Cooking with Fire

Arroz Verde - Green Rice

2011-11-03T11:58:00.000-05:00

Hola amigos! How are you? I hope you've been enjoying my recipes as much as I've enjoyed making, tasting and sharing them with all of you! Today I bring another recipe, a very VERY easy one but the fact that is easy doesn't take anything away from its delicious flavor! Today I am sharing "Arroz Verde" (green rice) and it doesn't mean that the grain itself is green this rice is cooked in a sauce that makes it look green in the end.

We, Mexicans, eat a lot, A LOT of rice, I think only Asian people eat more rice than we do, we often call rice "sopa de arroz" (soup of rice or rice soup) we don't mean by this that it is soupy it's just the way we call it, any noodle or rice we call "sopa" (soup) even spaghetti we call "sopa" why? now I am wondering the same thing!

Anyway... Here is my recipe to make "Green Rice (with Vegetables)"

Note: Even when the rice uses poblano peppers it is not really hot or spicy because we remove all the seeds/veins of the peppers it has just a very mild kick to it. My 3 yr. old enjoys this rice so I assure you it is not very hot.

Arroz Verde (con Verduras)
Yields: 8-10 Servings
Ingredients:
2 cups of white or jasmine rice* (I use and prefer jasmine)
6 tbsp. butter
2 Poblano peppers (stem, seeds and veins removed) -cut in quarters- (I use 1 poblano pepper per cup of rice)
1/4 white onion (cut into smaller wedges, it will go into the blender)
1 clove of garlic
1/2 cube of chicken bouillion (or use 2 cups of chicken stock instead of 2 of the cups of water)
*4 cups of hot water if you are using white rice or 3 1/2 cups if you are using jasmine like me.
1/2 cup of frozen mixed vegetables (optional)
Salt to taste (about 1.5 teaspoons)

Directions:

First make your sauce. In the jar of your blender add the poblano peppers, white onion, clove of garlic, and about 1/2 the amount of water, blend until it's all completely mixed and there are no big pieces of poblano pepper, then add the chicken bouillion to it and blend for another minute. Set aside. (The poblano peppers make a lot of "foam" then they are blended, don't worry, that's normal).

In a big saucepan and at medium heat melt your butter. Once it has melted add the 2 cups of rice and start stirring preferably using a wooden spoon. Stir constantly until the rice has turned into a more opaque color and not as white anymore but don't let it really brown (about 4 mins.)

Add your poblano pepper sauce to your rice (carefully because it might "jump" a lot from the heat of the pan) stir once and then add the remaining water, your frozen vegetables if you are using them and season with salt (stir JUST once again).

Once it starts boiling reduce the heat to low. Cover with a lid just leaving a tiny crack open (do not uncover often or stir at all again). let it cook until all the liquid is all gone (about 18 mins). Cover completely, remove from the heat and let it sit for about 5 mins. Fluff with a fork and serve.

I hope you like this simple and delicious recipe!If you do please do not forget to leave a comment, we, cooks, stay encouraged by the comments of people who enjoy our food!

Provecho!

Paloma.

Salsa verde! Picante! - Green Salsa! Hot!

2011-10-31T08:45:00.002-05:00

Good day everybody! I thought it was about time for me to share another recipe! So, here I am! Sharing a very easy recipe to make a delicious (and authentic) Salsa Verde! This salsa is made with Green Tomatillos which are a staple in Mexican cuisine! You can find them pretty much in any Supermarket, they might look a little weird to you if you have never bought them before, they are usually covered by a very very thin yellow/brown/grayish layer of skin (it can be easily removed, it's almost like a layer of thin paper) so don't worry about that layer, it doesn't mean they are "bad" it just means that you discard that skin and use the tomatillo inside. The flavor of tomatillos is very distinct so you can't just use any kind of "tomato" as a substitute, if the recipe calls for tomatillos you have to use them. They are not expensive and they are really good.

Mexican Green Tomatillos

Salsa verde Mexicana
(Makes about 2 cups)

Ingredients:

5 or 6 Tomatillos verdes (green tomatillos) (it depends on their size if they are too little you need more, this is already a small kind of 'tomato', about the size of a roma tomato -just rounder-)
3 chiles serranos (serrano peppers) -stems removed-
1 clove of garlic
salt to taste (I use 1 1/4 teaspoons)
3 tbsp. chopped cilantro (fresh... you cannot use dry cilantro at all in this recipe, if you can't get or don't have cilantro is better to just not use anything else instead your salsa will still be good, cilantro just takes it to a whole new level of flavor!)

Directions:
- Place the tomatillos and peppers with about 2 quarts of water in a saucepan over medium heat until they boil and the tomatillos/chiles cook until the tomatillos change color and seem to start to peel (about 15 mins). Remove from the heat.

- In a blender add the cooked tomatillos,peppers (without any additional liquid where they were cooked, the tomatillos absorbed liquid anyway while cooking and that will be enough for the salsa), garlic and salt and blend until they are completely mixed and the salsa looks like this:

- Then add your chopped cilantro and blend for about 5 seconds just so it incorporates to the salsa and transfer to a container where it can be stored. Let it cool until it's room temperature and enjoy! It might "smell" like it is a very hot/spicy salsa but once it's completely cooled down you will be able to taste it and see that it is not that hot at all! You can store it in the refrigerator up to 5 days! Trust me! If you have tortilla chips or "Tostitos" this salsa will not see a second day!

I hope you like it! Remember... if you try this recipe and enjoy it... please leave a comment, a cook is always encouraged to keep cooking by the praises to her/his food!

Paloma.

Albondigas Rellenas de Huevo - Meatballs stuffed with hard-boiled egg

2011-10-21T10:17:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! Here I am with a new (not so new if you are a Mexican) Mexican recipe and this time it's "meatballs" who doesn't like meatballs? They are so versatile! They can be "simple" or "fancy" and you can use pretty much any meat to make them! (turkey, beef, veal, lamb, pork... ANYTHING). This recipe is not uncommon in Mexico and it makes GREAT meatballs that go perfect next to white (buttered, YUM!) rice. It might sound a little weird to you (if you have never had them before) but these meatballs are stuffed with hard-boiled egg... Trust me... you have to try them! So... here is the recipe:

Albondigas rellenas de huevo / Meatballs stuffed hard-boiled egg

Yields: 8 Meatballs (4 servings)

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 chipotle pepper (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 white onion
6 roma tomatoes (or about 4 of the whole red tomatoes) - cut in quarters or big chunks -
3 hard-boiled eggs cut in quarters (you will probably only need 2 because we are making about 8 meatballs but cook 3 eggs just in case)
1/4 cup of white rice
1 cube of chicken bouillion
salt and pepper to taste (about 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. of black pepper... adjust to your taste)
about 1.5 tbsp. vegetable oil (or a little more if necessary)

Directions:
- In a middle sauce pan pour some water (fill it about half-way) and when the water starts boiling throw the 1/4 cup of white rice and let it boil for only 5 minutes, remove from the heat, drain the rice immediately and set aside (let it cool for about 5 minutes)

- Mix the ground beef with the rice, season with some salt and black pepper and mix it all well with your hands.
- With the meat start making "patties" (like hamburger patties) and wrapping the egg quarters with those patties (one quarter per each of the patties) Making sure the egg is completely wrapped by the mix of meat/rice. Do this with all the meat/rice mixture. You should have about 8 meatballs. Set aside.

- Put your tomatoes, garlic, chipotle pepper and about 1 cup of water in the blender. Blend it all until it makes a sauce (as smooth as possible)
- In an extended non-stick pan using medium-low heat add the oil and fry your 1/4 onion there (you can slice the onion if you want, it doesn't matter much but the onion will be removed) While the onion is frying and the oil is hot add your meatballs carefully so they don't open or fall apart, if you use medium or medium-high heat it might cause them to break so just be patient and seal your meatballs on all sides.

