June 30, 2014
Jicama Salsa
Florence
Course Salsa
Cuisine Mexican
- 1 cup finely diced jicama
- 1/2 cup finely diced tomatilla
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
- 3 Tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp finely chopped jalapenos
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June 29, 2014
Yuca Empanada Dough
Florence
Course Bread
Cuisine Mexican
- 1 lb raw yuca peeled
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 cup cold water
Grate the peeled yuca into a bowl lined with a clean flour-sack or similar towel. Lift the towel from the bowl and squeeze the yuca until all the moisture is removed.
Get out a saucepan and pour in the water and salt. Put over medium heat and bring it to a boil, then add in the yuca, turn heat to very low, and cook, stirring often, until the yuca turns slightly transparent and a bit darker in color. Remove the pot from heat and continue stirring until cooled somewhat and dough sets up a bit.
Dump the contents out onto a lightly oiled work surface and allow the mixture to reach room temperature.
When cooled, lightly oil your hands, then begin kneading the yuca 'dough' until it feels stretchy or elastic and it keeps its shape and is completely cooled.
Divide the dough into 12 equal balls. Place each ball onto a work surface lightly brushed with oil and roll out into thin circles. You can do this by hand or with a pastry roller.
Fill as you would any empanada or pasty and deep fry or bake as desired.
Makes 12 small empanada.
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Turkey Empanadas
Florence
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
- 1 lb ground turkey meat
- 1 medium sweet onion finely diced
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- pinch ground cloves
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup raisins
- refrigerated pie crust sheets - for 2 pie crusts
In a large cast iron skillet, brown the turkey. Add the onions when the turkey is almost cooked, and continue cooking until the onions are translucent. Then add the next 7 ingredients (everything except the pie crusts) and turn heat down to low; simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking oil.
Unroll the pie crust sheets and cut both into even quarters and place on baking sheet. Spoon the mixture into the middle and fold over, matching edges of the crust. Seal the edges by pressing the tines of a fork along.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove and cool slightly.
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June 28, 2014
Beef
Florence
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 - 1.27 oz. package Fajita Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 green bell peppers chopped
- 2 Red Bell Peppers - chopped
- 1 onion - chopped
- 10 - 10 inch Flour Tortillas
- 1 - 8 oz. package shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon bacon bits
- 1 - 8 oz. package shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Cook ground beef until completely done, and drain off excess grease
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the green bell peppers, red bell peppers, and onion. Cook and stir until the vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes.
Layer half of each tortilla with the beef and vegetable mixture, then sprinkle with the Cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and Monterey Jack. Fold the tortillas in half and Place onto a baking sheet.
Bake quesadillas in the preheated oven until the cheeses have melted, about 10 minutes.
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Easy Skillet Chilaquiles
Florence
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
- 12 small corn tortillas torn into small strips
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 to 2 cups homemade salsa roja or verde
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup grated Pepper Jack cheese
- homemade salsa for topping
In large skillet over medium heat, add cooking oil; when hot add the tortilla strips and cook, flipping often until they browned slightly and slightly crisp
Pour in the salsa and stir to coat the tortilla pieces well; reducing heat to low.
Top the tortilla strips with chicken and cover with shredded cheese. Loosely cover the skillet, allowing the chicken to warm and the cheese to melt. Remove from heat.
Serve immediately.
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June 27, 2014
Beef Hominy Stew
Florence
Course Soup
Cuisine Mexican
- 2 lbs beef stew meat
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 large sweet onion chopped
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 6 cups water
- 1 - 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 - 28 oz can hominy
Get out a large pot, add the oil, and when hot, add the beef and cook quickly just until beef browns well.
Add the onion, garlic, salt and pepper; stir and cook for 30 seconds, then add cilantro and water; stir.
Turn the heat down to low, cover the pot, and allow to simmer very slowly for about 15 minutes, or until the meat is very tender.
Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, cover the pot again, and allow to simmer very slowly for about 15 minutes.
Add the hominy, cover pot loosely, and allow to simmer slowly for another 15 minutes, stirring often.
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June 26, 2014
Fruit Custard Tart
Florence
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
- **Sweet Pastry Crust**
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- **Pastry Cream**
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 tablespoon liqueur Grand Marnier, Brandy, Kirsch (optional)
- **Topping**
- 3 cups fresh mixed berries raspberries, blackberries,strawberries, blueberries or other fruit of your liking (kiwifruit, bananas, plums, pineapple, or melon)
- **Apricot Glaze** optional
- 1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves
- 1 tablespoon water
**Sweet Pastry Crust**
Mix together flour and salt, set aside.
Mix butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat eggs and add to butter mixture and mix well.
Add flour mixture and mix until it forms a ball.
