made is actually a variation on tostadas or chalupas. But, hey, I love to think that I gave something back to Mexican food, which has given me so much over the years...

Day Seven: Challenge over, if only 83.67% complete

LOL! That's perfect.
I'm going to post it on my blog,
Then start work again.

I put makeup on
Today to take my picture
for my Outlook page.

Friends and neighbors,
More than helpful: they're funny.
Let's go out and drink.

And three from the two who originally inspired my challenge.
Kerri:
I have to work now.
It's not often that I do.
Why aren't you working?

Becky:
I stay with my kids.
No one has it worse than me.
Sorry, starving poor kids.

Will this visa form
to China fill itself out?
My life is so hard.

And finally,
Now I will be done.
This challenge was fun, but you
know I'm glad it's o'er.

Day Six (posted on Day 7)

One, two, three, four, five,
Six, sev'n, eight, nine, ten, 'leven,
Twelve, thirteen, fourteen.

Google, Amazon,
McDonald's, Starbucks, YouTube,
Apple, Microsoft.

I'll bet you can tell
That I'm running out of things
To haiku for you.

Tequila, lime juice,
Agave and salt on the rim:
Margarita sub.

Day 5

Honda CRV,
Blue, dirty on the inside,
But reliable.

Each week I wear more
Workout clothes than regular
Clothes. LOTS of laundry.

The Plantation Room,
As it was formerly called,
Is the Lego Room.

The weapons box holds

The Imaginations of

Two fun little boys.

 

Higher ed costs what?

Sixty thousand for one year?

Dad paid forty tot'l.

At least I got five for day 5...

 

 

 

Day 4

Getting desperate,
It's your turn, gentle reader:
Send some haiku soon.

There's a panda bear
On the west wall of the house.
Yes, I painted him.

Our gas fireplace
Is wonderful in the fall.
Turn it on or off.

Crock pot spaghetti
Is what's for dinner tonight.
I'm boiling pasta.

The schedule this week
Is crazy. Tony is gone:
"Laramie Project."

I love the color
orange. But in this town it
has too much import.

One more haiku then
I'm done for the day. Topic?
Aquafresh toothpaste.

Day three: Late and incomplete... now that's my style.

My fitbit tells me:
Four thousand one hundred three.
Still a ways to go.

Our Weekly Schedule
Is coordinated, full,
And-- Hurry, we're late!

On our reading lamps
We have dimmer switches that
Usher us to sleep.

My ball point pens are blue,
Paper Mate Write Bros. model.
I lose them often.

Day Two: You didn't think I wasn't going to go through with it?

It is obvious
You don't know how long I can
Beat a joke to death.

It's easy: pick five
Then use seven syllables,
Five more. You're done.

On this past Wednesday,
I got out the bread machine
But I forgot yeast.

There's a yoga class
At 8:15 on Thursdays
I'd like to attend.

Back in the crawl space
Percolating to create
A steam-filled bathroom.

I have three, John two,
Christopher two, Tony two,
Pillows on our beds.

4:05 a.m.
There is nothing I hate more
Than a gloating clock.

My Seven-Day Challenge

As a result of an email discussion with Kerri and Becky, I realize that I'm neglecting my growth as a person because I'm not on a CHALLENGE. I didn't know, because I don't have Facebook. They were very gentle about telling me.

Really, if you are not doing at least five challenges right now, you should just go live in a cave behind a rock.

So here's my challenge: Seven days of seven haikus about beloved or overlooked household objects.

Day One:

Washer, you clean with

Just soap, water, and good will.

Agitate, rinse, spin.

Soft, warm flannel sheets,

You welcome us ev'ry night,

with pictures of sheep.

O, my kitchen floor.
How you miss my loving touch,
Never are you cleaned.

My keys elude me,

Every time I need them.
Are they here, or there?

Computer printer,
Needs color toner but still
The colors are wrong.

I use my charger

Every night to recharge
My cellular phone.

Zip-lock bag quand'ry:

Convenient and so useful,
But oh the landfill.


I challenge you to add your haiku to the comments section. And we will welcome you back to humanity. Because if you aren't writing a haiku right now, you suck.

For Aunt Jessica