-Once they are browned on all sides (about 9-10 minutes) remove the oil and the oil excess. Add your sauce and chicken bouillion (you can add some salt at this point if necessary but wait until the sauce has been simmering for about 5 minutes to taste and adjust) once you add the sauce you can also add chopped potatoes if you want just to add something else, but I left it like that. Bring it all to a boil, cover, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for about 35 minutes and serve.

I hope you like this recipe! If you do please let me know! Comments are always a great encouragement to keep cooking/sharing.

Paloma.

Salpicon ... Mimi Style!

2011-10-14T09:04:00.001-05:00

Today's recipe is not mine.... My friend Mimi! She is a wonderful Mexican cook! And I love her wittiness and style! I am so happy I found her blog! If you know how to speak Spanish I am sure you will love it too: Me gusta cocinar pero odio lavar los platos (I love cooking but I hate washing the dishes) and she actually repeatedly refers to herself as "The lazy cook" ... So anyway.... Don't get discouraged if you don't speak Spanish! I am here to translate! And that's exactly what I am doing today... I am bringing one of her recipes to all of you! in English!

Today it will be "Salpicon" and it's delicious! as I've already explained (probably with all my recipes) each Mexican dish has its original foundation and flavors... BUT EVERY SINGLE FAMILY has their own version of it! Recipes in Mexico are usually not very "precise" they are transmitted from the older generations to the younger ones based on experience and it's all about your senses... When your "abuelita" or "mamá" (granny or mom) tell you how to prepare a dish they usually use phrases like "When it looks like this, when it tastes like this, when it smells like this and even when it sounds like this or that" so... Mexican cooking is all about feeling and experiencing through your very own palate, hands, eyes and ears! not so much about 1/2 tsp. of this or that....

Of course, we, modern cooks and bloggers are trying to put it all in a way where most people would be able to reproduce it... So ... here goes Mimi's version of Salpicon! I hope you enjoy it:

Ingredients:

1/2 pound skirt steak (cooked until tender in water with some salt and a big piece of onion and then thinly shred it with the help of a fork)
1 carrot thinly sliced (julienne)
1 potato cut into julienne
1 serrano pepper (roasted directly over the fire on your top stove, on the grill or on a flat pan if you don't have "Fire on your stove" and it's electric) make sure the pepper gets slightly charred - then thinly slice it -
1/2 white onion (sliced in circles)
a little bit of vinegar (here we go, you see? It all depends on your taste, it's just for dressing)
olive oil (once again, it's for dressing, so just eye ball it!)
dried oregano (remember it has a strong flavor so it won't be more than 1 tsp)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
The ingredients above MAKE the salpicon but to eat it you will also need:
Thinly sliced lettuce
tostadas
1 avocado

Directions:
Mix the shredded meat, carrots, potatoes, serrano (green) pepper and the onion, mix the olive oil and vinegar separately (it would be about 1/3 cup) and add it to the meat and the other ingredients, season with a little bit of oregano, salt and black pepper to taste.

Then place it all over the tostadas and top it with lettuce and avocado (season again with a little bit of salt)

Enjoy!!!

Thank you for sharing this recipe with all of us Mimi!!!

Paloma.

Taquitos de Tortilla Roja - "Red Tortilla Tacos"

2011-10-05T09:24:00.000-05:00

I love Red Tortillas! have you ever tried them? They are not made with "Red Corn" or anything like that... they do have some "colorant" in them to make them look red... but what I love the most about them is their very distinctive flavor... They are seasoned with different condiments that make these tortillas PERFECT for certain type of Mexican tacos.

One very easy way to use them is to basically warm them up and then pass them through some hot vegetable oil, after this you can just fill them with a mix of queso fresco and chopped white onions, there is no specific recipe on "how much queso fresco and onions you need, because it varies, some people like more or less onions so it basically depends on your very personal taste. Queso fresco can be found in many stores, just make sure it says "QUESO FRESCO" and not Mexican cheese, queso fresco is not the "melting kind of cheese" but it's a more crumbly one.
Always garnish your "Red Tortilla Tacos" with fresh raw cabbage... Trust me... The flavor of cabbage with the red tortilla tacos is SOOO GOOD! Much better than using lettuce with them.

You can also fill these tortillas with shredded skirt steak and or even some mashed potatoes seasoned with dried chile cascabel and chile ancho (The recipe to use these chilies is coming!)

So go visit a Hispanic supermarket and try to find RED TORTILLAS! Trust me... You'll love them!

Paloma

"Flautas" - "Taquitos de Pollo"

2011-09-26T08:17:00.006-05:00

Hi everybody! Here I am with another recipe to share with you! This is a very simple (and really really good!) recipe.

It's basically "chicken taquitos" but what matters is that not only it is simple to make but regardless (or because of) its simplicity it is just delicious!

I have already explained that tacos (in Mexico) do not have a "specific recipe" we call taco ANY FOOD that goes in a tortilla (flour or corn) -we just specify if it's flour or corn tortilla but they are still both tacos! we do not use HARD SHELLS in Mexico, those "pre-folded" kind of nacho shells are an American invention (not saying is a bad invention) just not an Authentic one. So if you have tortillas in your refrigerator and even put just "onions" in it... that is already a "taco" just a "taco de cebolla" (onion taco) and I am not sure it would become very popular... but it complies with the requirements to be a taco... because it is food that goes in a tortilla... so... anyway... "Taquitos de Pollo" (also known as flautas) are VERY VERY popular in Mexico and as any other dish in Mexico there are many versions of it... so here is mine:

Makes 12 taquitos (this is usually enough for 2-3 people, one person eats 4 to 6 of these tacos)
Ingredients:
- 2 (or 3 if they are too small) cooked (boiled) and shredded chicken breasts (boil them in enough water to cover them, add salt to the water about 3 tsp. and 1/2 white onion) discard the onion and just use the meat.
- 12 corn tortillas (buy good ones, "La Banderita" is a good option, "Tia Rosa Corn Tortillas" are ok too, the best I've found are the "Fiesta" Tortillas made in their tortilleria but I don't know if there is one of those stores by you)
- 1/2 white onion
- 1/3 iceberg lettuce or 1 romaine heart of lettuce (thinly sliced)
- 1 whole red tomato (or 2 roma tomatoes)
- Crema Mexicana (Mexican Table Cream)
- Salt to taste
- Oil to fry (about 1/2 cup)

Directions:
- Warm up the tortillas (if using the microwave warm them up using paper towel in between each tortilla) and just for about 25 seconds. If using the stove just use a flat pan to warm them up (both sides) and until they are warm all the way through. This makes them easier to handle/bend/roll (even if they cool off a little while they are being filled)

- Fill them with some of the chicken and roll them tightly (place them all on a plate firmly arranged next to each other so they remain rolled)

- Warm up a non stick pan and add part of the oil (about 12 of it) until it is VERY HOT (also add a little bit of salt the oil), place the taquitos there (one by one, carefully with the seam down) once they fry on one side they will easily stay rolled because they harden. You can place as many taquitos as you want at a time, because the fact that they are close to each other helps them keep their shape but if you want to do two or three at a time is ok, just make sure they fry all the way around (turn them while they fry so they don't burn and cook evenly) They should be hard and crunchy... they should keep their shape if held from one side only. (use more of the oil if necessary, they should be fried in the oil all the way around) Look at the pics:

Place them on a plate lined with paper towel to get rid of any excess of the oil.

Plate them (4-6 on a plate) and garnish them with the onions, lettuce and tomatoes) -in that order- add some of the table cream on top of them (and sprinkle with a pinch of salt if necessary for the garnish). These go AWESOME with sliced avocado and green salsa but I had none when I made them, so if you have a good avocado at hand go ahead and try it on these.

Provecho!