Flatten the pastry into a disk, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes or just until firm.
Grease tart or pie pan.
Evenly pat the chilled pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400° F
Lightly prick bottom of pastry crust with the tines of a fork or tooth pick.
Cook crust in center of oven on a larger baking pan and bake crust for 5 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350° F and bake for additional 15 minutes or until dry and lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely before filling.
**Pastry Cream**
In a medium sauce pan, mix the sugar and egg yolks together.
Add flour and cornstarch together and then add to the egg mixture, mixing until you get a smooth paste.
Add milk and vanilla and just to boiling (just until milk starts to foam up.)
Remove from heat and add slowly to egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. (If you get a few pieces of egg (curdling) in the mixture, pour through a strainer.)
Then pour the egg mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until boiling, whisking constantly. When it boils, whisk mixture constantly for another 30 - 60 seconds until it becomes thick. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in the liqueur (if using).
Stir in vanilla extract.
Pour into a clean bowl and immediately cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming.
Cool to room temperature. If not using right away refrigerate until needed, up to 3 days. Beat or whisk before using to get rid of any lumps that may have formed.
**Apricot Glaze**
Heat the apricot jam or preserves and water in a small saucepan over medium heat until liquid Remove from heat and strain the jam through a fine strainer to remove any fruit lumps.
**Assemble Tart**
To remove the tart from the fluted sides of the pan, place your hand under the pan, touching only the removable bottom not the sides. Gently push the tart straight up, away from the sides. The fluted tart ring will fall away and slide down your arm. If you want to remove the bottom of the pan, run a knife or thin metal spatula between the crust and metal bottom, then slide the tart onto your platter.
Spread a thin layer of apricot glaze over the bottom and sides of the baked tart shell to prevent the crust from getting soggy. Let the glaze dry (about 20 minutes). Then spread the pastry cream onto the bottom of the tart shell. Place fruit randomly on top of cream or in concentric overlapping circles, starting at the outside edge. After arranging the fruit, rewarm the glaze, if using, and gently brush a light coat on the fruit. If not serving immediately, refrigerate but bring to room temperature before serving. This fruit tart is best eaten the same day as it is assembled. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.
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June 24, 2014
Grilled Vegetables
Florence
Course Vegetarian
Cuisine American
- 1 Zucchini Squash
- 1 Yellow Squash
- 1 Sweet Bell Pepper
- 10 Small Tomatoes
- Salt to taste.
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Spiced Pork Baked In Corn Husk Blankets
Florence
Course Meat
Cuisine Mexican
- 1 Tbsp chile powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1.5 to 2 lbs pork tenderloin cut into 6 pieces
- 6 clean dried corn husks soaked for 1 hour in warm water, then patted to remove excess water, but not dry
- butchers twine
Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly oil a baking sheet. Lay the prepared corn husks out onto a work surface.
In pie pan, mix together the chile powder, cumin, coriander, sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Press each piece of pork tenderloin into the spice mixture and gently set in a corn husk.
Wrap the corn husk around the pork and tie securely with a couple pieces of butchers twine. Place each bundle onto a baking sheet.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 145°F.
Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
Remove from husks and twine and serve.
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June 23, 2014
Brown Rice Spanish Skillet
Florence
Course Rice
Cuisine Mexican
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 2 cups uncooked brown rice
- 1 large sweet onion diced fine
- 1 medium green bell pepper diced fine
- 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 1 - 15 oz can diced tomatoes-green chili blend
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 3 Tbsp chipotle pepper
Add oil in large skillet over medium heat; add the brown rice, onion, and bell pepper and saute, stirring, until the vegetables soften.
Add the remaining ingredients, stir, reduce heat to low, cover the skillet loosely, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Serve hot or room temperature as a side dish with grilled meat of your choice.
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June 22, 2014
Lasagna
Florence
Course Pasta
Cuisine Italian
- 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 - 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 2 - 6 oz cans tomato paste
- 2 - 6.5 oz. cans canned tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese shredded
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
In large stock pot, cook sausage, beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water.
Season with sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley.
Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. (If you prefer you can use the no cook noodles).
In a bowl combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Preheat oven to 375° F
Spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce.
Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture.
Top with a third of mozzarella cheese.
Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes.
Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
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Classic Shrimp Ceviche
Florence
- 1/2 lb tiny cooked shrimp coarse chopped if you wish
- 1 cup finely diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup finely diced ripe avocado
- 1/2 cup finely diced Roma tomatoes
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2 Tbsp Franks Red Hot sweet chili sauce or similar
- 1 jalapeno chili seeded and minced
Stir together all the ingredients in glass bowl, making sure the shrimp is well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 20 minutes for flavors to blend.
Serve room temperature or chilled.
Serve over greens.
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