Paloma

Cactus Salad - Ensalada de Nopales

2011-09-23T18:59:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone! I am just done enjoying some grilled chicken that hubby made! It's Friday so it always feels like "grilling" on Friday nights, don't you think? who knows... it might just be the weather!

Anyway... I thought about fixing something quick to go with the grilled chicken and I decided to make "Ensalada de Nopalitos" or Cactus Salad... Nopalitos are very common in Mexico and we eat them either grilled, boiled and in salad like I just did, seasoned with some red chilies and in tacos or with eggs in the morning (I know it sounds weird but THEY ARE SOOO GOOD LIKE THAT) So I thought I would come here and share the "recipe" with you so you can hopefully try it too!

Remember that we, Mexicans, rarely use EXACT amounts when cooking, it's a lot about your very own taste and how you like/feel things so this is one of those recipes

Note: you can buy "Nopalitos" at any Hispanic Store in the produce area, don't buy the stalks, buy them already cleaned and cut so you don't have to deal with the thorns.. trust me it is not fun!

Cactus Salad: Serves about 4 (or 2 very hungry people like we were today!)
Ingredients:

3 cups of fresh Nopalitos (cactus)
1/3 white onion -whole-
1/3 white onion (finely chopped)
2 small red tomatoes (or 1 big) (cut in small cubes)
1 avocado (cut in small cubes)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 small can of Sliced (and pickled) Jalapeño Peppers - you will use 2 tbsp. of the liquid and some slices of the jalapeño peppers finely chopped - the amount of peppers depends on how much heat you like in your food, you can even use the liquid only if you don't want the peppers -
1/2 tsp. FRESH lime juice
Salt and black pepper to taste

First boil the nopalitos and 1/3 white onion (whole) in about 6 cups of water until the nopalitos are cooked through (they'll change to a more opaque color) -cook for about 15 mins- Then Rinse and drain about 4 times in cold water (to remove the slimy liquid from them, it won't completely go away but it'll be fine) - Place them on paper towel to remove the excess of liquid. (discard the cooked onion)
In a salad container mix the rest of the ingredients (chopped onion, tomatoes, jalapeños, lime juice, avocado and cilantro), add the cooked nopalitos to the mix, season with salt and pepper and toss until it's all combined!

Enjoy with grilled meat/chicken and hot corn tortillas!

Provecho!

Paloma.

Cochinita Pibil!

2011-09-20T16:04:00.004-05:00

Hello everybody! As I promised... Today I am going to post the recipe to make the wonderfully flavorful, tasty almost heavenly "Cochinita Pibil" but first let me tell you a little bit about it:

"Cochinita Pibil" is probably the most famous dish from Yucatan, State in the Southeast of Mexico. This dish is originally cooked in a hole in the ground, people would basically make a kind of "Adobo" to season the meat (pork) then wrap it in Banana leaves and place it all in a hole previously dug for this purpose on hot stones (rocks that have been previously placed in fire). Pibil is a word in "MAYA" and it actually means "underground" This method of cooking is used in many Mexican recipes and it has pre-hispanic origins.

"Pasta de Achiote" is the main ingredient to "season" the "cochinita". There is a tree that is native of Central America and Mexico. It produces a fruit that kind of looks like a "big capsule" and when it ripens it opens and "reveals" its red seeds (annatto seeds) which are mixed with spices to make the "dark orange" paste which is used to season many extraordinary dishes. Interestingly this condiment wasn't just valued due to its flavor but it seems that "The Mayas" also used it as insect repellent and to color fabrics and some other items. It was also used as body and facial paint for some of their religious traditions and rituals. Annatto seeds are also known for their therapeutic, astringent, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and healing by the formation of scar tissue.

There are some traditional steps to follow to make cochinita pibil, things that basically make it authentic. For example, to make a real cochinita pibil you need banana leaves and orange juice plus some other spices, if you find a recipe that does not call for banana leaves, orange juice or achiote then it's definitely not a good recipe.

So, I won't make you wait any longer and here is the recipe to make a wonderful (and very easy) Cochinita Pibil:

Serves 6-8 people or MANY tacos

Ingredients:

2.5 pounds of pork meat (it can be butt, leg or picnic roast -the one you would use to make carnitas... that's the one I used)
3/4 of a bar of achiote paste (the bar should be about 4 oz. so you would use 3 of those 4) (You can find this in the hispanic or ethnic foods isle) -it might look like this (there are different brands though):

Black pepper (about 1 tsp.)
Salt (to taste) I used about 2 tsp.
3 Garlic cloves
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup of water
1/3 cup of vegetable oil (or PORK Lard if you can get it) - this is only needed if the cut of pork you use is not very fatty.
1 cube of chicken bouillion
The juice of 2 limes
Juice of 1/2 an orange
3 Banana leaves (you can get this at any hispanic supermarket, there is at least one in your city, I am sure! and they sell these in the produce area)

For the Garnish:

2 red onions (thinly sliced)
4 cups of boiling water
2 tbsp. vinegar
dried oregano flakes (2 tsp.)
salt to taste

* You also need to have soft corn tortillas to go with it!

Directions:
1. Cut the meat in squares (about 2")

2. Blend the rest of the ingredients (except for the garnish ones) until you have a pretty smooth "sauce" and use it to cover the meat, cover it all with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours so all the flavor of the sauce really impregnates the meat.

3. Minutes before getting the meat out of the fridge, rinse the banana leaves in warm water, pat them dry and place them in a cold oven and start it at 400 degrees, remove the leaves from the oven after about 5 minutes (or until you find that they are easier to handle and bend without tearing). - Turn down the temperature to 325F, that's the temperature you will use to bake your meat.

4. Use the leaves to line a baking dish where the meat would easily fit (without having too much space because you'll want to make a firm bundle with the meat in the banana leaves) I used an 8x8 baking dish.

5. Get the meat out of the fridge and place it along with the sauce in the middle of your baking dish previously lined with the banana leaves -don't worry if some of the sauce leaves the "bundle" through any crack the leaves might have, try to avoid it but don't worry if it happens- (Make sure you leave the banana leaves big enough to be outside of the edges of the dish because you will still use it all to cover your meat). "Close your bundle" by folding the edges of the banana leaves towards the meat (you can use an additional leaf of banana on top if needed to make sure it's all wrapped in banana leaves and then cover it tightly with aluminum foil.

6. Bake for about 3 hours in the preheated oven after this time you can get it out of the oven, uncover VERY CAREFULLY because it's all HOT AND STEAMING in there. You should be able to shred it EXTREMELY easily with a fork. If it's not SUPER tender and "almost shredding on its own" you can cover it again and put it back in the oven for an additional hour.

7. Once its ready you can uncover, finish shredding it and mix it with all the juices that are left.

To make the garnish:
This is VERY EASY and you can do it a few minutes before serving it all:

Have a pot of boiling water (the 4 cups) on your stove and throw in there the sliced RED onions, leave it in the water for about 15 seconds (while gently stirring) and drain. Dress the onions with the vinegar, oregano and salt.

You can enjoy this AMAZING dish in tacos (use soft corn tortillas) with the onions or with white rice (I had buttered rice) on the side.

You HAVE to try this! Trust me! It is really good! Hubby had quite an experience while eating it last night! It was great to hear all the ooooh's and aaaah's while he was eating! It is very rewarding when you make a dish your family enjoys so much!

Provecho!

Paloma.

Mexican Ingredients and FIESTA

2011-09-19T21:49:00.005-05:00

This time I just want to share that I am very excited I found a store that sells most of the Mexican Ingredients I am so used to and I SOOO NEED to be able to cook my Authentic Mexican Food and share it with all of you!

On Saturday we went to "FIESTA" Supermarket... It is a very "colorful" store... It has the whole "Mexican feeling" and... well.. I'll let my gringo, my husband, describe it more to you, because it is only through HIS EYES that I actually REALIZE how different it is from the rest of the American Supermarkets. For me, it is basically a "normal store", of course I realize it is different but I can't even explain it as clear as he does... you'll see what I am talking about so... Here is my husband to share about it:

"When you approach the store you are met by outside vendors that sell a variety of items like posters, purses or music CDs. Upon entering you realize you can purchase a flat screen TV, get it financed with zero credit history, get your hair cut, purchase produce, or buy jewelry in the produce department. You can pick out your own live fish for dinner, buy cups, plates, utensils, glassware, cooking ware, have a full meal there and purchase underwear, shoes, shirts, pants or whatever you need for your person. And if you are not sure if the clothes will fit, there are dressing rooms located in the frozen section." - JK

Well, there you go! That's basically what "FIESTA" is! If you think this Mexican store is diverse, Mexico is even more. You can find new and old, big and small, traditional and modern, poor and rich all in the same street! Now I am going to share some of the ingredients I got there and I'll be talking more about them as I cook and blog about it all!

Nopalitos (Fresh Cactus)

For our desserts

Chile Ancho

Chile Cascabel

The Flour my dad has always baked with

Corn Tortilla (FRESH!!)

Tortilla Roja (Red Tortillas)

Achiote (Annato Seed Paste)

Banana Leaves

I hope you are as excited to try all these ingredients as I am to cook with them and introduce them to you! I hope you get to know them well and make them YOURS and part of your common ingredients in your kitchen!

I know you were probably expecting a new recipe but don't worry... Just be a little patient... More is coming! Just today I made "Cochinita Pibil" so I'll be sharing that recipe on my next post.

Thanks again to my wonderful husband not only for always looking for places for me to find what I, as a Mexican, need but also for getting involved with my culture and enjoying it with me!

Un abrazo!

Paloma.

Mexican Independence Day!

2011-09-16T18:02:00.002-05:00

Hello friends! I couldn't let this day pass without a post! Because today (and not "Cinco de Mayo") Mexico celebrates its "independence" it seems that we need to fight again to gain it all over again but that's a different topic I won't get into... so, anyway... The way we celebrate Mexican's Independence is HUGE! When hubby and I first met in person (we actually met online and started dating online) he visited Mexico for the first time and since he was there in September he could witness and experience for himself what "Mexico's Independence Day" is all about! Noise, Music, Lots of Fireworks, Passion, Screaming (We actually do most of it on Sept. 15th at 11 p.) We have our "Grito" - Our leaders/rulers/mayors/governors/President go outside the city hall/"Mexican 'White House' and re-enact the proclamation of Independence and SCREAM: VIVA MEXICO! VIVA MEXICO! VIVA MEXICO! and also mention the Heroes that fought to earn Mexico's Independence...The celebration basically lasts all month and you can see the streets decorated with "papel picado" (colorful paper decorations) and there are bands and dancing groups every night in every city square... at least that's the way it's always been and that's what Josh got to experience when he was down there! He really loved it! And I was so happy to get to share and live that part of my culture with him. Of course one of the most important things during these celebrations is... FOOD! "Antojitos Mexicanos" are served EVERYWHERE: Sopes, tacos, tostadas, mole, menudo, pozole, aguas frescas, churros and much more is part of the menu of the "night" (do not expect to sleep that night) There are parties everywhere (schools, homes, offices, churches) everywhere and FOOD is like the "center" of it all, and we all usually get dressed in a very "old Mexican" way... I love it all! I hope if you ever visit Mexico you have the opportunity to be there in September 15-16 so you get to live it all first-hand! Trust me... Any description anybody can make of it all is nothing compared to living the REAL THING! I wish I could've celebrated last night as I should've but it was impossible... hopefully next year I'll get to have a big Mexican party and can cook many of the traditional Mexican dishes to share it all with you!

Josh enjoying "Morning Street Tacos" in Mexico - Sept. 2006

Josh and I celebrating Mexican's Independence Sept. 2006

Empanadas de Piña - Pineapple "Empanadas"

2011-09-13T14:23:00.003-05:00

Hello everybody! How are you doing? We are almost at the end of our groceries here, we usually go grocery shopping on specific days... and I actually like those few days before we go grocery shopping again because it actually helps me get "creative and inventive" in my kitchen.

If you follow my other blog The Coffee Shop you know that the last dessert I made were those AMAZING Cheesecake Cookie Cups, those I made on Saturday (even though I posted the recipe until Monday) so they were already gone by yesterday (of course I only made 1/2 a batch) so I knew I had to start baking again to have something sweet to go with our "nightly coffee" ... I went to my pantry and I found:

I immediately knew that would be my inspiration for my next dessert... And then I remembered my dad (an expert baker) told me once that he uses canned pineapple slices for his empanadas, he doesn't use jelly because it has too much sugar and that + the consistency of the jelly makes it all caramelize inside the empanada and in consequence you end up with a very hard piece of pastry with nothing in the middle but hard caramel in the internal walls of the empanada... So I thought: That's what I'll make!

Then I also thought I've never actually made empanadas (even when my dad has made THOUSANDS of them) and I don't even have a recipe... I started looking online but all the Empanada recipes I found out there seemed to ask for so many ingredients! (and I was out of some of them), the reviews also made me doubt about making them or not (I didn't want to waste the only ingredients I had) and then it happened! I had the best idea I've had lately! (LOL!) I would make my empanadas with the dough I use for my apple pie! Oh! I was so excited! I thought it would work out! then I checked my pantry again... and I didn't have shortening! I usually use 6 tbsp. of butter and 6 tbsp. of shortening for my pie crust! I was very disappointed, I called my dad (in Mexico) and he told me to use just butter and the dough would be even finer... I went for it and well... These are the results:

I am so happy that these turned out not only well... but REALLY REALLY GREAT! Hubby loves them! And they are very easy to warm-up in the microwave too!

So here is my recipe:

Paloma's Empanadas de Piña:

Makes about 12-14 empanadas

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

12 tablespoons butter (room temperature, softened -not melted-)

6 to 8 tablespoons ice water (I used exactly 6)

1 can (20 oz) of pineapple slices (drained)
+ 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 1 tbsp. of cinnamon for coating.

Directions:

Mix in a large bowl:

2 cups all-purpose flour

I teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

Then cut in using a dough blender (or fork) but not your hands

12 tablespoons butter

6 to 8 tbsp. iced water (You don't need to mix too much, just until the ingredients have incorporated and you can see a ball of DOUGH forming instead of divided pieces of it)

Your dough should look like this when you are done mixing

Once your dough is mixed and has formed a ball just wrap it in plastic wrap or put it in a ziploc bag getting as much air as possible out of it. Then place in refrigerator for 20 or more minutes.

In the mean time get your drained pineapple slices and cut it in very small pieces (not so small that is like mush) but just small cubes (you will see the example in another pic below)

Also in a container or big extended plate mix about 1 1/2 cups of sugar with 1 tbsp. of cinnamon (more or less, it depends how much you like cinnamon) and set aside (you will use this to coat your empanadas when they come right out of the oven)

Lightly Grease two baking sheets with butter.

Preheat your oven @375F.

Get your dough out of the refrigerator (after the 20 mins) and make small balls (1" diameter) with them, flour a smooth surface and roll each ball out with your rolling pin until you make a kind of "small oval tortilla" (about the size of your hand) and fill it with the pieces of pineapple. (about 3 tsp more or less) just making sure that there is enough space for you to fold the empanada and "seal the edges" (to do that just press with your fingers) and then press with a fork on the edges. (This also makes them look nicer) Use your fork ONCE or TWICE (only) to make little holes on top -center- of the empanadas just to let the steam out so they don't burst while baking.

Place your empanadas on your baking sheets and bake for 9-10 minutes, open the oven and with a spatula quickly turn your empanadas so they bake on both sides, bake for an additional 5-7 minutes. Get out of the oven and immediately transfer to your container with the sugar/cinnamon mix. (use a spoon to pour the mix all over them making sure they are all perfectly coated) shake a little bit to remove the excess and transfer to a plate or wire rack so they completely cool off (you can eat them warm, be careful because the filling is REALLY REALLY hot)

Enjoy!!!

Paloma.

Sad day for the world

2011-09-11T10:47:00.000-05:00

Today is a day when in most places of the world we remember the tragedy of 9/11 and the people who lost their lives and those who gave theirs trying to save others in such a horrific day! I was living in my country, Mexico, when that happened and I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news, it was a sad day for the world not just for the United States but for the world! to see such evil! We see evil each day, in the news, in the radio, etc... but what happened on 9/11 is unforgettable for everyone and it amazes me that God has to see it all from Heaven and still has mercy on all of us... I don't have anything else to add to what's already been said. May God bless the families who lost someone that dark day, the children, now young people who were left without their moms or dads and May God bless the Heroes that give their lives keep trying to prevent something like this from happening ever again.

Paloma.

Pollo con rajas poblanas / Chicken with poblano pepper slices

2011-09-09T20:14:00.000-05:00

I guess there is not an accurate translation for the name of this Mexican dish, at least not one that sounds appealing... or is short enough... so anyway... this Chicken with poblano pepper slices is a VERY MEXICAN dish! You can have it on its own or in corn tortillas to makee tacos! I love this in tacos! They are great if you have a big party and you have many people coming over, just have your corn tortillas (or even flour) ready and warm so everyone gets a big spoonful in their own tortilla! They will love it!

Have I ever told you how wonderful poblano peppers are? I just love them!!! They have such a rich and at the same time mild flavor, there is heat in them, obviously, but there is also some sweetness to them that gives any dish a very unique and special taste! I love Poblano Peppers! And when they are roasted directly on the flames they are soooo good! I think "Poblano Peppers" are my very favorite.

Since I do not have FIRE ON MY STOVE right now... I have to roast them in my electric oven, to do so I just line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, place the previously washed (and pat dried) whole poblano peppers on top and bake them in a pre-heated oven at 450F.

I check them after 6 minutes, turn them to the other side and leave them there for 6 more minutes and that's it! You have perfectly roasted poblano peppers. I found that even when I like my poblano peppers roasted directly on the fire of my stove top it has been pretty convenient to roast them in the oven, the flavor is definitely still there and the "peeling" part of it is much easier (plus the chilies roast more evenly).

How to peel and seed poblano peppers:

First of all I suggest you use latex gloves when dealing with any kind of pepper (unless it's just the nice and innocent green bell pepper), once you have roasted your poblano peppers you have to immediately put them inside a bag of plastic so they "sweat" and the peel becomes easier to remove, (besides their temperature won't be so hot once they have been in the bag for a little bit and that will make them easier to handle)

... If you are going to use your peppers to make "chiles rellenos" then you have to be very careful when you remove the seeds/veins, making sure you use a harp knife to open them on one side and then with your fingers remove all the seeds and as much as you can of the veins without tearing them anywhere else.

If you are going to slice your peppers (like we will be doing in our recipe below) you don't have to be so careful with them (still treat them nicely so the flesh is nice and not mushy and your slices are as "even" as possible) and you can remove the seeds/veins with your hands or a knife.

So... here is the recipe:

Pollo con Rajas Poblanas (Chicken with Poblano Pepper slices)

2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 white onion (chopped)
1 clove of garlic (chopped)
2 cups of fresh or frozen corn kernels
4 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 chicken bouillion cube
1/4 cup (more or less) of milk (to adjust thickness of the sauce)
6 Roasted, Peeled and Seeded Poblano Peppers (Please follow the instructions on the post above to roast, peel and seed the peppers) - cut in slices. (each slice should be about 1/2")
2 Cooked and Shredded Chicken breasts
salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Directions:

- Melt the butter in a pretty wide skillet, I use a non-stick one, you can use a cast iron too or even a paella pan.
- Sautee the onion until it's translucent. Add the garlic and sautee with the onion for approximately 15 seconds stirring constantly (make sure it does not burn)
- Add the corn and cook in med-low heat for about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper (use less salt than you usually would because the chicken bouillion will add more salt to this dish)

- Add the cream cheese, cream and mix until it begins to form a creamy sauce (add milk to adjust thickness if necessary, just about 1/4 - 1/2 cup not more)

- Bring to a boil and turn down the heat to low, add the chicken bouillion cube, stir so it blends with the cream. Add the poblano pepper slices and chicken. Toss it all in the pan making sure everything is covered by the cream. Cover and keep cooking for about 5 more minutes.

- Remove from the heat and top with the mozzarella cheese if desired.

You can have rice as a side for this dish and lettuce/tomato/pepino salad or you can have it as the perfect filling to make tacos with corn tortillas! I know it's a lot of work involved in this, but it's pretty simple to make once you get used to the whole roasting/peeling/seeding part... Besides, the flavor it's indescribable! Trust me! You have to try this!

Enjoy!!!!

Paloma.

Stuffed zucchini (with bacon and mozzarella)

2011-09-05T10:40:00.001-05:00

Hello everybody! I have been busy changing some little things on my blog... like the colors, button, etc (I encourage you to visit the Welcome Page I just added pictures of my mom, dad, husband and some random "food pictures" from Mexico) so, anyway... I was thinking that maybe many would think they are only going to find hot/spicy food recipes in my blog, but I just want you all to know that "Cooking with Fire" is not about "adding hot pepper or Tabasco sauce" to everything you cook, it's about Cooking with Passion, with Love for others! and hopefully with Real Fire on your Stove (which unfortunately, I don't have right now because my stove HAS TO BE electric in the new place we live... oh well!) but ... I just want you to know that I hope I will make this blog as varied as possible and you will find from a salad, stew, etc... to a luscious dessert! It doesn't have to be spicy at all! (sometimes it'll be! of course!) I just hope I can help "end some myths" about Mexican food being spicy! All filled with "taco seasonings" and "yellow melted cheese on top" ... Mexican food can be refined, ideal for a romantic dinner or just for a family gathering where everyone can enjoy!

So... ok... let's just go for our new recipe...

Stuffed Zucchini:

Servings: 4

Ingredients:
- 2 Zucchinis
- 1 clove of garlic (crushed and finely chopped)
- 3 slices of bacon (cut in small squares)
- 1/4 cup shredded mozarella cheese
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Directions:
- In a pot with water, boil the zucchinis for about 8 minutes, they should be cooked but still firm so they keep their shape.
- In the meantime fry the bacon in a pan on the stove until it's cooked all the way through and starts getting crispy. (Make sure it's not too crispy)
- Once the bacon is cooked and the zucchinis have boiled for about 8 minutes, remove the zucchinis from the water, cuth them lengthwise in halves and remove the center/pulp and seeds (set aside) and put each "empty zucchini shell" for about 30 seconds on each half in the hot fat the bacon released (the bacon can still be there cooking, it doesn't matter) just make sure you coat the zucchinis with part of the fat so they get the flavor/saltiness from the bacon.
- Remove the "zucchini shells" from the pan, season them with a little bit of salt and black pepper, set them aside.
- Now in the same pan with the bacon add the pulp/seeds from the zucchini, garlic and season with black pepper (only add salt if you taste it and think it's necessary, but remember that bacon is already salty). Cook for about 1 or 2 more minutes, stirring constantly and use this to stuff your "zucchini shells" top with mozarella cheese (you can add more if you want) and serve hot! (You can even set aside and have this ready to warm up later in the oven)

I hope you enjoy this recipe... I made it yesterday and hubby loved it! Remember that cooking "The Mexican way" is not about "amounts and following recipes to the "t" " It's about cooking with love and combining the ingredients and flavors you love! You can make stuffed zucchini with many other ingredients, you can use corn and fresh mozzarella cheese and tomato. You can also fry some ham with butter/garlic/onions and stuff your zucchini topping it all with mozzarella...You can do SO MUCH ... just get creative! ;)

Provecho.

Paloma.

Linguine in tomato/chipotle sauce

2011-09-02T21:45:00.001-05:00

You can probably see a pattern here... yes... I had a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and I didn't want to either leave them too long in the fridge or have them go to waste... Since you don't really use many of these awesome tasting peppers in recipes a small can of them can go a very long way... (Actually I still have more than 1/2 of them)

So.. I'll post the recipe for the pasta today, I accompanied the pasta with breaded chicken strips and also with fried garlic/butter zucchini, I'll post the recipe for the zucchini on Monday and the chicken strips were so easy to make that I am sure you already have your very own recipe, I don't think I'll share that because it's just plain chicken breast strips in a breading of flour/breadcrumbs seasoned with salt and black pepper.

Ok.. let's not make the story longer than it is and go right into the recipe:

Linguine in Tomato/Chipotle Sauce:
Serves 4
1/2 lb. of linguine pasta
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup of water
1/2 white onion (chopped)
3 cloves of garlic (chopped)
1/2 cube of chicken bouillion
2 chipotle peppers (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce) - chopped -
grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to the instructions of the package (al-dente)
- While the pasta cooks pour the 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a pot (big enough to make the sauce and to add the pasta there at the end.)
- Sautee the Onions, season with salt and pepper.
- When the onions are translucent add the garlic and sautee for 30 more seconds
- Pour the tomato sauce, add chicken bouillion and water bring to a boil, turn down the heat, cover and let it simmer for 10 mins (stirring occasionally)
- Add the chipotle peppers, stir and let it simmer for extra 5 minutes and add the cooked pasta, making sure all the noodles are covered by the sauce.
- Serve and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top if desired.

Buen provecho!

Paloma.

Potato and carrot cream soup

2011-09-01T08:03:00.010-05:00

You would wonder... who doesn't love a good creamy soup? right? it feels like they were made to make people feel better and even loved... But hubby does not like them! so most times I am craving soups because I don't usually cook them... last week was different! regardless of his dislike towards them, I made a potato and carrot cream soup.. And hubby (who hates all creamy soups) loved it!

So ... I am going to share with you how I made it:

Serves about: 4 cups or 2 big bowls

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. butter
1/2 big white onion - chopped - (or 1 smaller)
3 carrots - chopped in small cubes
2 potatoes - chopped in small cubes -
3 cloves of garlic (thinly sliced)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cube of chicken bouillion (knorr suiza)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a big stainless steel pot (or a dutch oven) melt the butter (medium heat) and add the onion, carrots and potatoes (season with black pepper and salt) cook for 8 minutes stirring frequently, add the sliced garlic cloves and cook for an additional 30 seconds (no more). Then add the chicken stock, making sure you scrape the bottom of the pot (to remove all the goodness that might stick to it). Bring to a boil, turn the heat down to low, cover and let it simmer for about 6 minutes (stirring occasionally, making sure it doesn't dry up or stick to the pot). Add the heavy cream, stir one more time and check the potatoes for doneness. Once the vegetables are completely cooked scoop it all (or pour it all) into the blender (you can do this in two batches) and blend until smooth. Return it all to the pot where it was cooked and chicken stock or heavy cream as needed (to adjust thickness) and season with more salt and pepper to your liking, stir and let it simmer for 2 more minutes; remove from the heat, add the chopped cilantro and stir so it blends with the soup. Serve immediately and decorate with fresh cilantro leaves in the center.

Buen Provecho!

Paloma.

Chipotle Mayonnaise!

2011-08-29T10:28:00.001-05:00

Good morning everybody! I hope you all had a great weekend and are all fired up to start this new week at work, at home, at school or wherever you are! :) ... We did have a pretty good weekend here, we hit the pool (it was the hottest weekend EVER here according to the records) so I guess we are enjoying our extended summer! Anyway... so, not only we enjoyed the pool but hubby grilled some hamburgers, and as I was in the kitchen I kept wondering what I could do to make those hamburgers even better... so, I checked my pantry and fridge... and it just hit me... OF COURSE... Chipotle Mayonnaise! it is very simple to make and it adds so much flavor, "fire" and oh! it turns any "simple hamburger" into a "gourmet-like" one!

so here is what you need:

- Mayonnaise (as much as you would use, I used 1/2 cup of mayo)
- Canned Chipotle peppers (in adobo sauce) -to taste- I used 1/2 of one chipotle pepper and some of the adobo sauce.
- Salt and black pepper to taste.

Just put the ingredients in the blender and blend it until smooth... Taste and adjust if necessary (add more chipotle for more flavor/heat or more mayo if it was too hot for you)

You can use this "Chipotle Mayonnaise" as a wonderful dressing not just for hamburgers but also for fish fries, fried shrimp or ... be creative and think what you would like to have it with!

I hope you like it as much as we do!

Paloma.

Fire in my food - Chicken and mushrooms in a Chipotle cream sauce

2011-08-26T21:27:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone, as most of you know (if you read this blog) I now lack the basic fire every Mexican needs on our stoves... but... I still have the fire in my heart and in my food! So... yes, I wasn't happy when we had to lose our gas stove and start using an electric one but had to wipe my tears and move on! right??

I have been happy that with my new gained attitude I've also gained confidence with my cooking with "electricity" ... so I have been busy in my kitchen and here it is one of my latest meals I thought I should share with you ... I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Chicken and mushrooms in a Chipotle Cream Sauce: (2 or 3 servings, depending on the size of the chicken breast and the size of your appetite)

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast (no bones, no skin) sliced vertically in thin (about 1/2 inch) strips
4 oz. fresh white (or baby portobello) mushrooms (sliced)
1/2 cup heavy cream
about 3 oz philadelphia cream cheese
2 chipotle peppers (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce) you can use more or less depending on how you handle the heat, taste a little bit first, start with one, taste it and adjust. I use about 1 1/2 so it's enjoyable and still has a kick!
2 tbsp. butter (unsalted)
Milk (as needed, not help the sauce get the right consistency and thin it if needed)
Salt and black pepper to taste.
1/2 chicken bouillion cube
1/2 clove of garlic

(Here is my can of chipotle peppers)

Directions:

- Season the chicken with the salt and pepper (use less salt than you usually would because the chicken bouillion adds salt too and you don't want it to be salty... so taste as you cook)
- Melt the butter in a non-stick pan, once the butter is melted and warm enough cook the chicken strips there, don't stir, just place the stripes on the skillet, cook them 5 minutes on one side (making sure they cook at least 1/2 way through) - cook uncovered-
- Turn the chicken strips on the other side and add the mushrooms slices, cook for 3 more minutes -your chicken should have a beautiful not too light not too dark golden color on both sides - make sure the mushrooms cook as evenly as possible.
- While the chicken cooks (or you can make the sauce previously to not be in any hurries) you can make the sauce, put the heavy cream, creem cheese, chipotle pepper, some milk (about 1/4 cup), garlic and chicken bouillion in the blender, blend until it looks like a creamy sauce.
- Pour it over the chicken once the chicken has cooked making sure it covers everything, mix it and let it stir for about 5 minutes in low heat to make sure it all gets the flavor, if the sauce is too thick you can adjust with a little more milk, taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary (a little more salt or black pepper as you prefer)

I serve it next to a white rice with vegetables and butter and a fresh lettuce/tomato salad.

Buen provecho!

Paloma.

How to keep "avocado" good for a longer time

2011-07-16T10:43:00.003-05:00

I've heard many people say they don't usually buy avocados because they go bad real quick... and it's true! Avocados are AWESOME but their "good life time" is really short... besides, you can't eat them green (they are horrible, fibrous and bland), you can't eat them too ripe because they are even worse! (mushy, smelly, dark... awful!) so, when you have a good avocado in your hands, do you have to eat it all right away? no... These are some tips to have good avocados for a longer time.

- If you are buying avocados for "the week or two weeks" buy them a little green, hard in the outside, black in color with some "greenish" on the peel and keep those that you are planning on using sooner (like in the next two days) outside the refrigerator so they can ripe faster.

- Those that you are going to be using during those next 7, 10 days or so just put in the fridge, just the way they are and as you are going to use them just either take them out of the fridge if they are not ready yet and leave them outside for the day or use the ones that are ready. (To know when an avocado is ready click here

- If you cut an avocado and only used half of it or even 1/4 of it DON'T WORRY you can still use the rest later, there is a way to keep it from getting dark and mushy what you need to do is to wrap the "leftover" avocado (don't remove the peel) with a dry paper towel (as tight as possible) and then wrap it with saran wrap and/or put it in a ziploc bag (after wrapping it with the paper towel) and try to get the air out of the bag as much as possible. Put the bag in the refrigerator and you can use it the next day or the next one.

Leaving the "seed" in the avocado is really optional, there is nothing "magical" about the seed, avocados get dark in color when their "flesh" gets in contact with oxygen, so yes, the seed helps to keep it "nice" but just for a little bit and just in the areas in direct contact with it. You could even use "a rock" instead of the seed and it would "work the same way" (Note! I am not suggesting using rocks! It's just to explain how it works -or doesn't-).

If there was any "dark" color in the "leftover avocado" that you wrapped and put in the refrigerator for later, you can just gently (and easily) scrape it off with a knife, it truly is just "oxidized avocado" on the very top (from having contact with air) but the rest is all GOOD!

Don't be afraid of "buying avocados" they are an AWESOME fruit! and they go well with mostly everything! You can even just slice them and add some salt and enjoy their goodness! Good fats, tons of potassium and calcium! They are just great!

Paloma.

No more fire in my kitchen - tears-

2011-07-15T11:00:00.003-05:00

I am so happy to announce that we will be moving closer to my "Mexico Lindo y Querido" (my beautiful and beloved Mexico), Right now I am in Wisconsin and it is hard to find good restaurants that offer Authentic Mexican food and find those wonderful flavors and aromas that I miss so much!.

By the way... Hold your thought there.. I just want to take an opportunity and mention that even when it's hard to find places like that (at least in Milwaukee) I am happy to say that today is the very 5th anniversary of the ONLY PLACE I've found here in Milwaukee that offers the unique combination of flavor, aroma, authenticity and fine dining that Mexico is characterized by (not hard shell tacos or anything like that) ... Antigua Latin Restaurant <--- I hope you'll visit and "LIKE" them. And I will be having dinner there tonight! "Happy birthday Antigua!"

So... anyway... going back to my subject, I was saying that I am moving, and even when I'll be closer to my country and I am sure I'll be able to find more real ingredients and also good places to find authentic Mexican dishes and I am mostly thankful I'll be closer to my family there, etc... etc... MY VERY KITCHEN will be lacking that "fire" that I soooo much need to cook! Yes... we are moving to an apartment, and gas stoves are not an option! ... devastating! how can anybody cook with electricity! I mean...don't get me wrong... I understand HOW... I just can't get the "why?" ... and I am not talking about safety, etc... I am talking about flavor, convenience and OPTIONS that cooking with FIRE gives you... so... anyway... I guess I'll have to get used to it! I'll let you know how I do...

Paloma.

Chicken fajitas tacos

2011-03-23T14:01:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I last posted here, but I am back and I hope I'll be posting more often!

Today I will share a recipe of very very easy chicken fajitas, you can make tacos with them with corn or flour tortilla (I used flour tortilla this time)

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast (skinless, boneless) and cut to make about 8 smaller pieces.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and ground pepper to taste (I use Kosher Salt)
3 bell peppers (1 green, 1 yellow, 1 red), remove veins/seeds and make thin slices.
1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
8 flour tortillas (6-inch) or 12 regular corn tortillas
Fresh chopped cilantro (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup sour cream, for serving.
2 limes (cut one in wedges and the other one just cut by half)

Directions

Heat broiler on High, with rack set 4 inches from heat. Arrange chicken on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil; rub with 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper, and season with salt and pepper. Broil, without turning, until chicken is opaque throughout, 7 - 9 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside.
On another rimmed baking sheet lined with foil, toss peppers, onion, garlic, and remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Broil, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender and slightly dark in some of their edges (charred), about 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, thinly slice chicken crosswise. Warm up the tortillas on a comal (flat griddle or pan) on medium high, making sure they don't toast but they warm up all the way through (about 35 seconds each side). Transfer chicken and "roasted peppers" to a platter, and serve on tortillas, garnish with cilantro, sour cream and some drops of the halved lime plus lime wedges on the side.

Provecho!

Paloma.

Huevos a la Mexicana

2010-08-18T10:36:00.003-05:00

Hola amigos! I am back! Kind of worried because I haven't gotten any comments in my previous posts... but that's ok... I just hope I didn't offend anyone with my "review" of the "Tacos Cantina" from Taco Bell! :)

So... I had promised I would write about all the ingredients for "Mole" so I will just mention some of the "modern ingredients" (I say modern because in old times the MOLE SAUCE used to have over 100 ingredients) so... this is what Mole usually includes: Dried Pasilla Chilis, Dried Mulato Chilis, Dried Ancho Chilis, Garlic, Onion, Almonds, Raisins, Sesame Seeds, Bolillo (French bread or Baguette),Cloves, Cinnamon, Anise Seeds, Black Pepper, Corn Tortilla, Chipotle Chilli, Tomato, Sugar, Salt, Unsweetened Chocolate, Lard.

So, there you have it.... that is a sauce that sounds heavy, but mole poblano is basically the "perfect balance" of all those ingredients, so it's not as heavy as it sounds....

*_*_*_*_*_*

Now... Going to my recipe today, it is a common "Almuerzo" (breakfast) in Mexico, HUEVOS A LA MEXICANA (Mexican Style eggs), in Mexico, there are 3 ingredients that you should ALWAYS HAVE at hand, and those ingredients are: "chile, tomate y cebolla" (chilies, tomato and onion), by chilies we usually mean "serrano peppers" which are VERY COMMON in many dishes in the Mexican cuisine. And those ingredients will help us make this classical Mexican breakfast, if you notice, the colors of those ingredients are the very ones of the Mexican flag (green, white and red), so, not only the flavor but the colors of this dish are very representative of Mexico.

For 2 people:

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 small red tomato (or half a biggger one) chopped (in cubes)
1/4 white onion (finely chopped)
1 or 2 chopped serrano peppers (serrano pepper is a hotter kind of pepper, you can use jalapeno or even green bell pepper if you want to avoid the heat, but serrano is the traditional pepper to use)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt to taste

Directions:
Add the oil to a pan, wait for the oil to warm up so you can sautee the vegetables, stir in the peppers and onions, sautee (season with salt). Once the onion is clear add the chopped tomato and fry a little bit longer (about 2 more minutes, until the tomato releases some of its juices), add the eggs and season with salt again, scramble the eggs and keep the eggs moving until they are cooked the way you like them.

I do not like eggs that are way too cooked (they shouldn't be dry, plus remember, the tomatoes will make it seem like the eggs are still too moist, but it's not the egg itself, it's the juice of the tomato)

Serve with refried beans, sliced avocado with salt (optional of course) and corn tortillas.

Provecho!

Paloma.

"Cantina Tacos" from Taco Bell

2010-08-12T21:23:00.001-05:00

So... It seems my previous post (the one about Mole) wasn't as "appealing" as I thought it would be ... LOL! And I understand it... Trust me... even I don't know how chocolate and things like that can taste good on chicken... But... You can't even taste the chocolate in "Mole"... just this rich sauce that makes chicken oh! so good!

I will be posting tomorrow all of the ingredients of the original "Mole Poblano" when made from scratch so you have an idea and hopefully get you all more interested on it.

Right now, I am just coming back from Taco Bell, yes, a real Mexican eating in Taco Bell, I go there when I feel like eating something "American" ... Hubby laughs because he says that his mom used to say: "We are having Mexican food tonight!" and she would immediately take the hard "U shaped" shells out!

Anyway... I went there because someone (my neighbor and dear friend Tracy) told me I should try their new "real Tacos" .... He said: "They have the real stuff now, corn tortillas and onions, and cilantro" ... Sounded good, huh? And it looked even better in the picture when I got there... I don't know if Tracy, my friend, has actually tried those tacos (I truly do not remember if he said he tried them or he just saw they had them) but.... well... Let me just say this: They are not wrong to advertise them like "Cantina Tacos" they taste like they were cooked by someone who probably had too much to drink! What a disappointment!

The options are "chicken, pulled pork -carnitas- and steak", I didn't feel like trying the chicken one, so I ordered 2 "carnitas" and 1 "steak".... Each taco is made with 2 corn tortillas, which by the way they couldn't even warm up properly... I mean... if you can't even warm up a tortilla then don't use 2 for each taco! The tortillas were breaking apart because they weren't warm all the way through... so... Now you know that to warm up a tortilla you must know how to do it too... You can't just let your "fingers" tell you they are "warm" you need to actually SEE the tortilla forming some "air pockets" where the INSIDE of the tortilla is warming up too!

Then.. The steak tasted nothing like "Mexican steak" but it was "ok" .... Just don't ask me about the carnitas... oh! Don't even get me started... it was more like a "spreadable greasy something" with pieces of onions and cilantro....

I must say "Thanks for trying!" But I ended up eating a "hard shell taco" I will stick to those when I go to Taco Bell... I truly enjoyed the "hard shell taco" at least I know what those are all about.... I don't MEAN to be MEAN... I am not a Taco Bell hater... I actually enjoy some of their stuff... But I guess they should leave the "Mexican stuff alone" it's not their thing ...

I was thinking that I probably would've liked those "cantina tacos" if I wasn't "expecting the real deal" but.... not... it's not even that.... at least the tortillas were nothing good...

Vecino! (neighbor) ... Now I feel guilty because if you try or tried those tacos and you thought they could be "the real deal"... then I truly truly should be making some tacos soon for all of you ! - I know I am all promises and never really make anything :(

Above: My handsome gringo enjoying a "taquiza" (taco dinner) in Mexico.

Big Hugs for all of you... and Provecho!

Paloma.

MOLE!!!

2010-08-11T09:36:00.005-05:00

Hola amigos! I know you are probably thinking the title for this post is weird.... but do not worry, I will not write about lumps on the skin or about an infiltrated person in a team or anything like that.... I am talking about MOLE SAUCE (Mole is pronounced like... hmmm, like "mo- as in moment" and "-le as in legs")

There are many different kinds of "MOLE" in Mexico, and some of them are nothing at all like the rest (sometimes I even wonder why they are called mole), but I would say the most popular MOLE is "Mole Poblano", it takes its name from its state of origin "Puebla" and it is such a delicious dish, you have to TRY IT! and that's the type of mole I will focus on today.

When my mom and grandma' were here these past weeks (Yes, they are already gone and I am missing them so much!) they made "mole con pollo" (mole with chicken) .... Mole Poblano is a combination of chilies, spices, nuts, seeds and chocolate, it is such a rich sauce! but it requires too many ingredients and time to make it from scratch (which of course is the best), But I must say I have never made mole from scratch... Now, there are many brands that offer good "MOLE", basically the "paste" and you can just "make it your own" by adding some little touches that will make it more "homemade like".

The Brand I suggest you to use is: "Doña Maria"

That would be the base for the sauce.

To make your own "Pollo con mole" you will need:

Ingredients:

1. 2 pounds of chicken (legs and thighs)
2. 1/2 white onion
3. 2 cloves of garlic
4. 2 tbsp. of salt
5. 1 cup of Mole Dona Maria (the whole container of 8.25 oz)
6. 1 slice of bread (white or even 1/2 hot dog or hamburger bun)
7. Approx. 2 oz. of chocolate (chocolate "abuelita", "ibarra" or "Goya" -those are the brands to use-)
8. 1/2 tsp. sugar
9. 2 tbsp. chunky peanut butter
10. 1 pinch of salt, ground black pepper and garlic powder

Directions:

Put the chicken in enough water (2 inches of water over the top of the chicken), add the 1/2 white onion, cloves of garlic and 2 tbsp. salt, cook it all together until the chicken is cooked (no pink juices running).

While the chicken cooks, fry the slice of bread in some vegetable oil and set aside, it should be just a little golden, separately fry the chocolate just for a little bit (about 2 mins).

Once the chicken is cooked, use 2 cups of the liquid of the chicken and blend it with the rest of the ingredients (mole paste, bread, chocolate, sugar, peanut butter, pinch of salt, black pepper and garlic powder)

Put the sauce in a big pan, start the low fire until it starts bubbling, add 2 more cups of the liquid of the chicken and the pieces of chicken until it all starts bubbling, make sure the chicken legs and thighs all get covered by the sauce. (note: If it is too thick you can add one 1/2 to 1 cup of water to it)

Done! You have "Mole Poblano" right in your kitchen!

Serve hot with rice and refried beans or lettuce salad. Have corn tortillas to go with it too!

If you are enjoying this blog... share it with others... tell your friends about it.... I am really trying to share about Mexican cuisine...

Provecho!

Paloma.

Easy rice

2010-08-05T21:30:00.003-05:00

This rice recipe I will share with you is really, really simple...

Rice is a very "Mexican thing to eat" (not only Asian people eat rice) ... If you go to a Hispanic Store you will find HUGE bags of rice, and trust me.... As a Mexican I know if we buy a bag like that, we will go through it really quick

Rice goes great with most Mexican dishes, its mild flavor goes great with the way we cook meat, peppers, etc... Besides, it is a great "filler".

This recipe makes a lot of rice (for about 6 people, so you can cut it by half to try it first)

Ingredients:

2 cups of Long Grain Rice
3 1/2 cups of chicken broth (another way of measuring the liquid for the rice, is that there should be about an inch of water above the level of the rice)
1 or clove of garlic
1/4 white onion (chopped) - or 1/2 white onion if the onion is small.
1 tomato (fresh) or 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce
1/2 cube of tomato bouillon.
1 1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil (it can be olive oil)
1 cup of canned mixed vegetables or canned cubed carrots -rinse well- (optional)
1 stem (with leaves) of cilantro
1 serrano pepper (optional)
Salt to taste (about 2 tsp.)

Directions:

1. Fry the rice in the oil until it is not translucent any more, it should be an opaque white. (medium heat)

2. Add the onion and garlic and turn the rice around with a spoon (wooden spoon is ideal) keep frying until the rice turns into a light golden color.
3. Add the chicken broth and tomato (fresh or canned), season with salt and add the tomato bouillon, leave it uncovered until it starts boiling.

4. Once it is boiling, add the canned vegetables and the serrano pepper.

5. Cover the pot of the rice and decrease the heat just so it simmers for about 25 minutes. (see next step though)
6. Check the rice after the first 15 minutes of simmering test it for doneness and check the water, if it seems to be too dry and the rice is still hard add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water.

7. Add the cilantro and cover again, let it keep cooking for the remaining time (still low heat).

8. Remove from the fire and serve.

Provecho!

Paloma.